Andrew Hastie ‘open minded’ on return to baby bonus after report’s warning about ageing population
Andrew Hastie has weighed in on the latest intergenerational report, saying he’s “open minded” on government financial incentives to encourage people to have children.
The report, released earlier today, found there will be more Australians dying than being born in 40 years’ time, and examines the fundamental challenges of managing an ageing population at a time of rapid change and lower economic growth.
It also outlines how Australia is at the cusp of a new and uncertain age of artificial intelligence that will shape the economy and society over the coming four decades.
Hastie was interviewed on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program a short time ago, where he said:
“The real problem is of course that family formation is being delayed because people can’t get into home soon enough, and families are having less children.
“It is a real concern that our fertility replacement rate is projected to drop further, to a historic low at the moment of about 1.39 I think it was, and we want Australians to have a better chance of getting into a home, forming a family and having children of their own.”
Asked if he would support a Peter Costello-style baby bonus to incentivise Australians to have children, Hastie said he was “pretty open minded”.
The Liberal MP noted there were mixed views on whether the baby bonus among economists but he said he would “support anything that allows young Australians to form families soon enough”.
Hastie said:
double quotation markI have three kids myself, they are a great blessing, I love children. I’d love other Australians to have kids as well, and part of the challenge is getting them into homes sooner and making the economy work for them.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie says he would ‘love other Australians to have kids’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 03.20 EDT
Key events
What we learned – Monday 21 September
That’s where we’ll leave things. Here were the key things we covered today:
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Updated at 03.41 EDT
Andrew Hastie ‘open minded’ on return to baby bonus after report’s warning about ageing population
Andrew Hastie has weighed in on the latest intergenerational report, saying he’s “open minded” on government financial incentives to encourage people to have children.
The report, released earlier today, found there will be more Australians dying than being born in 40 years’ time, and examines the fundamental challenges of managing an ageing population at a time of rapid change and lower economic growth.
It also outlines how Australia is at the cusp of a new and uncertain age of artificial intelligence that will shape the economy and society over the coming four decades.
Hastie was interviewed on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program a short time ago, where he said:
“The real problem is of course that family formation is being delayed because people can’t get into home soon enough, and families are having less children.
“It is a real concern that our fertility replacement rate is projected to drop further, to a historic low at the moment of about 1.39 I think it was, and we want Australians to have a better chance of getting into a home, forming a family and having children of their own.”
Asked if he would support a Peter Costello-style baby bonus to incentivise Australians to have children, Hastie said he was “pretty open minded”.
The Liberal MP noted there were mixed views on whether the baby bonus among economists but he said he would “support anything that allows young Australians to form families soon enough”.
Hastie said:
double quotation markI have three kids myself, they are a great blessing, I love children. I’d love other Australians to have kids as well, and part of the challenge is getting them into homes sooner and making the economy work for them.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie says he would ‘love other Australians to have kids’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 03.20 EDT
NSW Greens urge government to invest $200m in frontline services after alleged domestic violence incidents
The New South Wales Greens MP Abigail Boyd has urged the state government to invest more in frontline domestic and family violence services after a horror weekend of alleged domestic violence.
Boyd has called for an immediate increase in funding of a minimum $200 million investment to address what she described as “chronic funding shortfalls … causing calls to go unanswered”.
In a statement, Boyd, the Greens’ spokesperson for gendered violence and abuse, said:
double quotation markServices are operating at up to nine times their funded capacity and waitlists are at an average of two months with some stretching for months on end.
Whenever we see cases like the ones we saw over the weekend, politicians wring their hands and express their sadness as though they have no power to prevent these tragedies from happening.
These issues are not new, nor are the solutions to solve them. Reports, studies, testimony and evidence have all demonstrated for years where the shortfall is and how to address it.
In a $135 billion annual state budget, even if funding was increased, it would still add up to less than half a percent of total annual expenditure. I think most people in NSW would think that’s a small price to pay to prevent these horrific crimes.
Her call comes after police earlier today said they would allege a mother was responsible for Sunday’s stabbing attack on three young children that left one dead and two others fighting for their lives in hospital.
Bystanders were first on the scene after finding the three children and the woman with stab wounds inside a vehicle at Valley Heights in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, yesterday afternoon.
On Saturday, three women were allegedly murdered inside their homes within a 12-hour period, in three separate incidents across the state.
NSW Greens upper house MP Abigail Boyd. Photograph: Carly Earl/The GuardianShare
Updated at 03.11 EDT
Sarah Hanson-Young says telcos can’t be trusted with triple zero
The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has said Australia’s telecommunications system is “failing”, after an inquiry into problems in the sector recommended the government consider nationalising triple zero.
The Senate committee, which delivered its report earlier today, began the inquiry into the Optus triple zero service outage of 18 September 2025, which has been linked to multiple deaths.
The inquiry, which was expanded to cover problems with other telcos including Telstra, which experienced its own outage in July this year, resulted in 11 recommendations to overhaul the system.
Speaking after the report was delivered, Hanson-Young said:
double quotation markAustralia’s telecommunications system is failing and it’s failing because for too long these big corporations have been able to regulate themselves and yet they are essential services.
People should be able to know that they need to call triple zero, their mobile phone will work regardless of where in Australia they are.
One of the key recommendations is urging the government to look at nationalising triple zero.
At the moment it’s a service that is managed by Telstra with support from the other telcos. These companies are not putting the safety of Australians first. They’re putting their profits first and they can no longer be trusted with Australia’s vital triple zero service.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says telcos are ‘not putting the safety of Australians first’ when it comes to triple zero. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 02.19 EDT
Catie McLeod
Hello, I hope you’ve been having a nice day. I’ll take you through the rest of the news this afternoon.
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Nick Visser
That’s all from me. Catie McLeod will take things from here. Take care.
Asic begins proceedings against former CEO of company behind Supercheap Auto, Rebel and Macpac
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) has begun civil penalty proceedings against the former CEO and managing director of the Super Retail Group, alleging he breached his duties and provided misleading information to the board and the market.
Asic alleges Anthony Heraghty failed to disclose conflicts of interest that arose from an alleged undisclosed relationship with a senior executive at the company. Those failures, Asic says, included continuing to supervise the person and making decisions affecting their employment, including remuneration, rewards and a redundancy package.
Super Retail Group is an ASX-listed public company and the parent company of a group that has retail interest including Supercheap Auto, BCF, Rebel and Macpac. Heraghty was the CEO from March 2019 to September 2025.
Sarah Court, the chair of Asic, said in a statement:
double quotation markThe allegations in this matter raise important issues about governance, transparency and trust in the information provided to boards and the market.
This case is not about private relationships, but whether a director properly disclosed and managed conflicts of interest and met their duties to the company and shareholders.
Asic is seeking declarations of contravention, pecuniary penalties and disqualification orders. Heraghty has not yet filed a defence, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Updated at 00.50 EDT
ACT offers $500,000 reward to help solve murder cases including possible Ivan Milat victim
The ACT government will offer a reward of $500,000 for information that helps conclude a series of unsolved murder or missing person cases, including the death of Keren Rowland, a 20-year-old nurse killed in 1971 whose family believe she was the first victim of serial killer Ivan Milat.
The government said the rewards will apply to five new cases in addition to three others that have had rewards attached to them since 2012. Officials said while some of the cases relate to long-term missing persons, they hope the rewards will encourage a witness or someone with information to come forward.
The other cases include those of Elizabeth Herfort, who was last seen in 1980; Megan Louise Mulquiney, last seen in 1984; Troy Hugh Forsyth, who was fatally struck by a van in 1987; and David Abuoi, who was last seen in Canberra in 2012.
The ACT minister for police, Marisa Paterson, said in a statement:
double quotation markThe families of these five people have never given up hope of getting answers regarding what happened to their loved ones. Half a million dollars is a strong incentive for someone to tell police what they know.
If you know anything about Keren, Troy, David, Elizabeth or Megan’s matters, we are urging you to come forward.
Updated at 01.09 EDT
Chalmers says AI will bring ‘the biggest economic transformation of our lifetime’
Achol Arok
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said artificial intelligence will play “a pivotal role” in driving Australia’s long-term productivity growth.
double quotation markThe AI revolution is the most consequential new emphasis since the 2023 report and the biggest economic transformation of our lifetime. The productivity, investment and labour market impacts of AI will be dramatic.
The IGR shows from 2030 onwards each extra 0.1% of productivity growth from AI could improve the bottom line by 0.7 percentage points and reduce gross debt by 0.3 percentage points within a decade.
Chalmers said Australia needs to be focused and deliberate in adopting AI to realise its benefits.
double quotation markWe are well positioned with Australians adopting AI at a higher rate than almost every G20 country, but the productivity boost from AI depends on translating that into better ways of working.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Photograph: Hilary Wardaugh/AAPShare
Updated at 00.22 EDT
Achol Arok
More from the treasurer’s response to intergenerational report
Jim Chalmers outlined the five major challenges identified in the intergenerational report:
The impact of the “AI revolution” on the economy
A “fragmenting world” shaped by growing geopolitical tensions
The transition to clean energy
A growing and ageing population, accelerated by falling fertility rates
Changes to the industrial sector, driven by AI and the energy transition
Chalmers said the challenges needed to be addressed through a holistic approach:
double quotation markThere’s no separating these five accelerating shifts from each other or from their consequences for our budget or our economy.
A smaller workforce means a proportionately smaller income tax base at a time when pressures on social services and tools of statecraft, including defence, will be growing, not easing, along with the fiscal risks of climate change and more frequent disasters.
Chalmers said it was “remarkable” that the budget was strengthening despite those pressures, with government spending over the next 40 years expected to increase by significantly less than previously forecast.
Updated at 00.23 EDT
Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy wind gust ‘unprecedented’, inquest hears
A jumping castle that became airborne due to a freak “dust devil”, killing six primary schoolchildren, was tethered at only four of eight anchorage points, an inquest has been told.
The children died during end-of-year celebrations at Hillcrest primary school in Devonport on 16 December 2021.
A long-awaited inquest began in Tasmania on Monday after years of delays due to criminal proceedings against the castle’s operator, Rosemary Gamble. Gamble operated Taz-Zorb, which set up inflatable equipment at the school. She was found not guilty of criminal workplace health and safety breaches in 2025.
The events of the day and the tethering of the castle and other devices would be placed under “extensive examination”, counsel assisting the coroner Maree Norton said on Monday.
Gamble was supervising on the day and had a policy of not operating the castle if winds were tipped to exceed 25km/h. The Bureau of Meteorology forecast for 16 December was light winds, reaching 15 to 20km/h by the evening, Norton said.
Several witnesses, including teachers and nearby residents, said the morning was largely windless before a “mini-tornado” hit around 10am.
In 2025, the magistrates court found Gamble could have taken further steps in relation to the castle’s anchorage, but even if she had, it would have made no difference to the outcome. The coroner can make different findings but cannot make rulings of criminal guilt.
– AAP
Flowers and tributes are seen outside Hillcrest primary school in Devonport, Tasmania after the incident on in December 2021. Photograph: Ethan James/AAPShare
Updated at 23.29 EDT
Chalmers says intergenerational report warns of ‘very serious risks and pressures’Achol Arok
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has delivered the Treasury’s latest intergenerational report, examining the potential impact of government policies over the next 40 years.
Speaking in Canberra, Chalmers said the report highlighted the challenges facing Australians in a “more fragmented and uncertain world”.
double quotation markThe world is becoming more dangerous, more unpredictable, more unequal, and more divided. And these aren’t just individual threads, they’re part of a bigger fraying of that intergenerational promise of better times.
Accelerating change is putting more pressure on people. It’s eroding trust in the institutions of democracy. It exacerbates the strain felt by younger Australians and younger generations in particular.
Chalmers said the report identified that Australia faces serious challenges but said the country is well prepared to manage them.
double quotation markThis intergenerational report shows that we face very serious risks and pressures, but that we are better placed and better prepared for them … this report also shows that we have a better plan to maximise our opportunities and minimise our risks, to grow our economy and lift living standards, embrace new technologies and share the benefits.
Jim Chalmers at ANU today. Photograph: Hilary Wardaugh/AAPShare
Updated at 00.23 EDT
‘That’s nuts’: Queensland premier slams plans to slash visa numbers
Andrew Messenger
Queensland’s premier says bipartisan plans to reduce the number of foreign visa holders allowed into the country is “nuts” and could risk spiralling food prices and damage to regional communities.
Labor, the Liberals and One Nation have all recently released plans to cap or slash migration. Last week the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, released a plan to slash net overseas migration from 292,000 this year to just 225,000 in 2027-28.
“I think that’s nuts,” David Crisafulli said on Monday, referring to the idea of reducing visa numbers year on year. He said:
double quotation markWithout it [migration], you go into a country town during a fruit picking season, for example, and without those short-term visas, you won’t get a beer at a pub, and a farmer won’t be able to pick his or her produce, and those towns grind to a halt.
But if you don’t love those little towns as much as I do, see it through a self-interest point of view. The things you put in your trolley are going to be a hell of a lot more expensive if there’s not a sensible discussion around making sure that people can go into regional areas and do the kind of work that they have done for a long period of time.
Crisafulli said the country needed a discussion as much about welcoming new Australians who wanted to build the country of the future as about how best to accommodate them.
Queensland premier David Crisafulli. Photograph: Darren England/AAPShare
Updated at 23.02 EDT
Donna Lu
Four Australian sea lions test positive for H5 bird flu in South Australia
Four more endangered Australian sea lions have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu at an important breeding site in South Australia.
The animals, including one pup, were among several found dead on the Pages islands near Kangaroo Island, state authorities said on Monday.
SA recorded the first H5 death of a sea lion eight days ago, with fears about how deadly virus will impact populations of the endangered pinniped.
Experts estimate that about 12,000 Australian sea lions remain, most of which are found in SA. The Pages islands are one of three sites in the state with large breeding colonies, according to Parks SA.
Authorities identified three positive sea lions on North Page Island and one on South Page Island via aerial wildlife surveillance operations. Several dead pups were also found, but tested negative for H5 bird flu.
Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough said:
double quotation markWe haven’t seen the mass deaths in pinnipeds that the experience in South America and Antarctica suggests may be coming but multiple deaths in a single location could indicate that devastation is just around the corner.
We’re now about to see millions of migratory birds arriving in Australia as part of spring migration as well as breeding events around the country which could be a new phase in terms of the level of devastation.
Australian sea lions. Photograph: Brad Leue/AlamyShare
Updated at 23.43 EDT
WA government calls off shark catch-and-kill directive
The WA government has called off the search for a shark that killed a Perth man on Friday, after a minister had ordered a catch-and-kill directive.
WA police said a 63-year-old man was bitten by a shark while swimming at Sorrento beach. The swimmer’s body has not been found.
In a statement, the Department of Primary Industries said it had concluded water and land based patrols around Sorrento beach.
double quotation markThere was no evidence of white shark activity in the area yesterday and a significantly diminished chance of catching the individual shark involved in the fatal incident on Friday.
Beaches in the City of Joondalup from Marmion to Iluka were set to reopen at 10am local time.
On Saturday the WA fisheries minister, Jackie Jarvis, revealed she had greenlit the order. She said in a social media post:
double quotation markGiven the shark had been positively identified, remained in the vicinity following a fatal attack and was considered to pose an ongoing threat, I authorised fisheries officers to destroy the shark if captured.
Updated at 22.21 EDT
More Australians forecast to live into their 90s
Australian households are expected to shrink but more people can expect to live well into their 90s, according to the latest update to forecasts of the country’s long-term future.
Treasury’s latest intergenerational report, to be published in full on Monday, will project the impact of government policies 40 years into the future.
An extract released on Sunday showed life expectancy at birth was forecast to reach almost 90 for women by 2065-66, up from about 86 years at present.
The report will also reveal that artificial intelligence (AI) will become the “defining influence” on the economy over the next four decades, as the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, warned it would come with “very substantial risks”.
Read more:
Updated at 22.13 EDT
Andrew Messenger
More than 800,000 bees stolen across far north Queensland
An estimated 800,000 bees, worth tens of thousands of dollars, have been stolen from properties in far north Queensland.
The industry is already reeling from the this month’s arrival of the varroa mite parasite.
Tom Bidner, an apiarist from the Atherton Tablelands, west of Cairns, said 44 colonies had been stolen from three different beekeepers.
Read more:
ShareAustralian diplomats to meet Palestinian counterparts in coming months
Tom McIlroy
Foreign minister Penny Wong has spoken with her Palestinian counterpart, Varsen Aghabekian. The pair agreed that senior officials from both governments should meet in coming months to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss key priorities.
The pair spoke on Friday night, with Aghabekian briefing Wong on progress on the Palestinian Authority’s reform commitments.
“Australia is committed to a two-state solution,” Wong wrote on social media on Monday.
double quotation markI spoke with Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr Varsen Aghabekian, about the PA’s reform agenda and our joint efforts to strengthen Palestine’s institutional foundations.
We also discussed the devastating situation in Gaza. “I reiterated that Hamas must play no role in the State of Palestine.
The pair agreed that Israel must halt its illegal settlement activity and hold perpetrators of settler violence to account.
Wong also told Aghabekian that Australia continues to press all parties to implement the Gaza peace plan in full and facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
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Updated at 23.41 EDT