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Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 01 August 2022; Hits: 83

A major report into Australia's gas supplies predicts a significant shortfall next year as spiking energy prices heap cost-of-living pressure on household budgets.

But the industry says gas supply will be adequate next year.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the latest gas inquiry report from the competition watchdog highlights some "alarming" features of the east coast gas market.

"It projects a significant gas shortfall for next year unless gas producers supply more of their uncontracted or excess gas to the domestic market," he said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) report, released on Monday, said the shortfall would occur in 2023 if all the excess gas produced by exporters was sent overseas.

It foreshadows the shortage will occur amid rising demand and an increase in uncontracted gas, which will likely be sold offshore at higher prices.

The report said the shortfall would be worse than the situation in 2017, when both the ACCC and the Australian Energy Market Operator predicted shortages the following year.

That resulted in the then-coalition government triggering the domestic gas security mechanism process and ultimately striking a deal with gas exporters to make excess gas available in Australia before it was sold overseas.

"The (ACCC's) findings are deeply concerning and I urge gas producers to do the right thing by Australians," Dr Chalmers said.

"It's critical that our domestic gas supply is secure and competitively priced, particularly when households and businesses are under extreme pressure."

However, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) said the ACCC report showed 167 petajoules of uncontracted gas was available for supply into the domestic market next year.

"This is more than enough gas to ensure that no shortfall occurs," APPEA acting chief executive Damian Dwyer said.

"There has never been an actual shortfall and there will not be one next year - this is the ACCC signalling that action is needed, and the industry will act."

Opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor said more supply was needed in the domestic network to prevent a crisis.

He said the threat of pulling the gas trigger had worked for the coalition when they were in power.

"The government needs a plan where it's working with the gas producers, with the threat they will take stronger action if necessary," he told Sky News.

The shortfall prediction comes after coal generation in NSW and Queensland hit record lows, putting pressure on other energy sources.

Black coal generation fell to its lowest-ever second-quarter output following coal-fired power plant outages and fuel constraints, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.

East coast wholesale gas prices have increased more than threefold in the second quarter, jumping to an average of $28.40 per gigajoule compared with $8.20 in the same quarter last year, the operator revealed in its quarterly report.

The government has reserved its decision on pulling its gas trigger to force exporters to set aside the resource for domestic use.

Dr Chalmers said the government took the report's findings seriously and it would respond to the ACCC's inquiry.

Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 01 August 2022; Hits: 84

The hit musical Tina, based on the life story of rock star Tina Turner, will hit the stage in Australia with a local cast and crew.

UK producers have already held round one of auditions in Sydney for the demanding lead role, according to promoter Paul Dainty.

"We're very optimistic we'll find some great Tinas," he told AAP.

"There's been a few in London because you need a few. We're very confident that we'll have a dynamite cast."

The show premiered in the British capital in 2018 and went on to break box-office records.

Known as the Queen of rock 'n' roll, Tina Turner has sold more than 100 million records and collected 12 Grammy awards.

Having grown up in an abusive household and escaped a violent marriage to her first husband and musical partner Ike Turner, she achieved international stardom as a solo performer in her forties with the smash-hit Private Dancer album in 1984.

Mr Dainty got involved in the musical project seven years ago - before there was a script or signed contracts with the star - believing Tina Turner's life story would make for a hit show when combined with her songs.

"You laugh together, you cry together, you get emotional and hear these amazing songs woven through the show, which not many musicals are able to deliver," he said.

Tina Turner has a long connection with Australia, having first toured the country in the 1970s.

She starred alongside Mel Gibson in the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985, while her hit song The Best has soundtracked memorable National Rugby League campaigns.

"Australia has always shared abundant love with me ... It is very special for me that we will be reunited," Tina Turner said in a statement released on Monday.

"The joy, passion and message of resilience in my musical is so important now as ever.

"Thank you from the bottom my heart for welcoming me with open arms once again."

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical will play at the Royal Theatre Sydney in 2023.

Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 01 August 2022; Hits: 86

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is off to a strong start in the first Newspoll since Labor won the May federal election.

His voter satisfaction rating is at 61 per cent, the poll published in The Australian on Monday shows.

This is the highest number recorded for a post-election Newspoll for a new prime minister since the satisfaction measure began being tallied in 1985.

Mr Albanese is also ahead on the preferred prime minister measure, at 59 per cent versus 25 per cent for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

On a two-party preferred basis, Labor is ahead at 56 per cent compared to 44 per cent for the coalition.

Labor's primary vote has lifted to 37 per cent, from 32.6 per cent at the May 21 election, against 33 per cent for the coalition.

The Greens were tracking at 12 per cent, while the teal independents were on 10 per cent.

Independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie said Mr Albanese wasn't just in a honeymoon period.

"He is still doing the wedding waltz," she told Nine Network on Monday.

But she warned there were challenges ahead, particularly on the cost of living.

"There will be a fair bit of pressure on him over the next six months," she said.

"Living standards out there are tough, people are doing it really tough, so let's see how it goes."

The Newspoll of 1508 voters was conducted between July 27-30.

The federal parliament is due to sit on Monday.

Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 01 August 2022; Hits: 91

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been sworn in to parliament as his successor records a solid start in the first Newspoll since the May federal election.

Mr Morrison missed the first week of the 47th parliament to attend an international leaders' event in Tokyo.

He pledged his allegiance to the Queen on Monday alongside former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou who were also absent from the opening of parliament.

Mr Morrison is seated on the backbench for the first time in nine years after resigning from the leadership of the Liberal Party following the May federal election loss.

In the upper house, Greens senator Lidia Thorpe drew the ire of opposition benches after branding the Queen a "coloniser" while reciting the oath of allegiance.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is off to a strong start in the first Newspoll since Labor won office.

His voter satisfaction rating is at 61 per cent, the poll published in The Australian on Monday shows.

This is the highest number recorded for a post-election Newspoll for a new prime minister since the satisfaction measure started in 1985.

Mr Albanese is also ahead on the preferred prime minister measure, at 59 per cent versus 25 per cent for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

On a two-party preferred basis, Labor is ahead at 56 per cent compared to 44 per cent for the Liberal-National coalition.