![\"Achol](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789466297_372_Achol_Arok,_L.png\")
Achol Arok<\/p>\nKey events<\/p>\n
What we learned, Tuesday 15 SeptemberAchol Arok<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a wrap on our live coverage for today!<\/p>\n
Before we go, let\u2019s take a look at the day\u2019s top headlines:<\/p>\n
Thanks for sticking around, we\u2019ll see you tomorrow morning.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.04 EDT<\/p>\n Australian fashion brands Cue and Veronika Maine face collapse<\/p>\n Longtime Australian fashion brands Cue and Veronika Maine are facing collapse after being placed under the control of receivers and managers.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s parent said the decision followed \u201ca difficult period\u201d.<\/p>\n In a statement, a spokesperson for Hilco Capital said:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt is a disappointing outcome, but the only available course of action given the circumstances.<\/p>\n Our intention has always been to fund Cue to restore growth and profitability. This appointment will now provide an opportunity for a new owner to carry the Cue and Veronika Maine brands forward.<\/p>\n I want to acknowledge the efforts of all the staff during a challenging period and thank them for their continuing support of these great Australian fashion brands.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.02 EDT<\/p>\n Human Rights Commission condemns Hanson\u2019s comments about Indigenous Australians<\/p>\n The Australian Human Rights Commission has joined widespread condemnation of Pauline Hanson\u2019s offensive comments about Indigenous Australians.<\/p>\n The commission said the comments contradicted Australia\u2019s shared values of \u201cfairness, dignity and respect\u201d and had \u201cno place in the national conversation\u201d.<\/p>\n The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner, Katie Kiss, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markSuch commentary is a tactic to divide us at a time when we need to come together. In fact, people have come together over the past 24 hours, across the political spectrum, to criticise the senator\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n For that, I am heartened. But the harm caused should not be underestimated.<\/p>\n The race discrimination commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, added:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhether our ancestors arrived more than 200 years ago, or we are recent migrants, we all live on lands and waters that were maintained by and hold the cultures of First Peoples. Recognising that gives us strength and brings us together. Denigrating First Peoples does the opposite and lessens all of us.<\/p>\n When public figures use language that dehumanises entire groups of people, it causes real harm. History has shown that when people are portrayed as less deserving of dignity, respect or belonging, discrimination and exclusion are more likely to follow.<\/p>\n Sivaraman said the incident reinforced the commission\u2019s recommendation in the National Anti-Racism Framework for anti-racism training for all parliamentarians.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.36 EDT<\/p>\n Three-year-old girl dies after being hit by car in Sydney\u2019s west<\/p>\n A three-year-old child has died after being hit by a car in Auburn, in Sydney\u2019s west, on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n Emergency services were called to Normanby Road at about 2.05pm following reports that a child had been struck by a vehicle entering a driveway.<\/p>\n Paramedics treated the girl at the scene before taking her to Westmead hospital in a critical condition. She later died from her injuries.<\/p>\n Police said the 27-year-old male driver was not injured but was taken to Auburn hospital for mandatory testing.<\/p>\n An investigation into the circumstances remains under way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.16 EDT<\/p>\n King accuses Hanson of \u2018gaslighting\u2019 Indigenous Australians and prime minister<\/p>\n The resources minister, Madeleine King, has accused the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, of \u201cgaslighting\u201d Indigenous Australians and the prime minister after Hanson offered a qualified apology for comments that have been widely condemned.<\/p>\n Speaking on ABC\u2019s Afternoon Briefing, King said Hanson\u2019s apology was inadequate. She said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThere is a way of apologising, isn\u2019t there? \u2026 \u2018Sorry if I caused offence\u2019 is not really an apology.<\/p>\n She says outrageous things about Indigenous Australians, disgusting things, and then walks back into this building and says she did not say it at all. That is gaslighting.<\/p>\n What she said about the prime minister\u2019s much-loved mother is beyond the pale, and a pseudo-apology is just pathetic on her behalf.<\/p>\n Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.13 EDT<\/p>\n NSW police watchdog delays public examinations into alleged protest brutality investigation<\/p>\n The NSW independent police watchdog, the law enforcement conduct commission (Lecc), has delayed public examinations into its investigation of alleged police brutality, citing \u201ca range of procedural issues\u201d.<\/p>\n In February, the Lecc launched Operation Makalu to investigate allegations arising from violent clashes between police and demonstrators at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.<\/p>\n The delay comes two weeks after the leak of police body-worn camera footage of the protest, which was shared widely on social media. The footage allegedly shows a male police officer telling colleagues during a 9 February protest at Sydney Town Hall: \u201cI fucking pumped that cunt.\u201d<\/p>\n The commission has not specified when the public examinations will begin.<\/p>\n In a statement, the Lecc said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Commission had previously announced that any public examinations would start no earlier than September 2026. A range of procedural issues have now arisen, which the Commission must consider. As a result, public examinations will not be held in September 2026.<\/p>\n The Commission will provide a further update on its investigation as soon as practicable.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.51 EDT<\/p>\n Two WA teens charged after alleged Perth Zoo break-in<\/p>\n Western Australia Police have charged two teenage boys after an alleged break-in at Perth Zoo during which a crocodile was assaulted and property was damaged.<\/p>\n Police allege the boys, aged 16 and 17, entered the zoo at about 7.15pm on Sunday. It remains unclear how they gained entry.<\/p>\n The teenagers allegedly cut the locks on a crocodile enclosure before entering and striking the animal with a metal pole. They are also accused of damaging CCTV equipment inside the enclosure by removing the cameras from the wall.<\/p>\n The incident was reported to authorities the following morning, before police arrested the teenagers at their separate homes.<\/p>\n Both boys have been charged with two counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, one count of trespass and one count of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> State politicians react to Guardian story about man Tasered in homeless clearance<\/p>\n Queensland politicians have reacted to Guardian reporting that a man was Tasered in a homeless clearance earlier in the month.<\/p>\n The man attempted to kill himself<\/a> after being ordered to leave a park north of Brisbane to make way for a kite festival. He was rushed to hospital, but discharged the next day.<\/p>\n The opposition leader, Steven Miles, said the state government had \u201cwashed their hands of responsibility for the homelessness crisis that they\u2019re contributing to\u201d, blaming cuts to the state\u2019s emergency fund for accommodation in hotels and motels<\/a>. He said.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re seeing this situation get even worse. It\u2019s pretty much every park across Moreton Bay, whether that\u2019s Pelican Park in Redcliffe, all the way through to Fernie Grove, there\u2019s more and more people popping up in those parks.<\/p>\n Miles said it wasn\u2019t appropriate for a hospital to discharge a patient back into homelessness.<\/p>\n Greens MP Michael Berkman said the case was \u201cthe end result of both major parties treating housing as a profitable commodity rather than a human right\u201d. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markOur Government has created this vicious merry-go-round by underfunding housing, healthcare and community services.<\/p>\n If this is how the system treats a homeless man with terminal illness, it makes you wonder how they\u2019re treating other people who we just haven\u2019t heard about.<\/p>\n The minister for correctional services, Laura Gerber, said she wasn\u2019t familiar with the case but said the government prioritised community safety.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.16 EDT<\/p>\n Gold Coast mayor tells journalist to \u2018fuck off\u2019 during press conference Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate has sworn at an ABC journalist before storming out of a press conference.<\/p>\n ABC reporter Liam Walsh asked Tate a series of questions about his trip to Mar-a-Lago to spruik an ultimately doomed $1.5bn plan for a Trump hotel on the Gold Coast<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tate claimed to have met with the US president at his golf estate at the invitation of the Trump organisation <\/a>\u2013 but no record of the invitation exists, the ABC said.<\/p>\n Walsh asked Tate on Tuesday how much the trip cost. The mayor responded that \u201cit\u2019s private\u201d and denied he got \u201cmate\u2019s rates\u201d.<\/p>\n Then the mayor asked the reporter why he was so aggressive and if he was with the ABC, which the reporter confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck off,\u201d Tate said, and walked out of the press conference.<\/p>\n The hotel plan fell over in May, with the developer claiming the Trump brand was too \u201ctoxic\u201d to work with<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate pictured in 2023. Photograph: Joel Carrett\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.15 EDT<\/p>\n Good afternoon!<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be here to guide you through the rest of the afternoon\u2019s news.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Thank you all so much for joining me on the blog today!<\/p>\n I\u2019ll leave you with the fabulous Achol Arok and see you here bright and early tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tl;dr here\u2019s what happened in question time<\/p>\n The opposition picked a broad bunch of questions (and was perhaps a bit all over the place) to target Labor with today, from the Whyalla steelworks, to a fundraising dinner attended by Albanese, to green hydrogen, to private health insurance rebates for over-65s.<\/p>\n Albanese defended Australia\u2019s democracy and his government\u2019s transparency<\/a>, in response to a question from Allegra Spender. His answer was essentially: well, at least it\u2019s not as bad as it is overseas.<\/p>\n The prime minister also said it was appropriate that a Labor staffer, and ex-Play School host, was stood down<\/a> after old tweets disparaging Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and others were revealed.<\/p>\n The opposition then tried and failed to table photographs of the staffer in question with Albanese.<\/p>\n And Jim Chalmers defended Australia\u2019s debt to GDP ratio<\/a> with a line that boiled down to: well, it\u2019s not as bad as it is overseas (\u2026 sound familiar?).<\/p>\n Angus Taylor didn\u2019t get a question in today, and no MPs were kicked out despite a somewhat loud and at times rowdy 75 minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.43 EDT<\/p>\n Nassif threatens to pull out from Icac hearings mid-rant<\/p>\n Fugitive property developer Jean Nassif has threatened to withdraw from the Independent Commission Against Corruption\u2019s inquiries as the counsel assisting attempted to interrupt a rant about corrupt politicians.<\/p>\n Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC asked him to calm down, but Nassif quickly snapped back.<\/p>\n Dialling into the inquiry from Lebanon, he said:<\/p>\n \u201cI want to prove my point. If you don\u2019t want me to prove myself I\u2019ll withdraw from all this nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n Showing his handwritten notes to the camera, Nassif said:<\/p>\n double quotation markI\u2019m taking notes \u2026 So stop fucking putting words in my mouth. This is a public hearing, and I know what you\u2019re doing. You want to show the public that I am corrupt. I\u2019m not corrupt.<\/p>\n You guys are not attacking the corrupt officials in the government. You want the country to be ruled by crooks.<\/p>\n Assistant commissioner Fabian Gleeson SC told Nassif to take a breath:<\/p>\n \u201cThe purpose of this inquiry is to get to the truth of certain allegations. It\u2019s not for you to attack other people. You can be passionate about that, but this is not the forum for those complaints.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.34 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018I am not corrupt\u2019: Jean Nassif declares innocence Fugitive property developer Jean Nassif is fronting the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption to wrap up his evidence after an explosive appearance on Monday.<\/p>\n Nassif told the commission he offered lobbyists Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis $1m to help fast-track his developments.<\/p>\n As counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC read texts between Greenwood and Ellis about Charles Perrottet not prioritising the developments, Nassif said he did not understand what this had to do with him.<\/p>\n Dialling in from his Beirut bedroom, Nassif said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is an issue amongst them and between them. I was not involved at all. I am not involved with paying politicians to get my projects approved.<\/p>\n I employed consultants to solve my problems and unblock the way \u2026<\/p>\n What they did, if they did any corrupt work, I am not involved with it. I was not aware of it \u2026 You need to understand. I am not corrupt.<\/p>\n As part of its investigation into allegations against people associated with the NSW Liberals, Icac is examining the allegation that Liberal figures anticipated receiving $2m in prohibited donations from Nassif in exchange for political outcomes, including damage to the career of the NSW Liberal minister David Elliott, and the removal of the building commissioner David Chandler.<\/p>\n Nassif has denied wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.28 EDT<\/p>\n QT ends without question from opposition leader<\/p>\n After a final dixer, the prime minister calls time on QT for the day.<\/p>\n We\u2019re halfway through folks.<\/p>\n Interestingly, Angus Taylor didn\u2019t ask a single question today.<\/p>\n Opposition leader Angus Taylor seated during question time. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.18 EDT<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s gross debt-to-GDP ratio lower than any major advanced economy, Chalmers says<\/p>\n One Nation MP David Farley is next from the crossbench and asks if the treasurer will accept \u201ccommonwealth debt has reached a point beyond which it becomes unsustainable? Yes, or no? If yes \u2013 what gross debt-to-GDP ratio or what gross debt level would trigger that concern with you?\u201d<\/p>\n Jim Chalmers says Australia\u2019s debt-to-GDP ratio isn\u2019t that bad compared with other countries, and that much of the debt was accrued during the Coalition government.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have lower gross debt-to-GDP than any major advanced economy \u2013 in fact, much lower. Less than half the US, UK, less than a quarter of Japan. That\u2019s really important because, to go to the core of his question, there are other countries where debt is approaching unsustainable levels, but not in Australia.<\/p>\n Farley tries to make a point of order, saying Chalmers isn\u2019t answering the question about what debt level would cause concern.<\/p>\n Chalmers continues:<\/p>\n double quotation markIf you look at US bond yields, Treasury yields, for 10 years, they\u2019ve breached 5% again today. That is a source of considerable concern for policymakers and decision-makers, governments, and the private sector right around the world. And it reflects a number of things. It reflects the fact that the war in Iran is dragging on longer than anyone would like from an economic point of view.<\/p>\n Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.22 EDT<\/p>\n Immediate action taken against Labor staffer Muldoon \u2018appropriate\u2019, PM says<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese says it is \u201cappropriate\u201d that Labor senator Richard Dowling has stood down ex-Play School host Rhys Muldoon as his staffer.<\/p>\n Tweets by Muldoon about Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Peta Credlin were unearthed today, leading to the \u201cimmediate action\u201d \u2013 as Albanese put it \u2013 taken against him.<\/p>\n Nationals MP Anne Webster asked Albanese when he first became aware of Muldoon\u2019s \u201cvile tweets\u201d.<\/p>\n Albanese won\u2019t give a timeline.<\/p>\n double quotation markWhen they became public debate today \u2013 I wasn\u2019t aware of those comments until they were raised in the media \u2013 and neither was Senator Dowling. The comments are completely unacceptable, and Senator Dowling has taken immediate action \u2013 and that\u2019s appropriate.<\/p>\n Liberal frontbencher Aaron Violi tries to table a series of documents including: \u201cthe Prime Minister, on election night, with his close personal friend Rhys Muldoon. The Prime Minister being kissed on the cheek by his close political ally Rhys Muldoon. And disgraced Labor adviser Rhys Muldoon with the Prime Minister.\u201d<\/p>\n Milton Dick is absolutely not having that, and warns Violi \u201cdon\u2019t take advantage of my goodwill or the House\u2019s goodwill by using props to try and table things.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.28 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ll meet with leaders who have never held a press conference\u2019: Albanese defends his government\u2019s transparency<\/p>\n Will the government commit to publishing ministerial diaries, or lists of who ministers have met, so Australians can see who really is in the room, asks Allegra Spender.<\/p>\n She quotes a survey conducted by McKinnon which found \u201c72% of Australians think politicians serve ourselves and vested interests first, before we serve them\u201d.<\/p>\n Albanese says that his diary is regularly published via FOI requests \u2013 but what Spender is suggesting is the proactive publishing of all ministerial diaries.<\/p>\n He then defends the current system and says at least Australia is, like, better than other countries.<\/p>\n double quotation markWhen I go to the UN next week, I\u2019ll meet with leaders who have never answered a question in parliament. I\u2019ll meet with leaders. I\u2019ll meet with leaders who have never held a press conference and answered questions from journalists. In most parts of the world, leaders do not go through the transparency that we have in this country. So I\u2019m proud of our democracy.<\/p>\n Albanese mentions the national anti-corruption commission which has never held a public hearing and the independent parliamentary standards commission (whose work is also shielded from public scrutiny<\/a>).<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789466297_12_Andrew_Messenger.png\")
Andrew Messenger<\/p>\nAndrew Messenger<\/p>\nAchol Arok<\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789466298_909_Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\n![\"Kat](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Kat_Wong.png\")
Kat Wong<\/p>\n