Australia news live: Rowland to ‘reset’ corruption commission after Brereton resigns; Asio warns politicians against classified chats in cars
From 1h ago 22.38 BST Attorney general says Nacc could use a ‘reset’ after commissioner says he will step down Rowland also said the Anti
From 1h ago 22.38 BST Attorney general says Nacc could use a ‘reset’ after commissioner says he will step down Rowland also said the Anti Corruption Commission (Nacc) could get a “reset” after Paul Brereton, the body’s first commissioner, said he would step down from the role in July. Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns saying criticism of him ‘drawing attention away’ from agency’s mission Read more Brereton said this week he felt criticism of him had drawn “attention away” from the Nacc’s purpose, adding he thought “the commission’s success is paramount, and not due to any single person”. Rowland told RN Breakfast the Nacc needed “public support in terms of perception and in practice”, adding: double quotation mark I’ve never stated anything but support for the commissioner and confidence in Commissioner Brereton. But this does give us an opportunity with these new appointments to have a reset and I will be engaging across the parliament to make sure that that happens. Paul Brereton. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Share Updated at 23.13 BST 39s ago 00.03 BST Josh Butler Modelling shows 90% of young Australians will be better off under Labor’s tax reforms Ninety per cent of young Australians will be better off under the Albanese government’s tax proposals, the Treasury claims, as Labor moves to pass its reforms into law. The government introduced the tax changes to parliament on Thursday before a heated question time. Earlier on Thursday, Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson shared the previously unreleased modelling at an Australian Business Economists lunch in Sydney. Wilkinson said the combined effect of the automatic $1,000 tax deduction, $250 “working Australians tax offset” (Wato) and the capital gains tax and negative gearing reforms would benefit most young people. “The cumulative impact of the reforms is assessed as benefiting around 90% of young people, before impacts in the housing market are taken into account,” she said. Had the changes been made decades ago, those under 30 today would be in a better financial position, she said. Read more: Modelling shows 90% of young Australians will be better off under Labor’s tax reforms Read more Share 17m ago 23.47 BST Taylor’s performance to ‘dominate’ Liberal conference Angus Taylor’s performance as Liberal leader is expected to dominate discussion when the party’s federal council meets, AAP reports. Support for the federal Liberal party has plummeted to historic lows amid a turbulent leadership change in which Taylor took the top job in February, and the rise of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. The dire state of affairs and the opposition leader’s attack on the Albanese government’s 2026/27 budget will be hot topics when the Liberal Federal Council meets on Friday. “The big discussions are going to be about how we’re travelling and has Angus turned a corner for us?” political consultant and former Howard government adviser Ian Hanke said. He added: double quotation mark Yes, he has, but how far have we got to go? A long way. That will dominate a lot of the conversation … The budget in reply was a test for Angus, and he passed it because Labor is now responding to us for the first time in ages. View image in fullscreen Angus Taylor. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Share Updated at 23.56 BST 34m ago 23.30 BST Concert celebrating John Farnham to feature slate of stars, including Tina Arena, Céline Dion and Hugh Jackman An upcoming concert in Melbourne will celebrate the life and songs of legend John Farnham while raising funds for head and neck cancer research.
The celebration concert will feature a lineup of 120 artists and musicians for a “powerful night of John Farnham’s music”, including Keith Urban, Tina Arena, Jimmy Barnes, Jessica Mauboy, Céline Dion and Hugh Jackman (the latter two will perform via satellite). Farnham’s longtime musical director will lead the John Farnham band alongside a 38-piece orchestra an choir. Farnham told the Herald Sun he will not sing or perform in public again after he was diagnosed with oral cancer four years ago. He told the paper: double quotation mark Because of the surgeries to my mouth and face over the past few years, singing on stage is not something I can consider again. It’s just not possible … I’m gobsmacked and truly grateful that everyone has said yes. It is truly humbling and I can’t thank them enough for what they will be doing for this cause, which is very special and personal for me. The show will take place on 20 September at the Rod Laver Arena. ‘I was very close to dying’: John Farnham may never sing again – but finds his voice in memoir Read more Share Updated at 23.31 BST 54m ago 23.10 BST Luca Ittimani Who’s leading the fight against Labor’s CGT reform – and what’s in it for them? People with direct personal financial stakes in Labor’s tax reforms are among the loudest voices opposing the changes. Labor’s efforts to amend the tax discount awarded for profits on the sale of assets, or capital gains, have attracted criticism from real estate and investment funds. Some opponents have a history of opposing Labor. One is a long-term Labor insider. View image in fullscreen Loud voices in the debate over Labor’s capital gains tax reforms include (from left) Paul Bassat, Lachlan Harris, Andrew Charlton and Gina Rinehart. Composite: Scott Barbour/Jessica Hromas/Mick Tsikas/Richard Wainwright/Getty Images/The Guardian/AAP Here’s what you need to know about some of the people leading the charge: High stakes: who’s leading the fight against Labor’s CGT reform – and what’s in it for them? Read more Share Updated at 23.12 BST 1h ago 22.54 BST Minister says any potential changes to capital gains tax discount plans will be minimal Tim Ayres, the minister of industry and innovation, was asked on RN about changes to the capital gains tax discount after the prime minister warned any potential changes to the plan would be minimal. Critics have urged the Albanese government to alter the plan, arguing small business would be negatively affected. High stakes: who’s leading the fight against Labor’s CGT reform – and what’s in it for them? Read more Ayres said the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, had been firm that the plans would only see minimal changes once they were announced, adding: double quotation mark The challenge in a lot of the problem for our political opponents is they’ve lost sight of the people who are the subject of these changes. They’re all about the politics of what’s going on. People who will substantially benefit from this are young Australians who have had the property market tilted against them and are finding it very hard to get their first, you know, to get on that first rung of the property ladder … We’re legislating to deliver the package that was outlined in the budget to give those young Australians security.
Ayres said many in the housing industry with a “vested interest” in any changes are actively campaigning to see them reversed. View image in fullscreen Tim Ayres. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Share Updated at 22.58 BST 1h ago 22.38 BST Attorney general says Nacc could use a ‘reset’ after commissioner says he will step down Rowland also said the Anti Corruption Commission (Nacc) could get a “reset” after Paul Brereton, the body’s first commissioner, said he would step down from the role in July. Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns saying criticism of him ‘drawing attention away’ from agency’s mission Read more Brereton said this week he felt criticism of him had drawn “attention away” from the Nacc’s purpose, adding he thought “the commission’s success is paramount, and not due to any single person”. Rowland told RN Breakfast the Nacc needed “public support in terms of perception and in practice”, adding: double quotation mark I’ve never stated anything but support for the commissioner and confidence in Commissioner Brereton. But this does give us an opportunity with these new appointments to have a reset and I will be engaging across the parliament to make sure that that happens. View image in fullscreen Paul Brereton. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Share Updated at 23.13 BST 2h ago 22.28 BST Attorney general says any money from 3M suit would be used to recover ‘significant past and future expenses’ The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, is speaking about the government’s legal action against 3M over Pfas chemical contamination. The government is seeking $2bn in damages, the largest legal claim ever brought by the federal government. Australia sues 3M for record $2bn sum over Pfas ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foam Read more She said if the case is successful, the money will be used for recovering “significant past and future expenses” the government has incurred investigating and managing contamination from the use of “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam. She said: double quotation mark I acknowledge that this has been a cause of significant distress in many communities around Australia, and we have been focused as a government, and we will continue to be focused on taking really practical steps to assist Australians and communities that have been impacted by PFS. I want to be clear that this action is about the government recovering its costs, it doesn’t relate to personal injury or any human health effects that have alleged to be impacted by PFAS exposure. A spokesperson told Guardian Australia yesterday 3M has never manufactured Pfas in Australia and stopped sales of the products “around two decades ago”. Share Updated at 22.31 BST 2h ago 22.11 BST Good morning, and welcome to the live blog. It’s Nick Visser here to take up the reins. Let’s get through Friday together. Share 2h ago 21.58 BST 'AFP boss says alleged leaker of Ben Roberts-Smith arrest should 'face consequences' Sarah Basford Canales The federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, says she is determined to find out how the media knew of Ben Roberts-Smith’s arrest ahead of time and says the alleged leaker should “face consequences”. Earlier this week, the federal government’s special investigator for war crimes allegations and the Australian federal police told a Senate estimates hearing they have asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) to investigate media leaks.
As of Tuesday, the Nacc had yet to respond to the request. Arrested at Sydney airport on 7 April, Roberts-Smith faces five charges of war crime murder over allegations he killed unarmed civilians during his service with the Australian SAS in Afghanistan. The former SAS corporal has vehemently denied the charges, saying “I categorically deny all of these allegations”. At a Senate estimates hearing last night, the AFP boss said she had no evidence someone in her organisation had shared details of the imminent arrest with journalists but referred it to the Nacc “out of an abundance of caution”. Barrett said one media outlet was at the airport when Roberts-Smith was arrested and she was “determined to find out how they knew of the arrest”. Barrett said: double quotation mark If the date of the individual’s arrest or other sensitive information was disclosed to anyone in the media, this could be an unauthorised disclosure, and in my view, anyone who disclosed that information should face consequences. Read more: War crimes investigator and AFP ask corruption commission to probe Ben Roberts-Smith leak Read more Share 2h ago 21.37 BST Flood warnings for parts of NSW and Tasmania There are flood warnings around after some wild weather and downpours in several states. Wild weather unleashes thunderstorms across south-east Australia, triggering flash flooding Read more This morning the NSW SES issued a warning for parts of the Upper Hunter, forecasting heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding. And Tasmania SES has issued a flood warning for Royal George, Avoca and surrounding low-lying areas, saying people in low-lying areas should monitor conditions and prepare to move to safety if conditions get worse. We’ll bring you any updates on the situation as the day unfolds. Share Updated at 22.07 BST 3h ago 21.29 BST Asio warns MPs, public servants over secrecy in internet-connected cars Asio has warned politicians and public servants not to discuss sensitive government information in internet-connected cars, due to the risk of electronic eavesdropping. The country’s top spy agency said discussing classified or sensitive information outside the workplace was always a risk, especially in vehicles which send realtime information back to the manufacturer. Deputy director general Lisa Alonso Love told a budget estimates hearing last night the warning, communicated to government amid a surge in demand for electric vehicles, was not specific about country of origin or carmaker. “Obviously, a connected car may have other vectors to gather that information but those conversations should only ever happen in places that are set up for classified conversations,” she said. “People should be conscious of the things that they are discussing in vehicles, knowing that people may be able to get that information.” Australia’s spy agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, has already published advice about the risks posed by connected vehicles. Share Updated at 21.38 BST
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