![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791781453_265_Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\nWhat we learned, Monday 12 OctoberKrishani Dhanji<\/p>\n
That\u2019s all for the politics live blog today, thanks so much for joining us. Here are the headlines:<\/p>\n
The Australian government should block the \u201cbarbaric\u201d broadcast or live stream of a US military execution, Greens senator <\/a>Sarah Hanson-Young<\/a> says<\/a>. She found a somewhat unlikely ally in Barnaby Joyce who said the execution was like \u201cRoman amphitheatre\u201d and should not be watched. The government was a lot less forthcoming on whether the stream should be banned.<\/p>\n Small business minister Anne Aly was in the question time spotlight today, pressed by the opposition on how and when she found out the ATO would ban credit card payments (she says she found out with the rest of the public).<\/p>\n Australian engineer Robert Pether has been allowed to leave Iraq<\/a> after being detained for more than four years in a Baghdad jail cell that his family feared would kill him.<\/p>\n David Chau will replace the retiring Alan Kohler<\/a> as the ABC\u2019s finance presenter on its 7pm news bulletins, the national broadcaster has announced.<\/p>\n The NSW government will seek to amend legislation<\/a> to give One Nation access to the independent Parliamentary Budget Office in a bid to challenge the populist party to cost their promises.<\/p>\n The peak body for the oil and gas industry was the only stakeholder the New South Wales government met with before a decision to reopen gas exploration approvals for the first time in more than a decade, documents released under freedom of information laws suggest<\/a>.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll see you back here bright and early tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.42 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n NSW One Nation rejects attempt to force it to cost state policies<\/p>\n NSW One Nation has pushed back against an attempt to have the party cost its state election promises, saying it would instead use access to the NSW parliamentary budget office (PBO) to cost the government\u2019s net zero objectives. <\/p>\n As we reported this morning, the Minns government will seek to amend legislation to give One Nation access to the PBO, in a bid to challenge the populist party to cost its election promises. Labor says it\u2019s clear March\u2019s 2027 election will see three parties competing to form government.<\/p>\n Current legislation only contemplates a Labor v Coalition<\/a> contest. Minor parties like the Greens and independents can use the PBO to cost up to two policies a year.<\/p>\n In a statement this afternoon, NSW One Nation<\/a> leader and candidate for Cessnock, Mike Newman, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markOur only request will be what is the total cost of Net Zero to the NSW Budget? Unless the PBO can provide a comprehensive response then One Nation will not be lectured.<\/p>\n The legislation is expected to pass this week with Coalition<\/a> support. The act obliges major parties to cost their policies, but there is no actual penalty if they refuse to do so. The Greens have indicated they will not support the amendment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.57 EDT<\/p>\n What we learned, Monday 12 October That\u2019s all for the politics live blog today, thanks so much for joining us. Here are the headlines:<\/p>\n The Australian government should block the \u201cbarbaric\u201d broadcast or live stream of a US military execution, Greens senator <\/a>Sarah Hanson-Young<\/a> says<\/a>. She found a somewhat unlikely ally in Barnaby Joyce who said the execution was like \u201cRoman amphitheatre\u201d and should not be watched. The government was a lot less forthcoming on whether the stream should be banned.<\/p>\n Small business minister Anne Aly was in the question time spotlight today, pressed by the opposition on how and when she found out the ATO would ban credit card payments (she says she found out with the rest of the public).<\/p>\n Australian engineer Robert Pether has been allowed to leave Iraq<\/a> after being detained for more than four years in a Baghdad jail cell that his family feared would kill him.<\/p>\n David Chau will replace the retiring Alan Kohler<\/a> as the ABC\u2019s finance presenter on its 7pm news bulletins, the national broadcaster has announced.<\/p>\n The NSW government will seek to amend legislation<\/a> to give One Nation access to the independent Parliamentary Budget Office in a bid to challenge the populist party to cost their promises.<\/p>\n The peak body for the oil and gas industry was the only stakeholder the New South Wales government met with before a decision to reopen gas exploration approvals for the first time in more than a decade, documents released under freedom of information laws suggest<\/a>.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll see you back here bright and early tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.42 EDT<\/p>\n Question time ends<\/p>\n After a final dixer to resources minister, Madeleine King, the PM calls time on QT for the day.<\/p>\n On indulgence he gives Milton Dick a shout out for his election to become the \u201cglobal speaker\u201d, the leader of the International Parliamentary Union.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.18 EDT<\/p>\n Aly says she found out about ATO move when the rest of the public did<\/p>\n Nationals MP Kevin Hogan again probes small business minister Anne Aly to declare when she found out about the ATO\u2019s decision to ban credit card payments.<\/p>\n Hogan says the treasurer said that he\u2019d heard from the ATO not the Reserve Bank about the ban \u201cin the lead up to the decision\u201d, so why didn\u2019t Aly also know in advance?<\/p>\n Anne Aly says again that she found out with the rest of the public:<\/p>\n double quotation markI\u2019ll repeat my answer from last time, but I\u2019ll add a bit of clarity to it. The RBA announced their plan to ban surcharges on March 31 this year, stating that surcharges will be banned from October 1. On October 1, the ATO announced their decision that they would not be accepting credit cards. That\u2019s when I found out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.16 EDT<\/p>\n Antisemitism royal commission announces extra hearing to be closed to public Breaking into question time with a little breaking news. The royal commission into antisemitism has announced it will hold an additional hearing this month, which will be closed to the public, to focus on security and intelligence issues.<\/p>\n The royal commission in August said it was holding its final hearings that month, ahead of handing down its final report in December.<\/p>\n But on Monday, the royal commission said in a statement that it would hold \u201cadditional hearing\u201d in October – with no date announced – \u201cto take additional evidence related to Hearing Block 2.\u201d<\/p>\n That part of the investigation was specifically around \u201cthe circumstances surrounding the attack at Bondi on 14 December 2025\u201d, including the terrorism threat level; the conduct of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies; what was known about the shooters and what was done with that information; and the security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event.<\/p>\n The royal commission said in its statement:<\/p>\n double quotation markDue to the sensitivity of the evidence, this hearing will be classified and therefore closed to the public to avoid prejudice to national security and the ongoing criminal proceedings relating to the attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.17 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018Not on my bingo card\u2019, PM says as Katter ponders North Queensland state<\/p>\n Like the prime minister, this one wasn\u2019t on my bingo card for today (or ever), Bob Katter asks the government for a report on the viability of a North Queensland state.<\/p>\n He says the north\u2019s resources are being held by a government 3,000km away and the money squandered by \u201con a two\u2013week athletic meet called the Olympics\u201d.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a much more tame description of the events. Katter back in 2024 described the Paris Olympics opening ceremony as \u201can \u2018orgiastic pagan ritual\u2019 denigrating Christianity\u201d.<\/p>\n Independent member for Kennedy Bob Katter and One Nation member for New England Barnaby Joyce during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, 12 October, 2026. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese jokes:<\/p>\n double quotation markA question that, I\u2019ve got to say, was not on my bingo card. The idea of a breakup of the states \u2013 including the great state of Queensland \u2013 would perhaps see a Premier Katter in Far North Queensland, which might or might not be a good thing. It would weaken the Queensland State of Origin team somewhat, given the magnificent players who\u2019ve come from places like Cloncurry and Mount Isa.<\/p>\n Slightly more seriously he says it\u2019s important for the north of the state to get its \u201cfair share\u201d, but defends the Olympics and says it\u2019ll be good economically for the whole state.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.09 EDT<\/p>\n Aly in the spotlight and Liberal MP booted<\/p>\n The opposition isn\u2019t relenting on its attack on small business minister Anne Aly, with shadow treasurer Tim Wilson now asking her to confirm whether the Reserve Bank made the decision to ban credit card payments to the Australian Taxation Office.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a quick question and a quick answer.<\/p>\n double quotation markI think it\u2019s pretty clear, from the statements that were made by the RBA \u2013 the RBA made the decision to ban surcharges, and the ATO responded.<\/p>\n From the Coalition<\/a> backbench, Ben Small shouts \u201cYou don\u2019t even understand \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Milton Dick says he\u2019s \u201chad a good go\u201d at interrupting today and he gets booted before he can finish.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.06 EDT<\/p>\n Coalition pushes for who knew what and when on ATO credit card ban<\/p>\n Angie Bell is back, ditches the preamble and tries the more direct approach, asking the small business minister, Anne Aly: \u201cWhen was the minister first informed of the credit\u2013card ban, and by whom?\u201d<\/p>\n Aly seems to avoid the question at first, saying that Labor understands what small businesses are going through with rising pries, but then gets to the point.<\/p>\n double quotation markOn the matter of the credit card surcharge or the ban to the credit card surcharge, it was a decision that was made by the RBA. I became aware of it \u2013 as did everyone else \u2013 when the RBA made that decision and made it public.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.10 EDT<\/p>\n Coalition gets personal against small business minister<\/p>\n Liberal frontbencher Angie Bell asks the small business minister when and how she was first informed of the credit card ban for small businesses by the Australian Tax Office. She quotes a Labor MP from a story in Nine newspapers last week that the minister \u201cknows nothing about small business\u201d.<\/p>\n Small business minister, Anne Aly, spends the first half of her answer talking about her travels around Australia to talk to small businesses.<\/p>\n The Coalition isn\u2019t happy with the answer \u2013 she\u2019s not saying when she found out about the ban and who told her. Leader of the House, Tony Burke, says the quote from an unnamed MP is a \u201cpolitical sledge \u2013 effectively allows a much broader answer\u201d. Milton Dick tells the opposition that they asked a political question so they\u2019ll get a political answer but directs Aly to be relevant.<\/p>\n There\u2019s some more back and forth, with some sledging across the despatch box, and Dick warns the House to show some respect and decorum.<\/p>\n Aly continues:<\/p>\n double quotation markAnyone with even a cursory understanding of numbers will understand that the number of businesses opening, compared to the number of businesses that are closing, demonstrates …<\/p>\n She\u2019s trying to say that the total number of small businesses has gone up but she runs out of time on the answer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.58 EDT<\/p>\n Coalition getting lessons from Liz Truss \u2018of all people\u2019, Albanese says<\/p>\n Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson is up next and puts forward a quote from an unnamed \u201caspiring backbencher\u201d that no one in cabinet has any small business experience, asking the prime minister when he will scrap Labor\u2019s credit card surcharge ban.<\/p>\n (The government was keen on the change, but it\u2019s worth noting the decision itself came from the Reserve Bank).<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese says he gives Wilson some \u201cpoints for courage\u201d given Josh Frydenberg is out there openly campaigning for an increase to the GST.<\/p>\n double quotation mark[Frydenberg] most remarkably, actually saying that they spent too much and wasted money during the Covid crisis. If only Mr Frydenberg was in a position to have some influence during that time …! But perhaps the spending was the result of the other bloke who was also the treasurer, Scott Morrison.<\/p>\n The opposition tries to raise a point of order on relevance, but Milton Dick says the question was pretty \u201cpolitical\u201d, ie you ask a broad question you get a broad answer.<\/p>\n Albanese then takes a dig at the Coalition and the members who attended the CPAC conference over the weekend:<\/p>\n double quotation markAt CPAC, they weren\u2019t talking there about policies of small business, Mr Speaker \u2026 They weren\u2019t talking about policies of big business. They were getting lessons, of all people, from the only person in the western world who makes Tony Abbott\u2019s period as PM look long, which is Liz Truss, who lasted 45 days.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s former prime minister Liz Truss speaks during the 2026 Conservative Political Action Network (CPAC) national conference at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane, Saturday, 10 October, 2026. Photograph: Russell Freeman\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.48 EDT<\/p>\n Question time starts on small business<\/p>\n The opposition has small business in its sights today, with Angus Taylor accusing Labor of \u201cwaging war\u201d against the sector. He says they\u2019ve been slugged with rising power bills, increased tax and the ban on credit card surcharging.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese takes the question and runs through a list of pro-small business measures the government has taken.<\/p>\n He says there are 265,000 more small businesses than there were in 2022 when Labor came to office.<\/p>\n double quotation markPeople talk about insolvencies \u2013 according to Asic data, insolvencies under this government, as a proportion of all companies, has averaged 0.32%. The rate under the Howard government was 0.5%. Average monthly new company registrations are higher under this government than any government on record.<\/p>\n Taylor shakes his head as Albanese says that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.42 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese and Taylor mark anniversary of 7 October attack<\/p>\n Before questions begin, Albanese and Taylor also mark the third anniversary of the 7 October attack in Israel.<\/p>\n Albanese says:<\/p>\n double quotation markFor so many, no day since has been easy. But anniversaries fall with their own terrible weight. And for many others, what compounds the pain is the approach of the first anniversary of the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi beach. These few years have been hard beyond measure, but Australia stands with the Jewish community here and across the world. We stand against antisemitism and racism in all its forms because it goes against who we are.<\/p>\n Taylor says:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe fight against antisemitism is a fight for the truth \u2013 a fight that continues on our soil too. And the fight for the truth is about acknowledging and combating all forms of antisemitism \u2013 especially Islamist extremism.<\/p>\nKrishani Dhanji<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791781454_12_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\n