Updated at\u00a022.49 EDT<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n
Albanese asked to support households and businesses in Western Sydney facing super El Nino<\/p>\n
Dai Le, who represents south-western Sydney says there\u2019s a super El Nino on the way and asks the prime minister what he will do to protect struggling families and small businesses ahead of summer in her area which \u201ccan be 10 degrees hotter than the east\u201d.<\/p>\n
The short answer: Anthony Albanese doesn\u2019t say.<\/p>\n
He talks about bushfire preparedness and acknowledges that Western Sydney faces tougher conditions with heat from the Blue Mountains and western plains. He doesn\u2019t say whether the government will provide any additional support to directly help those families and businesses battle the heat.<\/p>\n
double quotation markPreparedness in areas in which bushfires, in particular, can have an impact is very important that people use this time to do things such as clean gutters and follow the expert advice to make sure that moves forward.<\/p>\n
In our cities \u2013 including in Western Sydney which, because of the geography and topography and climate there, can actually be a capture of heat in between the Blue Mountains and the Plains that occur to the east of the mountains \u2013 often, that heat can be captured there that can provide quite dangerous circumstances unless it is dealt with ahead. This is just one of the reasons why the government is continuing to act on climate change.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s not acceptable\u2019: minister apologises to parents of slain soldier not invited to Afghanistan commemoration<\/p>\n The minister for veterans\u2019 affairs, Matt Keogh, has apologised to the parents of Sean McCarthy, who were not invited to the 25th anniversary of the beginning of Australia\u2019s involvement in the war in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n McCarthy was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2008.<\/p>\n Keogh says the Australian War Memorial reached out to the next of kin for all the men and women who were killed in Afghanistan, but \u201csome of those contact details were clearly out of date\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markThere were two attempts at trying to contact Mr and Mrs McCarthy because of that. And they didn\u2019t receive that communication. I learned of that on the weekend \u2026 I have spoken to David and Mary to pass on my apologies that there was clearly a deficiency in contact details and that they weren\u2019t reached out to.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not acceptable, and everyone wants to make sure that we give all families the opportunity to participate in commemorations such as this.<\/p>\n Matt Keogh during question time. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.59 EDT<\/p>\n Why did the small business minister not get advance notice from the ATO on credit card ban, asks Coalition<\/p>\n The spotlight has come back to the small business minister, Anne Aly, who is asked by the Liberal backbencher Melissa Price why the treasurer was informed by the ATO that it would ban credit card payments on 25 September, but she was only informed six days later with the rest of the public on 1 October.<\/p>\n Aly says she answered questions on this yesterday (which is when she revealed she wasn\u2019t told in advance).<\/p>\n She says:<\/p>\n double quotation markI answered questions on this yesterday. I\u2019ve been clear that small businesses should have been consulted on the credit card ban, and I recognise that the treasurer acted really swiftly to provide transitional funding so that the ATO can continue accepting credit card transactions until the end of the financial year.<\/p>\n Tim Wilson gets a warning from the speaker to stop interjecting or he\u2019ll lose his MPI. MPI stands for matters of public importance \u2013 it\u2019s a dedicated time every sitting day after question time for an opposition MP, crossbencher or government backbencher to make a speech on any issue.<\/p>\n Anne Aly speaks during question time. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.55 EDT<\/p>\n Coalition targets Labor on fuel prices<\/p>\n The Coalition<\/a> is changing tack again, and the Nationals deputy leader, Darren Chester, asks the government whether \u2013 as fuel prices skyrocket \u2013 it will support the Coalition\u2019s policy to automatically lower fuel prices when global oil prices spike.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese talks about the government securing fuel supply in the aftermath of the US and Israel\u2019s strikes on Iran.<\/p>\n The opposition makes a point of order, saying it asked about future price, not previous supply.<\/p>\n Milton Dick shuts the point of order down and says Albanese is being relevant.<\/p>\n Albanese continues and goes on the attack:<\/p>\n double quotation markThey stand here and ask about fiscal policy and ask about saving, and then they say \u2013 why don\u2019t you spend more money? That is what they are saying.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.00 EDT<\/p>\n Labor won\u2019t say whether commonwealth will approve or reject massive coalmine extension in NSW<\/p>\n Will the government reject an application for the largest coalmine extension in NSW history, asks the independent MP Nicolette Boele. She points out that the minister in charge is the minister for the environment, not the minister against the environment.<\/p>\n The short answer is: no comment.<\/p>\n Tony Burke, representing the environment minister Senator Murray Watt, gives us a recount of what\u2019s going on but won\u2019t say what will happen next:<\/p>\n double quotation markMy understanding is that Hunter Valley Operations have proposed an extension. It\u2019s an extension to existing mines in previously mined areas. The NSW state Independent Planning Commission has already given its approval, with strict conditions. The state approval does not pre-empt the federal approval \u2013 they\u2019re separate processes.<\/p>\n The National Environmental Protection Agency \u2013 I\u2019m proud to say we now have a federal EPA \u2013 is currently considering the project and whether it should be approved under federal law.<\/p>\n \u2026 while the matter remains under consideration, it\u2019s not appropriate for me to comment further.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.41 EDT<\/p>\n Liberal party \u2018circling the drain\u2019, Chalmers says as Labor MP booted<\/p>\n The shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, is up next to the dispatch box, and asks Jim Chalmers when he will \u201cadmit his out-of-control spending is driving up inflation and interest rates?\u201d. He quotes an unnamed Labor source who told the Daily Telegraph the treasurer is acting like a \u201cused car salesman\u201d.<\/p>\n Before Chalmers can even stand up, the Labor MP Emma Comer gets kicked out for shouting between the question and answer. Labor MPs around her shout: \u201cOn her birthday?!\u201d Maybe she did it on purpose \u2013 a little birthday treat for herself!<\/p>\n Chalmers talks about Australia\u2019s triple-A credit rating before quickly pivoting into an attack, taking a stab at Angus Taylor\u2019s attendance at the \u201cfar-right conference in Brisbane\u201d over the weekend (he\u2019s referring to CPAC).<\/p>\n The opposition doesn\u2019t like this, but Milton Dick says the question had \u201csome colour and movement\u201d and so he will allow the answer.<\/p>\n Chalmers continues:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhen the leader of the opposition went to that far-right conference in Brisbane, he had a shot at Josh Frydenberg, and he said one of the big mistakes that they made in office was they made a mess of the budget, that they spent too much money. And a lot of our work in the four-and-a-half years we\u2019ve been in office has been to clean up the mess that Josh Frydenberg left behind.<\/p>\n Is it any wonder that the member for Canning [Andrew Hastie] is stalking him inside this place, the former member for Kooyong is stalking him from outside this place? Josh Frydenberg thinks the Liberal party is circling the drain on your watch, and he\u2019s right.<\/p>\n Jim Chalmers speaks during question time. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.42 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s question time!<\/p>\n Angus Taylor has his sights set on the small business minister, Anne Aly, again today, asking when Labor will listen and \u201cstop waging war\u201d on small businesses.<\/p>\n Aly says she does listen and travels to talk to small businesses across the country, and tries to say the Coalition<\/a> doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n double quotation markI\u2019ve heard from small businesses in hospitality, in construction, in farming, right across the board \u2026<\/p>\n Unlike those opposite \u2013 because the only thing that the leader of the opposition could do was to cosplay a reel that was put up on social media where he pretended to be visiting a small business, instead of actually visiting one.<\/p>\n Taylor and the shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, throw their hands up looking confused by the accusation.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty of noise from the benches, one Coalition MP shouts, \u201csmall business has no confidence in you, minister\u201d.<\/p>\n Tim Wilson and Angus Taylor during question time. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.50 EDT<\/p>\n Public servants offered 9% pay rise over coming three years<\/p>\n Federal public servants have been offered a pay rise of 9% over three years after months of Australian Public Service-wide bargaining between government negotiators and unions.<\/p>\n The Australian Public Service Commission announced the offer this afternoon that will include a 3.2% rise for bureaucrats from next March, 3% from March 2028 and finally 2.8% in March 2029.<\/p>\n Some government workers in agencies with lower pay grades will be offered further salary increases up to 0.5% each year or a total of up to 1.5% in an effort to close the pay gap between departments.<\/p>\n Beyond pay rises, other APS-wide conditions are being negotiated, including consistent flexible working arrangements, reduced qualifying periods for higher duties allowance, and stronger leave portability when joining the APS from another government employer.<\/p>\n The APS chief negotiator, Alison Stott, said the offer would establish more \u201cconsistent salary advancement across the APS\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re building on the work of the previous bargaining round to increase commonality across APS agencies. This measure will uplift at least one classification in 92% of agencies. This pay is part of an overall package of conditions. These are preliminary positions within this package, not agreed outcomes. Bargaining is continuing and we will keep working with unions and individual bargaining representatives in good faith.<\/p>\n Unions and APS delegates will now continue the bargaining process until they reach agreement.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.53 EDT<\/p>\n Opposition MP says PM and minister should be \u2018shamed and stoned\u2019 over ATO credit card ban<\/p>\n Things got a little heated in the house earlier, when the Liberal frontbencher Angie Bell called for the prime minister and small business minister, Anne Aly to be \u201cshamed and stoned\u201d.<\/p>\n Bell was supporting Tim Wilson\u2019s motion to suspend standing orders to bring on legislation to remove the ATO\u2019s credit card ban \u2013 which failed.<\/p>\n Bell shouted to the chamber:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis minister and this prime minister should be absolutely shamed and stoned in the square.<\/p>\n For background: the ATO announced that it would, from November, ban the use of credit cards for payment, after the RBA banned credit card surcharges.<\/p>\n The government was forced to intervene and provided additional funding to delay that ban until the end of June. The Coalition<\/a> spent much of question time yesterday hammering the small business minister, Anne Aly, over the decision.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.10 EDT<\/p>\n David Shoebridge calls AI committee a ‘farce’<\/p>\n The Greens leader, David Shoebridge, has called the parliamentary AI committee a \u201cfarce\u201d after it was found a staffer in the prime minister\u2019s office had appeared to sign off on language, and suggested edits to the letter, before it was handed to Anthony Albanese.<\/p>\n Independent senator David Pocock, a member of the committee, accused Albanese\u2019s office of \u201cheavily vetting\u201d the letter and its recommendations.<\/p>\n Shoebridge already had a bone to pick with this one because the then Greens leader, Larissa Waters, had tried to put him forward for the committee but the government refused, and then the Greens refused to offer up anyone else. Labor instead put it to a vote in the Senate \u2013 allowing senators to choose either Shoebridge or Pocock for the last spot.<\/p>\n In a statement, Shoebridge says:<\/p>\n double quotation markCaptive committees doing pretend inquiries serve no one but a government ducking for cover. The letter to the PM from this committee being edited by the PM\u2019s office is a farce worthy of Utopia.<\/p>\n Sometimes you look back and have to be grateful \u2013 not being part of this Labor farce was a blessing after all.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.49 EDT<\/p>\n In pictures: Angus Taylor addresses the Coalition<\/a> party room<\/p>\n Earlier I mentioned cameras were allowed in to record Angus Taylor revving up his party room for the week.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a little look in.<\/p>\n Angus Taylor gees up his party room. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPTaylor says the \u2018Albanese project has failed\u2019. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPAngus Taylor sits with the Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, who spent the weekend at CPAC dressed in hi-vis. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.09 EDT<\/p>\n The bells are ringing in the House and Senate<\/p>\n The Greens and Coalition<\/a> are separately suspending standing orders in both Houses this morning.<\/p>\n In the Senate, Mehreen Faruqi has moved a motion to debate the war in Gaza. She says:<\/p>\n double quotation markThree years of violently and rapidly expanding settlements in the West Bank, three years and counting.<\/p>\n The Albanese government has done nothing, that is why the matter is urgent \u2026 rather than stopping the arms trade, rather than imposing sanctions on Israel to stop this genocide, they\u2019ve been trying to shut down those of us who have been calling out this injustice.<\/p>\n Faruqi\u2019s motion is voted down by the government and Coalition.<\/p>\n Immediately after, independent and former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has her own motion to suspend standing orders to call the Albanese government to take more action against Israel, including applying further sanctions on Israel and Israeli politicians, and prohibiting trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. It fails without support from the government or Coalition.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in the House, the Coalition tries to suspend standing orders to bring on a bill to immediately reinstate credit card payments to the Australian tax office. It also fails.<\/p>\n Mehreen Faruqi. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.44 EDT<\/p>\n Government\u2019s climate centre to identify \u2018hotspots\u2019 for impacts around the country<\/p>\n A priority for the government\u2019s climate science centre will be identifying \u201chotspots\u201d around the country where impacts will cause social and economic losses, according to a new three-year strategy for the centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Australian Climate Service is made up of scientists and specialists at the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Geoscience Australia.<\/p>\n The new strategy says a priority until 2029 will be work that identifies \u201cwho is most affected by climate risk\u201d and what can be done to \u201creduce harm and strengthen wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n The assistant climate change minister, Josh Wilson, said the strategy had come after the release last year of Australia\u2019s first ever national climate risk assessment<\/a>. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe challenge of a climate that is warming and shifting to volatile extremes is unlike anything we\u2019ve faced before, and responding to those circumstances will require governments, businesses and communities to work together in new ways.<\/p>\n The strategy notes:<\/p>\n double quotation markFuture hazards will not mirror the past \u2013 impacts are shifting in timing, location and severity, placing growing strain on response and recovery systems.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.36 EDT<\/p>\n Digital duty of care may be delayed by Senate inquiry<\/p>\n The Greens are considering seeking to refer Labor\u2019s digital duty of care legislation to a Senate inquiry, potentially delaying the bill which is expected to be introduced this week.<\/p>\n The communications minister, Anika Wells, is at the National Press Club on Thursday to discuss the legislation. But with the Coalition<\/a> again dealing itself out of negotiations and refusing to consider it, the Greens are in the box seat for this legislation and the minor party may want to see it pushed to an inquiry.<\/p>\n Anika Wells. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAP<\/p>\n The Greens will seek \u201cimprovements\u201d to the bill but say they are not interested in \u201ckilling\u201d the proposal. The parliament\u2019s sitting calendar only has two Senate weeks between now and the end of the year, with Senate estimates at the end of October, so the Greens say they want to look at the bill now, before the usual end-of-year chaos.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll keep you updated as that progresses.<\/p>\n You can also read more about the legislation, and the disagreement between Labor and the Greens in relation to the proposed laws, here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.25 EDT<\/p>\n Coalition senator Jonathon Duniam rejects claims PM\u2019s office meddled with AI letter<\/p>\n The outgoing shadow home affairs minister, Jonathon Duniam, has been interviewed on Sky News about his role on a parliamentary committee considering AI policy.<\/p>\n We brought you the news earlier today that a senior adviser in Anthony Albanese\u2019s office had made edits and comments in a bipartisan letter from the committee before it was sent to the prime minister, a move which committee member David Pocock said was concerning.<\/p>\n Pocock said he was concerned at the intervention of Albanese\u2019s team in the letter, which raises concerns about copyright, AI safeguards, sovereign capability and AI literacy.<\/p>\n Duniam, who was the deputy chair of the committee, sent the letter with the Labor MP and inquiry chair, Jo Briskey, last night, on behalf of Labor, Coalition and crossbench MPs.<\/p>\n Duniam had already said there was \u201cno guidance, no interference\u201d with the committee\u2019s work and he would be \u201cthe first person out of the blocks to criticise the government if the prime minister wasn\u2019t showing interest in the committee\u2019s work\u201d.<\/p>\n He rejected Pocock\u2019s assertions again during his interview on Sky a short time ago, saying that:<\/p>\n double quotation markWell, I\u2019d love to know what\u2019s not in the letter that should be included that\u2019s been missed out.<\/p>\n I saw some comments that the letter had been heavily vetted, I\u2019m not sure what\u2019s been deleted.<\/p>\n I think it is good that decision making entities like the PMO have been actively interested in what we do\u2026 That does not remove the independence of the committee.<\/p>\n The committee does not do what either Anthony Albanese or Angus Taylor says, the committee does what it determines is the right way to go.<\/p>\n And to be clear, the parliament will be master of its own destiny when it comes to things like copyright legislation.<\/p>\n You can read more here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.16 EDT<\/p>\n Liberal frontbencher Jonathon Duniam to leave Senate by end of October<\/p>\n The shadow home affairs minister, Jonathon Duniam, is expected to give his valedictory speech this week and leave parliament at the end of October.<\/p>\n The frontbencher announced he would be resigning from the Senate back in June but committed to stay until the end of the year.<\/p>\n Duniam is expected to stay for the final sitting week of October, which will include Senate estimates. He was first elected as a Liberal senator representing Tasmania in 2016.<\/p>\n It means the Liberal leader, Angus Taylor, will have another frontbench position to fill \u2013 which could see a minor shadow cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n Jonathon Duniam. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.34 EDT<\/p>\n Businesses are increasing prices under cover of credit card surcharge ban: UBS Retailers are using the credit card surcharge ban to justify larger price increases, according to UBS economists.<\/p>\n Businesses were banned from including transaction surcharges from 1 October as part of a Reserve Bank-led reforms aimed at improving transparency for customers and, ultimately, lowering bank fees.<\/p>\n The RBA has predicted that shops would incorporate the bank fees into the final sale price, likely leading to a 0.1 percentage point increase to inflation.<\/p>\n But the UBS economists in a note to clients said this estimate was too low and that there was evidence that businesses, such as cafes, were using the surcharge ban as cover to pass on bigger price rises.<\/p>\n \u201cThe RBA\u2019s estimate seems a lower bound estimate, particularly given recent increases in fuel and other input costs,\u201d they said, estimating a 0.2% boost to inflation.<\/p>\n According to a survey of more than 1,500 cafes by Small Flat White, an online coffee price tracker, 17% of cafes have increased their prices since the start of the surcharge ban, with an average increase of 50 cents, or more than 10%.<\/p>\n That is multiples of the typical 1.5% card surcharge fee. The UBS economists said:<\/p>\n double quotation markResilient demand and still-elevated inflation expectations may be allowing merchants to use the change as \u2018cover\u2019 to pass through broader cost pressures (wages, fuel, and other input costs).<\/p>\n Following years of above-target inflation, consumers may be more accepting of price rises. Evidence of \u2018round up\u2019 pricing in items such as coffee suggests pass-through could exceed the surcharge itself.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.40 EDT<\/p>\n![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791864250_568_Sarah_Basford_Canales.png\")
Sarah Basford Canales<\/p>\n![\"Graham](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Graham_Redfearn.png\")
Graham Readfearn<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791864252_951_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\n![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791864252_895_Patrick_Commins.png\")
Patrick Commins<\/p>\n