December 4, 2025 – Australia Headlines

11000 jobs to be axed from public sector but government shirks deeper cuts

Story gist: The Victorian government in Australia announced cuts of 1,000 public sector jobs targeting executives to save $4 billion. The treasurer stated the service is top-heavy.
Left
Australia news live: Victoria treasurer says cuts to top-heavy public service will save $4bn; power prices projected to fall 5% in five years
— The Guardian
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Center
Victorian government targets executives as 1,000 public sector jobs cut
— abc.net.au
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Right
Allan to axe 1000 public servants, slash $4bn from public service
— The Australian
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Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian frames cuts positively as trimming ‘top-heavy’ service, emphasizing $4bn savings and adding optimistic power price drop projection. Center ABC neutrally reports job cuts targeting executives without judgment. Right-leaning Australian uses harsh ‘axe’ and ‘slash’ language, spotlighting job losses and naming Premier Allan to underscore aggressive public service reductions.

2The teen social media ban is here. Here’s what you need to know

Story gist: Social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube began restricting or shutting down accounts for users under 16 in Australia ahead of a national ban. The measures follow upcoming legislation requiring age verification.
Left
Social media ban: Instagram and Facebook begin shutting down under-16 accounts in Australia as ban looms
— The Guardian
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Center
What’s changing for under 16s and parents on YouTube in Australia
— The Keyword
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Right
Hopes hosed down on child social media ban
— The Australian
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Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Guardian frame the story positively as the ‘ban is here,’ emphasizing platforms’ compliance and account shutdowns. Center sources like The Keyword adopt a neutral, practical tone, explaining changes for under-16s and parents. Right-leaning The Australian uses skeptical phrasing like ‘hopes hosed down,’ implying the ban falls short of expectations and lacks full enforcement.

3Five takeaways from Bruce Lehrmann’s failed defamation case appeal

Story gist: Australia’s Full Federal Court dismissed Bruce Lehrmann’s appeal in his defamation lawsuit against Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson. The case arose from a 2023 broadcast alleging Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.
Left
Five takeaways from Bruce Lehrmann’s failed defamation case appeal
— The Guardian
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Center
No major center-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left-leaning The Guardian framed the story as ‘Five takeaways from Bruce Lehrmann’s failed defamation case appeal,’ using negative language toward Lehrmann and emphasizing judicial critiques of his credibility. No center- or right-leaning coverage appeared, omitting balanced analysis or sympathetic views on Lehrmann’s denied rape allegation and media trial claims.

4New data reveals Australia’s high-achieving Naplan schools for this year

Story gist: New NAPLAN data for this year reveals Australia’s high-achieving schools. The results highlight top performers nationwide.
Left
New data reveals Australia’s high-achieving Naplan schools for this year
— The Guardian
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Center
Is the focus on NAPLAN’s ‘top’ schools a good idea?
— The Conversation
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Right
These schools threaten to topple Vic’s elite colleges in NAPLAN results
— Herald Sun
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Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian reports neutrally on the data release, focusing on factual revelation of top schools. Center-leaning Conversation questions the merits of emphasizing NAPLAN’s top schools, adopting a skeptical analytical tone. Right-leaning Herald Sun dramatizes the story, portraying non-elite schools as threats to Victoria’s established colleges, stressing competition and disruption over neutral data.