1 hour ago
Dan Tehan demands ‘straight answer’ from PM over $6m golf club grant
The manager of opposition business in the House, Dan Tehan, has kicked off question time by returning to the $6m grant to the Marrickville golf club. He asks:
On 9 September 2026, the prime minister told this house, his $6m taxpayer-funded grant … was to fix sewerage flows into the Cooks River. On 10 September 2026, the prime minister doubled down on this claim in this house.
Last week, the Department of Infrastructure confirmed to a Senate inquiry, sewerage works were not in the scope of the $6m grant. This was confirmed again at Senate estimates last night.
Will the prime minister give Australians a straight answer, admit he misled the House, and correct the record?
The prime minister said it was a matter for the Department of Infrastructure, noted the council was finalising the design of the project – which includes improvements to the clubhouse, stormwater harvesting, a new toilet, and landscaping – and pointed to funding the NSW government later committed to addressing sewerage at the club.
Key events
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 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:
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.
The mood during question time
The chamber is certainly livelier than yesterday. Each “hear hear” feels more spirited, and answers are met with louder sneers of discontent from the other side of the political aisle.
Question time warning count: one
We’ve had our first warning of the day as the prime minister answered another question about the Marrickville golf club.
Dan Tehan demands ‘straight answer’ from PM over $6m golf club grant
The manager of opposition business in the House, Dan Tehan, has kicked off question time by returning to the $6m grant to the Marrickville golf club. He asks:
On 9 September 2026, the prime minister told this house, his $6m taxpayer-funded grant … was to fix sewerage flows into the Cooks River. On 10 September 2026, the prime minister doubled down on this claim in this house.
Last week, the Department of Infrastructure confirmed to a Senate inquiry, sewerage works were not in the scope of the $6m grant. This was confirmed again at Senate estimates last night.
Will the prime minister give Australians a straight answer, admit he misled the House, and correct the record?
The prime minister said it was a matter for the Department of Infrastructure, noted the council was finalising the design of the project – which includes improvements to the clubhouse, stormwater harvesting, a new toilet, and landscaping – and pointed to funding the NSW government later committed to addressing sewerage at the club.
Question time begins
Question time is now beginning.
After much talk about civility and respect in parliament, following the alleged attack on Helen Haines, yesterday’s QT was a relatively subdued affair.
Let’s see if this lasts more than a day.
Melissa Davey
Dementia responsible for more than a tenth of deaths in 2025: ABS
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, accounted for just over 10% (19,019) of all deaths in 2025, according to the latest causes of death data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS head of mortality statistics, Lauren Moran, said: “This is the first time that dementia has accounted for more than 10% of all deaths in Australia”. It is the leading cause of death.
Investment in dementia services, supports and prevention have not kept the same pace, Dementia Australia’s CEO, Prof Tanya Buchanan, said.
The other leading causes of death in 2025 were ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovasculardiseases (such as stroke), lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.
The data reveals the highest number of asthma deaths recorded in 10 years. There were 484 Australians who died from asthma in 2025, up from 478 deaths in 2024.
Women account for almost two-thirds of asthma deaths, and almost to two-thirds of all dementia deaths.
Asthma Australia’s CEO, Kate Miranda, said poorly controlled asthma increases the risk:
We have effective treatments and clear clinical guidelines, yet too many Australians are not getting the care they need to stay well.
Fatima Payman clashes with Don Farrell over office staffing allocation – video
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.
Watch the interaction here:
Andrew Messenger
Queensland minister defends decision to slash legal centre’s funding
The Queensland minister for youth justice, Laura Gerber, has been pressed on her decision to slash funding for one of the government’s chief critics.
Greens MP Michael Berkman asked Gerber why the 45-year-old Youth Advocacy Service had lost its funding for bail support services in question time this morning.
Gerber said 13 organisations had been approved for funding under a new bail program. She said:
The Youth Advocacy Service was not successful in that. They delivered the former Labor government’s failed bail programs. They delivered a program that saw youth offenders on bail reoffend 60% of the time, and when it came to serious repeat offenders, it got even worse.
YAC was responsible only for children in Brisbane, not the rest of the state. Other organisations that provided services under the previous scheme will continue to be funded, including Anglicare, which will take over YAC’s funding.
Berkman said a recent state government evaluation had shown the YAC scheme was effective in reducing the frequency and seriousness of offending.
Dan Tehan tries to summon PM to answer questions on $6m golf club grant
The manager of opposition business in the House, Dan Tehan, has tried to summon the prime minister to the chamber to “correct the record” over the purpose of a $6m grant to the Marrickville golf club.
He told the House of Representatives:
To act in good faith, we are seeking the prime minister attend the chamber and provide a statement of explanation on the matter. We hope that this can de-escalate the issue and clarify the chamber’s understanding.
Tehan’s motion did not receive enough votes to pass.
Anthony Albanese previously said the funding was meant to fix issues caused by raw sewage flowing into the adjacent Cooks River.
But during Senate estimates on Monday, when asked by s senator Bridget McKenzie if the scope of the project included sewerage works, an official from the infrastructure department confirmed it “did not include sewerage works”.
Asked if the prime minister had misled parliament, another official said:
I don’t believe so. I think that was part of the original plan but as often happens, as the scope of these sorts of announcements happen, the scope can change.
Josh Taylor
Officials concede ‘sloppy’ errors in age assurance tech trial report
The secretary for the communications department has conceded in a Senate estimates hearing there had been “sloppy” errors made in references by the firm responsible for the key report into the technology behind the under-16s social media ban, reported by Guardian Australia earlier this year.
In August, Guardian Australia reported a number of citation errors in the report for the $3.48m age assurance technology trial, run by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS), and the company conceding to using ChatGPT in editing.
Just days before the report, department officials had told a Senate inquiry they met with ACCS, who claimed that the errors were due to links breaking that had previously worked. The officials have not independently verified this, saying it would be “very difficult” to go back and check.
Since that inquiry, the department has conceded a number of errors and published a correction to those citation errors on its website.
In response to questions from the independent senator Fatima Payman, department officials denied they had misled the earlier committee, saying they had taken ACCS’s claims on good faith before giving evidence.
The department secretary, Jim Betts, apologised to the committee in the hearing and officials conceded it was “sloppy reporting” but Betts downplayed the impact of the errors:
We’re talking about six citations in technical footnotes related to future technology unrelated to the substance of the report, which were, subsequently corrected. I’ve written to the committee. We’ve put [a correction] on our website. This isn’t Watergate.
Josh Butler
‘I’m determined to make sure we do everything 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”:
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.
PM’s ‘swift response’ on MP safety may include duress alarms and polling booth security
Josh Butler
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 annual report
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:
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 s 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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
