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The deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume. Photograph: Con Chronis\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\nUpdated at\u00a019.44 EDT<\/p>\n
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![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779841938_776_Ben_Doherty_720x600_final.png\")
Ben Doherty<\/p>\n
NSW police front Royal Commission<\/p>\n
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is hearing from senior NSW police officers again, in its second block of public hearings, Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Today is likely to be the last day of public hearings this week, before the commission takes further evidence in camera.<\/p>\n
The commission will hear from deputy commissioner David Hudson, who holds responsibility for investigations and counter-terrorism , and assistant commissioner Kirsty Heyward, who is the commander of police prosecutions and licensing enforcement command.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a> Advocates want employment overhaul to go even further<\/p>\n Welfare and employment groups say the government should be doing more to overhaul the mutual obligations system, ahead of Amanda Rishworth\u2019s address to the National Press Club today.<\/p>\n The Community and Public Sector Union says the changes are welcome, but is \u201cdisappointed it has not gone further to overhaul the privatised model that has failed job seekers, employers and the government.\u201d<\/p>\n National secretary Melissa Donnelly says Rishworth\u2019s changes are a step in the right direction, but worries they don\u2019t go far enough.<\/p>\n double quotation markAustralian job seekers are sick of being lectured by flashy \u2018entrepreneurs\u2019 who are milking the government for hundreds of millions of dollars and providing a broken, profit-driven service in return.<\/p>\n This privatisation fantasy has caused untold damage, and while today\u2019s announcement is very welcome, progress must not stop here.<\/p>\n The employment and workplace relations minister, Amanda Rishworth. Photograph: Aaron Bunch\/AAP<\/p>\n The Antipoverty Centre, which advocates for unemployed Australians and those in the welfare system, has again called for the mutual obligations system to be fully changed. Its spokesperson Jay Coonan said the \u201cpunishment\u201d of penalties for compliance activities should be totally overhauled.<\/p>\n double quotation markYou can\u2019t punish people into employment in an economy designed to keep at least 4% of us unemployed, especially with the RBA aggressively pursuing higher unemployment.<\/p>\n There are about 2.7 million payment suspension notices issued each year and a huge percentage of them are ultimately reversed because they were incorrect, at enormous personal cost to the people subjected to these penalties. If the use of suspensions is not paused immediately, any promises of a better system will ring hollow in the ears of unemployed people.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.24 EDT<\/p>\n In pictures: Taylor visits the farm<\/p>\n Angus Taylor farming votes, after some tough polling showing his party faces a wipe out from One Nation. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPThe opposition leader is trying to milk public discord over the budget \u2013 and considers using support for the NDIS legislation as leverage to get CGT changes sent to a Senate inquiry. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPUdder frustration from the Coalition over \u2018broken promises\u2019 by the government on tax changes. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n NB: Am I sorry for these terrible puns? No.<\/p>\n Am I embarrassed? Only a little.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.19 EDT<\/p>\n Labor has \u2018rolled out the welcome mat\u2019 to women and children returning from Syrian camp<\/p>\n The opposition is continuing its tirade on the government\u2019s response to the women and children returning from the notorious Syrian al-Roj camp.<\/p>\n Angus Taylor has taken a little road trip to the regional NSW town of Bungendore, a short car ride from Canberra, this morning. He accuses the government of supporting the repatriation of the group \u2013 a claim that has been vehemently denied by the government many times.<\/p>\n The opposition leader tells reporters:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe government\u2019s rolled out the welcome mat to people who have turned their backs on our country and our values to support ISIS. An organisation that has committed egregious brutality and atrocities.<\/p>\n The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, who is also in Bungendore, takes aim at independent MP Monique Ryan who this morning said that the children returning from Syria should be treated \u201csensitively and gently<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n The opposition leader, Angus Taylor. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.52 EDT<\/p>\n Labor planning to \u2018ram\u2019 tax changes through Senate with help of Greens, Hume says<\/p>\n One of the biggest questions on the capital gains tax changes is whether there will be a carve out for startups and some small businesses.<\/p>\n Time is ticking, with the first tranche of the legislation to be introduced to the House tomorrow.<\/p>\n The deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume, says the government should allow the CGT changes to be scrutinised through a Senate inquiry. The Coalition has said that it will probably vote down the bill \u2013 despite the legislation also including the tax offsets (the $250 working Australians tax offset) that the opposition has said it does support.<\/p>\n Hume tells Sky News:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhy deny the Senate the opportunity to scrutinise possibly the most far-reaching cash grab tax that the parliament has seen in decades? Just the idea that you could ram this through with the help of the Greens is anathema to what it is that the Senate is here to do.<\/p>\n Hume is asked whether the opposition would support changes to the capital gains tax discount just for housing. She says, \u201cthere\u2019s no way that this tax can go ahead as is. No way.\u201d<\/p>\n The deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume. Photograph: Con Chronis\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.44 EDT<\/p>\n Opposition tying negotiations on NDIS and CGT for \u2018maximum leverage\u2019: Wilson<\/p>\n How are the NDIS and capital gains tax changes related?<\/p>\n Well it\u2019s because the opposition is trying to tie one to the other.<\/p>\n Sorry, how?<\/p>\n So, the opposition has said that the Coalition could withhold its support for the NDIS bill unless the government agrees to an inquiry to examine the CGT and negative gearing changes.<\/p>\n Is that a threat?<\/p>\n The shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, was asked that very question on Sky News this morning and wouldn\u2019t say the \u2018T\u2019 word, but that it was just for \u201cmaximum leverage\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markWhat we\u2019re going to do is go through parliamentary processes on both NDIS changes and budget changes and we\u2019re going to use maximum leverage so Australians can have a say.<\/p>\n We\u2019re going to use maximum leverage and if the government wants to have a conversation around NDIS changes \u2026 then they have to actually allow the Australian people to have their say about their tax changes that they didn\u2019t take to the Australian community.<\/p>\n The shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n Earlier this morning, the shadow NDIS minister, Melissa McIntosh, told RN Breakfast she \u201cgets\u201d the move because the opposition only has a certain number of levers to play with:<\/p>\n double quotation markBy no means, from my perspective as the portfolio holder or shadow portfolio of the NDIS, would I allow this to be a political football for people on the NDIS. I\u2019m completely focused on ensuring that a Senate inquiry goes ahead. And if the result of negotiations in the Senate means that the NDIS Senate inquiry goes for longer, well, that\u2019s not a bad thing in itself. It means that people get longer to have a say.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.26 EDT<\/p>\n Estimates sessions \u2018like drawing teeth\u2019, Shoebridge says<\/p>\n Shoebridge says there\u2019s an even more fundamental problem at the heart of the Nacc \u2013 a lack of transparent hiring processes.<\/p>\n The crossbench \u2013 led by Helen Haines, a key architect of the body \u2013 have been calling for a proper merit based process for the anti-corruption body.<\/p>\n The Greens senator told RN Breakfast that the hiring of Brereton should not have been from \u201cinside the Canberra club\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s the fact that Labor chose to appoint somebody from inside the Canberra club and didn\u2019t put in place and ensure that the checks and balances were there so that public confidence was maintained. And, you know, and still last night, commissioner Brereton, even after all, we know that he thinks he still has the full confidence of the Labor government and the Labor attorney general.<\/p>\n Shoebridge is scathing of Brereton\u2019s answers to estimates last night, and said he \u201crefuses to accept even the most basic propositions\u201d and that after the session ended there were further revelations that a second investigation was under way on Brereton\u2019s conduct.<\/p>\n Shoebridge says:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s in my experience, and it\u2019s with many federal bureaucrats, it\u2019s like drawing teeth. The idea that it would be a frank exchange, an open, transparent process, which is what it should be, I mean, that\u2019s almost a dream. Like, what we get is, we get defensive non-answers, and commissioner Brereton was exhibit A in that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.01 EDT<\/p>\n Brereton had an \u2018inability to accept his own role in his downfall\u2019: Shoebridge<\/p>\n Greens senator David Shoebridge was front and centre last night interrogating the outgoing National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton at Senate estimates, and has some choice words for the conduct of the public servant.<\/p>\n For a catch up on what went down last night \u2013 take a look here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shoebridge tells the ABC\u2019s RN Breakfast there has been a huge amount of frustration from the Australian public around the handling of robodebt by the Nacc and the subsequent fallout.<\/p>\n He also says Brereton \u201cabsolutely should have recused himself from defence matters\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is a man who left office in the way he came into office with a huge amount of hubris and an inability to accept his own role in, I think, his downfall and in his resignation three years into a five-year term.<\/p>\n But more fundamentally, his role in setting the tone for the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which, if you were to go out and ask people across the country, you know, do they support it? I think most people would say it has utterly failed to meet the moment.<\/p>\n Greens senator David Shoebridge. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.28 EDT<\/p>\n Government funds 2026 Rugby League World Cup<\/p>\n The prime minister has the fun job of spruiking something a lot lighter this morning \u2013 he\u2019s talking to commercial radio stations about the government\u2019s support for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.<\/p>\n The government is putting $12.4m towards the planning, logistics and delivery of the event, which will have women\u2019s, men\u2019s and wheelchair tournaments.<\/p>\n Games will begin in Sydney in October \u2013 but will also be played in a couple of neighbouring countries. There will be 26 teams from 16 nations playing across five weeks.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese told Triple M Sydney this morning:<\/p>\n double quotation markThere\u2019s going to be games in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Townsville, and of course the great city of Newcastle as well, alongside games in PNG and New Zealand, so it will extend the rugby league season even further. And we\u2019re investing to provide some support for those teams for the NRL, so it will be a great way to continue to back this great game after the NRL season ends.<\/p>\n Australia will be out to defend their men\u2019s and women\u2019s Rugby League World Cup crowns. Photograph: Tim Goode\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.43 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018Is this just a cost shifting exercise?\u2019, McIntosh asks on NDIS<\/p>\n The Coalition has agreed to support the seismic NDIS legislation through the House, but pushed for a rapid Senate inquiry to consider the changes.<\/p>\n The shadow minister for the NDIS, Melissa McIntosh, told the ABC\u2019s RN Breakfast this morning she fought hard for the inquiry, to probe some of the issues and questions still unanswered over the details of the legislation.<\/p>\n McIntosh said she\u2019s hearing some participants already facing cuts to their plans, well before the legislation has been passed and the changes are scheduled to take effect.<\/p>\n She\u2019s also concerned about whether the states will pick up their responsibilities for providing foundation supports \u2013 a key program which will support participants who aren\u2019t eligible for the NDIS with more moderate needs.<\/p>\n double quotation markHow do you build a foundation from nothing, which is where it is at in the state regards right now? And then the question Mark [Butler], as well, is this just a cost-shifting exercise? Are we just moving the budget, the NDIS budget, on to the health budget? \u2026 But if it\u2019s a cost-shifting exercise, at the end of the day, Australian taxpayers still have to pay for it.<\/p>\n The shadow minister for the NDIS, Melissa McIntosh. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.48 EDT<\/p>\n Property tax changes will have a \u2018modest affordability effect\u2019 on house prices, O\u2019Neil says<\/p>\n Continuing her media rounds across the press gallery, Clare O\u2019Neil tells the ABC\u2019s News Breakfast that the tax changes will have a \u201cmodest\u201d impact on affordability.<\/p>\n The housing minister acknowledges that the changes are \u201cdifficult\u201d for some people, but that \u201cthey\u2019ll mean about 75,000 rental households become first home owning households.\u201d<\/p>\n Treasury modelling in the budget estimates that the changes will slow house price growth by 2% over two years, compared to the current tax settings.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neil says:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhat it says is that this will have a modest affordability effect on house prices in Australia.<\/p>\n But at the end of the day, the thing that is driving house prices is actually not our tax sets, it\u2019s a fundamental mismatch between how many homes we\u2019re building and how many homes we need.<\/p>\n On supply, building more homes is the best thing to put downward pressure on house prices. At the moment, that project is being hit from all sides. You\u2019re got the conflict in the Middle East, which is driving up construction costs, you\u2019ve also got big surge in interest rates as well.<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779841938_642_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\n
![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779841939_840_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\n