Two Sydney hospital employees critical after car mounts footpath and strikes them outside entrance – as it happened

Communications minister says replacing Optus CEO will not assure triple zero

Anika Wells, the communications minister, said replacing Optus chief executive officer Stephen Rue would not help assure the triple zero system, responding to calls for him to resign on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.

She said the Optus CEO’s position is “not a question for me to decide”:

As the steward of the telco system, my question is, if he is not going to do it, who is going to do it?

We all have a role to play here, but of all of us, Optus has the biggest role to play.

That is why they will face more punitive measures from Acma when the Acma investigation comes back.

This post was removed because it contained embargoed content.

Academics say their net zero costing is being ‘misrepresented’ after Nationals repeat $9tn claim

University energy researchers say their modelling of the economics of Australia reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions – used by the Nationals and some Liberal MPs as part of a justification to drop the goal – has been misrepresented.

The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has repeatedly claimed that reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions would “cost Australians $9tn”, pointing to the work of Net Zero Australia (NZA).

The Nationals this week confirmed they would no longer support the target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and the Coalition is facing internal pressure from some MPs to follow suit.

But on Wednesday, NZA – which includes academics from Princeton University, the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland – released a statement saying its cost estimates had been misrepresented.

More on this story here:

Giving government power to cancel welfare payments over arrest warrants is ‘step towards authoritarianism’, civil liberties council says

The NSW Council for Civil Liberties has warned against a bill proposed by the federal government that would give it the power to cancel an individual’s welfare payments if an arrest warrant was issued against that individual.

Timothy Roberts, president of the council, said:

The presumption of innocence is a non-negotiable for a democracy. This amendment undermines this essential democratic concept. The cancellation of welfare payments could mean homelessness and hunger for the accused person, when they have not been convicted of an offence.

NSWCCL calls on the Albanese government to not take this step towards authoritarianism, where a politician acts as judge and jury to punish someone who has not been convicted by a court.

Roberts echoed concerns it would disproportionately harm First Nations peoples and victims of domestic violence.

Optus reports mobile network outage in the NSW Hunter Valley region

Optus has advised customers in the Hunter Valley region that there is an outage of its voice and data services in the area, with triple zero calls potentially affected for some. There was a break in its fibre affecting customers in Port Stephens, Maitland and the surrounding areas.

It comes just days after executives fronted a Senate inquiry on the company’s September triple zero outage during which several people died.

In its submission to the inquiry, it noted there was a network uptime of 99.45% for the past quarter. There were 332 significant local outages between the end of June and 11 October this year, the company said.

Optus apologised for the Hunter Valley outage and committed to providing regular updates.

Communications minister defends timeline for under-16s social media ban and gambling reform

The minister for communications, Anika Wells, rejected suggestions the social media ban for under 16s is “last minute” while appearing on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.

Wells announced on Wednesday that Reddit and Kick would join the likes of Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, X, Youtube and TikTok when the ban came into effect from 10 December.

She said:

We handed down the rules shortly after I became the minister, we handed down the regulatory guidance a few weeks back now.

The list is more clarity for parents because parents want to know and we want them having those discussions with their young people ahead of 10 December.

When asked about developments on gambling reform, Wells could not give a timeline for when recommendations from the 2023 inquiry into gambling would be implemented and said “the work continues.” She said:

I couldn’t give you a timeline about how we would land a deal in aged care until the day that I landed on your desk to say I have a deal. I will do it in the same way, keep plugging away to get it done.

Press gallery thumps politicians 7-1 in rain-soaked soccer match

While we’re on the topic of sport, a brief report delayed from yesterday’s parliamentary press v politicians soccer (football) game, won convincingly by the journos in driving rain.

The politicians team were on the back foot from the opening whistle, falling behind early by a few goals as the Canberra weather steadfastly refused to agree it was spring. The rain was constant, the cold more akin to winter, but the passes and chemistry among the media pack remained hot.

AAP’s Dominic Giannini and Jacob Shteyman got quick opening goals, with the MPs’ team including Sam Rae, Aaron Violi, Josh Burns and Jerome Laxale struggling for answers. A few more quickfire goals banged in, as minister Matt Keogh suffered a knock but shook it off.

Liberal MPs Violi and Simon Kennedy had some decent results when they focused through the centre and on the left wing, but efforts toward the right wing were – as usual – unproductive and did not yield any good outcomes, culminating in another net zero effect on the scoreboard.

Some stout defence from Millie Muroi and Natassia Chrysanthos from the Nine newspapers shut down numerous attacking raids, leading to goals shared around the team, before your humble correspondent added another to the tally.

Laxale, moving from the defensive line and into the forward line as a tall target, managed to pull back one consolation goal at the death. Some optimistic MPs claimed it would be a “last goal wins” situation, but the press gallery took home a decisive 7-1 win.

Parliamentary touch football match ends with NSW MPs victorious over Queensland

To briefly break into some sports reporting, the annual parliamentary State of Origin touch football match this morning saw a hard-fought win by New South Wales over Queensland.

In a tight 1-0 result, Liberal MP Simon Kennedy scored an early try which would turn out to be the match-winner and only point scored all game, and which earned him player of the match honours. The prize: an Australian footy jersey signed by players from the prime minister’s XIII team.

I’m reliably informed it was the sixth straight victory for NSW over QLD, a dynasty now coming up on rivalling the famous Maroons victory streak starting in the mid-2000s. NSW rugby league captain Boyd Cordner and QLD legend Ben Hannant joined the respective teams as guest players, adding some athletic prowess to a star-studded roster of MPs from across the aisle.

Victorian MPs Josh Burns, Aaron Violi and Sam Birrell suited up for QLD, in another instalment in the long-running controversy where the Maroons will claim players from anywhere. They joined Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce, who combined dangerously around the ruck but couldn’t get over the line despite making a lot of noise.

For the Blues, a freshly shaven Dan Repacholi, Pat Conroy, Sam Rae, Sally Sitou and Matt Thistlethwaite kept their opponents scoreless. It was a tight game with few highlights but a lot of energy, with Kennedy and Joyce vocal on the sidelines as they barked orders to their teammates.

Shadow environment minister ‘won’t enter into ifs or buts’ over net zero speculation

Angie Bell, the shadow environment minister, has refused to answer if she considers it would be risky electorally for the Liberal party to dump the 2050 net zero target and oppose the proposed nature laws.

Appearing on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing a short time ago, Bell was asked how it could do both and remain a credible party on the environment.

Bell said:

Well, I think you are assuming what we will do. Neither of those things have actually been done at the moment. Both of those things are in train … I think it’s important that we look at where those two processes are up to.

It’s unfair [to say] that we are poised to do anything. We have another party room coming up outside of parliamentary sitting.

Bell was then asked: “If you were to say no to both, do you see that would be risky electorally?”

Bell responded:

I won’t enter into ifs or buts on that. We will continue with the process on both of those things.

Republicans accuse Pentagon officials of undermining Trump’s commitment to Aukus

Debate over America’s commitment to Aukus continues within that country’s fiercely contested domestic politics, with key Republican figures accusing Pentagon officials of an insufficient commitment to the deal.

The tripartite nuclear submarine deal – between the US, the UK and Australia – is the current subject of a Pentagon review, but received full-throated backing from the president during the Australian prime minister’s recent trip to the US: “We’re just going full steam ahead,” Donald Trump said last month.

Republicans on the influential Senate Armed Services committee told a hearing in Washington DC they were concerned that the Pentagon’s policy team, led by undersecretary of defence Elbridge Colby, was undermining the president’s defence agenda.

Senate committee chair Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, told the committee in a statement:

At times, Pentagon officials have pursued policies that are not in accord with President Trump’s orders.

I have been disappointed to see the president’s decisions apparently slow-walked or reversed at other points this year … the Aukus deal was cast into doubt despite the president’s strong support of the agreement – much to the surprise and dismay of Australia, one of our most steadfast allies.

Senator Dan Sullivan, Republican from Alaska, told a committee hearing that key decisions made by the Pentagon’s policy were “undermining what the president is trying to get done”. He said senior Pentagon figures were secretive and unaccountable:

I can’t even get a response, and we’re on your team!

The comments were made during a nominations hearing for a series of positions within the Department of Defense.

Greens say they will oppose Labor’s environment law changes in lower house

The Greens will vote against the government’s EPBC environmental laws in the lower house this week.

As reported yesterday, the party does not believe the legislation goes far enough to protect forests and address climate change, leaning too much towards mining and industry interests, but hasn’t ruled out amendments in the Senate.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young confirmed this afternoon the party “cannot support this package and will be voting against it in the House of Representatives”:

These laws have been criticised by every major environment and climate group, but welcomed by the likes of BHP, Chevron and the BCA. This shows exactly who the laws are written for.

It is now up to the Prime Minister to decide if he wants to again let mining and logging lobbyists and their political representatives like Roger Cook run the show, or if he wants to protect nature, forests and our climate.

The Greens have one member in the federal lower house: MP for the Queensland seat of Ryan, Elizabeth Watson-Brown.

Hello, I’ll now be with you until this evening.

Thank you all for following along on the blog with me today.

I’ll leave you with the lovely Jordyn Beazley, and will see you here bright and early tomorrow morning for the final sitting day of the fortnight.

Tl;dr here’s what happened in question time

• The opposition started out attacking the government on cost of living again, and we got very similar questions and very similar answers to what we’ve been hearing all week.

• Alex Hawke, Jim Chalmers and Tony Burke traded barbs over calling MPs “liars” in the chamber.

• Nicolette Boele asked Chalmers about tax incentives for food donation charities – there was no clear answer on whether the government would introduce them.

• The opposition then cited data from Foodbank to attack the government, which saw a prompt return serve from the PM who questioned their tactics committee and said the Coalition had stripped funding from the charity.

• Anthony Albanese was asked twice about a Labor backbencher’s media appearance, telling the public energy bills will dip 20% (on the second try we got an actual answer from him on where the figure had come from).

Hang in there folks – one more sitting day to go!

WA premier gives qualified support to federal environment law reforms

The Western Australian premier, Roger Cook, has given his conditional support for the Albanese government’s revised nature laws as he backs Murray Watt’s aim to pass them before Christmas.

Cook campaigned against federal Labor’s first attempt to reform the EPBC Act, joining forces with the state’s powerful mining lobby to pressure Anthony Albanese to sink the so-called Nature Positive Plan ahead of the May election.

The WA premier – who was preparing for his own state election at the time of that campaign – has adopted a far more conciliatory approach with the latest iteration.

In Canberra as part of a separate parochial fight to protect the state’s lucrative GST deal, Cook indicated he shared the mining industry’s concerns with a proposed new definition of “unacceptable impact” on the environment that, if met, would result in a project being immediately refused.

But Cook said he was confident the issue could be “overcome”, suggesting he believed Watt was open to revising the definition.

The premier said the WA government “had a little way to go before we’re in a position to endorse every aspect of [the bill]” but was adamant the bill should pass – and quickly.

We need the Greens and the Liberals to basically get on board. We can do this. We can produce legislation which both encourages industry and protects the environment, and I think it’s now is the time for the parliament to act.

Question time ends

After a final dixer to the infrastructure minister, Catherine King, question time is over for another day.

Just one to go for the fortnight!

Independent Dai Le asks about bulk-billing changes for mental health consultations

Back to the crossbench: Dai Le, who represents the western Sydney seat of Fowler, asks the government about concerns by GPs that the latest changes to Medicare bulk-billing, cutting Medicare items 2712 and 2713 – which are items for mental health consultations – “removes the flexibility to provide longer meaningful consultations for complex mental health cases.”

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has said that it’s also very concerned about these changes.

From 1 November, “key MBS mental health items will be scrapped, including item 2712 to review a mental health plan, and item 2713 for a mental health consultation longer than 20 minutes. Generic time-based items will be used for this care instead,” they said.

The health minister, Mark Butler, says “as far as I can tell” every GP practice in Fowler will be bulk-billing under the new funding changes. Le stands up on a point of order, to call on the minister to directly address the mental health items.

Milton Dick says it’s too early to say whether Butler is being relevant and tells him to continue. Butler says:

The College of GPs, increasingly they say the number-one issue that GPs are consulted about, about 70% of GPs report the number-one issue they consult about is mental health … the affordability of access to GPs is more important for mental health support than probably any other condition we can think of. I am surprised, frankly, that the member would minimise the impact of the record investment rolled out on Saturday for the access and affordability of mental health support and GPs. That was one of the overriding priorities when we designed the system that we rolled out on Saturday.

Albanese asked again about MP’s claim electricity prices will drop

The opposition have another go of trying to get Anthony Albanese to confirm whether energy prices will drop by 20% as Luke Gosling said in an interview on Sky News, this time asked by Nationals MP Anne Webster.

This time Albanese doesn’t take us down a long tangent, but whips his phone out and quotes from the Climate Change Authority’s advice to the government on the 2035 targets:

Expert analysis by the Australian energy market commission predicts residential electricity prices will fall by 13%, about 5c per kilowatt hour. Average household energy costs will fall by about 20%, around $1,000 a year over the next decade under a coordinated renewables rollout. That is the direct quote.

Dan Tehan stands up to make a point of order, but Milton Dick doesn’t even hear it and tells him to sit down. Albanese says Gosling was quoting that CCA report.

Katter asks agriculture minister about invasive weeds

Speaking of journeys, Bob Katter gets the next crossbench question, but he’s very serious today.

He asks the agriculture minister, Julie Collins, about what the government is doing about the prickly acacia and buffel grass, which he says the cattle industry is being overrun by.

Collins says the government will work with the states and territories.

Any future decisions on weed priorities including decisions on this one would be made collaboratively by all state and territory governments along with the commonwealth because as the member would be aware and territories are responsible for the management of pests … in their jurisdictions.

Albanese answers question about energy bills … kind of

Staying on energy, Liberal MP Simon Kennedy asks the PM if the member for Solomon, Luke Gosling’s “promise” on Sky News yesterday that there will be a 20% decrease in energy bills, is Labor policy.

Albanese goes on a real tangent in his answer – it’s quite the journey (and doesn’t really answer the question).

He starts by saying that no non-Coalition members go on Sky News (cue some chuckles) and then tries to quote previous work by Kennedy on net zero while he worked at McKinsey (which Albanese also did yesterday). Before he can get to those comments there’s a point of order, which is quickly shut down by Milton Dick.

Albanese then praises Sky News host Kieran Gilbert (who hosted the panel that Gosling and Kennedy were on), then talks about Gilbert coming to Apec, and then just talks about Apec.

Albanese then circles back to Kennedy’s net zero work at McKinsey, and says it’s the “hunger games” in the Coalition party room (a journey right?!)

I recommend to the member for Cook, if I can give him some advice, back in the former member for Cook [Scott Morrison]’s policy of net zero by 2050.

Bowen defends solar sharer program

Michael McCormack throws a question next to Chris Bowen on the government’s solar sharer program. He cites energy analyst Saul Kavonic, who describes the program as a “thought bubble”.

Bowen says McCormack “could have found a better expert”, as Kavonic has made several videos critical of Bowen and supporting an independent candidate in the minister’s seat of McMahon. “That’s how impartial he is,” Bowen says.

Bowen cites a bunch of other expert groups like Tim Buckley, the CEO of Clean Energy Finance who called the program “excellent”.

Chalmers asked about tax incentives for food bank donations

Over to the crossbench, the member for Bradfield, Nicolette Boele, asks the treasurer if he will legislate a national food donation tax incentive proposed by Foodbank that would “make it cheaper for food producers to donate excess food to those in need, reduce food waste and save taxpayer dollars”.

Jim Chalmers, who always takes an opportunity to have a dig at the Coalition, congratulates Boele for her “comprehensive victory” over the Liberal party in Bradfield.

Chalmers gives Foodbank a shoutout but doesn’t commit to a tax incentive. He says similar ideas have been previously canvassed and considered, including by a Senate inquiry.

We also know there is more than one way to help wonderful organisations doing the right thing by people in our local communities.

This government is providing additional $20m each year to help food and emergency relief organisations.

Chalmers accuses opposition of telling ‘egregious lies’ about government spending

Next up the shadow treasurer, Ted O’Brien, asks the prime minister if he will take responsibility for Jim Chalmers’ “spending spree”.

Chalmers gets up to answer the question (which was directed to the PM). “Clearly not” says O’Brien, who then gets a warning by the Speaker, Milton Dick, for continuing to interrupt after asking the question.

Chalmers starts with a dig, and says, “I’m pleased that the member for Fairfax has taken a brief break from undermining his own leader.”

He then accuses the opposition of making “egregious lies” about government spending.

Government spending was not mentioned by the Reserve Bank governor yesterday, it wasn’t mentioned in the board statement. And the only mention – the only mention in the detailed forecast which were released which were [to] downgrade their assumptions about government spending going forward. From time to time, reluctantly, it is on us to point out the egregious lies being told by those opposite about our economy.

Abortion remarks ‘unedifying’ and ‘unnecessary distraction’, Hume says

Earlier on Sky News today Jane Hume also weighed in on the four Liberal MPs who tied legislation to protect paid leave for the parents of a stillborn baby to late-term abortions.

Hume said she respects other views but, “let’s not use important legislation as a vehicle for personal crusades.”

I think that there was a bit of horror from many of the women in our party … this is a very serious and deeply personal issue.

I thought it was an unnecessary distraction and perhaps a bit of an error of judgment. I respect their views, they’re not my views, and I don’t think it was a particularly edifying moment for us.

Hume wouldn’t be drawn on whether the comments would impact Andrew Hastie’s leadership ambitions.

Liberal senator says ‘no challenge on’ against Sussan Ley as net zero emissions debate continues

Jonno Duniam has backed his leader as the public and private debate over the Liberal party’s energy policy and future leadership prospects continue.

Speaking to Sky News, the conservative senator says it’s been a “difficult time” for the party.

There is no challenge on, and Sussan Ley has, I think, led this debate very well … Sussan has been very constructive and conciliatory about this, and managed to enable us to have our say in a robust way.

On the net zero issue, Duniam says there will be an “element” of the National’s policy to tie emissions reduction in Australia to OECD nations.

Asked about whether the party should keep a commitment to net zero by the end of the century, Duniam says:

I think that what has happened in this debate is there’s been a lot of wrapping ourselves up in or tying ourselves up in knots about a particular element of this.

They talk about doing what our neighbours do, or at least the OECD equivalents do, in terms of emissions reductions. There will be an element of that in our policy, how it’s framed up. I’ll allow Dan Tehan, when this process is concluded, along with Sussan Ley, to speak about [it].

Greens to lead Senate inquiry into capital gains tax discount

The Greens will lead a Senate select committee inquiry into the capital gains tax discount, after a successful motion by senator Nick McKim on Tuesday.

The investor tax break, introduced in 1999, delivers a 50% tax discount on the capital gains made from selling an asset which had been held for longer than 12 months.

The CGT, in conjunction with negative gearing rules, has been blamed for fuelling rampant speculation on housing which has contributed to soaring home prices and today’s affordability crisis.

Like a similar inquiry into the stage 3 tax cuts before they were remodelled, the Greens inquiry will also highlight the inequity of tax rules that disproportionately benefits wealthier Australians.

Parliamentary Budget Office analysis commissioned by the progressive party shows that 65% of the forgone revenue from the CGT discount in 2024-25 went to the top 5% of earners.

In comparison, 36% of the benefits from the original stage 3 tax cuts – which were judged to be too favourable to the rich – would have gone to the top 5% of earners.

The committee is due to report back on 17 March.

Sydney peace prize ‘disappointed’ Wong declined meeting with laureate

The Sydney peace prize has said it’s “disappointed” foreign minister Penny Wong would not meet with former UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, the prize laureate who addressed the National Press Club on Tuesday.

Pillay was the first non-white judge in South Africa’s high court, served as a judge of the international criminal court, and is a former chair of the UN’s Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Territory of Palestine and Israel.

Director of the Sydney peace prize, Melanie Morrison, told Guardian Australia they had reached out to Wong’s office in August to arrange a meeting. They said that after several follow ups, Wong’s office said the minister was unavailable. Morrison said:

As a matter of course, given the calibre of this years’ laureate, it’s disappointing the meeting was declined by the foreign minister’s office.

Instead, Pillay met with the assistant foreign minister, Matt Thistlethwaite, the government confirmed, with an adviser from Wong’s office present.

Morrison said Pillay also had a meeting with the department of foreign affairs and the ambassador for gender equality on Monday.

Opposition accuses Labor of ‘rushing’ nature legislation

Liberal MP Julian Leeser is now responding to the prime minister on the nature laws. He said:

This bill doesn’t make small changes or amendments. It’s almost 1,500 pages of legislation and explanatory materials that reaches into every corner of the economy that builds, digs, grows and manufactures.

He accused the government of rushing the bill, saying “the Senate has already had to step in and refer it to an inquiry”. He continued:

This matters because rushing this legislation will have real consequences for Australians.

Minister Plibersek attempted to make these reforms in the last parliament, they were withdrawn under internal pressure. Labor promised an Environment Protection Agency at two elections, and four years on, it hasn’t delivered what it promised.

Staying with Albanese for a moment, who is speaking now about the nature laws in the lower house.

He said a littler earlier:

This bill is about driving better, clearer and speedier decision making, making it easier to get an answer from government sooner, a quicker yes or a quicker no. Providing that certainty is the key to encourage investment in our economy. And every bit as important as encouraging investment in our economy is ensuring there’s a better system of protections for Australia’s precious and unique natural environment.

He later said:

They can talk about the problem, or they can vote for the solution. That is the choice that will be before the senate.

I say this to the opposition and to the Greens political party. This is good for jobs, good for industry, but it’s also good for the environment.

Here’s a video of federal communications minister, Anika Wells, talking about the under-16s social media ban a short time ago.

Could Roblox be added to the social media ban for under 16s?

Jumping back to that press conference with Anika Wells and eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant, while Roblox has not yet been added to the list of banned platforms, Inman Grant said it’s “on the line”.

As we brought to you earlier, the eSafety commissioner said the list of platforms is “dynamic” while Wells said this morning the legislation isn’t “set and forget”.

Inman Grant also brought up a few elements of the Roblox platform that are of concern to her.

[The list] will always change and we’ve told companies, so for instance Roblox, as was just mentioned, some of these companies when we did the assessment were very much, what I would say, on the line. So we had to put our minds to what is the sole and significant purpose – online gaming, right? But there’s chat functionality in the US, they’ve launched a program called Moments, which is very much like stories, which is online social interaction.

We will be watching as well and if they start rolling out features that look more like they’re becoming a social media company than an online gaming company, then we will seek to capture them.

Cook defends WA’s GST take

WA, which has declared itself as having the strongest economy in the nation, also gets a phenomenally generous take of the GST carve-up between states and territories.

Economists such as Saul Eslake have been advocating to change the Morrison-era deal that put a floor under WA’s GST take and will give the state an extra $60bn in tax revenue over the next decade.

Roger Cook tells ABC RN Breakfast that while his state only represents 11% of the nation, it contributes 45% of the nation’s exports, and is the “biggest contributor to the nation’s GDP.”

Prior to the actual deal that was done to preserve our 75% floor of the GST share, we saw Western Australia’s contribution to the other states reach almost 90%. That is, we just retained 11% of our GST. Now in WA we utilise that revenue to ensure that we can develop the economic infrastructure, create the sort of frameworks and the regulation for the industry which ultimately pays significant resources to the commonwealth and other states through company tax and other measures.

Host Sally Sara pushes back, saying Eslake argues that private industry provides a lot of that infrastructure, but Cook says the state government provides the roads, water and port infrastructure.

WA premier says Coalition ‘failing the big moral challenge of our time’

Western Australian premier Roger Cook is in town this week as the government tries to gain support for its environment protection reforms (that political followers will know the WA government was not a fan of last time around).

It’s part of the reason why Murray Watt made WA his first visit as a newly sworn in environment minister to get the state on side.

Cook spoke to ABC RN Breakfast a little earlier this morning and said he “commend[s]”
Watt’s work.

I believe we can do this. We have obviously met with environmental groups and with our big resource companies and other members of our industry in Western Australia all the time. They’re encouraged by the progress that’s been made. Obviously, there’s still elements of the legislation that they want to see addressed, but I think there’s a great sense of consensus and collaboration at the moment to see if we can find that space, which creates the balance, the balance between encouraging industry but also protecting the environment.

Asked to weigh in on the other big issue of the week – net zero – Cook says the Coalition are “failing the big moral challenge of our time”, and would be “very concerned” if the Libs go down the same path as the Nats on scrapping net zero altogether.

They’re quite frankly just starting to retreat to the extremes of the political spectrum. They need to come back to the centre … And I think we should all get round the joint and global consensus position of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

FoI bill returns to house for debate after government ‘sees the light’, says Coalition

After the opposition kicked up a stink yesterday on the government’s attempt to move the controversial freedom of information bill to the smaller federation chamber, the government has brought back the debate to the house.

Talk about a procedure-heavy day today!

The chief opposition whip, Aaron Violi, who yesterday tried to table a list of 16 opposition speakers who were going to miss out on being able to debate the bill in the house, is the first to speak today (his tabling request was rejected FYI).

It’s nice that this bill has returned to the house today, the manager of business [Tony Burke] saw this light.

Independent MP Zali Steggall, who has been a staunch critic of the bill, is also speaking on it.

This bill was drafted without consultation, introduced without transparency, and designed in a way that rewards secrecy. At a time when public trust in government is already low, this legislation seeks to make it harder for Australians to access information and easier for government to hide it. This is not reform, this is regression.

eSafety commissioners working with Silicon Valley to combat workarounds to avoid age-verification detection

Wells has been upfront that this isn’t a catch-all, impenetrable wall that will end all access for under-16s to social media.

But Inman Grant says they are working with the platforms to combat potential workarounds such as VPNs and the use of AI to avoid age-verification detection.

The eSafety commissioner says she has gone to Silicon Valley and spoken to all the platforms and they’ve given her some reassurances.

We have extensive requirements we place back on the platforms themselves to prevent circumvention so location-based circumvention in terms of the use of VPNs.

We know generative AI, a mask or graphics from platforms can be used to spoof AI or age-verification systems and we’ve given them very specific specifications as to how we think they should tackle and they’ve given us comfort that this is something that they can do and what they will do in these cases.

The long Senate question time looks to be over (for now)

The government is trying to end the extra question time questions in the Senate, and while it claims the government board appointments report is still before cabinet (so can’t be released yet), the finance minister, Katy Gallagher, says she’ll give the finance and public administration committee a briefing on the report “in camera” (ie in private).

The motion states that the Senate resolves the order for the production of a document into the jobs for mates report “has been satisfactorily complied with” and end those extra questions. Gallagher says:

I am hopeful that this offer of a briefing finds that interim step before we are in a position to release that document once cabinet has finished considering it we would expect that to be … before the end of this year.

The shadow home affairs minister, Jonno Duniam, moves an amendment to Gallagher’s motion, which – if the government does not satisfactorily keep its promise of the briefing and providing that report by 31 December 2025 – would resume the extra questions and makes public service minister attend Senate every sitting morning to explain the failure to comply.

We want that document tabled and in order to ensure it is provided as the government has promised it would.

The Greens are not happy and are basically calling it a stitch-up between the major parties.

The senator who started it all, David Pocock tries to amend the hand-in date for that report to the Monday of the final sitting week, 24 November, to stop the government “burying it” and releasing it on Christmas Eve, and says he has serious concerns about the motion, and the amendment.

There’s a growing number of people concerned about what is promised by major parties in opposition and what is deliverd in government, and I think transparency is one of the issues that cuts to the core of it. Today’s motion, I think, is a concern.

Ted O’Brien is trying to make ‘Jimflation’ happen

Liberal deputy leader and shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien has been prosecuting Labor’s spending and accusing federal treasurer Jim Chalmers of going on a “spending spree” with the budget.

On Sky News earlier this morning, he said again that spending is leading to the higher inflation rate seen last week, which was followed by the Reserve Bank’s decision yesterday to keep interest rates on hold.

O’Brien’s also been trying to call it the “Jimflation” effect.

We’ve heard from the [RBA] governor yesterday, and she made it very clear that if you look even into next year, a headline inflation will peak around 3.7% now what’s the RBA aiming for? What do they want, 2.5%, it’s going to peak at 3.7% next year. This is the problem, it’s all about inflation, it’s all about Jim Chalmers, it’s all about the Jimflation effect.

O’Brien says the government needs to introduce quantifiable fiscal rules to limit budget spending and reduce reliance on personal income tax.

Word in the corridor has it the O’Brien team has even created “Jimflation” stickers.

Paterson says debate on stillborn bill should be ‘measured’ and ‘respectful’

Jumping back to James Paterson’s interview on RN Breakfast, the senator was also asked about the comments by conservative Liberal MPs linking a bill to enforce parental leave payments for parents of a stillborn baby with late-term abortions.

Paterson, who is a conservative, says his party supported the bill and while Andrew Hastie and others “raised questions” about the bill, they didn’t vote against it or move amendments.

He says people should be allowed to raise questions, but debate should conducted in a way that is “measured, that is calm, that is respectful, that understands the sensitivities that exist.”

Conscience issues relating to life and death are some of the most difficult issues that parliaments have to deal with. I think we want to live in a country where people can respectfully raise questions like that …

If you read Andrew Hastie’s speech, I think it is a measured, calm, and respectful speech. He asks a question about a potential unintended consequence of the bill, but he does so in a way that’s mindful of the genuine and heartfelt feelings that many people have.

Liberals to decide on net zero and climate position in next fortnight

Sussan Ley says she will convene the Liberal party in the next fortnight to finally decide on a net zero and climate position, after weeks of uncertainty over their position and pressure from the Nationals and right-wing Liberals to dump the 2050 target.

Speaking on Channel Seven’s Sunrise this morning, Ley said:

The Liberal party room will meet sooner rather than later, certainly before Parliament resumes after this week and we will come to a position.

Parliament rises at the end of Thursday and will return on 24 November, meaning Ley has indicated a policy position within the next two weeks.

Ley said her party “will come to its own decision in our own party room exactly as I said we would”, and said she is “listening to my colleagues”.

Many Liberal MPs expect the final position to be a dumping or significant watering-down of the Coalition’s current net zero by 2050 commitment - but Ley would also likely face strong questioning and disappointment from moderate MPs, who supported her in the leadership ballot, if she were to cave in to the right-wing of her party.

Asked about whether the Coalition could stay together, Ley said:

Liberal and National parties are stronger together as a Coalition because we both equally want to fight this awful Labor government.

Paterson’s ‘very, very strong preference’ is for Coalition to remain

James Paterson, shadow finance minister and a senior member of the Liberals’ leadership group, says the Libs and the Nats should stay together.

Speaking to ABC RN Breakfast a little earlier, Paterson said the party should try to avoid the fate of 1987 when the Coalition last split. But, he says, that’s not to say the Coalition should stick together if under all circumstances.

It’s self-evidently a true statement that if the Liberal party and National party views are completely irreconcilable, then we couldn’t be in Coalition. But it is my very, very strong preference that we remain in Coalition because we cannot form a government without being in Coalition with the National party … When Liberal and National parties do not run in Coalition, the 1987 election is not widely remembered as a great success for either the Liberal or National parties, and we should all be determined to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

Asked about Sussan Ley’s leadership prospects, and her confidence that she’ll remain leader until the end of the year, Paterson says her confidence is warranted and he “strongly supports” her leadership.

Police charge twelve people after Sydney defence expo protest

Twelve people have been charged after an allegedly violent confrontation between New South Wales police and protesters outside a state government-sponsored defence conference in Sydney yesterday.

Police officers and protesters were allegedly injured after both claimed they were “set upon” at Palestine Action Group’s demonstration outside the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Darling Harbour, amid criticism that Israel’s largest weapons companies were attending the event.

In a statement, NSW police said they arrested 15 people during the protest, two of whom were later released without charge. A 33-year-old man has also been released without charge, pending further inquiries.

The 12 people charged include:

• A 27-year-old man charged with refusing or failing to comply with direction and assaulting a police officer without actual bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear before court today.

• A 26-year-old woman charged with four counts of assaulting police. She was refused bail to appear before court today.

• A 26-year-old man charged with hindering or resisting a police officer and refusing or failing to comply with direction. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing centre local court on 3 December.

• A 28-year-old man charged with assaulting a police officer without actual bodily harm. He was granted conditional bail to appear before court on 11 December.

• Four people charged with refusing or failing to comply with direction, who were granted conditional bail before hearings in December.

• Two men aged 23 and 34, and a 32-year-old woman were charged with hindering police and were granted conditional bail before hearings on 11 November.

• A 33-year-old man was charged with using offensive language near a public place. He was granted conditional bail before a hearing on 11 December.

Ley digs in on argument that she’s never supported ‘net zero at any cost’

Sussan Ley is continuing her media rounds this morning, speaking to ABC News Breakfast, defending the separate policy processes between the Liberals and Nationals.

The Liberal leader digs in on her argument that she’s never supported “net zero at any cost” when asked whether she’s prepared to dump the target to save her leadership.

There are a lot of different opinions in our party room. I said I wouldn’t make captains calls. I’m doing exactly what I said I would do. And actually, the process has been good. Can I tell you? It’s allowed us to come together, it’s allowed us to talk not just to each other, but to industry and experts.

Host, James Glenday, retorts saying Coalition members have also been talking to journalists about how split the parties are.

Ley says “that’s ok”.

Colleagues are talking about their passionate views on this subject, as they should, and if they talk to journalists, that’s okay, because they’re expressing their passionately held views. Now, journalists can draw the conclusions they want about the things that you’ve described, but it is really important that we do get this right.

‘More room for movement’ ahead of social media ban

The government has announced two new platforms being added to the social media ban for under-16s including Reddit and Kick.

But there are other platforms, like Roblox, which has previously sparked concerns over children on the platform accessing inappropriate content – that have not been included in the ban.

On ABC News Breakfast, communications minister Anika Wells says the legislation is not “set and forget” and more platforms could be added to the ban ahead of the start date.

With respect to the list, I know, for example, Twitch is still currently being assessed by the Safety Commissioner, so there will still be room for movement as we move into 10 December.

Housing minister says 5% home deposit scheme not contributing to property price growth

The housing minister, Clare O’Neil, is defending the government’s 5% home deposit scheme, and has said it’s not a main driver of the latest rise in house prices.

Sparring with Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie this morning, O’Neil says house price growth has been a problem for 40 years and “we ultimately have to build more homes quickly”.

I’ll release some numbers soon which show the government’s changes to the 5% deposit program are not the primary driver of what’s going on in home building … I think it’s not accurate to blame this on a policy that started four weeks ago.

McKenzie says the deposit scheme will mean “first time buyers are saddled with more debt”, and also throws some blame to immigration levels (while the Liberals have tried to somewhat tone down their language around immigration – they’re still drawing a link between immigration rates and increasing house prices).

Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.

It’s going to be another busy sitting day, so let’s get straight into it!

Asio chief speaks about China

Mike Burgess also made some more off-the-cuff remarks about China in his appearance at the Lowy.

Asked about a reported visit to Beijing in 2023 (Burgess would not confirm or deny the trip), Burgess said he spoke regularly with intelligence agencies from hostile countries. Asio has relationships with more than 351 civilian and military intelligence agencies in 124 countries, he said.

He said of China:

I did not mention China … but how do you know I wasn’t talking about things China did in my remarks?

We all spy on each other. But we don’t conduct wholesale intellectual property theft, we don’t interfere in political systems, and we don’t undertake high-harm activity.