double quotation markWe don\u2019t feel that the minister should have the powers to determine what is and is not online harm.<\/p>\n
You could understand why there would be a natural suspicion. When the government tries to control the internet, it inevitably fails.<\/p>\n
Andrew Bushnell from the Institute of Public Affairs echoed Hume\u2019s claim, quipping that Australians would be trading the algorithm for the \u201calborithm\u201d.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.30 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Will Queensland’s proposed bail laws reverse the presumption of innocence? Queensland\u2019s attorney general won\u2019t say if her proposed new bail laws reverse the presumption of innocence.<\/p>\n At a press conference on Monday, Deb Frecklington conceded the laws are expected to lead to more people being jailed longer, but refused to reveal the state\u2019s estimates of the effect the legislation will have on the state\u2019s already overcrowded jail system.<\/p>\n The legislation was tabled in state parliament<\/a> last month. It will make it much more difficult for some alleged offenders to get bail, requiring them to prove to a court that it should have \u201chigh degree of confidence they will not commit a prescribed offence\u201d.<\/p>\n It also creates a new offence applying to some people who breach bail with a mandatory 12 month sentence.<\/p>\n Its explanatory notes show that the change may reverse the onus of proof in criminal proceedings, and may limit the right to the presumption of innocence. Frecklington said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhat I\u2019m presuming is that if you commit an offence whilst you\u2019re on bail, you will face mandatory minimum 12 months in juvie or in the criminal correction centres.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what we\u2019ve said. Now this this bill will be before the (parliamentary) committee – and it\u2019s currently before the committee. There will be experts left front and centre.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.41 EDT<\/p>\n New shipwreck reef to help marine species<\/p>\n Now for something a little different! The MV Andrew Wilson, a 40m ship, will be scuttled off the coast of South Australia today.<\/p>\n It\u2019s part of the federal and state governments\u2019 algal bloom <\/a>response.<\/p>\n The wreck will create an artificial reef, which in turn will support marine life.<\/p>\n Environment and water minister Murray Watt said:<\/p>\n double quotation markSinking the MV Andrew Wilson off the coast of Brighton to create Adelaide\u2019s newest artificial reef is the latest example of our joint effort, as we deliver more than $165 million in response measures to the algal bloom.<\/p>\n This builds on the support we\u2019ve delivered for science and environmental measures to help marine life recover, and ensure SA is at the forefront of our country\u2019s algal bloom research.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A typically thoughtful contribution here from Waleed Aly and the \u201cnear-constant sense of crisis in almost every sphere of life\u201d:<\/p>\n double quotation markOur political order was built on the promise of expanding wealth and greater control over our lives. It said we could dream big, then pursue those dreams, and that if we didn\u2019t achieve them, maybe our children would.<\/p>\n It assumed each generation would live longer and be more comfortable.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Abuse survivors linked to Christian Brothers schools to be paid out The organisation that runs former Christian Brothers schools says it has formally agreed to pay out abuse survivors and is fast-tracking payments to those who have already been promised compensation.<\/p>\n The Christian Brothers, a Catholic order that ran schools and orphanages across Australia, announced earlier this year that it was going broke and would no longer be able to meet the claims of child abuse survivors. The decision infuriated survivors and lawyers, particularly given the Christian Brothers horrific track record of clergy abuse and the Catholic church\u2019s vast wealth.<\/p>\n It prompted scrutiny of the controversial transfer of asset wealth from Christian Brothers to the Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia (TEREA), an organisation set up in 2007 to take over the running of Christian Brothers schools.<\/p>\n TEREA initially resisted efforts to take on responsibility for survivors\u2019 abuse claims but changed its position following public pressure.<\/p>\n On Monday, ahead of a report by the ABC on the affair, TEREA issued a statement saying it had now formally agreed to compensate Christian Brothers victims and would fast-track payments to those who had already been promised compensation, either through court decisions or settlements.<\/p>\n Dr Stephen Brown, chair of TEREA, said it was \u201csimply the right thing to do\u201d. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe do not want victim-survivors with approved claims to wait any longer and are fast-tracking finance and hope to be able to make an announcement soon.<\/p>\n In July, Guardian Australia revealed<\/a> the Christian Brothers order had kept nine convicted child abusers within its order and was providing them with financial support, including by using its properties to house<\/a> two brothers with horrific histories of preying on children.<\/p>\n Brown told the ABC he only learnt of that fact when told by the ABC during an interview three weeks ago, despite repeated prior reporting<\/a> by the Guardian.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.44 EDT<\/p>\n More than 200 workers stood down at Bathla More than 200 workers at Bathla Group have been stood down as the administrator of the embattled property developer <\/a>seeks emergency funds to stave off a company-wide collapse.<\/p>\n The insolvency advisory Teneo said today that new short-term funding arrangements would only allow Bathla to continue construction on some of the 45 construction sites. It said in a statement:<\/p>\n double quotation markConstruction on other projects will be suspended today, resulting in approximately 213 employees being stood down.<\/p>\n Bathla is a major Sydney headquartered developer that also has operations in regional NSW, South Australia and Victoria.<\/p>\n Thousands of homebuyers were left in the lurch by the announcement on 25 August that the developer had gone into voluntary administration<\/a>, weighed down by almost $3.6bn in debt.<\/p>\n Teneo has previously said its immediate priority was to finish the estimated 2,000-2,500 homes on which construction had already begun, and that it was not in a position to refund any deposits.<\/p>\n Administrator Stephen Longley said today that short-term funding arrangements with five lenders would allow construction to continue on some projects. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markSignificant work remains to secure the funding required to progress and ultimately complete all projects currently under construction.<\/p>\n Bathla Group headquarters in August. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.45 EDT<\/p>\n The scale of the destruction in Nepal is \u201calmost beyond comprehension\u201d, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, has told the senate.<\/p>\n Thousands of people, including 36 Australians, are still missing in the wake of the devastating flood<\/a>. Wong said in the condolence motion:<\/p>\n double quotation markAustralia\u2019s Nepali community is grieving for family, friends, and communities in the region.<\/p>\n Members of Australia\u2019s Tibetan community are too experiencing great anguish.<\/p>\n And for many Hindu Australians, including those with connections to the pilgrimage routes and sacred places of this region, this disaster has brought deep sorrow.<\/p>\n To each of these communities, we extend the sympathy and solidarity of this parliament.<\/p>\n Australia has sent about 50 officers to the region, as well as specialist drone operators and AFP disaster victim identification specialists.<\/p>\n The aftermath of the flash flood in Trishuli, Nepal on 2 September 2026. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.33 EDT<\/p>\n Digital duty of care gives minister too much power, claims Hume<\/p>\n The government\u2019s proposed digital duty of care legislation<\/a>, part of its crackdown on social media, gives too much power to the communications minister, the deputy opposition leader, Jane Hume, told the ABC this morning:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe don\u2019t feel that the minister should have the powers to determine what is and is not online harm.<\/p>\n You could understand why there would be a natural suspicion. When the government tries to control the internet, it inevitably fails.<\/p>\n Andrew Bushnell from the Institute of Public Affairs echoed Hume\u2019s claim, quipping that Australians would be trading the algorithm for the \u201calborithm\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.30 EDT<\/p>\n How to get up to speed on the Australian political news of the day <\/p>\n Today Guardian Australia launches a brand new political newsletter: Politics, really<\/a>. No, really!<\/p>\n We\u2019ll be bringing you the latest political news \u2013 but more importantly, what it means.<\/p>\n Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Politics, really will bring you up to speed on the stories that matter in a free email newsletter. Illustration: Guardian DesignShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.30 EDT<\/p>\n NSW police to \u2018smash open\u2019 online platforms where crime is plotted<\/p>\n The NSW premier, Chris Minns, is holding a press conference about those organised crime laws.<\/p>\n He says any \u201cwilful and deliberate attempt to either evade law enforcement or use online platforms to facilitate crime, particularly murder, in NSW \u2026 will be a criminal offence\u201d.<\/p>\n Minns says criminal actors are basing themselves offshore and \u201cpulling the strings\u201d of people here using sophisticated technology. To combat that police will be given the latest technology themselves to \u201csmash open and crack open online platforms to understand the full chronology of these criminal actions and their activities as they apply both here and overseas\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.33 EDT<\/p>\n NSW introducing new laws to target organised crime<\/p>\n New laws being introduced in New South Wales aim to tackle organised crime by giving police more power and creating a new aggravated offence for conspiracy to commit gang-related murder. The maximum penalty will be increased to life imprisonment.<\/p>\n Police would also be able to use new interim serious crime prevention orders to restrict people suspected of serious and organised crime. Those would be applied while the supreme court considers the full order.<\/p>\n Children\u2019s indictable offences would include activities linked to organised crime, and public shootings and firebombings would be added to the scheme.<\/p>\n Police would also have more access to encrypted devices. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markOrganised crime doesn\u2019t stand still, and neither can the laws and powers we give police to fight it.<\/p>\n We want to hit these criminal networks at every point \u2013 the people who organise the violence, the people who facilitate it online and the people who ultimately carry it out.<\/p>\n If you conspire to arrange a gangland murder, you should face the prospect of spending the rest of your life behind bars.<\/p>\n Chris Minns says \u2018organised crime doesn\u2019t stand still\u2019. Photograph: Dean Lewins\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.32 EDT<\/p>\n US access to Australian military bases<\/p>\n This is an extraordinary story from Ben Doherty, Andy Ball and Nick Evershed about the extent of the United States\u2019 access to military bases across Australia.<\/p>\n Defence minister Richard Marles said in June that the \u201chugely significant American presence\u201d in the region was a balance to China\u2019s \u201cvery significant military buildup\u201d.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Andrew_Messenger.png\")
Andrew Messenger<\/p>\n![\"Christopher](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Christopher_Knaus.png\")
Christopher Knaus<\/p>\n![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Jonathan_Barrett.png\")
Jonathan Barrett<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788750133_427_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\n