![\"Pat](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8256.jpg\")
The Nationals member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan (third from left) sits with members of the crossbench as he crosses the floor. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\nUpdated at\u00a023.45 EDT<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n
Marles hints at talks for Japan to use Australia\u2019s missile ranges for tests<\/p>\n
The Defence minister, Richard Marles, and his Japanese counterpart, Shinjir\u014d Koizumi, have met in Canberra today and held a short press conference afterward.<\/p>\n
Marles says that talks are progressing between the two nations which could see Japan use Australia\u2019s missile ranges over the next decade.<\/p>\n
double quotation markWe have agreed to progress a better and enhanced arrangement between Australia and Japan for Japan\u2019s use of our missile ranges over the next decade across a range of missile capabilities, including Japan\u2019s hypersonic missile program.<\/p>\n
Marles also says the first Mogami-class frigate being acquired by Australia from Japan is expected to be in service this decade.<\/p>\n
Richard Marles with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjir\u014d Koizumi, before a defence ministers\u2019 meeting at Parliament House today. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.59 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve lost the plot\u2019 on gambling in Australia: Wallace<\/p>\n The Liberal MP Andrew Wallace has, for the first time, crossed the floor to vote against the gambling reforms agreed to by the Coalition and Labor.<\/p>\n He has already crossed the floor on the amendments, and says he\u2019ll cross the floor to vote against the entire bill.<\/p>\n He tells News24 he wanted to see more block-out periods for gambling ads on broadcast television and stronger action on inducements.<\/p>\n double quotation markI think that we have this unholy alliance between sport and gambling, where young kids are being preyed upon. I wanted to see much greater time frames, where there were bans on gambling ads, I wanted to see an hour before, no ads during, an hour afterwards, and not just on live sport but on replayed sport as well. I wanted to see an opt-in approach for inducements.<\/p>\n And in all good conscience, these reforms don\u2019t go anywhere near enough to correcting those bad elements. We\u2019re putting too much faith in the hands of the gambling companies. And quite frankly, they have not demonstrated that they deserve that faith.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve lost the plot, $36bn a year we\u2019re losing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.50 EDT<\/p>\n In pics: The House votes on gambling reforms<\/p>\n Nationals member for Cowper Pat Conaghan crosses the floor during a division on the Gambling Reform Bill 2026, surrounded by independent MPs. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPLiberal member for Fisher Andrew Wallace crosses the floor to vote against the government and Coalition agreed amendments to the gambling bill. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPAnthony Albanese spruiks the agreement made with the Coalition, while Anika Wells sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a>Crossbenchers and experts slam gambling changes: \u2018You can\u2019t opt-out of the internet\u2019 Crossbenchers and gambling harm advocates have slammed the deal to pass the wagering legislation. The Greens called it \u201ccowardly and careless\u201d, while David Pocock has also said it doesn\u2019t go nearly far enough.<\/p>\n \u201cThis major party stitch-up will see Australians continue to be bombarded by gambling ads online and hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people exposed to devastating gambling harm,\u201d the Greens said. Party leader Larissa Waters:<\/p>\n double quotation markAnthony Albanese and the entire Labor party should hang their heads in shame today. Our prime minister has handed Australian screens over to predatory gambling companies.<\/p>\n The independent MP Andrew Wilkie said it was a \u201cnational day of shame\u201d, rubbishing the Liberal-Labor amendments as \u201cminor tweaks and piecemeal\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt won\u2019t protect children. It won\u2019t break the nexus between gambling and sport. It won\u2019t stop the suicides.<\/p>\n The evidence on gambling harm has been overwhelming for years. We know what works. We know what the community wants. We know the recommendations that need to be implemented. What has been lacking is political courage.<\/p>\n Kate Seselja, co-chair of the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts, said in a statement that the government should instead follow the recommendations of Peta Murphy\u2019s landmark report which called for a full ban on online gambling advertisements.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only way to effectively block gambling ads is to ban them in Australia. This proposal is completely unworkable,\u201d Seselja said of the government\u2019s new proposal for a universal \u201copt-out\u201d register for ads.<\/p>\n double quotation markYou can\u2019t \u2018opt out\u2019 of the internet. The prime minister\u2019s duty of care is to the people of Australia, not to the gambling, media, or sports industries.<\/p>\n Crossbench members including (L-R) David Pocock, Zali Steggall, Andrew Wilkie, Sophie Scamps, Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Allegra Spender, Andrew Gee and Nicolette Boele addressing the media on the gambling ads reform bill last week. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.32 EDT<\/p>\n Pat Conaghan and Andrew Wallace cross the floor on gambling bill<\/p>\n Two Coalition MPs have crossed the floor to protest against the gambling bill and the amendments agreed to by the government and Coalition.<\/p>\n Nationals MP Pat Conaghan is surrounded by independents including Andrew Wilkie, Helen Haines, Monique Ryan and Allegra Spender.<\/p>\n Andrew Wallace has also crossed the floor but is sitting alone.<\/p>\n Earlier, Zali Steggall criticised the government for not releasing the full details of the amendment earlier, asking how the crossbench were supposed to vote on them with just a few minutes\u2019 notice. She, like the other independents, is voting against the bill\u2019s amendments.<\/p>\n The Nationals member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan (third from left) sits with members of the crossbench as he crosses the floor. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.45 EDT<\/p>\n McLachlan, Scarr and Conaghan reserve the right to cross the floor on gambling<\/p>\n Two Liberal senators and one Nationals MP have reserved the right to cross the floor on the gambling legislation \u2013 that is, go against the Coalition\u2019s vote for the changes \u2013 arguing the reforms don\u2019t go far enough.<\/p>\n They are senators Andrew McLachlan, Paul Scarr and Pat Conaghan.<\/p>\n Conaghan has made his frustrations over the bill well known in recent days, telling reporters this morning he thought the changes were too \u201cweak\u201d. He was the deputy chair of the parliamentary inquiry led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy that released the \u201cyou win some, you lose more\u201d report<\/a>.<\/p>\n The House of Representatives is about to begin voting on the amendments agreed to between the Coalition and Labor.<\/p>\n Before the vote, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese speaks:<\/p>\n double quotation markI want to thank the parliament for coming together to deal with this issue and get a result that will work \u2026 this legislation concentrates on those who need our help the most, people at most risk of harm.<\/p>\n He says the changes will ban gambling ads being broadcast 15 minutes before sporting games, as well as stop gambling ads on jerseys.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt will allow people who want to opt-out of gambling ads to do so more easily, through a simple gambling ad register. Ad-stop to back up the previous bet-stop.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.57 EDT<\/p>\n What is the \u2018widow tax\u2019 loophole the government and Coalition are teaming up to scrap? The so-called \u201cwidow tax\u201d is an unintended consequence of the government\u2019s changes to negative gearing, which the government and Coalition are now working to scrap.<\/p>\n Under the reforms announced in the May budget, negative gearing on established homes bought after budget night was restricted, while properties bought before 12 May were protected under grandfathering arrangements.<\/p>\n However, the new laws would apply to a person who inherited their partner\u2019s share of a property after their death or as part of a divorce settlement \u2013 that is, they would lose the grandfathered negative gearing arrangements \u2013 leading to the loophole being dubbed a \u201cwidow tax\u201d.<\/p>\n As a result, Labor has proposed amendments to prevent a partner whose spouse has died, or someone who has inherited a property, from being on the hook for the new tax treatment.<\/p>\n The government had already agreed to close the loophole in future legislation. But the opposition demanded it act more quickly in return for support on other bills.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.42 EDT<\/p>\n If you\u2019re sitting in Parliament House right now I hope you like the sound of bells \u2026<\/p>\n Because there are about 50 million amendments to the government\u2019s NDIS legislation.<\/p>\n Before we can even get to the substantive amendments to the bill, there are a bunch of amendments to the motion for the \u201csecond reading\u201d of the bill.<\/p>\n The second reading is where the bill as a whole is debated, and second reading amendments basically allow other parties to protest parts of the legislation or criticise the government before the formal debate begins.<\/p>\n For example, the opposition has put forward a second reading amendment, noting that the government was previously \u201cunable to achieve\u201d the target NDIS growth rate of 8% and subsequently \u201cfailed\u201d to achieve a second growth rate target of 5-6%.<\/p>\n Senator Lidia Thorpe\u2019s amendment to the second reading states that there was inadequate consultation on the bill with First Nations people and that the bill \u201cwill disproportionately and severely harm and breach the human rights of First People with disability\u201d.<\/p>\n After that there are so far 23 amendments to the bill itself listed from the Greens and David Pocock \u2013 and more could well be added later.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Government pushes for Senate to vote on NDIS today<\/p>\n Over in the Senate, the government is moving to guillotine debate on four key bills to get them through this week.<\/p>\n Labor is proposing to debate and vote on the NDIS reforms tonight then bring on the widow tax legislation first thing tomorrow morning. The government agreed to the Coalition\u2019s demand to immediately bring on the \u201cwidow tax\u201d debate in exchange for support on the NDIS bill.<\/p>\n Labor is proposing for the gambling bill to also be debated and voted on tomorrow, after it passes the House of Representatives tonight.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the Senate will debate and then vote on the news bargaining incentive bill which also has been negotiated with the Coalition.<\/p>\n All of this means is that there\u2019ll be a hard out time on all debate for the Senate to then vote on each of those bills and all the amendments.<\/p>\n The Greens, David Pocock and One Nation<\/a> are voting against the guillotine motion.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.47 EDT<\/p>\n Clive Palmer changing party name, once again<\/p>\n Clive Palmer wants to change the name of his political party, again.<\/p>\n Documents published by the Australian Electoral Commission reveal an application to change the name of the United Australia Party to Clive Palmer\u2019s United Australia Party. The party logo is also mooted for a change.<\/p>\n It currently features a map of Australia inside a circle, with the words \u201cUnited Australia Party\u201d at the top and \u201csave Australia\u201d underneath; the new proposal is to change that to read \u201cClive Palmer\u2019s\u201d at the top and \u201cUnited Australia Party\u201d below.<\/p>\n The AEC, as part of normal processes, is notifying of the change and taking feedback until mid-September.<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787026334_550_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\n![\"Achol](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787026334_239_Achol_Arok,_L.png\")
Achol Arok<\/p>\nJosh Butler<\/p>\n
![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787026335_286_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\n