Coalition partyroom probes gambling reforms
Tom McIlroy
Liberal and Nationals MPs have had their weekly catch up at Parliament House, with the meeting including interesting discussions about the government’s plans to limit online gambling advertising.
We’re told nine MPs raised gambling in the closed-door meeting, with five backbenchers urging the Coalition to go further and strengthen Labor’s plans. Another four MPs warned about the need to get the balance right and not go too far in limiting advertising.
The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, told the meeting he would continue to discuss the matter with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. A deal between Labor and the Coalition is expected within days. Separately, the shadow communications minister, Sarah Henderson, is speaking with the minister, Anika Wells, about a possible agreement.
Whatever deal is struck will be subject to the usual Coalition process, which would involve approval from the partyroom. That could happen in next week’s partyroom meeting.
Moves to ban inducements or to move to an opt-in system for gambling advertising were discussed in the meeting but the talks were not at that level of detail.
The meeting heard concerns about “perceived behaviour of gambling preying on the vulnerable”.
The matter remains “a moving feast” according to Liberal MPs.
Updated at 22.16 EDT
Key events
Achol Arok
Victorian chamber of commerce welcomes Carroll’s delay to work from home laws
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed premier Ben Carroll’s decision to delay the start of the government’s Australian-first legislation giving workers the right to work from home two days a week until after the state election.
Carroll also said debate on the bill – which was expected to pass the upper house later this week – would be delayed.
The Victorian chamber’s chief executive, Sally Curtain, reiterated the organisation’s call for the government to abandon the bill entirely, saying it hoped to persuade Carroll “to abandon this destructive course”. Curtain said:
double quotation markThe Victorian chamber maintains that the bill must be scrapped as it is completely unnecessary, costly and burdensome for Victorian businesses.
As it stands, this legislation remains a profound risk to our state’s economy.
Updated at 22.20 EDT
Albanese and Lâm announce strengthening of Australia-Vietnam partnership
Anthony Albanese says Australia and Vietnam are close friends and trusted strategic partners as he and Tô Lâm announce a stronger economic partnership.
The pair are addressing the media, and Albanese says they have agreed to “stronger cooperation across defence, maritime and border security, the digital economy, agriculture, energy, minerals, science and innovation”.
As part of the talks, Vietnam has also agreed to open market access to Australian kangaroo and deer meat.
Of course, the PM also mentions the importance of the relationship in the face of global instability.
double quotation markWe also spoke about the strategic challenges which face our region. Australia and Vietnam both want an Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous … And I look forward to working closely with Vietnam at this year’s Asean meetings and the east Asia summit, and then afterwards at the Apec summit.
Lâm says he and Albanese have held “open and candid and substantive bilateral talks”, and welcomes the outcomes.
He adds that the two countries will “seek new breakthroughs” in economic trade and investment and “enhance corporation in AI, semiconductor, digital technology, cybersecurity, green technology and emerging technology”.
double quotation markWe also agree to bolster cooperation in defence and security on the basis of international law and respect for each other’s independent sovereignty and legitimate interest.
We agree to seek new breakthroughs in economic trade and investment corporation in line with our [comprehensive strategic partnership], advanced inclusive, substantive and effective collaboration to address disruptions to supply chains, and we remain determined to further increase our two-way trade and investment turnover.
Anthony Albanese and the Vietnamese president, Tô Lâm, exchange documents after a bilateral meeting in Canberra. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 22.04 EDT
Albanese and Lâm take veiled swipe at Trump and China in joint statement
Anthony Albanese and Tô Lâm have released a joint statement following their meeting – ahead of some public remarks.
The pair have agreed to deeper cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership established last year.
The statement talks about the importance of economic resilience “foundational to national security and prosperity”.
Within the statement, the pair say:
double quotation markBoth sides expressed their concern over policies and practices that disrupt global supply chains or unnecessarily restrict trade. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a fair, transparent, open and rules-based multilateral trading system.
This, while not naming names, seems to heavily hint at Donald Trump’s trade tariffs and China.
Updated at 21.33 EDT
Luca Ittimani
Housing slowdown caused by interest rates not tax reforms, says Westpac
Slumping home loans are a consequence of the Reserve Bank’s interest rate rises this year, as much or more than the investment tax changes in the federal budget, according to Westpac.
Yesterday the bank reported owner-occupier loans were down 18%, comparing the first three months of 2026 to the period 15 May to 31 July, after three rate hikes. Investor loans had fallen 26%, reflecting the budget’s tax reforms.
The bank’s chief financial officer, Nathan Goonan, told analysts on a call:
double quotation markThe rate impact is probably equal or potentially a bigger impact than anything that happened in the budget.
Goonan also reported applications for refinancing had been more resilient than for new home loans.
Credit bureau Equifax reported overall mortgage demand was down 16.4% in July, compared to the same month last year. First home buyer demand has fallen further, at 19.1%.
The slump in home lending and house prices has caught the RBA by surprise and is one reason it is unlikely to hike rates again today, as you can read here:
Updated at 21.09 EDT
Bird flu ‘not in our agriculture system’ at this time: Collins
Julie Collins tells the press conference that at this stage, there is no evidence bird flu has infiltrated the poultry and agriculture sector.
She says the government has learned a lot of lessons from previous incursions of bird flu, which Australia was able to eradicate.
Collins says the government has secured $2m worth of vaccinations which translates to about 1,500 vials.
double quotation markWe continue to work really closely particularly with the chicken meat and egg industry in relation to keeping it out of our system … overseas we have seen it spread over into agriculture, so we’re doing everything we can to keep it out of our agriculture system, and at this time it’s not in our agriculture system.
The chief veterinary officer, Beth Cookson, says vaccines will help but there will be variations in the level of immunity that the vaccines can bring to the bird populations.
double quotation markThat’s why it is a complementary tool and enhanced biosecurity will always be the first line of defence … no influenza vaccine is 100% protective.
Updated at 21.22 EDT
‘We are going to see more mass mortalities of birds’: Watt
The environment minister, Murray Watt, says the government has been doing targeted trials of vaccines, which will now be broadened out to protect native species and birds in captivity.
Watt says that part of the government’s $113m bird flu preparedness plan has involved sealing off enclosures in zoos to stop wild birds coming in, and increasing captive breeding populations in zoos, “to make sure we do have viable populations of our most endangered species”.
double quotation markWhere it is possible to vaccinate wild birds we will do so, but the priority is to vaccinate birds that are in captivity and in zoos and other institutions we have been taking steps to ensure we do have populations of our most vulnerable bird species and they are going to be the priority when it comes to vaccination.
Julie Collins says state, territory and federal governments have all been testing to see which species respond effectively to the vaccine.
Asked which species will be vaccinated first and where, Collins says that’ll be up to the states and territories to announce.
The agriculture minister, Julie Collins, and environment minister, Murray Watt. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 21.02 EDT
First vaccines for bird flu to begin rolling out in ‘coming days and weeks’
The agriculture minister, Julie Collins, says priority species of birds in captivity will be the first to be vaccinated, with the rollout to begin soon.
Speaking at a press conference in parliament, Collins says the government can’t stop the spread in wild birds, but can protect some native species.
double quotation markI can announce that the first vaccines are expected to roll out in coming days and weeks based on an agreed national approach to the targeted vaccination of priority native bird species.
This approach will mean that the states and territories are able to commence vaccination activities, initially focusing on priority species in captivity identified by those states and territories.
We’ve been very clear that we cannot stop the H5 bird flu from spreading amongst wild birds … Australians should expect to see more spread and larger numbers, particularly of dead birds and mass mortalities around the country from the H5 bird flu. We have been very clear that this will continue to spread across the country.
Updated at 21.03 EDT
It’s census day!
For all you stats nerds out there, today is the day … well it’s at least the day all the data gets input before all the results come back later.
If you – like myself – are doing it tonight, here’s your best guide on what to expect.
ShareSend us your politics questions!
Do you have a question you’d like to ask Guardian Australia’s political team this week?
Well do I have news for you …
I’ll be recording an ‘Ask me anything’ episode of the Australian Politics podcast with my fabulous colleagues Tom McIlroy, Josh Butler and Sarah Basford Canales.
We’d love you to send through questions for us, so hit us up at australianpolitics@theguardian.com.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Updated at 20.26 EDT
In pics: Vietnam president meets with Albanese and governor general
Vietnam’s general secretary and president, Tô Lâm, has just arrived at parliament ahead of a meeting with Anthony Albanese.
It is Lam’s first state visit to Australia since becoming Vietnam’s Communist party chief in late 2024.
A little earlier he met Sam Mostyn at Government House.
Vietnam general secretary and president Tô Lâm is greeted by Anthony Albanese ahead of a meeting at Parliament House. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPGovernor-General Sam Mostyn meets Tô Lâm at Government House. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/AFP/Getty ImagesPresident Tô Lâm signs a visitors’ book at Government House alongside Sam Mostyn. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 21.32 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Victoria commits to amending suppression orders
The Victorian government has committed to removing “loopholes” in the state’s laws on suppression orders if elected in November and will introduce legislation to parliament today to ban character references altogether.
The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has announced a raft of reforms he said is informed by the voices of victims.
Speaking alongside attorney general Sonya Kilkenny on Tuesday morning, he said:
double quotation markFirst and foremost, we are going to stop suppression orders being used to protect convicted rapists. Suppression orders were designed to protect victim survivors, not convicted rapists. We’re also going to take good character references off the table. If you commit a heinous crime, the fact of being a volunteer for part of your life should not form part of any judgment. If you commit the crime, you need to do the time.
The bill before parliament today amends the state’s Equal Opportunity Act to make “subjection to family violence” a protected attribute, which will make it unlawful to discriminate against someone because they have or are experiencing family violence. It criminalises coercive control as a standalone offence, strengthens family violence intervention orders and expands personal safety intervention orders to recognise grooming.
But the bill does not deal with suppression orders. Kilkenny said the government is committed to scrapping the for convicted rapists if elected while an advisory group was also reviewing other “loopholes”.
double quotation markThat review is underway right now, and as we’ve announced today a re-elected Carroll Labor government will ensure that we make amendments to our Open Courts Act so that we are closing every loophole used by high-profile accused and convicted persons on the use of suppression orders.
Asked what the review was exploring, she said:
double quotation markInterim suppression orders, the length of those suppression orders, the reasons for those suppression orders … if there are loopholes, we are going to close them, and that they can’t be abused and exploited.
Entertainment manager, Ralph Carr, and Tom Silvagni, the son of AFL footballer Stephen Silvagni, both successfully applied for court suppression orders while facing trial on separate rape charges, with their identities only publicly released once they were convicted.
In the case of Carr, his identity was suppressed for almost three years.
ShareWork from home laws won’t come into effect in Victoria until after electionBenita Kolovos
The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has announced the government’s nation-first bill to legislate a right to work from home two days a week won’t take effect until after the election.
Carroll also said debate on the bill – which was expected to pass parliament’s upper house later this week – has been delayed.
He said he made the decision as part of his commitment to “reset the relationship” with the business community:
double quotation markI’ve spoken with Sally Curtin this morning and Tim Piper, and I told them that work from home will not proceed on 1 September. It will proceed on 1 July 2027.
I want to be very clear. I support work from home. I support flexible work. It is good for working families. Equally, though, we need to make sure that … Everyone knows it’s a partnership between working families and the business community and the government.
Victorian premier Ben Carroll. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/AAPShare
Updated at 20.15 EDT
‘This government has been beaten by high interest and inflation’: Taylor
Angus Taylor is giving his party room a bit of a gee up for the first sitting day back after the winter break.
He’s let the cameras in for his opening speech (the same as what Anthony Albanese did ahead of his caucus meeting yesterday) – before the party gets into the nitty gritty. We can expect gambling to be a key talking point of the meeting.
There are plenty of shouts of “hear hear” from the MPs in the background.
Taylor says:
double quotation markThis government told Australians that it had beaten high inflation and high interest rates and this government has been beaten by high inflation and high interest rates.
Now, over the course of the break, we launched our plan. Our plan to fix the economy and to protect our way of life.
As I said, we will lax labor’s toxic taxes, their taxes on savings, on investment, on housing, on small businesses, on widows.
That last point is reference to the so-called “widow tax”. Under the tax reforms announced in the May budget, a widow or divorcee would lose grandfathered exemptions to negative gearing and capital gains tax in the event the property was transferred from both to one of the partners and the tax settings reset.
Independent senator David Pocock raised the issue before the tax legislation was passed, which then Labor said it would fix in subsequent bills.
Albanese to meet with Vietnam’s president at Parliament House
The president and general secretary of Vietnam, Tô Lâm, is in Canberra today, currently meeting with the governor general, Sam Mostyn.
Lâm arrived in Sydney yesterday, in time for the government to announce that VietJet would start flying into the new western Sydney airport.
The president will then head over to Parliament House to meet with Anthony Albanese and the pair will later provide joint statements to the media.
We can probably expect China and Donald Trump to be on the agenda for the talks.
Vietnam’s president, Tô Lâm, at Government House in Sydney on Monday. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/EPAShare
Updated at 21.32 EDT
Malinauskas didn’t consult with federal counterparts on AI royal commission
Yesterday’s announcement that South Australia would hold a royal commission into artificial intelligence would have taken some by surprise yesterday – including the federal government.
The SA premier, Peter Malinauskas, has done his own media rounds this morning plugging the announcement, but says he didn’t give the commonwealth a heads up.
He told RN Breakfast the idea for a royal commission was cemented after he went to the United States:
double quotation markWithin 72 hours of being on the ground and talking to people who are themselves developing the technology and using the technology, and them talking about the profound implications of what AI will do to our modern economy, I was absolutely convinced this is something we should do …
This is something that we’re pursuing as a state government because of course within our federation sub-national governments or states are responsible for a whole range of areas of service delivery that are quite separate to considerations of the federal government.
Earlier, independent MP Kate Chaney told RN Breakfast it was good the premier was “realising the magnitude of this issue” but said a royal commission wasn’t the right mechanism.
double quotation markIt’s very slow, takes too long. I wrote a letter to the Coalition and some others a few weeks ago pushing for or seeking support for a joint standing committee on AI because I do think we need parliamentary oversight … But Peter Malinauskas has at least recognised the urgency of this issue.
Updated at 19.41 EDT
Coalition to work with Hanson on migration bill
Speaking of One Nation’s immigration bill, Ted O’Brien tells News24 that he’s open to working with “anybody who is going to make Australia safer.”
He says the Coalition are working on their own immigration bill, and that the opposition “won’t be political” in dealing with the issue.
double quotation markWe are open to working with anybody who is going to make Australia safer. I don’t particularly care where they come from.
We’re yet to see all the detail, right? So if, at the end of the day, ours is a better bill, of course, we’ll be pursuing ours over it but I think the right thing to do by Australia is not to be overly political on these issues. If somebody wants to genuinely bring forward a bill, absolutely, let’s engage in good faith, have a look at it.
In two separate cases in June 2022 and in November 2023, the high court struck down Coalition-era laws that gave the home affairs minister power to strip dual nationals of Australian citizenship for engaging in suspected terrorist activities.
The shadow home affairs minister, Jonno Duniam, also told News24 this morning that the Coalition would work with One Nation on the bill:
double quotation markWe’ll work with them on that legislation, it is important we get it right. We’d love to see it go off to a Senate committee to make sure that people who know a little more than we in the Senate know, legal experts to make sure it is robust.
We want to shut the door on terrorists, we’ve been trying for years to do this.
Updated at 19.34 EDT
PM ‘still under the thumb of the gambling companies’: Greens senator
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says she’s sceptical of negotiations between the opposition and government over gambling reforms, worried they won’t go far enough.
She stops by the cameras stationed outside the Senate entrance:
double quotation markWe haven’t seen any details from the government, as to how far they’re willing to go, I am sceptical that the prime minister is still under the thumb of the gambling companies.
She also responds to the bill Pauline Hanson wants to introduce a bill to strengthen powers to cancel or refuse passports and toughen bail laws for terrorism charges. It’s legally tricky territory with the high court previously ruling that a minister could not strip the citizenship of a dual national.
Hanson-Young says:
double quotation markPauline Hanson is a one trick pony. She preys on people’s fears and on their grievances … If Pauline Hanson really wants to help people in Australia, become with [the] cost of living crisis, she would focus on that rather than on where people have come from.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 18.51 EDT
Albanese congratulates new ACTU secretary
Anthony Albanese has congratulated Melissa Donnelly, who will replace Sally McManus as secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
In a statement on Monday night, the prime minister said McManus leaves the job with “the gratitude and well-wishes of the entire Australian labour movement.”
double quotation markMelissa will assume the Secretary role at the end of August after seven successful years leading and growing the Community and Public Sector Union … It is a tremendous honour to lead the Australian union movement on behalf of all working people, and one I know Mel will succeed in.
McManus and the ACTU president, Michele O’Neil, both announced they’d step down after eight years in the job, but the later will finish up a little later this year.
The national secretary of the CPSU, Melissa Donnelly, will become new ACTU secretary. Photograph: ACTUShare
Updated at 18.39 EDT