Coalition

Follow the day’s news liveDigital duty of care bill risks ‘malicious compliance’, say GreensGreens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the government’s digital duty of care legislation is too vague on whether it allows users to opt-in or opt-out of algorithms, and says that risks manipulation or malicious compliance by the platforms.It’s neither opt-in nor opt-out. And what I’m concerned about is how the tech platforms will manipulate that. Unless the rules are tight, unless there’s no gaps, big tech is going to spend a lot of money fighting these laws in the first place and finding every which way to get around them. Malicious compliance at best.I think the fines element is one of those areas that I think is just not good enough … you need to hit them really where it hurts, and that’s their revenue. So it should be a percentage of global revenue.I don’t know whether this is deliberate misinformation by the opposition leader or he just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He hasn’t really spent much time engaging on these issues. Either way, it’s wrong. Continue reading...

• Labor frontbencher Mark Butler rejected Coalition claims that a proposed opt-out algorithm for social media feeds amounts to censorship. • The plan is part of digital duty of care legislation that aims to give Australians more choice over the content they see online. • This policy affects how social media companies curate user feeds and whether users can disable automated recommendation systems.

Policy unveiled on Sunday would create new criminal offences for flag burning and defacing historical monuments, and legislate 26 January as Australia DayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesSign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter hereAngus Taylor has rejected claims the Coalition’s push to criminalise burning of the Australian flag is an attempt to undercut One Nation, insisting penalties of up to a year in prison are necessary to “stand up for our country”.The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, has previously called for criminal penalties for flag burning, with a petition by the party attracting approximately 50,000 signatures last year.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...

• Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) has joined the SPUR Coalition as an associate member to combat the unpaid use of its original reporting by AI companies. • The move aims to establish a fair, rules-based relationship with AI firms that have historically benefited from the newsroom's journalism without providing compensation. • This action highlights a growing industry-wide effort by news organizations to protect intellectual property and secure sustainable revenue streams in the age of generative AI.

Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan claim drastic cut to price of cigarettes and moves to legalise vapes will combat illicit tobacco tradeLeading public health experts, the Australian Medical Association and Labor have rejected Angus Taylor’s plan to cut tobacco excise by 80%, labelling the move to curb soaring illegal cigarette sales as a backward step on tobacco control.Taylor and Nationals leader Matt Canavan on Thursday announced plans for an 80% cut to excise, as well as moves to legalise and regulate vapes and nicotine pouches. The announcement comes weeks after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson proposed a 75% cut. Continue reading...

Jenny Ware, member of inquiry that recommended wagering advertising ban, says ‘public health crisis’ demands stronger response from major partiesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former Liberal MP Jenny Ware has condemned her one-time Coalition colleagues for backing Labor’s gambling legislation, claiming “vulnerable Australians have been let down”, as the parliament failed to back a full ban on wagering ads.Ware, a member of the Peta Murphy-led inquiry in 2023 that recommended entirely ending wagering advertising and inducements, called gambling a public health crisis that demanded a much stronger response from both sides of politics. Continue reading...

Bill passed Senate on Wednesday evening and is due back in lower house today. Follow today’s news liveFollow our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.The government’s controversial NDIS bill will pass the lower house today after it went through the Senate last night. The health minister, Mark Butler, said 63 government amendments across both houses were introduced to win the Coalition’s support for the government’s changes, aimed at reining in spending. Continue reading...

David Pocock says legislation still includes ‘indiscriminate cut’ impacting thousands of participants but will pass lower house on WednesdayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe government’s controversial NDIS bill will pass after “substantial” amendments were agreed to in a deal between Labor and the Coalition, with some of the changes attracting heavy criticism from the Greens, the ACT senator David Pocock and the disability community.Sixty-three government amendments across both houses were introduced as part of backroom deals to pass the bill in the upper house on Tuesday night, the NDIS ministers, Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister, revealed. Continue reading...

Senior colleagues dismiss Bragg’s migration figures as ‘personal views’ while others say critical response is an ‘overreaction’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLiberal senator Andrew McLachlan has publicly backed Andrew Bragg and urged colleagues to “follow his lead” after a public speech that has split colleagues and triggered a rebuke from opposition leader, Angus Taylor.At the National Press Club on Wednesday, Bragg announced a policy to slash the national construction code and suggested net overseas migration should be dropped from the current level of about 300,000 to below 180,000 a year to keep pace with new housing builds. Continue reading...

Proposal to cut building costs by scrapping the construction code would increase bills for the poorest households, critics sayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Coalition plan to abolish compulsory energy standards for new homes that help reduce people’s exposure to heat and cold has been criticised by advocates as a “cost-of-living timebomb” that would deepen inequality.The opposition’s housing and environment spokesperson, Andrew Bragg, said a Coalition government would cut the National Construction Code from more than 2,000 pages to 80, and strip away all requirements for new homes beyond demanding they were “basic and safe”. Longstanding compulsory energy and accessibility measures would become “optional extras”. Continue reading...

Policy comes as debate continues over causes of and solutions to housing issues. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAre the Coalition 100% set on cutting net overseas migration to 180,000?Despite Andrew Bragg’s speech being sent to the media overnight, this morning the shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, doesn’t seem to want to lock in the 180,000 net overseas migration target.I don’t think you should bank that at all. Let’s just wait and see, firstly, what Senate Bragg’s saying in his speech and we haven’t made an announcement about where we’re going to be going into the next election, but our focus is actually about what we need to do to invest in the long-term growth and success of our country.A NOM reduction on this scale is manageable and in line with reductions we have managed in recent history – for example in 2009-2010 when the NOM declined from 300,000 to 175,000 in around 18 months.This will be achieved through a higher share of skilled migrant workers linked to jobs that meet Australian industry needs. This includes more reductions in other streams like family, international students and other temporary migrants. Continue reading...

Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan will support Pauline Hanson’s migration bill despite vowing to fight her rightwing partyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Coalition will back a plan by Pauline Hanson to prevent Australian citizens with links to overseas terrorist groups from returning home, significantly elevating One Nation’s policy prescriptions on matters of national security.Despite pledging to fight Hanson’s insurgent rightwing movement amid collapsing support for their own parties, the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, and Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, both signalled support for One Nation’s bill to bar the return of foreign fighters ahead of its introduction to the Senate on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Some Liberal and National MPs warned against over-regulation in party room discussion, while others argued for more stringent rulesCoalition MPs have warned the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, not to overreach in talks with Anthony Albanese on Labor’s gambling advertising crackdown, insisting rules that are too stringent would not strike the right balance on personal responsibility.The prime minister and the opposition leader continued talks on Tuesday over a deal to advance Labor’s legislation to limit online gambling advertising, with betting inducements and more restrictions on advertising hours among possible avenues for movement. Continue reading...

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signaled a willingness to take action against gambling advertisement inducements to secure legislative progress. • This strategic move is designed to win the support of the Coalition for the government's proposed gambling law reforms. • The initiative matters as it addresses the controversial use of incentives in gambling ads, which has been a point of contention in federal policy.

Prime minister and opposition leader meet in Canberra to advance agreement on gambling advertising Anthony Albanese has bowed to pressure and will limit gambling inducements as part of a deal between Labor and Angus Taylor, even as some Liberals warn it might not do enough to help vulnerable people.The prime minister and the opposition leader met in Canberra on Monday to negotiate the deal, a week after sensational revelations about illegal drugs, sex workers and alcohol being provided to high-spending gamblers. Continue reading...

• Boris Pervushin argues that the current "coalition of willing" European politicians supporting Ukraine is operating against domestic public sentiment. • The support structure faces significant pressure in the coming year as voters in Italy, Poland, Spain, and Germany prioritize their own standard of living over the conflict in the East. • This shift is critical because the debate over funding Ukraine is evolving from a geopolitical strategic issue into a matter of electoral survival for European elites.

• A source close to the Saudi army stated on August 7 that the coalition will not "stand idly by" in response to ongoing Houthi attacks in Yemen. • The United States has imposed sanctions on an unlicensed multi-state cryptocurrency exchange for allegedly processing millions of dollars for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). • In Israel, reports indicate the government revoked entry permits for U.S. Jews who volunteered with Palestinians, while former official Horowitz criticized the Prime Minister's Office for eroding judicial checks and balances.

Despite reports the PM wants Labor’s bill to be passed in full or withdrawn, Anika Wells insists she is prepared to negotiateFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor will face strong opposition from gambling giants if it accedes to Coalition and Greens demands for a tough new ban on financial inducements for betting, part of closely watched Senate dealmaking expected within days.Despite reports on Thursday that the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, could insist Labor’s bill to limit advertising for online sports betting be passed in full or be withdrawn, the communications minister, Anika Wells, insisted she was prepared to negotiate. Continue reading...

Sarah Henderson says bill ignores gambling inducements, uniting parties and independents against controversial legislationFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor will be forced to make major changes to its planned crackdown on online gambling advertising, as the Coalition, Greens and independents demand tougher rules to stop betting companies offering generous inducements as well as further limits on broadcast ads.After a two-day inquiry including sensational evidence that gambling companies allegedly provided illegal drugs and access to sex workers to keep problem gamblers betting, the Coalition confirmed on Wednesday afternoon it would seek “crucial amendments” before agreeing to support the government’s legislation. Continue reading...

• Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition suffered a significant electoral defeat in Negeri Sembilan, driven by a surge in Malay unity. • The results reflect growing disillusionment with Anwar's leadership and a shift toward Sabah-based parties and regional autonomy. • Political analysts warn that if UMNO and PAS maintain their alliance, PH risks being marginalized and confined to urban strongholds.

PM’s vocational model also takes inspiration from former education secretary Kenneth Baker’s visionAndy Burnham’s plans to put academic and technical education routes on an equal footing in England have been welcomed by many, but none were more enthusiastic than the former Conservative minister Kenneth Baker.“I’m very impressed with what he has said,” the 91-year-old former education secretary, home secretary and Conservative party chair told the Guardian. “It’s a very significant announcement. I’m going to try to persuade the Conservative party to support this.” Continue reading...

• The European Council on Foreign Relations proposes a "Team Enlargement" coalition consisting of ten EU member states to accelerate the accession of Ukraine and other candidate nations. • The group includes diverse interests: France, Germany, and the Netherlands focus on rule of law; Austria and Italy lead Western Balkans efforts; Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, and Sweden prioritize eastern security; and Hungary represents a complex outlier. • This coalition is designed to create a unified political front to overcome internal bloc divisions and provide a plausible framework for member states to present to their respective electorates.

• The Israeli coalition passed a law significantly reducing the powers of the Attorney General, allowing government ministers to reject legal positions that were previously binding. • The legislation grants the government effective control over the appointment of the Attorney General, which critics describe as the "cornerstone" of a broader judicial overhaul. • MK Kariv and other critics argue the move shatters democratic checks and balances, placing the government above the rule of law and risking the fairness of future elections.

GenCost report contradicts parties’ claims about abandoning emissions target, and finds nuclear would be most expensive way to generate powerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastClaims by the Coalition and One Nation that abandoning a net zero climate target would bring down power prices are contradicted in a new CSIRO report on the costs of generating electricity.Generation costs will probably rise after 2030 regardless of Australia’s policy on net zero, according to the CSIRO’s annual GenCost report, but prices should then stabilise at levels below recent price spikes. Continue reading...

Ukraine and nine other countries including UK issue joint statement as leaders meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy in ParisUkraine and nine other countries including the UK, Germany and France are to build a shared protection programme for Europe against ballistic missiles, using Kyiv’s experience in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion for more than four years.“Our goal is to build a shared ballistic missile defence capability for Europe,” the 10 nations said in a statement on Monday as leaders met the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for talks in Paris. Continue reading...

• UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has joined French President Emmanuel Macron and leaders from eight other nations, including Ukraine, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, to form an integrated air defence coalition. • The alliance focuses on establishing a comprehensive anti-ballistic missile architecture designed to deter and defeat future missile threats through collective technological and industrial cooperation. • This partnership matters as it signals a unified European effort to enhance regional security and strengthen the continent's defensive capabilities against sophisticated missile attacks.

He should be upping pressure on the government over the second major telco breakdown in 12 months, but Angus Taylor can’t stop scoring own goalsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAs the government was being questioned over the regulation of telcos and the latest massive Telstra outage, the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, was being asked about communications failures of a different kind: his own, and those of his ministerial team.Millions of phone connections around the country went out for hours on Wednesday. Trains ground to a halt, Eftpos transactions went blank, hundreds of triple zero calls failed and welfare checks were being urgently carried out. The bulk of the fault lies with Telstra. But there are important questions to answer about whether the critical telecommunications sector is being appropriately regulated, and whether the government has learned from last year’s devastating Optus outage and made the necessary changes. Continue reading...

Anthony Albanese mocks ructions on conservative side of politics and says three rightwing parties are caught up in ‘race to the bottom’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLiberal frontbencher Dan Tehan says he does not want to be in a rightwing coalition with One Nation, despite senior colleagues urging closer ties with Pauline Hanson and polls suggesting her rise will make it difficult for the opposition party to ever govern in its own right again.Prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Sunday mocked the Liberal, National and One Nation parties as an “axis of grievance” on the conservative side of politics, but Tehan said a formal alliance was not being discussed among his colleagues. Continue reading...