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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 13:00 Source

With One Nation surging in the polls, another Coalition MP is reportedly seeking defection, according to Sky News. Barnaby Joyce has confirmed that One Nation will announce a major political defection within 24 hours but refused to reveal the identity of the new recruit, saying the announcement would come from leader Pauline Hanson. One Nation

The post Another MP defects to One Nation? appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 12:30 Source

Victoria has legislated a target to source 95% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2035. This is one of the most ambitious renewable energy targets in Australia and globally, designed to accelerate the state’s transition away from cheap brown coal toward cleaner energy sources, such as wind and solar. The Renewable Energy (Jobs and

The post Victoria strives for energy and water scarcity appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 12:00 Source

Former Home Affairs Minister-turned-Housing Minister, Clare O’Neil, regularly lamented that Australia’s migration system was too temporary and held the nation back. “Today, really for the first time in our modern history, our uncapped, unplanned temporary program is the centrepiece and driver of our migration system. This simple fact is the source of huge problems”, O’Neil bemoaned

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Renew Economy Monday, February 2, 2026 - 12:00 Source

Two new charts reveal distinct dynamics in Australia's main grids, highlighting the diminishing role of gas even in short-term operations.

The post Gas is being squeezed by renewables – every 30 minutes appeared first on Renew Economy.

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 11:30 Source

The local gas prices are still at nosebleed levels. Yet the mild summer has been enough to reduce gas-fired power use, causing wholesale electricity prices to collapse. Recall that gas sets the marginal cost of electricity in the wholesale market. Albo’s mooted gas reservation was meant to fix this permanently, but it is already a

The post The never ending story of gas insanity appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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Your Democracy Monday, February 2, 2026 - 11:10 Source

Any time things heat up with an empire-targeted government I always get people demanding to know why I’m not critical of that government.

“Why don’t you criticize Iran? You spend all your time criticizing the west and Israel; you’re a hypocrite if you don’t criticize Iran.”

 

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 11:00 Source

In this post-truth world, everything old is new again. Does anyone even remember the 2016 APRA macroprudential 10% speed limit on property investors that MB agitated for? Not really. The forgetful includes APRA, as Australia’s irrepressible class of speculators charges back towards the speed limit in a new credit cycle. For the ninth time in

The post Property investors drive credit meltup appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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xkcd.com Monday, February 2, 2026 - 11:00 Source

Originally, the ceremony used a variety of rodents and mustelids, but over time most people agreed it made sense to standardize on a specific individual ground squirrel in Pennsylvania.

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 10:30 Source

Alex Joiner, chief economist at IFM Investors, recently published the following chart showing the outsized contribution of the non-market sector (i.e., public services, healthcare & social assistance, and education) to overall job growth. Of the 926,425 jobs created between Q1 2023 and Q3 2025, 637,273 (69%) were in the non-market sector that is primarily government

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 10:00 Source

Former LNP media advisor in the Howard government, Chris Kenny, pines for bygone times. In my lifetime I have not seen more division, or a greater lack of social cohesion. Many of us wonder what national values or symbols our country can unite around. “I am not as pessimistic as that,” former prime minister John

The post John Howard destroyed Australian unity appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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The Tally Room Monday, February 2, 2026 - 09:58 Source

South Australia will go to the polls in March for their state election.

The most recent polls predict an enormous landslide victory for the incumbent Labor government.

As we get closer, it was time to unlock my guide to the South Australian election. I published this guide on March 20 last year, one year out from the election, but it has been locked as a benefit for Tally Room members. I’ve now fully unlocked the guide.

Read more Views: 27
MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 09:30 Source

It has happened. Pauline Hanson is now Australia’s number one choice for PM. The LNP has committed suicide, and ON is comfortably the official opposition. Which is driving the surge? You tell me. The moving average at Poll Bludger is fast catching up as ON gobbles votes from both major parties. Once the LNP gets

The post Arise Prime Minister Hanson appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 09:00 Source

Friday night saw a huge reversal in precious metals fortunes perhaps triggered by the Trump regime’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Governor or the technical overbought status of both gold and silver. Silver dropped over 30%, gold fell more than 10%, taking both back to where they were just two weeks ago.

The post Macro Morning appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 08:00 Source

In the debate over the types of houses being built in Australia, a frequently repeated narrative is that the shift toward more apartments is positive because migrants favour that type of living arrangement. While we lack data on this question for Australia, figures from Canada shed some light on migrants’ housing choices and priorities. While

The post Migrants demand houses, not apartments appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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Your Democracy Monday, February 2, 2026 - 06:55 Source

Europe and China are natural allies in the world’s emerging bloc of electro-tech economies.

Both are large net importers of oil and fossil fuels. Both have a strong incentive to end this dangerous vulnerability as fast as possible.

 

Trump is pushing China and Europe together to create a new world order

BY Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

 

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Your Democracy Monday, February 2, 2026 - 06:44 Source

 

Germans should adopt a tough stance against “enemies of democracy” at home and uncomplainingly embrace the continuation of costly aid for Ukraine, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has insisted, invoking a maxim on “happy farts.”

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Your Democracy Monday, February 2, 2026 - 06:33 Source

 

Dr. Steve Turley, an American scholar and public intellectual, has become one of the most widely recognized analysts of the political and cultural realignments shaping our time. Trained as a classical guitarist and later earning a doctorate in theology, Turley’s path is unusual.

 

Dr. Steve Turley: The liberal order’s legitimacy collapsed not from external attack but from internal hollowing

Read more Views: 31
John Quiggin Monday, February 2, 2026 - 03:37 Source

Another Monday Message Board. Post comments on any topic. Civil discussion and no coarse language please. Side discussions and idees fixes to the sandpits, please.

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MacroBusiness Monday, February 2, 2026 - 00:01 Source

Cotality’s latest housing affordability report noted that Australian rental affordability in the September quarter of 2025 was the worst on record, with the median renting household required to spend 33.4% of their incomes to rent the median advertised home: Cotality’s housing results for January, released on Monday, revealed that rental affordability continues to worsen, with

The post Australia’s rental squeeze intensifies appeared first on MacroBusiness.

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Renew Economy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 22:42 Source

Residents of a quiet hamlet who oppose a solar project mull their options after a court dismisses concerns the project will affect the region's rural character.

The post Locals consider options after losing court appeal against solar farm approval appeared first on Renew Economy.

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Renew Economy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 21:51 Source

Neoen's Collie battery.Battery storage major says costs have fallen 60 pct in two years, helping redefine the grid and customer needs, and along with solar is cheapest and easiest to build.

The post Battery prices plunge 60 pct in two years, changing face of grid and the nature of contracts appeared first on Renew Economy.

Read more Views: 35
Your Democracy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 21:23 Source

The Cuban authorities would have to reach an agreement with Washington if they want to avoid a humanitarian crisis, US President Donald Trump has warned.

Earlier this week, Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs on goods from any countries that sell oil to Cuba, further strengthening an embargo against the Caribbean nation which dates back to the 1960s.

Read more Views: 32
THE BLOT REPORT Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 17:53 Source
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MacroBusiness Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 13:38 Source

The latest interest rate futures pricing has Australia’s official cash rate sitting at 4.17% by the end of 2026. Thus, financial markets are tipping at least two and possibly three 25 bp interest rate hikes by the end of this year. If these forecasts came to fruition, variable mortgage rates would climb to around 6%

The post Auction market shrugs off imminent rate hikes appeared first on MacroBusiness.

Read more Views: 58
Your Democracy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 11:44 Source
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Your Democracy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 10:03 Source

Together, 45 global livestock companies produce more greenhouse gases than all but eight countries. Plus, crimes against nature are big business that rely on criminal networks, corrupt officials and eager customers, and global warming marches on.

 

Peter Sainsbury

Environment: Agricultural emissions are roasting the planet

Read more Views: 55
MacroBusiness Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 10:00 Source

The ferrous jaws must close! The CNY steel inventory restock has begun from a higher level than last year, according to CISA data. The iron ore port mountain is Himalayan and growing at roughly 2mt per week. From CISA. And MySteel. The Chinese Steel PMI was dead flat at 50 across the board. The export

The post China’s iron ore mountain turns Himalayan appeared first on MacroBusiness.

Read more Views: 45
Your Democracy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 07:53 Source

Not all Jews are equal; some are more equal than others. Jewish by birth and a card-carrying Israeli, Veronica Sherman sees Zionists as a cult, a dangerous pyramid scheme. 

If a group of Jewish backpackers from Melbourne met a group of Israeli backpackers in a hostel in Thailand, the Melbourne backpackers would be all excited to meet “fellow Jews” and feel they have a connection. A bit like meeting a relative while travelling.

Read more Views: 49
Your Democracy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 07:33 Source

Captain Jack Sparrow’s boast comes to mind for a reason; we are about to discuss the real “scourge of the seas.” Here Lithuania is the one and undisputed champion. The global information space trembled with tension when the news broke: the president of this country, which occupies roughly 1.6% of the EU’s territory, Gitanas Nauseda, stated he is ready to send a warship as part of security guarantees for Ukraine.

 

Read more Views: 61
Your Democracy Sunday, February 1, 2026 - 06:55 Source

 

The United Nations is at risk of running out of cash as unpaid dues and funding shortfalls by member states threaten to disrupt key operations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.

Read more Views: 54

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