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Ben Morton

August 2024

Santos chief Kevin Gallagher has 70 years to celebrate.

Santos gala a gassy second chance for Albo

We regret to inform the federal Labor Party that Woodside is not the only gas major with a milestone birthday this year.

  • Myriam Robin
Woodside boss Meg O’Neill (left) Resources Minister Madeleine King at the Australian Energy Producers conference in Perth in May.

Woodside hires ScoMo’s right hand

Amid a furore about who came to its party, the energy giant recently hired a Liberal power player as an external consultant.

  • Mark Di Stefano

May 2023

Mark McGowan.

Smelling salts in order for WA Liberals

At a private rugby lunch, Perth lord mayor Basil Zempilas hinted he’s keen to revive the WA Liberals.

  • Mark Di Stefano

March 2023

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott (centre) with ACTU secretary Sally McManus (left), and ACTU president Michele O’Neil at the jobs summit.

A narrow path to productivity reform still remains

The Liberals are dealing themselves out as a party of reform. More important is the relationship between the BCA and the ACTU.

  • Craig Emerson

January 2023

Productivity is now in its biggest stall for six decades.

We must make this the year of productivity

The ACTU must realise that many of the proposals in a major new Productivity Commission report will align with its own goals.

  • Craig Emerson
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July 2022

Former prime minister Scott Morrison concedes defeat on election night.

Time’s up for ScoMo’s board seat boys

Did the Grattan Institute vastly underestimate the malignancy of the Coalition’s jobs for mates?

  • Michael Roddan

March 2022

Electricians, architects and real estate agents are among professions set to benefit from the change.

JobPass scheme to unlock interstate work for up to 168,000 people

The new program will see some interstate professional qualifications recognised around the country without delays or lengthy paperwork.

  • Tom McIlroy

December 2021

Simon Holmes a Court has amassed a war chest to spend on independents.

Liberals step up fight against ‘faux independents’

The Liberal Party has appealed for funds to fight what it calls a network of well-funded, faux independents with a left-wing agenda.

  • Phillip Coorey
Ben Morton, the Special Minister of State and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, drove the deal

Treasurers sign deal to cut business a break

Ben Morton, a close ally of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, said the deal was more progress than COAG could make in a decade

  • Tom McIlroy

November 2021

Labor’s Linda Burney says Indigenous Australians must not be denied their right to vote.

Indigenous campaigners to challenge Morrison on voter ID laws

Rex Patrick has challenged crossbenchers to oppose the plan, which could be rushed through Parliament before the federal election

  • Tom McIlroy

October 2021

Ben Morton: A near constant presence in Canberra during the pandemic.

OECD gives red-tape slashing agenda tick of approval

The OECD has given Australia a big tick of approval but says a “regulatory reboot” is needed globally to reverse a deterioration of trust in governments and experts.

  • Ronald Mizen
Liberal MP and franking credits warrior Tim Wilson has been given his big break.

PM’s friends and franking credits warrior promoted in reshuffle

Scott Morrison has elevated two of his closest supporters, plus the man who helped defeat Labor’s franking credit policy at the last election.

  • Phillip Coorey

August 2021

Voters are increasingly prepared to vote for one party in the lower house and different one in the upper house.

Coalition and Labor agree to electoral law changes

The Greens have hit out at an electoral reform deal between the major parties, calling it an ‘undemocratic attack on minor parties’.

  • Tom McIlroy

June 2021

PM must tell the truth on the economy

Unless productivity rises, a re-elected Morrison government will have to break its spending promises. Neither party can shirk micro reform any longer.

  • Craig Emerson
Ben Morton says the deregulation plan will cut red tape and get products to people and businesses faster.

Overseas product safety rules to be used in Australia

Australian consumer law will be overhauled to allow for trusted standards from countries including the US to be used

  • Tom McIlroy
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April 2021

Private education colleges will receive $53 million in the federal budget.

Private colleges thrown lifeline as collapses begin

The federal government plans a support package as international student enrolments dry up.

  • Julie Hare
The draft guide was released by Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ben Morton.

Federal regulators told to focus on system risks

A new draft regime challenges the traditional statutory independence of regulators and tells them to embrace regtech and focus on system risks.

  • Tom Burton

March 2021

WA MP Ben Morton is a trusted confidant of Scott Morrison

Morrison government hauls in federal regulators to speed recovery

A key lieutenant to Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hauled in federal regulators as part of efforts to speed up Australia’s COVID-19 recovery.

  • Tom McIlroy

December 2020

Alcohol excise will be simplified.

Booze and fuel excise to get red tape chop

Alcohol and fuel excise rules will be simplified by the federal government, in a bid to reduce red tape costs for manufacturers, importers and distributors.

  • John Kehoe

November 2020

WA MP Ben Morton is a trusted confidant of Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison ties public service pay to private sector wage growth

A 2 per cent cap on public service pay increases will be scrapped and generous bonuses reviewed.

  • Tom McIlroy

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/ben-morton-1n4n