What we learned; Tuesday 16 September
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the main stories from the day:
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, says the situation in Gaza had “gone beyond the world’s worst fears” before the UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The Coalition continues to scrap over the climate crisis, with a senior Liberal warning of a mass exodus from the frontbench if the party pursues a policy of net zero by 2050 at “any costs”, and a senior National not ruling out another split between the parties;
Australia and Papua New Guinea will agree to defend each other in the event of a military attack, part of a landmark defence agreement due to be signed on the sidelines of celebrations to commemorate the country’s independence this week;
Australia’s online safety watchdog has recommended social media platforms undertake the “most minimally invasive techniques” to determine a user’s age from December when a ban on under-16 users kicks in.
A 25-year-old man has died and seven people – including five police officers – are being treated in hospital after a gas leak at a restaurant in Sydney’s north-west.
Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, is lending a hand to Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in her fight against defamation allegations brought by the chief executive officer of the Central Land Council.
Sean Bell, who has worked in Pauline Hanson’s office for the past nine years, was named as One Nation’s replacement for the Senate after Warwick Stacey resigned for health reasons in August.
The head of the Reserve Bank’s economics department, Sarah Hunter, has downplayed the recent jump in inflation as measured by the monthly consumer price indicator.
We will see you here again tomorrow.
Updated
Wong responds to UN commission of inquiry's Gaza genocide finding
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, says the situation in Gaza had “gone beyond the world’s worst fears” before the UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The UN released its report on Tuesday, and found top Israeli officials including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had incited these acts.
In a statement, Wong said the government has “condemned Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians seeking to access water and food”.
The Netanyahu government is more isolated than ever. Israel will be judged by the international court of justice on its compliance with the genocide convention.
We reiterate our demand on the Netanyahu government to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, and to stop undermining a two state solution.
Wong said the government remains unequivocal in its condemnation of Hamas, and calls for the release of hostages.
Updated
Husic calls for national discussion about radicalisation of Christchurch gunman
Labor MP Ed Husic, Australia’s first Muslim frontbencher, says the country has never had a frank discussion about the radicalisation of the Christchurch gunman, in the wake of a landmark report about Islamophobia.
Husic, who was also the first MP to be sworn into parliament with a copy of the Qur’an, said that women continued to bear the brunt of Islamophobic attacks. He told the ABC:
I think Islamophobia is still [felt] much more by Muslim women who are targeted for their wearing [of] the hijab so obviously there is a lot of concern around that.
We’ve never really had, I think, straightforward, frank, national discussion about the fact that an Australian who basically started to be radicalised through Islamophobia went to New Zealand and killed 51 people on the basis of their faith. We have not had that open discussion and we need to, it is important to do it.
Husic said he believed it was a “sensible position” for the government to wait until the Islamophobia and antisemitism reports were both handed down before considering them together. The Islamophobia report was released on Friday.
Updated
ASX recovers September losses as gold and iron prices surge
The Australian stock market has recovered its September losses as rising commodities prices boost the market values of heavyweight miners.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.28% to 8,877 points. It’s yet to return to the 9,000-point highs reached in August, as companies reported their annual profits and losses, but has regained upward momentum as investors gain certainty in a US interest rate cut.
BHP has arrested a decline in its share price, rising 0.47% today and steadying the multinational mainer’s market value at $207bn, while Rio Tinto rose 1.89%. Iron ore prices have been climbing above US$105 per tonne, as hopes build for further Chinese demand fuelled by government spending.
Energy stocks also surged, as fuel prices picked up amid fears of disrupted supply overseas, and broader positive sentiment in the resources sector supported other miners Perenti, Iluka and Liontown.
Gold producers like Westgold and Vault also did well after gold prices continued to climb hitting a record high of US$3,682 per ounce overnight. Prices were helped by uncertainty over global policy and trade earlier in the year and have risen further at the prospect of US interest rate cuts, with investors flocking to the “safe haven”, according to Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP:
Gold is vulnerable to a correction, but the trend is likely to remain up as global interest rates fall and scepticism about paper currencies remains.
Positive sentiment across the rest of Australia’s market was helped by growing faith that the American central bank will cut lending rates, which also fuelled record highs on a number of US market indexes overnight.
Faith in a US rate cut (and resignation to fewer cuts in Australia) pushed the Australian dollar’s value up to 67 cents earlier today, its highest level since late 2024.
Updated
Victorian MPs to sit extra week
The Victorian parliament will sit for an additional week this year to get through the government’s legislative agenda.
In a statement, a government spokesperson this afternoon confirmed an extra sitting week from November 12-14:
We’re adding an extra sitting week to support our significant legislative agenda and deliver what matters most to Victorians – frontline services, cost-of-living relief, and tough laws that keep Victorians safe.
Updated
Climate crisis should be considered in construction codes, Husic says
The Labor MP and former minister, Ed Husic, says the National Climate Risk Assessment showed the troubling impacts of the crisis on suburbs in western Sydney, such as those in his electorate.
Husic called for climate resilience to be embedded in the national building code.
I think a lot of Western Sydney residents … would have heard the news yesterday, and basically responded, this has been a fact of life for us for many years where for ages we have lived in brick veneer or fibro homes that have been hot boxes, where you swelter through the day and it takes ages to cool at night.
And now you have these estate areas where homes are so tightly packed, it’s almost like you can lean out your window and high-five your nextdoor neighbour.
That is before we even talk about renters stuck in some homes and apartments [with] one or two-star energy efficiency.
We have few trees, a lot of concrete, dark-coloured roofs, tightly packed estates, so there is a range of things we have to think about in dealing with: what does liveability look like in the years to come?
I think one of the things that got recommended out of the royal commission that was held after the bushfires, the national disaster royal commission, was to have climate resilience embedded as an objective in the National Construction Code to make homes that can withstand the impact of fire and flood and extreme heat.
Updated
Nationals MP Michael McCormack sheds no light on Coalition net zero discussions
Michael McCormack, the Nationals MP for Riverina, will not be drawn on whether the Coalition’s position on net zero would lead to another split in the party.
He said it was possible the Liberals and Nationals could land on different positions regarding climate policy. He told the ABC about a possible split:
We will worry about that if and when it happens but the thing that we are very concerned about is energy prices, we are very concerned about taking up valuable farmland with the green energy projects that won’t reduce the global temperature by anything.
Updated
Road safety strategy must be reviewed as toll climbs, peak body says
The Australian Automobile Association says the national road safety strategy is failing, after new data showed the road toll continued to increase.
The AAA, which describes itself as the nation’s peak motoring body and represents the state and territory-based motoring clubs, said the strategy signed in 2021 aimed to halve road deaths by 2030.
Instead, there has been an 18.5% increase, the AAA said.
According to the statement, there were 1,353 deaths in the 12 months to 31 August 2025; 4.3% higher than in the previous corresponding period, and Australia’s deadliest 12-month road toll since November 2010.
The AAA said there were 118 road deaths in August 2025 alone, which is 25.8% higher than Australia’s August average since 2020.
The AAA managing director, Michael Bradley, called for a commonwealth review of the strategy, saying:
The numbers show Australia’s current approach to road trauma reduction is clearly not working and we can’t expect different results by doing more of the same.
Australia’s national road safety strategy is delivering strong increases in road trauma, not the promised reductions and it’s time all governments came to the table to assess what’s gone so wrong, and what corrective steps are now needed.
Updated
Queensland introduces ‘nation-leading’ vape crackdown
A nation-leading crackdown to stub out the sale of illegal vapes will mean landlords who lease shopfronts to illegal tobacconists and vape vendors face jail and six-figure fines, AAP reports.
The health minister, Tim Nicholls, introduced the reforms in Queensland parliament on Tuesday, aimed at preventing access to the products by young vapers – particularly children.
The proposed laws grant health authorities unprecedented power to shut down traders for three months, up from 72 hours.
The courts will be able to close businesses for up to 12 months, while landlords will be allowed to terminate the leases of illegal operators immediately.
Landlords who flout the crackdown and knowingly allow traders to operate will face a maximum penalty of a $161,300 fine and up to one year in jail.
Queensland Health officers will also be able to stage undercover sting operations and seize all products – even if lawful – found at illegal stores being sold alongside illicit tobacco and vapes.
Updated
More on One Nation’s newest senator
Following on from an earlier post, Sean Bell – Pauline Hanson’s new pick for One Nation senator – has been praised for having the “conviction, skill, dedication and the conservative values which made this nation great”.
Hanson praised him for being “instrumental” in the minor party’s campaign against an Indigenous voice to parliament.
She also described Bell as having worked “in retail, hospitality and as a manual labourer before pursuing further education and starting his own business as a claims assessor”.
Bell described Hanson as “one of Australia’s most prominent and experienced political leaders” and continued: “housing in NSW has become unaffordable, infrastructure is overloaded, and energy prices are out of control”.
Updated
More on the survey results released by the Victorian inquiry into cults:
In all, there were 317 responses to the survey, which also revealed clear patterns in how people are recruited.
About 70% of respondents became involved with cults or high‑control groups through family connections, such as being born into it (22%) or marrying someone already involved (10%) , or following parents, siblings or children who became involved (38%).
Others were approached in everyday settings such as schools, universities, study groups, workplaces and train stations. For some, they were approached at spiritual or wellness events – such as church services, yoga classes or retreats – “where recruiters used shared interests to establish early trust and form connections”.
The inquiry chair, Labor MP Ella George, thanked those who responded:
We are grateful to those who bravely shared their lived experiences. Their voices provide critical insights into the complex ways coercive groups operate, and the profound impacts these groups have on individuals and families.
The inquiry will resume public hearings in mid-October.
Updated
One in three cult members experience violence or sexual abuse, inquiry finds.
About a third of members of cults and other high control groups have reported experiencing physical violence or sexual abuse, according to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry survey released this afternoon.
The survey, conducted by the inquiry into recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups when it first launched, also found 28.7% of respondents had suffered child abuse or neglect and 20.8% sleep deprivation.
Many respondents told the survey such incidents of abuse went largely unreported to authorities and instead handled internally.
Almost all (95%) of respondents reported psychological harm, including mind control techniques or indoctrination (82%), pressure to remain in the group or fear of punishment if leaving (82%), fear‑based teachings or apocalyptic beliefs (81%), isolation from family and friends (78%) and emotional abuse (75%).
Most respondents also experienced a loss of personal freedoms (72%), surveillance or monitoring (56%), financial control or exploitation (52%), restricted access to education or medical care (50%) and forced labour or unpaid work (48%).
RBA economics head downplays inflation jump
The head of the Reserve Bank’s economics department, Sarah Hunter, has downplayed the recent jump in inflation as measured by the monthly consumer price indicator.
Just under three weeks ago the monthly report showed inflation jumped from 1.9% in the year to June, to 2.8% in July, sparking fears that consumer price growth may be reaccelerating.
But Hunter, speaking at a finance industry conference in Sydney today, said the unexpectedly large rise was just the result of government power bill rebates rolling off more quickly than expected.
“That’s a timing issue, that’s not a fundamental issue,” Hunter said, adding that “underlying” inflation – which removes big, temporary price moves – was “broadly” coming in as expected at around the middle of the 2-3% target range.
“Don’t get caught up” on the “headline” inflation number, she said.
“We know that‘s going to track up and it’s going to go up probably further from where it is now because of the rebates rolling off, and then it’s going to come back down.
“We have been anticipating that for quite some time, a couple of years now, and it’s playing out as expected.”
Financial markets are pricing in a virtually zero chance of an interest rate cut on 30 September, according to ANZ, but a nearly 90% chance of a cut at the following RBA board meeting on 4 November.
Updated
Premier meets working group after youth-gang linked double murder
The Victorian premier has met with an expert working group in response to two murders linked to youth gangs earlier this month.
The South Sudanese-Australian youth justice expert working group (SSAYJEWG) released a statement on Tuesday about the deaths, and a meeting on 11 September with the premier, Jacinta Allan.
Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, were killed in Cobblebank, in Melbourne’s outer west, on 6 September.
Allan said that she would be convening a meeting of the group, given both victims were South Sudanese-Australian.
In the statement, the group chair, Dr Santino Deng, and the deputy chair, Meena Singh, said:
[The group] joins our community in mourning the tragic loss of two young people in recent weeks and many others. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, schoolmates, and all who are grieving during this heartbreaking time. These lives, cut short too soon, remind us of the importance of building a safer and more hopeful future for every young person.
This tragedy has affected not only the South Sudanese Australian community but the broader Victorian community as well, and now more than ever we must all unite in collective responsibility and for shared action. Violence leaves families devastated and communities fearful, but it also challenges us to come together with compassion, understanding, and determination to prevent further loss.
You can read more about the deaths here:
Updated
One Nation announces new senator
Pauline Hanson’s long-serving staffer Sean Bell has been announced as One Nation’s new senator after the resignation of Warwick Stacey just a few months into the job.
Hanson announced Bell’s appointment on Tuesday, which will require NSW parliament to sit jointly to ratify his position in the federal upper house.
Bell has worked in Hanson’s office for nine years as an adviser and previously owned his own business.
The 38-year-old says he will put an “end” to “mass immigration, wasteful spending, and ideological agendas that punish working Australians”.
Bell will join Hanson, WA senator Tyron Whitten and Queensland senator Malcolm Roberts on the crossbench.
Updated
Australia and PNG will agree to defend each other from military attack as China’s Pacific influence grows
Australia and Papua New Guinea will agree to defend each other in the event of a military attack, part of a landmark defence agreement due to be signed on the sidelines of celebrations to commemorate the country’s independence this week.
Anthony Albanese and PNG’s defence minister, Billy Joseph, both downplayed a delay to the deal being formalised, insisting the plan known as a Pukpuk treaty won’t affect sovereignty in the former Australian colony.
Designed to pushback on China’s expansionist attitude to Pacific countries, the deal is the latest negotiated by the Albanese government with regional neighbours.
The cabinet of PNG’s prime minister, James Marape, had been due to sign off on the deal on Monday night, but fell short of the required quorum of members due to independence celebrations.
Read more:
That’s all from me, Nino Bucci will guide you through the rest of the day’s news. Take care.
NSW police minister responds to drop in youth crime
The New South Wales police minister responded to data showing youth crime has dropped in the regions, saying: “No statistic will ever mean as much as the level of safety people feel in their homes and on the streets.”
Guardian Australia revealed via data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research on Tuesday that youth crime had dropped by 12% over the past two years. In some areas, the decline is even sharper. The far west and Orana regions – which includes Dubbo, Bourke and Broken Hill – recorded a 42% drop.
In question time earlier today, the police minister, Yasmin Catley, said it showed “encouraging signs” and credited the police. However, she said it was little comfort to those who have been victims of crime.
She said:
Some of the stories out of regional NSW are harrowing – families terrified in their homes, children involved in serious violent offences.
But the latest Bocsar data shows we are moving in the right direction. It shows that the combination of enforcement, diversion and reform are beginning to make a difference.
Updated
Pacific leaders gather to celebrate 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence
Pacific leaders have gathered in Port Moresby to celebrate Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence from Australia, as the prime minister, James Marape, reflected on the moment and voiced his optimism for the future despite the country’s challenges.
Papua New Guinea was administered by Australia as a single territory from 1945. The territory included the former British protectorate of Papua and the former German colony of New Guinea. In 1975, Papua New Guinea was granted independence.
In an address at Independence Hill on Tuesday, Marape addressed a crowd of thousands:
At one minute past midnight on 16 September 1975, our first governor general, Sir John Guise, declared to the world, Papua New Guinea is now independent.
Earlier that evening, as the Australian flag was lowered, Sir John reminded the crowd that ‘we are lowering the Australian flag, not burying it’.
Out of many, we became one, united under a single flag that was hoisted for the first time.
Read more:
Updated
Lifeblood seeking urgent donations of O+, O-, A+ and A- blood
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is seeking urgent donations of four types of blood, O+, O-, A+ and A-, with stocks low across all of Australia.
Lifeblood issued an urgent appeal for blood donations of all types last week, as well as plasma, to help boost critical supplies, saying record high demand during winter, coupled with appointment cancellations and seasonally lower bookings, had strained supplies.
At the time, the body’s CEO, Stephen Cornelissen, said:
Right now, we need donors of all blood types. If you’ve never donated before, now is the time to start. Don’t wait for someone else to do it. Every donation counts.
UNSW signs nation’s biggest education deal with OpenAI to roll out ChatGPT to staff
The University of New South Wales in Sydney announced a sweeping deal with OpenAI to roll out its ChatGPT Edu platform to all 10,000 permanent staff.
They say it’s the biggest education deal with the US-based research company in Australia. Last year, UNSW was the first university to sign an agreement with OpenAI, which included a trial with the Edu platform.
UNSW vice-chancellor, Prof Attila Brungs, announced the agreement at the UNSW Societal Impact of AI Symposium in Sydney. He said it would give his community access to “secure, practical tools that can support their work, whilst ensuring they can be used responsibly”:
As we introduce these technologies, our focus is on helping staff explore how AI can add value in teaching, research and operations, while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, privacy and academic integrity.
Unlike other ChatGPT versions, Edu data can’t be used for model training and prompts remain private.
UNSW has faced backlash from some students over the environmental impacts of using large-scale artificial intelligence models. A spokesperson said in response to community feedback that it would buy carbon offsets to mitigate the emissions associated with the agreement.
The Guardian Media Group has a strategic partnership with OpenAI, which you can read about here.
Updated
Queensland Labor accuses premier of ‘literally daring’ Glencore to close copper plant
Queensland Labor has accused the premier of “literally daring” mining company Glencore to close a copper smelter and refinery, after comments heaping pressure on the mining company.
Local MP Robbie Katter used a question in parliament to pressure the state government to take over the facilities in Mt Isa and Townsville and replace Glencore if the company shuts them down.
“If they take a decision to close that and put it into care and maintenance, that’s their decision. It’s not the federal government’s decision, it’s not the state decision, and it’s not the council’s decision. That will be Glencore’s decision,” premier David Crisafulli said, but added they wouldn’t rule anything in or out.
The deputy Labor leader, Cameron Dick, said the premier was “literally daring” the company to pull out.
“The LNP did this before. The LNP did this with the Australian car manufacturing industry, and we don’t have one of those any more,” Dick said, adding:
He’s literally daring Glencore to close the Queensland copper refinery and copper smelter. As a consequence, the premier is willing to put 17,000 Queenslanders out on the dole queue.
Both the federal and state governments have offered Glencore a deal to keep the facilities open. The Mt Isa smelter is among Australia’s largest.
Updated
Victorian deferment of offshore wind auction doesn’t change necessary contribution to energy future, industry says
The developer behind Star of the South, Australia’s most advanced offshore wind project, said the Victorian government’s decision to defer the state’s offshore wind auction, as reported in the blog earlier, was “disappointing”.
Southerly Ten chief executive, Charles Rattray, said the decision did “not change the reality that offshore wind is essential to Australia’s energy future”, adding:
Gippsland has powered Victoria for over a century – and it can continue to do so with offshore wind. With consistent winds, existing port and grid infrastructure to tap into, and a skilled energy workforce, Gippsland is uniquely positioned to deliver Australia’s first offshore wind project.
We will continue to engage constructively with government, industry partners and communities to unlock the full potential of offshore wind for Australia.
Updated
Twenty-five-year-old man dead after gas leak at Sydney restaurant
More on the gas leak at a Sydney restaurant, as we’ve reported earlier in the blog.
Gavin Wood, assistant commissioner for NSW police, said the deceased is a 25-year-old man who was found unresponsive by the owner of the restaurant and his son. The pair called police, who arrived and attempted CPR on the man. The owner and his son were among seven taken to hospital, alongside five police officers.
Wood said:
At that time the five police officers have attempted CPR on that male, to the point where they felt there was something … in terms of the environment they were in, including an odour, so they have taken the 25-year-old male from the scene, but unfortunately the [CPR was] unsuccessful and the male is now deceased.
Wood said it was possible the dead man was employed at the restaurant, but added the investigation was still in its early stages.
Read more here:
Updated
1,400 machetes handed in as part of Victoria amnesty program
The Victorian government’s machete amnesty program has netted more than 1,300 weapons in its first two weeks of operation, the acting premier, Ben Carroll, and police minister, Anthony Carbines, announced.
On 1 September, Victoria enacted a ban on machetes as a prohibited weapon, making it illegal to own, carry, use, buy or sell them without an exemption. The ban includes a three-month amnesty period from September to November, during which people can safely surrender their machetes at bins at police stations.
Carroll said:
We’ve seen approximately 1,400 machetes off our streets in two weeks. Add to that another nearly 3,500 from our retailers. That’s some 5,000 machetes, illegal knives off our streets, which is a really, really important thing for Victoria.
Carbines added that the $13m amnesty program was designed to give people an opportunity to safely dispose of machetes before it became a crime to own one, which in turn would make it harder for criminals to access them. He went on:
It’s making it much harder for those who want to do harm in the community – you can’t purchase them online, you can’t purchase them from retail outlets, you can’t pinch them from someone else’s home or a back shed. I think it’s just a demonstration that more [people] in the community understand that we don’t need them at home or anywhere else.
Carroll said he would take a proposal to ban machetes to a national meeting of police ministers in Canberra in a fortnight’s time.
Updated
NBN users to get even higher speeds after new upgrade
NBN users on fibre-to-the-premises or hybrid fibre-coaxial connections will be able to get even higher speeds after an upgrade released by the company on Tuesday.
Under the changes, users who have compatible connections will be able to get high speed download and upload increases for the same price they’re currently paying, with retailers to roll out the upgrades over the coming weeks.
Users currently on a 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up plan will be upgraded to 500Mbps down and 50Mbps up. For those on 250/25, it will increase to 750/50, and from 500Mbps down to nearly 1Gbps down and 100Mbps up.
The company is also launching a new home wholesale plan for 2Gbps down and 200Mbps up plan for home, with the business version offering 500Mbps upload speeds.
These speed increases should happen automatically, but internet providers are urging users to make sure their NBN device is capable of delivering those higher speeds.
NBN says more than 9.8m homes and businesses are eligible for the speeds, up to 10m by the end of this year as more of the old fibre-to-the-node connections are upgraded.
Updated
Mark Scott to serve second five-year term at University of Sydney
The vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, Prof Mark Scott, has been unanimously endorsed to serve a second term in the role.
On Tuesday, the university’s chancellor, David Thodey, confirmed the Senate had universally endorsed Scott to serve a second five-year term, beginning in July next year.
He said Scott, who was “unwavering in his pursuit of excellence and innovation – will continue to lead the university towards its mission and ensure our work is more compelling, and more important to our society, than at any other time in our history”.
Scott said it was with “great pride” that he continued to serve students, staff and the wider community and he was “energised each day by our work to transform lives through education and research, and contribute to a better world”.
The vice-chancellor’s leadership came under fire over the university’s handling of a pro-Palestine encampment last year, with some Jewish groups and then-opposition leader, Peter Dutton, urging him to resign. Scott apologised at an inquiry into antisemitism, noting there were things the university could have done better, but said it hadn’t called in police for fear of escalating tensions.
Updated
Treasury modelling one specific figure for emissions reduction, inquiry hears
Treasury has been modelling one specific figure for a 2035 emissions reduction target, rather than a range of numbers, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.
Senior Treasury official Alex Heath would not reveal the number in question but possibly let slip the modelling work was under way before the federal election in May.
Much of the speculation around the government’s soon-to-be announced 2035 target has centred on the prospect of a target range after the Climate Change Authority’s preliminary advice put a span of 65% to 75% on the agenda.
Fronting a parliamentary inquiry into the newly released national climate risk assessment on Tuesday, Heath revealed Treasury has been modelling a specific target – not a target range, or various different numbers.
She said that was due to the “difficulty” in modelling a target range as opposed to individual numbers.
The nature of the modelling that we have done has a point estimate for 2035. I would refer you to the Climate Change Authority advice, which is explicitly the advice that the government is using to look at the potential implications of different targets.
Asked when the work started, Heath said she “genuinely cannot recall” and asked to take the question on notice.
The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, sought clarification after believing she heard Heath say “I think it was prior [to the election]”.
Waters asked Heath if that was correct.
Heath responded:
I think that’s right but I would much prefer to take it on notice.
Updated
An update on the Victorian premier’s China trip
Jacinta Allan declared boosting international students is the top priority of her China strategy, which she unveiled at an event with Chinese and Victorian business leaders, diplomats and trade officials last night.
In the speech, Allan nominated her three priorities for the five-year strategy as “education, education and education”. According to a copy distributed after the event, she said:
Education has been our largest services export for 23 years running, and Melbourne has again been voted Australia’s best student city. Our international students hail from 175 countries. And one in every five is from China. From primary school to PhD, every single level of our public education system reaches out to your own … I want us to build the best education system in the world, together. That’s my project here in China.
Victoria’s China Strategy: For A New Golden Era is the government’s first China strategy since 2016. At the time, Daniel Andrews had sought to attract investment from China for the state’s infrastructure projects, double the state’s exports and boost tourism from the country.
But Allan said her strategy had “three big differences with its precursor”, including a focus on regional Victoria, “empowering” the state’s Chinese community and education. It forecasts that Chinese visitors will nearly double to 800,000 people by 2029 but contains no projections on future student numbers, which are ultimately controlled by the federal government.
She also made several references to her home town of Bendigo – “the Big Gold Mountain” – which saw an influx of Chinese migration during the gold rush.
NSW and Queensland to roll out free flu nasal spray for children under five
Both NSW and Queensland said this week children aged two to under five will be able to access a free intranasal influenza vaccine next year, a move health officials hope will help increase the uptake of the vaccine before the 2026 winter flu season.
The vaccine, called FluMist, would be the first non-injectable influenza vaccine to be available in Australia once it’s gone through the full regulatory approval process. It’s administered as a nasal spray and has been widely used overseas, with countries offering it seeing an increase in immunisation rates.
The vaccine is expected to be available privately for other age groups, depending on regulatory approval.
Queensland health minister Tim Nicholls said in a statement:
Our investment means that parents can avoid the anxiety of a needle injection for their young ones. Research has shown that six in 10 parents experience distress when thinking about vaccinating their child against influenza, and more than a quarter of young kids experience intense needle phobia.
NSW health minister Ryan Park said the program would provide “an accessible and convenient needle-free option for children and improve vaccination uptake ahead of the 2026 winter flu season”.
NSW fire and rescue working to contain area of hazardous air quality, Dewberry says
Adam Dewberry, from NSW fire and rescue, says it is unclear where the leak started:
At this stage, all we know is the air quality in the whole building – two levels – has been compromised.
A lot of the oxygen has been pushed out and, at this stage, carbon monoxide is a strong line of interest. But we’re also looking for other gases that could be in and around. It’s too early to speculate what else could be in there.
But what I can tell you is Fire & Rescue New South Wales, with our specialist firefighters, those hazardous materials experts, are using all the equipment they have on the truck to go through and take those samples and interrogate the air that they have collected and diagnosed to work out what we’re dealing with here.
Dewberry said all firefighters responding are safe.
Our firefighters are safe. Ambulance paramedics are still on scene. They’re providing overwatch for our firefighters that are wearing pretty heavy clothing, breathing apparatus, and working in those confined areas being in the building in room, and just in case something goes wrong, they’re there ready for us.
I know police have already started their investigations. They are on scene, and they’re also collecting the information that they need to conduct their investigations.It’s still an operation that’s ongoing. We’ll just work here until we’re satisfied that the area is rendered safe and contained, stable, and it’s not going to get any worse - it’s all cleared up so those investigations can commence.
Updated
Carbon monoxide identified in Sydney gas leak, fire superintendent says
More from NSW fire and rescue superintendent Adam Dewberry about a fatal gas leak at a Sydney restaurant:
[We] responded to reports that a person had been rescued out of this building, non-responsive, unconscious, and was being resuscitated.
Unfortunately, they could not be revived. It was obvious to the first arriving emergency services, the air quality in the building was compromised. Firefighters wearing protective clothing, including breathing apparatuses, entered that structure with the gas detectors, and identified that there was a carbon monoxide in there and some other products that you just can’t survive in when you’re breathing that.Where we’re at now is we’ve got our firefighters who specialise in hazardous materials on scene. They’re in the building. They’re actually taking samples. They’re diagnosing the air quality as they work to find out what the products are that are contaminating the air so we can determine where it’s coming from and shut it off and render the area safe.
The information that we can get can also help the hospital treat all the people that have been transported. But, more importantly, we do need to isolate this area so we can render the site is safe, and then those investigations can commence by New South Wales police.
Updated
More details on the gas leak at a restaurant in Sydney which has left one dead:
Adam Dewberry, Fire and Rescue NSW superintendent, said fire rescue is yet to determine the cause of the leak.
He said:
Hazmat crews are going through with various detection equipment to determine what the product is and how we can render is safe.
Updated
Greens question climate risk
During a parliamentary inquiry into the national climate risk assessment on Tuesday, the Greens’ leader, Larissa Waters, opens questioning on the prospect that 597,000 people could be at direct risk of coastal hazards by 2030.
Updated
Parent company of Rebel Sport and Supercheap Auto fires chief executive over workplace relationship
The parent company of Rebel Sport and Supercheap Auto has fired its chief executive and managing director over a workplace relationship, AAP reports.
Super Retail Group said on Tuesday it had terminated the employment of Anthony Heraghty “with immediate effect” and had lapsed his unvested incentives and vested but unexercised stock rights. The group said:
The board made this decision after receiving new information from Mr Heraghty regarding his relationship with the company’s former chief human resources officer. In light of his new information, the board has concluded Mr Heraghty’s prior disclosures were not satisfactory.
Heraghty had been Super Retail Group’s managing director since April 2015, and was given the additional title of CEO in February 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Super Retail Group also owns Macpac and the chain of boating, camping and fishing stores known as BCF.
Updated
One person dead and six taken to hospital after gas leak at Sydney restaurant
NSW police said one person has died and six others – including five police officers – have been taken to hospital after reports of a gas leak at a restaurant in the suburb of Riverstone today.
Emergency services responded to the restaurant around 9.15am this morning.
Those taken to hospital are in stable condition.
Updated
ACS did not personally brief PM on findings in national climate risk assessment
Australian Climate Service officials did not personally brief Anthony Albanese on the findings of its national climate risk assessment, the inquiry has heard.
Mason said her team briefed the prime minister’s office and the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C) – but not the prime minister himself.
Climate change department official Jason Munday said it was typical for PM&C to act as the intermediary that would run the prime minister through such a report.
Back to the parliamentary inquiry into the national climate risk assessment
The Greens and others repeatedly accused the government of delaying the report’s release to bury its findings earlier this morning.
Vicki Manson, the head of the Australian Climate Service, said suggestions that the work was completed as far back as December were incorrect. She said a “working draft” was prepared in December but it was clear “we needed to do a bit more work”.
The [draft] was not for sharing with decision-makers with any confidence.
Manson said the finished assessment, and the full suite of materials accompanying it including 20 technical reports and an interactive website, was only finalised on 5 September.
She said a draft report was provided to the department and the climate change minister, Chris Bowen, in March 2025, which was used to gather feedback from across the government. Another draft was produced in July 2025.
The Greens’ leader, Larissa Waters, asked what changes were made from the July 2025 iteration to the final report two months later. Manson said:
It was quality assurance. There was no additional analysis from the July work. It was presenting the data in an appropriate way and ensuring that the information was presented in an understandable format. It was really our own quality assurance process.
Waters asks Mason if she advised Bowen to release the report immediately.
I provided the report and it was a decision of government when to release it.
Updated
Claims every user will be age checked is a ‘scare tactic’, eSafety commissioner says
The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, says it has been a “scare tactic” to claim that every Australian will need to have their age checked.
The guidance released on Tuesday states the government does not want every user to go through age checking, claiming the use of AI, and the data the platforms collect on users can be used to infer ages for a lot of existing accounts, either by their interests or the age of the account.
Inman Grant said:
Adults should not see huge changes to the platform … We think it would be unreasonable if platforms verified everyone’s age.
It is worth noting that any new account registration after the ban comes in will require that account holder to go through an age check and while some companies like Meta do collect significant amounts of information on their users, companies like BlueSky have previously said they do not collect this information on their users ± meaning they would have to look at other methods.
On enforcement, Inman Grant says she does not expect every under-16 account to be gone by 10 December but she will be looking at systemic failures to apply the ban on their platforms. The commissioner’s office will engage informally with platforms that may be non-compliant before moving to the stage of potentially launching court action and seeking fines of up to $50m.
Inman Grant will be meeting with Apple, Discord, Character AI, Open AI, Anthropic, Google and Meta in Silicon Valley next week.
Updated
‘We can police the sharks’, communications minister says of looming ban
Anika Wells, the communications minister, is speaking about the upcoming social media ban for those under the age of 16. The country’s eSafety watchdog issued new guidance this morning recommending tech platforms undertake the “most minimally invasive techniques” to determine a users’ age from 10 December when the ban kicks in.
Wells said during a press conference:
There is no excuse for non-compliance. Platforms must take reasonable steps to detect and deactivate underage accounts to prevent reregistration and to provide an accessible complaint process for their users. Platforms must implement the laws in a way that is effective, private and fair. …
We cannot control the ocean, but we can police the sharks and today we’re making clear to the rest of the world, how we can do this.
Government details how social media giants will be expected to handle under-16s ban
The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, is holding a press conference with the communications minister, Anika Wells, on the guidelines for the social media ban we reported earlier in the blog.
Inman Grant said that social media platforms from 10 December will be expected to take a “multilayered waterfall approach” for age checking, to ensure that government ID is never the sole or final choice for people to verify their ages.
The social media companies have been told their priority before 10 December is to focus on removing or deactivating accounts for those under 16.
The companies will also need to mitigate people potentially using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the ban. Inman Grant says companies are already making moves on age-checking, including Tinder announcing face checks, Roblox using age assurance technology and Apple announcing it can provide more information to platforms as to whether users are over 13, 16 or 18.
Inman Grant said:
We also note this is going to be a monumental event for a lot of children. A lot of children welcome this, as it certainly parents to, but we know this will be difficult for kids and so we have also released today our commitment to protecting and upholding children’s digital rights and recognising that they, their parents and educators, will continue to need education and resources to prepare them for this moment and that is precisely what we are prepared to do.
Updated
Inquiry under way into ‘chilling’ climate risk report
A parliamentary inquiry into the national climate risk assessment is being held on Tuesday a day after the release of the landmark report.
To quickly recap, the first-of-its kind assessment modelled the threat of climate-related hazards, such as bushfires, floods and storms, on various parts of the community and economy under three global heating scenarios: above 1.5C, above 2C and above 3C.
Among the findings, the modelling shows that heat-related deaths could surge 444% in Sydney under a 3C scenario, almost 1.5 million people could be at risk from rising sea levels by 2050 and the annual economic cost of disasters could balloon to $40bn.
The report was published just days out from the anticipated release of the government’s 2035 emissions reduction target.
The Greens’ leader, Larissa Waters, who described the report as “chilling”, opened Tuesday’s hearing with a question about a specific part in the report: the prospect that by 2030, some 597,000 people could be at direct risk of coastal hazards. Waters wants to know exactly where those locations are.
Judith Landsberg, from the Australian Climate Service, which produced the report, couldn’t immediately provide the information:
The analysis that was done for that was looking broadly at the whole coast. We are not intending to identify specific locations. Part of the reason for a national assessment was to identify locations with similar risks so they can collaborate to share adaptation strategies and to help the government to prioritise investment.
When pushed, Landsberg said the highest-risk communities “would not be a surprise to Australians”.
Broadly, southern Queensland, up the coast in Queensland, there’s areas at risk in Western Australia, there’s areas at risk in every region, but also South Australia and the south-east of Victoria.
Updated
Setback for offshore wind as Victoria delays auction
Victoria’s energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, told a wind summit in Melbourne the state’s planned offshore wind auction will not launch in September as planned, blaming the delay on the lack of a joint funding agreement with the federal government. D’Ambrosio said:
While our aspiration was to have those preconditions in place by the end of September, and great effort has gone into attempting to achieve this, it has not been possible.
As a result, today, I am disappointed to announce that Victoria will be delaying the formal procurement process for our first offshore wind auction. However, we will provide an update on the option timeline by the end of this year.”
We are absolutely committed, and I continue to be optimistic about the possibilities of a national partnership.
D’Ambrosio said Victoria remained committed to the development of offshore wind, but said factors including delays in the issuing feasibility licences, the rejection of the first Port of Hastings EPBC referral, as well as global uncertainty had contributed to the decision. An updated auction timeline would be made available by the end of the year.
Updated
Small earthquake near Newcastle this morning
There was a small 3.1 magnitude earthquake near Newcastle this morning, centred in the town of Bulahdelah, NSW. The temblor hit just before 7.50am, Geoscience Australia says.
Region: Bulahdelah, NSW
— EarthquakesGA (@EarthquakesGA) September 15, 2025
Mag: 3.1
UTC: 2025-09-15 21:49:45
Lat: -32.42, Lon: 152.20
Dep: 9km
For more info and updates, or if you felt this earthquake, go to https://t.co/slCKPK0Gi5
Updated
Rising sea levels and soaring heat deaths: will climate action match the risks? – Full Story podcast
The national climate risk assessment has painted a challenging and confronting view of the future for Australia under global heating. Anthony Albanese says the landmark report is a “wake-up call” that reinforces the need for “serious” action on the climate emergency. But with the government’s soon-to-be released 2035 emissions target still unknown, will Labor’s action on the climate crisis match the risk?
Nour Haydar speaks with climate and environment editor Adam Morton about how the government will respond to its biggest climate challenge.
PM says PNG independence celebrations prevented treaty from being signed overnight
Anthony Albanese says the defence treaty with Papua New Guinea wasn’t signed overnight because PNG’s national executive were spread around the island country celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence.
Speaking to Sky News this morning, the prime minister confirmed the deal hadn’t yet been inked but said PNG prime minister, James Marape, was “very supportive” of the pact.
Albanese said:
[PNG’s national executive were] all off celebrating. That’s, that’s the thing, they all went to their respective homelands, and so they didn’t have quorum at the cabinet meeting. And that’s understandable …
This is about our mutual security. This is about our mutual sovereignty as well as showing respect for each other, and it’s a natural progression of how closely we work together.
Updated
Albanese says PNG pact will take partnership between two countries ‘to the next level’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, spoke to ABC News this morning as Australia and PNG work to finalise a defence pact saying the ultimate deal – once signed – would take the partnership between the two nations “to the next level” and be akin to a pact Australia has with the US.
Albanese said:
We, of course, cooperate greatly on a day-to-day basis. This formalises this. It strengthens Papua New Guinea and it also strengthens Australia, because a strong region is certainly in our interests.
The prime minister said the treaty is still being negotiated in PNG, but he expects it to have “overwhelming support” in Australia when it goes before parliament, adding he expects the deal will have overwhelming support in PNG, too.
Updated
Conroy ‘confident’ defence agreement with PNG will be signed tomorrow
Pat Conroy was asked about progress negotiating a major defence pact with Papua New Guinea, saying he remained hopeful Australia would sign the agreement in the coming days.
Conroy told RN:
I’m confident, but we’re respecting the processes of Papua New Guinea and letting them go through their processes. That’s really important that we respect their sovereignty.
We’re not like other countries. We don’t come in and try and impose our will on the Pacific family. We respect their processes, we listen to their priorities and we act on them, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Pat Conroy discounts Canavan’s remarks as ‘woefully’ out of touch
Pat Conroy, the minister of the defence industry, rejected Canavan’s claims, saying the report instead demonstrated an urgent need to take action “not just to protect our environment but also to seize the economic opportunities of the jobs of the future.
Conroy told RN Breakfast:
I think he’s condemning Australians to a very bleak future if he ever got into power. He’s symptomatic of an opposition that’s woefully out of place, out of touch with both the science and the views of the Australian people.
Updated
Matt Canavan says landmark climate assessment a ‘cynical attempt to spread fear and panic’
Nationals senator Matt Canavan discounted the headlines behind the landmark national climate risk assessment, saying the government had conveniently timed the report while calling the document a “cynical attempt to spread fear and panic among people”.
The Albanese government released the troubling report yesterday, saying Australia faces a “wake-up call” and warning every Australian and every aspect of life will be disrupted and changed by the phenomenon.
Canavan maintained the Nationals position that net zero was not a good pathway for the country while saying the headlines behind the climate assessment were merely a “marketing exercise” by the government. Canavan told RN Breakfast:
The problem is the headline figures are never as bad as the detailed science that underlies it. …
It reads like the Book of Daniel, not a government report. I mean, I like government reports that are sober and reasonable. … I think Australians like a government, that just tell them the truth and not try and scare them. We saw that during Covid. People are trying to scare you because they’ve got an agenda, right?
Updated
Infant dies and child seriously injured after crash in Sydney
An infant died and a child is in serious condition after a crash in Sydney’s south-west yesterday.
NSW police said emergency services were called to the suburb of Minto after reports a pedestrian had been hit by a car. Upon arrival, officers found a five-month-old infant and a five-year-old child in serious condition after they were struck by a vehicle.
Police attempted to treat the infant with CPR before paramedics arrived, but she died at the scene. The child was treated by paramedics and taken to the hospital.
The driver of the vehicle was uninjured. An investigation into the crash has been opened.
The Liberals are undergoing a review of all policies after a disastrous electoral defeat in May. An announcement is expected by the end of the year.
Hastie was asked yesterday whether he had spoken to the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, about his position. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was sacked last week for failing to abide by shadow ministry rules, which require public solidarity on party policies.
Hastie replied:
Everyone is whispering that anyway, so I may as well just say it out loud. I’ve nailed my colours in the mast. I went on Four Corners, and I said the net zero policy is a straitjacket for our economy and our country, and I believe that. I’m actually quite passionate about it.
Hastie’s comments followed the release of the national climate risk assessment yesterday, which revealed a detailed picture of the severe and far-reaching social and economic consequences of the climate crisis for Australia.
The assessment modelled the impact of climate-related hazards such as heatwaves, drought and floods on different parts of the community, economy and environment under three global heating scenarios: above 1.5C, above 2C and above 3C.
Under the 3C scenario, it found the number of heat-related deaths in Sydney would increase by 444% and by 423% in Darwin.
Read more:
Andrew Hastie threatens to quit Coalition frontbench over net zero
Andrew Hastie says he would quit the shadow frontbench if the Liberals remain committed to a net zero by 2050 policy, spelling more trouble for Sussan Ley as the opposition leader looks to steady a rocky ship.
The shadow home affairs minister and Western Australian MP claimed on Monday night that the Albanese government’s target to reduce emissions to net zero on 2005 levels by 2050 is being done in “the name of climate alarmism”.
Hastie’s warning in an appearance on ABC Radio Perth follows the sacking of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the shadow ministry last week after she declined to publicly support Ley or apologise for suggesting the federal government’s migration program favoured Indians to win Labor votes.
Hastie is part of a growing number of Coalition MPs to speak out against net zero and has previously described the government’s commitment to cleaner energy a “moral hypocrisy” and a “scam”.
When asked what he would do if the Liberals decide to keep the policy after its post-election review, the Canning MP said it would leave him “without a job”.
Read more here:
Good morning, Nick Visser here to take over the liveblog. Thanks to Martin Farrer for getting things rolling.
Ayres calls for worker consultation on AI integration in jobs
Workers should have a say in how AI is integrated into their jobs, and get proper support and training for the transformation ahead, the minister for industry and innovation Tim Ayres says.
Ayres will use a speech to the National Tech Summit in Sydney on Tuesday to argue the rapid progress of AI across the economy will deliver a new set of consequential decisions from government, firms, trade unions, advocacy groups across society.
He said “thickets of regulation that would discourage investment” are not needed, but Australia should work to be ready to host the digital infrastructure that will support growing AI demand here and across the Asia Pacific region.
“Adopted properly, AI can help Australia advance its scientific and research objectives, drive decarbonisation across the economy, revitalise industry, enhance the export competitiveness of Australian manufactured goods, boost productivity and lift the living standards of all Australians,” Ayres will say.
“The technology is here now, and if Australia is to make the most of it, we can’t afford to lean back.”
Importantly, Ayres will tell the event new research by Jobs and Skills Australia will show that major job losses because of AI driven change are not expected or necessary:
That report indicates that AI will change the kind of work Australians do and the way they go about it.
But the number of occupations at risk of disappearing is, on balance, pretty small – not zero, of course, but pretty small – while the number of occupations likely to have their functions augmented is high.
The eSafety commissioner’s guidance states that platforms should not retain data or details captured in any age verification process – but they will be required to track the effectiveness of their systems.
Companies that fail to comply with the new rules could face fines of up to $49.5m. The communications minister, Anika Wells, said:
This industry guidance makes clear our strong expectations that social media platforms step up to the plate to implement the minimum age in a way that is effective, private, and fair on Australian users.
The government has done the work to ensure that platforms have the information they need to comply with the new laws – and it’s now on them to take the necessary steps.
eSafety watchdog issues new guidance for online safety rules
Australia’s online safety watchdog has recommended social media platforms undertake the “most minimally invasive techniques” to determine a user’s age from December when a ban on under-16 users kicks in.
Guidance from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, released Tuesday, shows digital platforms will also need to offer a “layered” approach to checking someone’s age to ensure those under 16 can’t bypass restricted sites.
The expectations also require platforms to remove existing underage accounts, prevent re-registration by under-16s and avoid allowing users to self-declare their age without additional checks.
The internet regulator’s guidance states platforms cannot force users to solely provide their government ID and that blanket age verification “may be considered unreasonable, especially if existing data can infer age reliably”. As my colleague, Josh Taylor, explained previously, this could mean checking a user’s behaviour, interests, or other factors such as the length of time since account registration.
Sydney airport to add up to 14 new international gates
Sydney airport is planning its biggest expansion since the city’s Olympics as it prepares to nearly double its passenger numbers and fend off its forthcoming rival in the city’s west.
The T2 and T3 domestic terminals would be connected and opened up to overseas flights, adding up to 12 new international gates along with two more at the existing T1 international terminal.
The airport’s current 25 international gates would rise to a possible 39, accommodating a surge in overseas passengers from 16 million annually to 36 million by 2045.
Domestic passenger numbers are expected to rise at a slower pace, rising from 25 million to 36 million, leaving Kingsford-Smith hosting a total of 72 million passengers annually. Air freight is expected to more than double from 0.6m to 1.4m tonnes.
Its new local rival, the Western Sydney international airport, expects to open in 2026, moving 8.4 million passengers annually by 2030 and then 10 times as many by 2063. Its last strategic plan suggested it would overtake Kingsford-Smith as Australia’s largest airport, though the new Sydney airport announcement suggests the incumbent is set to dominate for some decades.
Scott Charlton, Sydney airport’s chief executive, said:
This plan is about building the future of Australia’s gateway … [It] will be the most significant development at Sydney airport since the Olympics, and will unlock greater capacity across all terminals.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.
The big political news overnight is that Andrew Hastie, the shadow home affairs spokesperson, has threatened to quit the Coalition frontbench over Sussan Ley’s plan to support net zero. The reactions are like to roll on – especially given the government’s focus this week on the climate crisis.
Sydney airport is planning its biggest expansion since the city’s Olympics as it prepares to nearly double its passenger numbers and fend off its forthcoming rival in the city’s west. More shortly.
Plus, social media companies have been given a list of do’s and don’ts for the upcoming age restrictions, which require much more than just asking “are you 16?”. We’ll have the details in a bit.
