![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761523388_469_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\nLittleproud says Nationals can’t scrap net zero without alternative climate planJosh Butler<\/p>\n
David Littleproud says the Nationals won\u2019t come to a final position on net zero today, and says his party must come up with an alternative climate plan if they are to drop the 2050 target.<\/p>\n
He also said he\u2019s open to Barnaby Joyce coming back to the fold, and rejoining the party room properly.<\/p>\n
The Nationals leader has laid down his most explicit markers on what he wants his party to do on net zero, saying they can\u2019t just scrap net zero without outlining what they\u2019d do instead. Following his appearance on Sky news earlier, Littleproud spoke to reporters in a parliament corridor.<\/p>\n
We won\u2019t be making a decision today. This is a complex piece of policy that we, as a party room, determined together after the election that we would work through a structured process. Not just simply say no, which would be the easy thing to do, but we have to say, if we\u2019re going to say no, what are we going to what are we going to do?<\/p>\n
I get that takes time, but I\u2019d rather do it right and be able to look the Australian people in the eye. And we encourage Barnaby to be part of that solution.<\/p>\n
The Nats are meeting today, but Littleproud says they won\u2019t make a final decision today. He says he wants to come to a final decision by the end of the year \u2013 and telling Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell, who are leading the Nationals policy review, that he wants to see some ideas and data.<\/p>\n
It would be easy just to say no and walk away and think that we\u2019re heroes, but we\u2019re not going to be able to convince the Australian people of an alternative policy unless we have one. [Saying] just \u201cno\u201d is not an alternative policy.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.57 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n As foreshadowed earlier, the House has seen a quick debate on Barnaby Joyce\u2019s repeal net zero bill.<\/p>\n He\u2019s running out of people who will argue for the bill, it\u2019s just conservative South Australian Liberal MP Tony Pasin today, flying the flag for him.<\/p>\n In practice net zero is a costly illusion, a political slogan masquerading as science, imposed without honesty and absent realism.<\/p>\n On the opposite side, Labor MPs Fiona Phillips and Kara Cook speak, as well as independent Kate Chaney who gets heckled by Joyce – Marion Scrymgour, who\u2019s in the speakers chair, tells Joyce to pipe down.<\/p>\n While the debate goes on, the Nationals are being briefed by Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell on setting their energy and net zero policy. As Josh Butler mentioned below, there won\u2019t be a decision today, more of a progress update.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Littleproud says Nationals can’t scrap net zero without alternative climate plan David Littleproud says the Nationals won\u2019t come to a final position on net zero today, and says his party must come up with an alternative climate plan if they are to drop the 2050 target.<\/p>\n He also said he\u2019s open to Barnaby Joyce coming back to the fold, and rejoining the party room properly.<\/p>\n The Nationals leader has laid down his most explicit markers on what he wants his party to do on net zero, saying they can\u2019t just scrap net zero without outlining what they\u2019d do instead. Following his appearance on Sky news earlier, Littleproud spoke to reporters in a parliament corridor.<\/p>\n We won\u2019t be making a decision today. This is a complex piece of policy that we, as a party room, determined together after the election that we would work through a structured process. Not just simply say no, which would be the easy thing to do, but we have to say, if we\u2019re going to say no, what are we going to what are we going to do?<\/p>\n I get that takes time, but I\u2019d rather do it right and be able to look the Australian people in the eye. And we encourage Barnaby to be part of that solution.<\/p>\n The Nats are meeting today, but Littleproud says they won\u2019t make a final decision today. He says he wants to come to a final decision by the end of the year \u2013 and telling Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell, who are leading the Nationals policy review, that he wants to see some ideas and data.<\/p>\n It would be easy just to say no and walk away and think that we\u2019re heroes, but we\u2019re not going to be able to convince the Australian people of an alternative policy unless we have one. [Saying] just \u201cno\u201d is not an alternative policy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.57 EDT<\/p>\n Tech Council responds to AI copyright exception being ruled out<\/p>\n The Tech Council of Australia , whose chair Scott Farquhar<\/a> was the most high-profile advocate for giving tech companies free access to people\u2019s copyrighted works<\/a> for training AI, has issued a one-line response to the Albanese government ruling out such an exemption in copyright law.<\/p>\n The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, explicitly ruled out a text and data mining exemption<\/a> being included in amendments to copyright law to allow AI to mine copyrighted works without paying creators for the privilege in an announcement of a copyright and AI reference group that will explore how to pay creators for AI using their work.<\/p>\n Farquhar told the National Press Club that \u201cfixing\u201d the existing restrictions preventing AI being trained in Australia could \u201cunlock billions of dollars of foreign investment\u201d into Australia.<\/p>\n While the move to rule out an AI exception has been broadly welcomed by the media and arts sectors, the tech lobby group was more muted in its response to the announcement on Monday. A spokesperson said:<\/p>\n The TCA looks forward to participating in the reference group in coming days to help develop a framework which we hope will deliver certainty for AI training as well as for artists and creators.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Monique Ryan introducing bill to enforce code of conduct around lobbying<\/p>\n Staying on lobbying, Monique Ryan is introducing her bill to the House this morning. The bill would help to strengthen and enforce a code of conduct around lobbying, publish ministerial diaries to show who ministers are meeting with, and stop ministers from being able to move to the private sector in an industry where they\u2019ve held a portfolio.<\/p>\n She says Australia\u2019s laws and enforcement on lobbying are lagging behind other OECD nations such as the UK and Canada.<\/p>\n She argues the major parties complain about lobbyists when they\u2019re in opposition, but then won\u2019t crack down on reforms when they\u2019re in government.<\/p>\n They\u2019re [major parties] conflicted because they accept the personal and political gains served up by the lobbying [industry] \u2026<\/p>\n In November 2023, the voluntary register included 703 third-party, 40% of those were former politicians, ministerial advisers or public servants. They were profiting from their knowledge and the networks gained from their time spent here in their service to the public and funded by taxpayers.<\/p>\n Seconding her bill is fellow independent Kate Chaney:<\/p>\n Part of integrity and accountability in politics is understanding who is influencing our top decision-makers. We should know which lobbyists have access to ministers and cabinet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.39 EDT<\/p>\n Independents urge more transparency around which lobbyists enter Parliament House<\/p>\n As we mentioned earlier this morning, the crossbench is proactively disclosing which lobbyist passes they sponsor to enter Parliament House as part of an initiative by ACT senator David Pocock.<\/p>\n The independents rallied at Parliament House earlier this morning to urge major party politicians to be transparent about their interactions and make public who they let into Canberra\u2019s halls of power.<\/p>\n Pocock said he had been advocating for changes to lobbying pass disclosure rules for years but decided to take the issue into his own hands and create his own register. The senator said:<\/p>\n Lobbyists play an important part in our democracy, but the base level expectation should be that there is transparency around that.<\/p>\n Independent senator David Pocock and other crossbenchers speak to journalists at a press conference at Parliament House. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n So far, around 13 crossbenchers, including a One Nation senator, have disclosed how many passes they sponsor, and to who. The register has the names of 78 passholders.<\/p>\n No MPs from Labor, the Liberals, the Nationals or the Greens have yet to add their details to Pocock\u2019s register.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.35 EDT<\/p>\n Coalition calls for inquiry into CFMEU administration<\/p>\n The Coalition are calling for an inquiry into the CFMEU administration after the Nine newspapers reported its efforts have been hampered by a lack of investigative capability.<\/p>\n This morning shadow industrial relations minister, Tim Wilson, was joined by Maria Kovacic, shadow assistant minister to the opposition leader, in publicly demanding the independent administrator and relevant officials to come before the parliament to answer a number of questions.<\/p>\n Kovacic said she would move for an inquiry in the Senate on Tuesday to examine the administration\u2019s efforts so far.<\/p>\n In front of a handful of journalists at a press conference this morning, Wilson was asked about another elephant in the room \u2013 the opposition\u2019s timeline on finalising its energy and emissions reduction policy.<\/p>\n Wilson answered:<\/p>\n My focus is on having net zero tolerance for corruption, on Australian corruption in construction sites, and that is the key difference between us and the Labor party right now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.24 EDT<\/p>\n Former Pauline Hanson adviser Sean Bell sworn into Senate<\/p>\n You might remember not too long ago, One Nation senator Warwick Stacey quit the party, just a month or so after being sworn in to the Senate due to health reasons.<\/p>\n His replacement, Sean Bell, has just sworn in now into the Senate. Bell is a former adviser to Pauline Hanson.<\/p>\n In the House this morning, pollies will be debating private members\u2019 bills (including Monique Ryan\u2019s bill to crack down on ministers and public servants going to work for lobbyists in their portfolio areas.)<\/p>\n Also up for debate there is Julian Leeser\u2019s bill to introduce mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abuse.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.20 EDT<\/p>\n Scientists call for action on deforestation, as government negotiates on EPBC reforms More than 100 scientists and researchers have urged Anthony Albanese to tackle widespread deforestation that is driving an extinction crisis across the country when the government introduces legislation to revamp environment laws this week.<\/p>\n The environment minister, Murray Watt, wants to get the long-promised reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act passed before Christmas but is facing a backlash from the Coalition<\/a> and the Greens, who have both been critical of the changes.<\/p>\n In an open letter<\/a>, coordinated by Greenpeace Australia Pacific, sent to Albanese and Watt, the scientists said:<\/p>\n Without meaningful reform, deforestation will continue to drive massive biodiversity loss.<\/p>\n Vast amounts of habitat are bulldozed each year with clearing for livestock and pasture a major culprit, but much of it happens outside the environment laws. The letter points to a loophole in the laws known as \u201ccontinuous use\u201d that allows landholders to keep clearing areas without the need to get an environmental approval.<\/p>\n Prof James Watson, a leading conservation scientist from the University of Queensland, said: \u201cThe large-scale destruction of Australia\u2019s native woodlands, forests, wetlands and grasslands is the single biggest threat to our biodiversity.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s driving an extinction crisis unlike anywhere else on Earth \u2013 and it\u2019s threatening the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world\u2019s seven natural wonders, right before our eyes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.13 EDT<\/p>\n Continuing from our last post \u2026<\/p>\n ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said:<\/p>\n Following a detailed investigation, we will allege in court that Microsoft deliberately omitted reference to the classic plans in its communications and concealed their existence until after subscribers initiated the cancellation process to increase the number of consumers on more expensive Copilot-integrated plans.<\/p>\n The Microsoft Office apps included in 365 subscriptions are essential in many people\u2019s lives and given there are limited substitutes to the bundled package, cancelling the subscription is a decision many would not make lightly.<\/p>\n Cass-Gottlieb said many customers would have opted for the classic plan if they had been aware of all the viable options.<\/p>\n The ACCC is seeking orders including penalties, injunctions, declarations, consumer redress and costs. The maximum penalty would be the greater of $50m, three times the total benefits that have been obtained and are reasonably attributable, or 30% of the corporation\u2019s adjusted turnover during the breach turnover period.<\/p>\n Microsoft was approached for comment.<\/p>\n ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb. Photograph: Mike Bowers\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.00 EDT<\/p>\n Microsoft \u2018deliberately omitted\u2019 AI-free option in 365 price rises, ACCC alleges The Australian consumer watchdog has alleged Microsoft deliberately omitted an AI-free subscription option for Microsoft 365 in communications to 2.7 million Australians when it advised them of price increases as a result of Copilot being integrated into the software package.<\/p>\n The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched federal court action against Microsoft claiming the company has misled subscribers to Microsoft 365 personal and family plans with auto-renew enabled that if they want to maintain their subscription they must accept the integration of Copilot AI into the software and pay higher prices, or cancel their subscription.<\/p>\n The annual subscription price of the Microsoft 365 Personal plan increased by 45% from $109 to $159 with Copilot included. The annual subscription price for the Microsoft 365 Family plan increased by 29% from $139 to $179.<\/p>\n The regulator alleged this information was false or misleading as there was an undisclosed third option of \u201cclassic\u201d plans which allowed subscribers to retain the features of existing plans without Copilot at the previous lower price.<\/p>\n Consumers were only presented this option when subscribers began cancelling their subscription, the ACCC alleges.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.14 EDT<\/p>\n Future frontbench spot unlikely for Joyce in Nationals<\/p>\n Sky News host Laura Jayes tries to test Littleproud on whether Barnaby Joyce would be granted a shadow portfolio before he quits.<\/p>\n Littleproud skirts the question and says the Nationals have \u201ca very talented frontbench\u201d. Pushed again on what would happen if Joyce decided to stay on with the Nats after the next election, Littleproud says \u201cthat\u2019ll be a decision for Barnaby\u201d.<\/p>\n On the question of net zero, Littleproud says Nationals senators Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell will talk to the party room today about their review of the policy \u2013 but wouldn\u2019t give us a hint on how that conversation will go down.<\/p>\n Obviously it\u2019s a complex piece of policy work, and while I would have liked it sorted out sooner. We need to get it right, and we just can\u2019t rush it to the extent that we don\u2019t have the right position, the right policy setting \u2026 but there\u2019s still some way to go, and they\u2019re [Canavan and Cadell] just going to continue to bring our party room and make sure that we understand the principles of where they\u2019re getting to from the analysis that they found, and that will be updated today again in the party room.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.51 EDT<\/p>\n Littleproud says Nationals need to create \u2018an environment where Barnaby feels welcome\u2019<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the first time a National has sat outside the party room, says David Littleproud, who is facing a bit of damage control over Barnaby Joyce\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Joyce said this morning he will remain in the party (for now) but won\u2019t sit in when the party room meets this week. He won\u2019t be contesting the next election for the Nationals in the NSW seat of New England (and had remained coy about whether he\u2019ll run for a different party and for a different house).<\/p>\n On Sky News, Littleproud says his party has to create an \u201cenvironment\u201d where Joyce feels welcome and wants to come back.<\/p>\n I\u2018ve been here for nearly a decade, I\u2019ve seen this happen two or three times, where members feel aggrieved they\u2019ve sat outside the party room, but obviously support our side \u2026 what we\u2019ve got to do is continue to create an environment where Barnaby feels welcome and wants to come back and can contribute.<\/p>\n Nationals leader David Littleproud. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.38 EDT<\/p>\n University leaders travel to China to herald \u2018new era\u2019 in Australian relations<\/p>\n Universities Australia (UA) is setting off on a delegation to China on Monday to strengthen education and research partnerships with the superpower amid a more favourable diplomatic climate.<\/p>\n Described by the peak body as one of the \u201cmost significant higher education missions in years\u201d, the five-day visit is being attended by UA chair Prof Carolyn Evans, its CEO Luke Sheehy and almost a dozen vice-chancellors and university representatives.<\/p>\n The delegation will visit Shenzhen and Beijing, where they will attend the inaugural Australia-China Leaders Dialogue, held alongside the renewal of the UA-China Education Association for International Exchange Memorandum of Understanding.<\/p>\n Evans said education had been one of the \u201cstrongest and most stable bridges\u201d between Australia and China.<\/p>\n After years of disruption caused by the pandemic and broader geopolitical issues, this visit marks the start of a new era \u2013 one focused on innovation, collaboration and solving shared challenges.<\/p>\n China continues to be the leading source country for international students in Australia, making up 23% of all enrolments. The federal government has recently signalled that universities must diversify their international student cohort<\/a> if they are to enjoy higher enrolment numbers, with a particular focus on students from south-east Asia.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.21 EDT<\/p>\n Monique Ryan pushes for code of conduct for lobbyists<\/p>\n Independent MP Monique Ryan will introduce a bill today to stop bureaucrats and politicians working as lobbyists as soon as they leave politics.<\/p>\n Parliament will start sitting at 10am today and Mondays are always allocated to private members\u2019 bills (which also means the government has carved out some time for debate on Barnaby Joyce\u2019s repeal net zero bill because it\u2019s politically convenient for Labor).<\/p>\n Ryan told RN Breakfast this morning her bill will introduce a code of conduct for lobbyists, will strengthen the lobbying code, publish ministerial diaries so the public can see who ministers are meeting with, and stop ministers and public servants going to work for lobbyists.<\/p>\n Member for the seat of Kooyong, Monique Ryan. Photograph: Diego Fedele\/EPA<\/p>\n She namechecks the former Liberal defence minister Christopher Pyne going to work as a lobbyist in the defence industry within \u201cnine days of leaving parliament\u201d as well as former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop.<\/p>\n Ryan says under the current framework, ministers can\u2019t work in an industry where they\u2019ve had a field of interest for 12 months, \u201cbut it\u2019s unenforced\u201d. She says it\u2019s the same with the lobbying code of conduct, and movement of public servants into industries where they\u2019ve had decision-making powers \u201cwithin weeks or months of leaving government\u201d \u2013 both are unenforced.<\/p>\n The potential for conflict of interest in decision-making and for people using the context that they\u2019ve made while they\u2019re in parliament to further their own careers in a way that gives them a commercial advantage, if you like, or for decisions to be made before they leave government with the expectation that there\u2019s some sort of golden handshake after they leave government is corrosive of people\u2019s trust in the integrity and transparency of government.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unlikely Ryan\u2019s bill will go anywhere though \u2013 private members\u2019 bills are rarely supported by government.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.00 EDT<\/p>\n Greens say environment laws skew too far in favour of businesses and need to protect native forests<\/p>\n While the Coalition<\/a> is calling for the EPBC Act to be split, the Greens have some other key demands for Murray Watt.<\/p>\n On ABC News Breakfast a little earlier, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the laws skew too much in favour of businesses \u2013 \u201cthese are meant to be environment protection laws not business approval laws.\u201d<\/p>\n The Greens want to see stronger protections for forests, which she says already aren\u2019t covered.<\/p>\n We want to make sure these laws protect our forests and protect our climate … our existing environmental laws don\u2019t even cover native forests. So you can go into a native forest, it can get logged even if there are endangered species there.<\/p>\n We want to fix that, we want to make sure that can\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n The minor party has also been calling for a \u201cclimate trigger\u201d which would force projects to be assessed on their emissions and climate impacts. The government has refused to include a trigger in its bill.<\/p>\n Both sides haven\u2019t shut down further negotiations with the government on the legislation \u2013 so far neither the Greens nor the Coalition have seen the full bill \u2013 but Hanson-Young said she has some major concerns.<\/p>\n What we\u2019re seeing so far from the government is they\u2019re trying to have it both ways and talk out of both sides of their mouth.<\/p>\nJosh Butler<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761523388_706_Josh_Taylor.png\")
Josh Taylor<\/p>\n![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761523388_788_Sarah_Basford_Canales.png\")
Sarah Basford Canales<\/p>\nSarah Basford Canales<\/p>\n![\"Graham](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Graham_Redfearn.png\")
Graham Readfearn<\/p>\nJosh Taylor<\/p>\nJosh Taylor<\/p>\n![\"Caitlin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Caitlin_Cassidy,_L.png\")
Caitlin Cassidy<\/p>\n