dailynewsnblog
Ellis warns of political ‘realignment’ happening at home and abroad
Krishani Dhanji
The ALP national conference is under way, with Kate Ellis taking the stage as the incoming president of the organisational wing. She followed a welcome to country by Uncle Mickey.
Ellis says her predecessor, Wayne Swan, is a “giant of the movement”, which receives a big round of applause from the audience.
She notes it’s the first time in history Labor has had a president and two vice-presidents who are more women, and offers a pointed remark:
While others bicker about if and how and when women deserve representation within our political structures, we’re just getting on with the job.
She adds that she doesn’t stand here because she misses the limelight. “I really didn’t,” she chuckles, but that there’s “too much at stake for anyone to sit down on the sidelines”.
We face a time when there is a massive political realignment happening, both globally and here at home … There are people hurting. Some of them are really angry about it, and at this conference, we show them that rather than turning our back on those people or turning their hurt into more anger and division, or grandstanding and chasing cheap headlines, will do what Labor does best. We will work to make the real decisions that improve the lives of the Australian people.
Key events
Krishani Dhanji
A rockstar welcome for the PM at Labor conference
Anthony Albanese comes out from a door on the side of the conference theatre, and runs out waving hands in the air.
He gets huge cheers and shakes plenty of hands as he walks down the aisle.
His soundtrack? Sounds of Then (This is Australia) by GANGgajang – a favourite of the PM who also played it during Labor’s campaign launch last year.
Krishani Dhanji
‘When premiers call prime ministers, we’re always asking for something’
Just because it’s a Labor conference doesn’t mean you can’t make a few jokes at your own movement’s expense (in fact, big fights are well known to take place in conferences past).
But on a lighter note, Peter Malinauskas has a little crack at the WA government, over the spread of GST across the country.
When premiers call prime ministers, we’re always asking for something. We might start the call by talking about the weather or footy, but soon enough, we’ll put in the ask. Premier Rockcliffe asking for money for a stadium. Premier Allan asking for money for a rail project. Premier Cook asking for everyone else’s GST money. Then Premier Minns asking for the GST money back.
New South Wales emerged as the biggest loser of the GST carve up this year.
He gets a few chuckles – then gets serious again singing the PM’s praises as he introduces him to the stage.
Krishani Dhanji
‘If you can’t govern your dog…” Malinauskas takes aim at Joyce, and offers warnings for his movement
The wildly popular South Australian premier Peter Malinaskas is next, and also begins with a warning of the unprecedented times we live in, but not without a quip against the opposition and Barnaby Joyce’s viral moment this week that I’m sure you’ve seen (along with all the memes that followed).
In an erratic world filled with ill discipline and division, we’ve been reminded this week of that time-honoured political truth: if you can’t govern your dog, you can’t govern the country.
And the Libs, who now live in the desperate fear of being accused of Labor lite, are now embracing being Hanson-heavy, which leaves us, the Labor Party. We know what a professional political party looks like.
He says the rise of the right isn’t new, but through all of that and all of the right wing movements, the Labor party has endured.
But he sets out two key risks for the party: complacency and populism:
We must recognise that the current upending of anti-Labor forces does bring with it two clear, omnipresent, and undeniable risks for our party. The first is complacency. Complacency in the idea that a splintered conservative movement automatically renders Labor as electoral favourites.
And the second risk is that, in an effort to avoid said complacency, we end up developing an agenda focused on responding to political populism rather than the needs of the nation.
Patrick Commins
Escalating conflict in the Middle East reignites oil price debate
Brent crude prices will need to rise as high as $US150 a barrel if the worsening Middle East conflict restricts traffic through the strait of Hormuz for another 10 weeks, CBA experts warn.
The global oil benchmark climbed to over $US96 a barrel this morning after Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on two tankers in the Red Sea.
Crude prices are now up by a third this month and may have further to go.
John Oh, an energy economist at CBA, said Saudi Arabian oil would for the most part find other ways to get to the market even were the Red Sea shipping routes blocked.
But he warned that the latest disruptions coincided with already low global inventories following months of additional drawdowns.
CBA experts predict the hostilities to extend for a further two months, which should avoid the worst-case scenario outlined above, and the bank’s economists forecast Brent crude trading between $US70 and $US100 a barrel in the second half of this year.
Oh:
Whilst we see upside risks for oil, it’s worth noting that markets have been optimistic about a swift return to prewar levels given pipeline bypasses, reduced Chinese oil imports and non-OPEC+ supply growth have alleviated oil market’s dependence on oil tanker traffic through the strait since the war began.
Ellis warns of political ‘realignment’ happening at home and abroad
Krishani Dhanji
The ALP national conference is under way, with Kate Ellis taking the stage as the incoming president of the organisational wing. She followed a welcome to country by Uncle Mickey.
Ellis says her predecessor, Wayne Swan, is a “giant of the movement”, which receives a big round of applause from the audience.
She notes it’s the first time in history Labor has had a president and two vice-presidents who are more women, and offers a pointed remark:
While others bicker about if and how and when women deserve representation within our political structures, we’re just getting on with the job.
She adds that she doesn’t stand here because she misses the limelight. “I really didn’t,” she chuckles, but that there’s “too much at stake for anyone to sit down on the sidelines”.
We face a time when there is a massive political realignment happening, both globally and here at home … There are people hurting. Some of them are really angry about it, and at this conference, we show them that rather than turning our back on those people or turning their hurt into more anger and division, or grandstanding and chasing cheap headlines, will do what Labor does best. We will work to make the real decisions that improve the lives of the Australian people.
Krishani Dhanji
ALP national conference kicks off in Adelaide
Hello from the ALP national conference 2026! I’m in Adelaide and will be bringing you all the action from the debates, announcements, speeches and fights.
Here’s a bit of a rundown on what’s happening:
First the former Rudd/Gillard minister, Kate Ellis, will officially become the new president of Labor’s organisational wing. She’ll say a few words, before the South Australian Labor premier, Peter Malinauskas, takes the stage. Then the spotlight will be on Anthony Albanese. We’ve only seen snippets of his speech – including his announcement of the extension of paid prac placements for allied health services.
The national platform, which outlines Labor’s whole agenda, will be debated throughout the conference, and the first few hours of today will be spent debating the economic agenda. That includes some sticking points such as gas tax policy, fuel tax credits and AI policy.
We’ll also be bringing you the action from some of the so-called fringe events that happen on the sidelines of the conference and any protest action outside.
Helen Haines says new payments for health students must be delivered ‘as soon as possible’
The independent federal member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines, has joined peak bodies in welcoming the news that the federal government will extend its paid practical placements scheme to allied health students. It follows continued lobbying from the health workforce, the Greens and a coalition of independents, including Haines.
In June, Haines joined independent senator David Pocock to present a petition to the parliament signed by more than 43,000 people calling for placements to be made available to allied health and medical students experiencing “placement poverty”.
Haines said:
This is fantastic news for allied health students across Australia and alleviate enormous pressure they face when trying to juggle study and their day-to-day bills. At a time of urgent health workforce shortages, particularly in rural and regional Australia, we cannot afford to have financial pressures preventing students from completing health degrees.
I’m keen to see the detail and to ensure these payments are delivered as soon as possible. Students who are struggling with placement poverty need support now.
Read more about the announcement and what the scheme does here:
Josh Butler
Pauline Hanson claims her highly criticised comments on domestic violence were ‘twisted by the media’
Pauline Hanson is continuing to be criticised by domestic violence experts for comments she made about the scourge, but the One Nation leader has put the blame on the media.
After comments she made in public interviews came under fire, Hanson claimed her words had been “twisted by the media” and denied she had downplayed domestic violence. She told 4BC radio yesterday it was “wrong but it’s also a two-way street”.
I’m not saying that it’s just men, women can lose their cool as well. Society is under so much pressure … Everyone is under so much pressure and it’s really hard … Domestic violence is a scourge but look … I’ve been through it myself in my life. And I just feel if you’re not in a house where you feel safe … then you shouldn’t put up with it. If these women are getting abused by men out there, then don’t put up with it.
Yesterday, after the comments were criticised, she posted a transcript of those quotes online, writing: “Here’s exactly what I said on 4BC about domestic violence, so you don’t get it twisted by the media or the Labor Party.” It is unclear what Hanson’s complaint was, as those comments were reproduced at length in mainstream media articles.
On Thursday morning, she again posted about the 4BC interview, posting audio of the exchange and claiming “there is a concerted effort by some in the media to constantly take my comments out of context”.
But some within rival media decided to use only a few quotes and made out that I downplayed domestic violence. That’s untrue, hence why it’s important that people hear the whole interview.
The One Nation leader criticised “journalistic integrity” and drew links to job cuts at the Nine newspapers, writing, “I’m growing less tolerant of many journalists within the MSM and so too are the public.”
Hanson has previously threatened to ban journalists from the Guardian and the ABC from One Nation events. Hanson has seen a flurry of media coverage in the last week or so for controversial comments about the White Australia policy, her decision to grant an interview to far-right agitator and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, and her decision to join mining billionaire Gina Rinehart at a lavish Italian resort and fashion show.
Peak bodies celebrate ‘overdue recognition’ of students as paid practical payment scheme extended
Peak bodies have backed the federal government’s decision to extend its paid practical placements scheme to students in 10 additional fields.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will make the announcement in a speech to open the Labor national conference on Thursday, which extends the scheme to students in physiotherapy, speech pathology and clinical psychology.
When the scheme was first announced last year, it was a major win for stakeholders who have spent years pushing the commonwealth to address “placement poverty”, but the federal government was urged to expand the eligibility to all students completing placements, and to increase the payments to at least the minimum wage.
The Health Services Union (HSU) national secretary, Dustin Halse, said “paid placements are a practical investment in the future of Medicare and the health, aged care and disability services Australians rely on”.
The HSU will continue campaigning until every allied health student undertaking a mandatory placement receives proper financial support.
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) national president, Jesse Gardner-Russell, said it was “overdue recognition” of students in psychology and physiotherapy.
“Extending the Commonwealth Prac Payment to allied health is a … sign that the Government is listening.
Man charged with AI-generated child exploitation offences
A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly possessing and producing child exploitation material generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
On Wednesday, officers from South Australia police and the Australian federal police (AFP) attended a home in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and arrested the man, allegeding he’d been producing the material from the address on electronic devices.
He was charged with possessing and producing child exploitation material and granted bail to appear in the Adelaide magistrates court at a later date.
Detective superintendent Damien Epps, officer in charge of the public protection branch, said the production, possession and distribution of AI-generated child abuse material “is a heinous offence”.
Lisa Cox
Continued from previous post …
The NSW Net Zero Commission’s report makes several recommendations to get the state on track to meet its legislated climate targets.
It said in addition to “meaningful consideration” of those targets in all major planning assessments – “particularly in planning assessments of coal mine extensions or expansions, and data centres” – the state government must prioritise projects that helped decarbonisation.
The government would also need to accelerate electrification of transport, buildings and industrial heating and “significantly reduce methane emissions” in mining, agriculture and waste.
The commission called for concrete action and investment to help communities already dealing with the effects of climate change to adapt.
The report also questioned a coal industry strategy the government released in March, which included the ban on greenfield projects:
The [government’s] new position includes an expectation that emissions from the coal industry will decline consistent with NSW’s targets.
It is unclear how this will be achieved, because coal mine extensions and expansions will still be considered and NSW Government expects employment from these will continue “for decades to come”.
Lisa Cox
NSW Net Zero Commission warns state not on track to meet legislated carbon reduction commitments
The Minns government must guarantee “meaningful consideration” of climate targets in every major planning decision – particularly coal projects and datacentres – the NSW Net Zero Commission has said as it warned the state was not on track to meet legislated carbon reduction commitments.
The independent state body set up to monitor progress towards net zero also said a March government announcement banning greenfield coalmines “is more symbolic than material” given no mines of that type had been approved in the state since 2018.
The statements are contained in the commission’s annual report on how the state is tracking towards legislated climate targets of 50% by 2030, 70% by 2035 and net zero by 2050.
While the commission found NSW had made some progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and rolling out low emissions technology, it would miss the 2030 and 2035 targets unless it worked faster.
The report has been released a day after the state’s independent planning authority concluded its public hearings considering a Hunter Valley coalmine extension that would be the largest in NSW.
It reiterates earlier statements that further coalmine extensions and expansions “are inconsistent with NSW’s legislated targets”.
Continued in next post …
Josh Butler
Australia wants to ‘set the standards’ on AI, Anthony Albanese says
Circling back to Anthony Albanese’s ABC radio interview earlier, the PM says Australia wants to help “set the standards” when it comes to AI, but admits there are “risks” which Australia wants to control.
Albanese gave a major speech last week outlining his government’s broad thinking about AI, including plans to set rules about how datacentres will be approved and operated, but some of the nuts and bolts specifics – such as copyright, privacy and safety concerns – are still to be confirmed.
Asked on AM radio about OpenAI revealing one of its models went rogue during a test and hacked a company by itself, Albanese said: “It is a fact that there are risks here, which need to be mitigated.”
[His speech] spoke about Australian standards, and that’s why we want to work with industry, we want to work with business, but we also want to work with everyone in society.
What we’re determined to do is to shape the change by engaging in the process. We can’t pretend that it won’t occur any more than we can turn off the internet. This is a change that’s occurring, and what we don’t want is to do what happened with social media, where down the track people have recognised the damage that was done to young people … AI can bring enormous productivity benefits. It can create jobs, but it also needs to be controlled, and that is why national standards are important.
