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From 1h ago Tory Shepherd UN experts ‘disappointed’ after major parties block bill to ban shackling during childbirth UN experts are disappointed that bills to ban shackling during childbirth and strip-searching children were blocked by the major parties. The independent senator Lidia Thorpe introduced the bills to the Senate, where Labor and the Coalition blocked their progress . The UN human rights council special procedures experts said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children were disproportionately affected by the measures: double quotation mark It is disappointing that parliament was not given the opportunity to formally decide on reforms aimed at protecting the dignity, bodily integrity and rights of women and children deprived of liberty.
The failure of these bills to proceed should not mark the end of efforts to address these longstanding human rights concerns. We encourage Australian authorities and parliamentarians to continue pursuing reforms. Lidia Thorpe.
Photograph: Jay Kogler/EPA Key events 2h ago Shoebridge calls for ‘ethical Australian AI’ after cyber threat warning 2h ago Payman asks if PM is ‘waiting for what happened to Helen Haines’ to occur again 4h ago Farrer independent spent $1.7m on byelection campaign, electoral returns show 5h ago Former Rio Tinto boss to lead defence procurement watchdog 6h ago Lambie says Hanson hasn’t personally apologised over cartoon Josh Butler ‘I’m determined to make sure we do everyhing for your safety’ Continued from the previous post: An ongoing review into commonwealth workplaces will be expedited, with recommendations specifically about safety and security to be delivered soon. Anthony Albanese said MPs have had to “put up with the threat environment for too long”, that the government “need to do more”, and “more can and should be done”: double quotation mark You’ve all dedicated so much to the safety of others in the workplace. I’m determined to make sure we do everyhing for your safety and the safety of your staff as well.
One MP asked about the interim report of the committee on electoral matters, which made recommendations about aggressive conduct at polling booths. Tony Burke answered that the government was looking at options on how to keep people safe while voting. Josh Butler PM promises ‘swift response’ on MP safety, potentially including duress alarms and polling booth security 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 and floating the provision of duress alarms for political offices.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke , also said the government was looking at safety at polling booths around election time, amid greater scrutiny on physical threats and abuse of politicians after the alleged attack on Helen Haines . The Labor party room met on Tuesday morning, with the prime minister giving a long address, saying last week’s attack on Haines “must be a turning point” for civil discourse. Albanese promised a “swift government response” on safety and noted that numerous MPs had raised the prospect of receiving duress alarms, or panic buttons, to alert authorities – among a “series of options” under consideration.
He also conceded there needed to be more investment in security and safety. Amanda Meade Former ABC news director Justin Stevens’s payout revealed in estimates The ABC’s former news director Justin Stevens received a termination payout of $353,230 after his shock removal by the managing director, Hugh Marks , in May, according to the ABC’s 2026 annual report. Stevens, whose total remuneration for the financial year was $864,394, was replaced by the Reuters executive Simon Robinson last month after a 19-year career at the public broadcaster.
Stevens’ base salary was $529,202. Marks has a base salary of $1.1m and ABC chair Kim Williams received $200,000. Ability to text triple-zero tested in pilot program A test is under way to explore whether Australians could safely and effectively text triple-zero.
The function could allow Australians to access help in situations when a voice call may not be possible or practical, according to a statement from the federal government. Testing will be conducted in a simulated environment that is designed to reflect real-world needs but will not involve public access to triple-zero and will not affect the live service. The communications minister, Anika Wells , said: double quotation mark Being able to text Triple Zero would provide another safe and effective way to contact Triple Zero if people are unable to make a call.
Sarah Basford Canales Westminster system stops political violence, Angus Taylor says The opposition leader, Angus Taylor , says Australia has historically avoided political violence by having a robust parliamentary system, as politicians consider their personal safety after last week’s alleged attack on Helen Haines . In a joint party room meeting this morning, Taylor acknowledged the ongoing conversation about personal security and the importance of getting it right but did not offer any specific proposals. The opposition leader told colleagues that the foundation of the Westminster system was to stop violence and wars before he moved on to other issues.
The sentiment was echoed by the Nationals leader, Matt Canavan , shortly afterwards but he maintained that the opposition has a serious job to hold the government to account. US reveals first Aukus nuclear submarine to be deployed to Australia Washington has revealed the first nuclear submarine that will deploy to Australia under the Aukus agreement, five years after the $386bn defence pact was signed. The USS Colorado, a 10-year-old Virginia-class submarine, will make its new home at Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling from late 2027, the defence minister, Richard Marles, revealed in a joint statement with his US and British counterparts on Tuesday.
The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) at the commissioning ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London in the US. Photograph: Dana Jensen/AP It’s the first of up to four US submarines, and one from the UK, set to rotate through the base while Australian defence force personnel get to grips with owning and operating nuclear-powered submarines. But the Colorado’s arrival in Australia will be controversial because of outrage sparked in May over revelations the US would deliver lesser equipment than first promised .
Original Aukus plans had Canberra receiving two used vessels and a brand new Virginia-class submarine before building one of its own in Adelaide. The fact Washington would now be sending secondhand vessels only was described as “trash” by the Tasmanian independent senator and army veteran Jacqui Lambie , but ministers and top military brass at the time insisted used subs were the best option. – Australian Associated Press Tory Shepherd UN experts ‘disappointed’ after major parties block bill to ban shackling during childbirth UN experts are disappointed that bills to ban shackling during childbirth and strip-searching children were blocked by the major parties. The independent senator Lidia Thorpe introduced the bills to the Senate, where Labor and the Coalition blocked their progress .
The UN human rights council special procedures experts said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children were disproportionately affected by the measures: double quotation mark It is disappointing that parliament was not given the opportunity to formally decide on reforms aimed at protecting the dignity, bodily integrity and rights of women and children deprived of liberty. The failure of these bills to proceed should not mark the end of efforts to address these longstanding human rights concerns. We encourage Australian authorities and parliamentarians to continue pursuing reforms.
Lidia Thorpe. Photograph: Jay Kogler/EPA Shoebridge calls for ‘ethical Australian AI’ after cyber threat warning The Greens leader, David Shoebridge , has said a report from the Australian Signals Directorate about AI threats to online infrastructure highlights the need for investment in another option. He told reporters: double quotation mark We need investment in an Australian ethical AI, which we can have some kind of comfort in, and not just simply relying upon these same US tech bros who are producing the threats to our very system ... the idea that you invite the robbers in to protect the family silver is pretty bloody extraordinary .
The ASD report warned that businesses and critical infrastructure must use cutting-edge AI models to defend against digital threats, raising alarms that artificial intelligence is enabling more dangerous threats than ever. Read more here: David Shoebridge. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Penry Buckley Chris Minns says federal government must be ‘serious’ about meeting migration targets amid One Nation surge The NSW premier, Chris Minns , says the federal government must be “serious” about meeting net migration targets as polling in the Hunter suggests Labor and One Nation are neck-and-neck in the key region.
A poll commissioned by Advent Energy, who are responsible for an offshore gas proposal off the Hunter coast, suggests support for Labor and One Nation at the upcoming state election is tied at 32%. The Coalition was at 14%. Minns was asked on 2GB this morning what he had done to lobby the federal government to bring down migration.
Minns, a frequent critic of net migration under the Albanese government, said: double quotation mark The best thing I can do is say what I’ve said privately, publicly, and I’ve said it on this program, and that is, we have to be serious about the target rate for migration and meet it. There’s no use saying, well, we’re going to have on average 200,000, a little bit more than that per year, and then it comes in at 300,000, because then people lose faith in the system. Now, in fairness to [the federal government], they’ve worked hard over the last three months to say these are the new limits.
The Albanese government has promised to achieve net overseas migration (Nom) of 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 in 2027-28, while the Coalition says if elected it would more than halve Labor’s Nom target in the first two years from 2028-29. One Nation has said it would have net-negative migration levels for three years, followed by a Nom “ceiling” of 130,000. NSW premier Chris Minns.
Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP Caitlin Cassidy ‘Selective editing’ of estimates videos ‘humiliate public servants unfairly’, senators told Female public servants are subject to “vile and misogynistic” comments underneath social media videos shared by parliamentarians, Senate estimates hears. Jim Betts , secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, was asked about a submission sent by the Australian Secretaries Board to a joint committee on parliamentary standards. It expressed concern that public officials were increasingly subject to “ridicule, hostility or abuse” when excerpts of proceedings from parliamentary inquiries were uploaded on social media “without context”.
The Liberal senator Sarah Henderson pressed that “being able to highlight on social media and using the vision which is made available through the parliament is a fundamental function of this committee”. Betts replied that there was already 14 hours of footage from Senate estimates yesterday that was now in the public domain, and the submission contained “stark” examples of selectively edited videos. double quotation mark The concern that was expressed by the secretaries board was about the very selective editing of those videos, the overlay of commentary and other captions which were entirely designed to humiliate public servants unfairly ... What we also find is ... that the comment section on websites hosted by senators and other parliamentarians contain often vile and misogynistic comments about female public servants.
Department of infrastructure secretary Jim Betts. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Payman asks if PM is ‘waiting for what happened to Helen Haines’ to occur again Sarah Basford Canales At a late-night Senate estimates hearing, the independent senator Fatima Payman accused the prime minister of being “petty” by not granting her additional staff members after she defected from Labor in 2024. Payman has long argued that her office is understaffed as part of a personal gripe Anthony Albanese has with her, but she drove the point home amid escalating threats of political violence .
The senator told Guardian Australia last week her staff had also had to deal with human faeces being sent to her office, prompting the intervention of a biohazard team. Payman said she had requested an additional adviser, in line with other independent political offices, two years ago but the prime minister had yet to process the request. Payman said the extra adviser would help her office dealing with the “psychosocial hazards” imposed on her staff since leaving Labor.
A document tabled showed she had no advisers, which can be paid more, while most other independents have one or two advisers. Payman continued, butting heads with the trade minister, Don Farrell : double quotation mark Please raise this with the prime minister. Because if he cares so much about the welfare and wellbeing of people who work in this building, then I implore you and the prime minister to please look into the fact that my staff are burning out.
They can’t take this any longer. Is the prime minister waiting for something like what happened to Dr Helen Haines to occur to my office, to me, for him to take our request seriously? Farrell responded: “Look, I personally think that’s an outrageous suggestion, Senator Payman.” Payman said: “I can’t believe that I’m saying that or making that suggestion, because it’s been two years.” Farrell asked Payman to withdraw the comments but Payman said she wouldn’t until Albanese processed or responded to her staffing request.
Benita Kolovos Victorian Labor pledges to expand workplace protection orders to hospital workers People who are violent or abusive to health workers could effectively be banned from hospitals in Victoria if Labor is re-elected. The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll , is holding a press conference to announce that if Labor is re-elected next month, it will expand the workplace protection order scheme – that allows retail stores to ban aggressive customers – to hospital settings. Under the plan, people who are violent or abusive to health workers can be hit with a workplace protection order (WPO), which effectively bans them from hospitals for up to 12 months.
Anyone who breaches a WPO faces up to two years in prison or a $50,000 fine. Labor will also create a $30m fund hospitals can apply for to improve lighting, CCTV and other safety measures. Carroll says: double quotation mark Our nurses and midwives and health professionals go to work every day to make sure we have a healthy community ...
They are the heroes of our community, and I’m very pleased to say, under my leadership, we’ll do everything we can to protect them through workplace protection orders. He says people subject to a WPO will “still be able to access healthcare” in an emergency but there would be “guardrails” in place when they receive that care. Ben Carroll.
Photograph: Rob Prezioso/AAP Aged care algorithm ‘fundamentally flawed’, Ruston says The opposition’s aged care spokesperson, Anne Ruston , has urged the government to listen after a damning investigation by the commonwealth ombudsman. She told ABC Radio National: double quotation mark We’re really hopeful that now the government has this independent report, it will actually listen and say that their algorithm process is fundamentally flawed. The ombudsman’s report followed reporting by Guardian Australia that older people were being left distressed and without adequate care after their home support needs were assessed by an “inhumane” algorithm as part of the government’s mandatory integrated assessment tool.
Read more here: Security reviews ramp up for MP offices over attack fears Some politicians will receive security updates in their electorate offices after raising concerns about threats in the wake of the alleged attack on Helen Haines . At least nine MPs will have security crackdowns accelerated for their electorate offices, the finance minister, Katy Gallagher , confirmed, after they raised concerns last week. Security in Parliament House’s public places will also be stepped up.
Gallagher did not specify which MPs were affected. – Australian Associated Press Jacinda Ardern joins University of Sydney as lecturer and mentor In news adjacent to federal politics, the former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed she will lecture and mentor at the University of Sydney after moving to Australia this year. Based in the school of public health, she will host guest lectures and masterclasses and engage in mentoring. Read more here: Sarah Basford Canales Teal and regional independent backers were Farrer independent’s top donors Continued from the previous post: The top donor, Regional Voices Fund, backs independent candidates in regional seats while the second-highest donor, Keldoulis Investments, owned by Robert Keldoulis , is a major backer of Climate 200 – the funding vehicle that supports teal independents in getting elected.
Overall, Milthorpe spent $1,708,845 on her campaign, receiving $1,680,439 in donations and gifts. Candidates endorsed by political parties, including Farley, are able to defer the campaign spending reports until February the following year when political party annual returns are published. As a result, Farley’s electoral returns show he spent only $5,119 on his campaign and received no donations.
This figure will probably be updated in February. Farrer independent spent $1.7m on byelection campaign, electoral returns show Sarah Basford Canales The independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe received almost $1.7m in donations from more than 5,000 donors in her campaign against One Nation in the seat of Farrer this year, electoral returns show. Milthorpe, backed by regional independents, including Helen Haines , ultimately lost the battle to One Nation’s David Farley in Sussan Ley ’s former seat, 42.45% to Farley’s 57.55% on a two-party preferred basis.
The returns data, released by the Australian Electoral Commission yesterday, shows $670,653 of the total amount – or about 40% – donated was over the declaration threshold of $17,300. The top donors for Milthorpe include: Regional Voices Fund Pty Ltd: $215,000 Keldoulis Investments Pty Limited: $117,000 Keep Them Honest Pty Ltd: $75,000 Climate 200 Pty Limited: $61,653 Independent candidate for Farrer Michelle Milthorpe. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP More respectful discourse is ‘what Helen Haines would want’, Richard Marles says The defence minister, Richard Marles , hopes politicians continue to show respect and civility for more than a day, after the outpouring of support for independent Helen Haines : double quotation mark I really hope that all of us can do better ... we need to really try and collectively engage in bringing the temperature down, and have a much more respectful and civil discourse.
And I know that’s what Helen Haines would want.
Source: The Guardian
