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From 5h ago Opposition continues pressure over golf club grant The manager of opposition business in the house , Dan Tehan returns and asks the prime minister to “stop the spin and admit he was wrong”. It’s met with much grumblings from the government benches and the speaker, Milton Dick, asks Tehan to refer to a point, saying he does not want to set a precedent where “you can just do a statement, and then that’s a question”. Anthony Albanese answers: double quotation mark After we made the commitment to the club which included fixing this issue - which has been an issue since 1947 - the state government have stepped in.
That is a good thing. Anthony Albanese responds during today’s question time. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Key events 2h ago What we learned today, Tuesday 27 October 2h ago Bridget McKenzie says she fears MPs will ‘retreat from the public square’ following alleged attack on Haines 2h ago Anne Aly says politicians interacting with public 'cornerstone of our Australian democracy' 4h ago Tl;dr here’s what happened in question time 4h ago Labor’s Peter Khalil ejected after interrupting Angus Taylor’s question 4h ago Speaker urges MPs to ‘remember why we’re here’ and not to fall back into ‘bad habits’ 5h ago Opposition continues pressure over golf club grant 5h ago Dan Tehan demands ‘straight answer’ from PM over $6m golf club grant 5h ago Question time begins 7h ago PM’s ‘swift response’ on MP safety may include duress alarms and polling booth security 8h ago Shoebridge calls for ‘ethical Australian AI’ after cyber threat warning 9h ago Payman asks if PM is ‘waiting for what happened to Helen Haines’ to occur again 11h ago Farrer independent spent $1.7m on byelection campaign, electoral returns show 12h ago Former Rio Tinto boss to lead defence procurement watchdog 12h ago Lambie says Hanson hasn’t personally apologised over cartoon What we learned today, Tuesday 27 October That’s where we’ll leave our live coverage for today.
Here’s a recap on the day’s top stories: Anthony Albanese has promised a “swift government response” to ensure safety for MPs, saying politicians and their staff have put up with threats for too long as he floated the provision of duress alarms for political offices. Dan Tehan has attempted to summon the prime minister to answer questions about the $6m grant to the Marrickville golf club, accusing the PM of misleading the parliament on the purpose of the grant . Jacqui Lambie said Pauline Hanson hasn’t personally apologised to her yet over her party’s “Please Explain” cartoon that poked fun at her medical condition.
Hanson has publicly apologised for the cartoon. Former mining boss Kellie Parker will lead the new defence agency overseeing the delivery of projects worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Fatima Payman clashed with Labor ministers during a late-night Senate estimates hearing and has accused the prime minister of being “petty” by not granting her additional staff members after she defected from Labor in 2024.
Greens leader David Shoebridge said a report from the Australian Signals Directorate about AI threats to online infrastructure highlights the need for investment in another option. For those who missed it, here’s a tl;dr on what happened in question time . Thanks for sticking around, see you tomorrow!
Bridget McKenzie says she fears MPs will ‘retreat from the public square’ following alleged attack on Haines The Nationals’ Senate leader, Bridget McKenzie , said she has considering increasing security in her office following the alleged attack on Helen Haines. Speaking on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, McKenzie said: double quotation mark What’s happened to Helen makes our democracy all the more precious, and the need for all of us to actually work to protect it. I guess as MPs, we’re very concerned about our staff who often bear the brunt of the abusive phone calls, et cetera.
She said she also worries that justified security concerns could change how politicians engage with the public: double quotation mark I think what I’m concerned about is that we will retreat from the public square, that people like me will be asked to not be as robust in my prosecution of the issues I care about and the communities that sent me to Canberra. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Anne Aly says politicians interacting with public 'cornerstone of our Australian democracy' Anne Aly has revealed she already has duress alarms in her office and home.
The Labor minister’s comments came after the prime minister earlier today floated providing duress alarms for political offices as part of a “swift government response” to improve safety for MPs. Speaking to ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Aly said: double quotation mark I have had [a duress alarm] for a while, a personal one as well as in my office and in my home ... anything that gives people that kind of that sense of security and safety and certainty, that if they are confronted in a place where you don’t expect to be confronted, you could be out walking your dog or you could be out buying bread and milk, that there is a way that they can then alert the agencies to their predicament. Aly added she would not like to see fear of violence bring an end to MPs’ public appearance. double quotation mark It’s a really unique feature of our democracy, actually, that our politicians, our members are so accessible to the public, that we can go out there and interact with the public.
And we need to be able to do that in order to represent them. We can’t represent people that we don’t meet, that we don’t know, that we don’t talk to. I know that every single member of this parliament wants to be able to continue doing that because it really is a cornerstone of our Australian democracy.
Labor MP Anne Aly during question time on Tuesday. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Western Australian government sets out ambitious renewable targets for state’s electricity grid Australia’s mining state will pursue an ambitious renewable energy target, as it attempts to drive down soaring energy costs and boost business investment, AAP reports. Western Australia’s government wants 75% of electricity in the state’s south-west grid to be generated from renewables by 2030/31.
The premier, Roger Cook , says the so-called affordable energy plan will put “maximum downward pressure on energy bills”. He told reporters on Tuesday: double quotation mark Without our plan for affordable energy, energy prices for businesses could increase by 89% by 2032. Delivering affordable energy to businesses is a fundamental part of my government’s objectives to diversify WA’s economy and create more jobs.
The plan also includes more support for households to invest in solar, batteries and electric vehicles; and continued support for WA’s domestic gas reservation policy and gas production. Cook said: double quotation mark Ask any WA household that has solar panels or batteries, they will tell you solar is the cheapest energy that is available. Without the plan, we’ll be reliant on ageing coal-fired power stations, and that is just not the way of the future.
Western Australia premier Roger Cook. Photograph: Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Global Citizen Achol Arok Good afternoon! I’ll be here to steer you through this arvo’s news.
Kat Wong That’s all from me today! My colleague Achol Arok will take you through updates this afternoon. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (photo ops) ...
In case you missed it, Christmas came a little early in Parliament House on Monday. MPs and senators brought dolls, toy trucks, bikes and more for families experiencing hardship as part of this year’s Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal. Angus Taylor arrives with a bike during the launch of the 39th annual Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal in Parliament House on Monday.
Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP The speaker of the house, Milton Dick, with a present. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP World’s most awkward Christmas. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Catie McLeod TGA announces new sunscreen rules following SPF saga The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has proposed strengthening sun protection factor (SPF) requirements following a review prompted by revelations that several popular sunscreens were failing to meet the SPF factor advertised.
The medicines regulator announced today it would progress the reforms to strengthen consumer confidence and ensure that sunscreen companies and manufacturers understand their obligations. The proposed reforms follow a three-month consultation period this year, which the TGA said drew 120 responses. Among the TGA’s proposed new rules is that brands would have to test the SPF of their finished product – and not just the base formula – before listing it on the medicines register.
Additionally, the TGA is planning to limit the SPF claims that cosmetic sunscreens can make so that there is clear distinction for consumers between them and sunscreens that are used for a primary purpose of sun protection. The TGA’s review came after testing by the consumer advocacy organisation Choice found 16 of 20 brands failed to provide the level of skin protection advertised on their bottles. Choice has broadly welcomed the proposed reforms but said the TGA should go further.
Andy Kelly , Choice’s consumer impact director, said: double quotation mark We’re pleased to see the TGA has proposed stricter rules. However, the TGA is not proposing to routinely monitor and evaluate test results. Sunscreen brands would also only be required to provide test results confidentially to the TGA.
In the interest of transparency and public safety, we believe these results should be made available to everyone and that the TGA should routinely monitor test results, as well as conduct its own compliance testing program. Tl;dr here’s what happened in question time The opposition continually pushed the prime minister to “admit he was wrong” after he previously said a $6m grant for the Marrickville golf club was to fix sewerage flows into the Cooks River. Labor MPs also answered dixers on a digital duty of care, migration, small businesses, veterans and more.
The rising cost of living remained a key line of questioning for the opposition and crossbench, as was the government’s treatment of non-citizens who have committed crimes. Despite much talk yesterday about civility and respect in political debate, QT seemed to have revived much of its previous rambunctiousness, with one MP ejected and more warned. Labor’s Peter Khalil ejected after interrupting Angus Taylor’s question And just like that, we have an ejection.
The member for Wills, Peter Khalil , has been ejected from the chamber after reacting to a question from Angus Taylor . While kicking him out, the speaker, Milton Dick , said: double quotation mark The leader of the opposition is entitled to be heard in silence and shown the same respect as any other member. To give commentary like that, with remarks that I just said, is completely out of order.
Peter Kahlil leaves under 94a (the speaker’s power to eject members of parliament) during question time. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Speaker urges MPs to ‘remember why we’re here’ and not to fall back into ‘bad habits’ Comments and grumblings arise from the opposition benches and interrupt Anne Aly as she attempts to answer a question about small businesses. The speaker of the house, Milton Dick , issues a warning: double quotation mark This continual sledging and remarks and ongoing comment – it is not helpful [for] democracy, and it’s not even funny.
The minister’s not saying anything controversial. We don’t need commentary, we don’t need remarks, we don’t need snide remarks. Just remember why we’re here.
We’re not getting into ... bad habits. People are entitled to their views, but not when ministers are just addressing the house on topics that we should all be supportive of. You can disagree, but not with the snide comments.
Nationals deputy targets PM’s ‘failure’ on energy bills Pointing to interest rate rises, and the prime minister’s “failure to deliver the $275 reduction in household energy bills he promised”, the deputy leader of the Nationals, Darren Chester , asks: double quotation mark Why do Australians always pay the price because the prime minister won’t ever admit he’s made a mistake? Anthony Albanese responds he is “stunned” at the opposition raising issues of migration and access to the labour market and said his government had brought down the level of overseas migration by 45%. double quotation mark The offer has been there for other reforms, that would further help to bring down the migration numbers, and do so in a way that had no impact at all on the labour market. The PM responds during question time.
Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Source: The Guardian
