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2h agoWhat we learned today, Thursday 1 October
3h agoJetstar staff to escalate industrial action ahead of NRL grand final weekend
4h agoRBA denies staff real wages increase after interest rate rise
5h agoNSW seeks to join Queensland in defence of ban on ‘from the river to the sea’
5h agoJob vacancies fell again in August
6h agoIsrael issues ‘heightened alerts’ after flydubai attack
6h agoNo sign of negative equity crisis despite property slump
7h agoAnika Wells named as part of Time 100 ‘most influential rising stars’ list
7h agoAmpol to acquire major EV charging network
8h agoAlbanese says new Greens leader’s remarks ‘somewhat concerning’
9h agoShoebridge addresses Faruqi’s comments after Greens leadership ballot
10h agoQueensland misses deadline to sign up for thriving kids NDIS deal
11h agoMore than 100,000 first home buyers have used 5% deposit scheme over the last year
11h agoDebit and credit surcharges end today
12h agoTelcos ready temporary disaster roaming before summer
12h agoATO finds one-quarter of big firms pay zero tax
The federal communications minister, Anika Wells, has been named as one of Time magazine’s “world’s most influential rising stars”, as part of its annual Time 100 list.
Wells, who has overseen the under-16s social media ban and is now working on a world-leading digital duty of care framework, was included on what Time calls its list of “leaders who are shaping the future”.
Also on the list: musicians Sombr and PinkPantheress, soccer player Folarin Balogun, US senator Andy Kim, the Dutch prime minister, Rob Jetten, and Donald Trump’s political adviser James Blair.
Wells was published in the list alongside a testimonial written by the former Labor PM Julia Gillard:
As the world grapples with the extraordinary power of social media and the increasingly pervasive role it plays, Anika Wells has emerged as one of the most significant voices in a growing global movement to reframe the relationship between technology and the well-being of our children. Even in the face of intense opposition from some of the world’s largest tech companies, she remains steadfast … Future generations will look back on her landmark changes as courageous and trail-blazing.
As the world grapples with the extraordinary power of social media and the increasingly pervasive role it plays, Anika Wells has emerged as one of the most significant voices in a growing global movement to reframe the relationship between technology and the well-being of our children.
Even in the face of intense opposition from some of the world’s largest tech companies, she remains steadfast … Future generations will look back on her landmark changes as courageous and trail-blazing.
Australian musician Troye Sivan was also included on the “influential rising stars” list, with a testimonial written by Kylie Minogue. She wrote:
Troye Sivan is a perfect 2020s pop star… Troye doesn’t just make pop music to love. He makes pop music to believe in.
That’s a wrap, folks! Before we go, let’s recap the top headlines.
Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, said his nation will tighten security following the alleged stabbing attack on a flight en route to Tel Aviv.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said David Shoebridge’s remarks he wanted the Greens to replace Labor were “somewhat concerning”.
More than one-quarter of big companies operating in Australia paid no or little income tax in 2024-25, according to the Australian Taxation Office’s latest corporate transparency report.
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone will from today be able to move users over to one of their rivals’ networks in areas where coverage has dropped out due to natural disasters such as cyclones, bushfires or floods.
Debit and credit card surcharges have been eliminated from today as part of Reserve Bank reforms that will do away with extra checkout fees on Visa, Mastercard and Eftpos payments.
New figures show 102,594 first home buyers have used the government’s 5% deposit scheme over the last year, after the Labor government expanded the initiative.
Also in housing, the Reserve Bank estimated that fewer than one in 100 borrowers owe more on their home than its worth, despite this year’s broadening price falls.
Queensland’s state government has missed a deadline to sign up to the federal government’s Thriving Kids program before its rollout begins today.
The NSW government has sought leave to join the Queensland government in a high court case brought by pro-Palestine protesters against laws banning the contested phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada”.
Thanks for joining us, we’ll see you tomorrow morning.
Greens criticise NSW’s ‘baffling and reckless’ decision to join defence of Queensland ‘from the river to the sea’ laws
The NSW Greens have described the Minns government’s decision to seek to join the Queensland government in the defence of controversial laws restricting pro-Palestine slogans as “baffling and reckless”.
As we reported earlier, the NSW government has sought leave to join Queensland in a high court case brought by pro-Palestine protesters against laws banning the contested phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada”.
In a statement this afternoon, the NSW Greens justice spokesperson, Sue Higginson, said the government was “seeking to criminalise lawful political expression that supports the Palestinian cause”:
It’s baffling and reckless, but perhaps unsurprising, to see the Minns Labor government joining in with the Queensland Liberal Nationals to seek to criminalise political speech which is protected by the freedom of political communication within our constitution. The Minns government have stood in court defending unconstitutional anti-protest laws and argued to stop lawful protests, including the landmark March for Humanity across the harbour bridge, and they have failed, failed and failed again. Now the premier and the attorney general want to turn up in the high court and fail yet again.
It’s baffling and reckless, but perhaps unsurprising, to see the Minns Labor government joining in with the Queensland Liberal Nationals to seek to criminalise political speech which is protected by the freedom of political communication within our constitution.
The Minns government have stood in court defending unconstitutional anti-protest laws and argued to stop lawful protests, including the landmark March for Humanity across the harbour bridge, and they have failed, failed and failed again. Now the premier and the attorney general want to turn up in the high court and fail yet again.
The NSW attorney general, Michael Daley, has been contacted for comment.
Households facing high energy bills inadequately supported, report finds
Australian households are being left to manage high energy use and bills without enough support from governments, an Energy Efficiency Council national scorecard finds.
The report, which compares policies across states and territories, rates the ACT as the national leader in energy performance policy, followed by Victoria and New South Wales. Victoria ranks first on household electrification, with gas appliance phaseouts and an end to new gas connections.
But the report finds states have “major opportunities” to boost energy performance, and that renters are paying high energy bills “while being largely powerless” to reduce them:
Renters face barriers to engaging with the energy transition and are often living in poor quality housing with low thermal performance and a reliance on gas appliances that are expensive to run.
Luke Menzel, chief executive of the Energy Efficiency Council, said:
There is an urgent need for some states to step up their efforts in supporting households to respond to the cost-of-living crisis.
Jetstar staff will escalate industrial action tomorrow, with union members planning one-hour stoppages at major airports nationwide and abstaining from routine duties. It coincides with school holidays and comes ahead of the NRL grand final weekend.
The Australian Services Union (ASU) confirmed members will cease passenger announcements and flight disruption management, while processing eligible fees for excess baggage, seat selection and late changes at $0.
The union said the escalation follows failed negotiations over pay and conditions. Members took industrial action in September, after voting in favour of seeking wages in line with other Qantas Group staff, higher penalty rates, improved leave, job security and better weather protections.
The ASU’s assistant national secretary, Scott Cowen, said members were “left with no other choice”, amid cost-of-living pressures and extreme weather conditions. He said the airline failed to support workers with extra weather protections or a pay offer that “responds to this crisis properly”. He added:
Jetstar’s domestic earnings are up 15% this year on record passenger numbers, and Qantas Group is turning a profit. A 2.1% pay rise for the people who made that possible is not what a fair share looks like. Jetstar has the money and the record year to make this right.
Jetstar’s domestic earnings are up 15% this year on record passenger numbers, and Qantas Group is turning a profit. A 2.1% pay rise for the people who made that possible is not what a fair share looks like.
Jetstar has the money and the record year to make this right.
Jetstar said it does not expect any impact on flights, citing “strong contingency plans”.
A spokesperson for the airline said it was “very disappointing” the union chose to pursue further action despite a “comprehensive and fair offer, including meaningful pay increases, improved penalties and allowances, and greater rostering flexibility”.
South Australia’s AI royal commission board selected
A former judge and two global tech experts will lead a royal commission into artificial intelligence after the most “substantial technological shift” in two centuries, AAP reports.
The South Australian government on Thursday revealed the terms of reference for the state inquiry and its pick for chair, the economist and former judge Iain Ross.
Kate Pounder and Christopher Manning were selected as commissioners for their expertise in technology policy, innovation, computer science and machine learning.
Ross said the inquiry would balance opportunities for enriching lives, improving productivity and lifting economic performance with an approach that mitigated risks and threats.
Manning, a world-renowned AI expert, is the co-founder of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centred AI and a professor in machine learning at the private research university.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was impossible to put the “AI genie back in the bottle”, conceding the fast-developing technology sometimes scared him.
If we don’t contemplate … an AI future forcefully, there could be really severe consequences, as well as a big opportunity cost.
Pill testing at NSW music festivals to return this weekend
The New South Wales government’s reinstated pill testing service at selected music festivals will return to this long weekend’s Knockout Outdoor festival.
The $4.3m initiative will operate at up to 15 festivals each year, selected by NSW Health in consultation with the music fesitval industry and harm-reduction organisations.
The government reiterated that “illicit drugs remain illegal in NSW” and said the service “is not an endorsement of illicit drug use”. It also reminded festivalgoers that there “will always be risks involved when consuming these substances”.
The state’s chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said drug checking services could help people make more informed decisions, but did not guarantee safety. She said:
Drug checking services are intended to help people make informed decisions to reduce drug-related harm, but they are not a guarantee of safety. Our priority is to reduce harm and keep people safe. Drug checking at music festivals aims to educate individuals, allowing them to avoid dangerous substances and make safer and more informed choices.
Drug checking services are intended to help people make informed decisions to reduce drug-related harm, but they are not a guarantee of safety.
Our priority is to reduce harm and keep people safe. Drug checking at music festivals aims to educate individuals, allowing them to avoid dangerous substances and make safer and more informed choices.
Good afternoon!
Thanks for sticking around, I’ll be here to guide you through this afternoon’s news.
That’s all from me. Achol Arok will take things from here. Enjoy your Thursday.
The Reserve Bank rejected its own staff’s requests for a real pay rise and back pay on lost wages just hours after it hiked interest rates on Tuesday.
While the RBA has repeatedly warned that inflation-matched wage growth risks pushing up consumer prices, its employees argue the bank’s own forecasts show their pay will slip behind the cost of living.
As staff left the office on Tuesday evening, the governor, Michele Bullock, emailed them asking them to vote for a pay offer nearly identical to one already rejected by 54% of staff in July.
