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Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has welcomed Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s commitment to restore biological sex to Commonwealth discrimination law, but says the Liberal Party owes Australians an explanation for why it failed to act during nine years in government.

Mr Taylor has pledged that a future Coalition government will amend the Sex Discrimination Act to define biological sex and protect single-sex spaces for women and girls.

This is terrific and long overdue. Angus Taylor is right: biological sex is real and women and girls deserve sex-based rights,” Mr Shelton said.

But where was this courage when the Coalition actually had power?

Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison governed for nine years while repeated warnings were sounded about the erosion of women’s spaces, girls’ sport and freedom of speech. Yet they repeatedly defended radical gender ideology and rejected attempts by Senator Clair Chandler and then Liberal candidate Katherine Deves to fix the law.

Now, only after women have been dragged through courts and tribunals, publicly vilified and forced to spend enormous amounts of money defending what should be self-evident, they have finally discovered the problem.”

Mr Shelton said the Coalition could not pretend it was merely an innocent bystander to the development of Australia’s gender laws.

In 2013, Liberal senator and then shadow attorney-general George Brandis told Parliament that the Coalition supported amendments adding “gender identity” to the Sex Discrimination Act and said they represented the adoption of Coalition policy.

That history matters,” Mr Shelton said.

People such as Sall Grover, Kirralie Smith, Dr Jillian Spencer, Jasmine Sussex and others have paid an enormous personal price for challenging gender ideology.

They should never have been left to fight these battles virtually alone while politicians who had the power to change the law looked the other way.”

Mr Shelton said the treatment of Victorian MP Moira Deeming demonstrated the depth of the Liberal Party’s problem.

Moira spoke publicly about the importance of women’s sex-based rights and single-sex spaces and was subsequently expelled from the Victorian Liberal parliamentary party following the Let Women Speak controversy.

She later successfully sued then-Liberal leader John Pesutto for defamation arising from his response to the rally.

Moira is now with Family First. The extraordinary irony is that Angus Taylor is today advocating a position on biological sex for which people like Moira were treated as political outcasts.”

Mr Shelton said the High Court’s refusal yesterday to grant Sall Grover special leave to appeal made parliamentary action urgent. The decision leaves standing the Full Federal Court ruling in the Tickle v Giggle litigation.

Family First is outraged that Sall has been denied the opportunity to take her case further in the High Court.

But the message for politicians could not be clearer: Parliament must now do its job.

Courts interpret the laws politicians give them. If the law no longer adequately protects women’s sex-based rights, Parliament must fix it.

Mr Taylor should now demand immediate bipartisan action rather than asking Australians to wait until some future Coalition government.

The Commonwealth should define woman, man and sex according to biological reality and explicitly protect female-only sport, toilets, change rooms, refuges, prisons and other legitimate single-sex services and spaces.

But reform should go further.

Family First wants Commonwealth legislation to protect Australians from state anti-discrimination and anti-vilification regimes that punish people for expressing lawful views about biological sex and gender.

Freedom to say that men are men, women are women and that biological sex matters should not depend upon which Australian state you live in.

Paul Kelly’s recent writing on the Liberal Party’s loss of conviction goes to the heart of its malaise.

Angus Taylor’s new-found courage is welcome. But conviction means acting before the cultural tide turns, not afterwards.

The Liberals need to explain why they failed to act when they had nine years in government — and why Australians should trust them to act next time.”

Australia’s integrated air and missile defence capability has been strengthened with the achievement of Final Operational Capability for Army’s National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) capability.

This milestone confirms the NASAMS has met all requirements for operational service and is ready to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations. 

NASAMS provides Army with a world-leading, networked air defence capability designed to detect, track and defeat a range of airborne threats, including cruise missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and drones.

The capability, delivered under the Short Range Ground Based Air Defence (SRGBAD) project, forms part of the inner layer of Defence’s integrated air and missile defence architecture, which combines ships, fighter aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems to protect ADF personnel, assets and critical infrastructure.  

The project also incorporates Australian-designed radar technology developed by CEA Technologies, enhancing Defence’s ability to monitor and respond to emerging threats. 

Australian industry has played a central role in delivering the capability, from integrating key components through to providing ongoing sustainment and support in Australia.

This achievement follows a phased introduction into service that included successful live-fire activities and training undertaken by soldiers from Adelaide’s 16 Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, demonstrating the capability’s readiness for operational employment. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles:

“The achievement of Final Operational Capability for NASAMS marks a significant milestone in strengthening Australia’s integrated air and missile defence capability.

“NASAMS provides Army with a modern, highly capable air defence system that enhances our ability to protect Australian Defence Force personnel, critical assets and infrastructure from a range of airborne threats.

“This capability reflects Defence’s commitment to ensuring the Australian Defence Force remains equipped to respond to an increasingly complex strategic environment.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“The achievement of Final Operational Capability delivers a world-leading capability for Defence and provides a major boost to Australia’s integrated air and missile defence.

“This air and missile defence capability strengthens Defence’s ability to protect Australian forces from modern airborne threats, including cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones.”

“NASAMS demonstrates how Defence and industry are working together to deliver advanced capability and operational outcomes for the Australian Defence Force.”

“Australian-designed radar technology is a key part of this capability, highlighting the important contribution local industry makes to Australia’s national security.”

“This milestone marks the culmination of years of collaboration between Defence, Australian industry and international partners to deliver a world-class air defence system for the Australian Army.”

The Albanese Government is investing $2.4 billion to strengthen Australia’s air and missile defence capabilities while building a resilient sovereign defence industrial base.

Delivered as part of the second tranche of AIR 6500, this investment is a critical component of the Albanese Government’s commitment in the Integrated Investment Program of $30 billion over the coming decade to deliver a layered, integrated air and missile defence system.

This investment will be made over six years, through Defence’s existing strategic partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia providing more than 360 highly skilled jobs, in both the Hunter Region and South Australia, and support Australian Defence industry.

The foundation of this project is the Joint Air Battle Management System, a system which connects information and capabilities from across the Australian Defence Force into a single, effective network, providing a better view of the battlespace and helping commanders make faster, better informed decisions.

This $2.4 billion investment will replace the existing system and modernise air surveillance, and aircraft control functions while supporting the coordination of Defence operations in Australia and overseas.

The capability will connect current and future Defence platforms, including Hobart-class destroyers, the F-35A Lightning II aircraft and the accelerated Medium-Range Ground-Based Air Defence system. 

This will strengthen Australia’s ability to operate as an integrated force and detect, track and respond to increasingly sophisticated air and missile threats.

With the capability designed and built in Australia, the Albanese government is once again prioritising Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base and supporting well-paid, secure and highly skilled local jobs.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“Today’s announcement is seeing the Albanese Government once again supporting well-paid, secure Australian jobs and backing Australian Defence industry. 

“AIR 6500 is a landmark investment in Australia’s air and missile defence and will help ensure the Australian Defence Force can respond effectively to future threats and deliver on the priorities of both the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Industry Development Strategy.  

“The project will upgrade the command and control systems needed to strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s ability to detect, track and respond to threats in an increasing complex strategic environment.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“The Defence Industry Development Strategy recognises that Australia’s security depends not only on the capabilities we acquire, but also on our ability to design, sustain and evolve them here in Australia.”

“Through AIR 6500, we are delivering a world-class command and control capability while strengthening Australia’s sovereign industrial base, growing a highly skilled workforce and retaining critical integrated air and missile defence expertise in Australia.

“The Australian Government’s investment directly supports more than 360 highly skilled jobs Australian jobs helping build the workforce, expertise and industrial capability Australia needs into the future.”

Today marks two years since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report. In that time, the Albanese Government has been resolutely focused on implementing its recommendations, and delivering real, meaningful and enduring reform to improve the lives of veterans and their families. 

The personal and often harrowing contributions both current and former serving veterans and families made to the Royal Commission have been key to understanding the impacts of service on our people, and shaping how we can reform the system.

The Albanese Government’s response to the Final Report accepted the overwhelming majority of the Royal Commission’s 122 recommendations: agreeing or agreeing‑in‑principle to 104 recommendations, noting 17 recommendations for further consideration, and with one recommendation not supported in part. 

The Government has always viewed its response to the Royal Commission as a starting point, not the end of this work. 

That is why we have continued to examine these recommendations, strengthening our response as further work has identified a way forward. 

The Albanese Government has now updated the response to 15 recommendations. 

There is now a total of 113 recommendations which have been agreed or agreed-in-principle to by Government, with a further 8 recommendations to be noted. 

The Albanese Government will continue to progress recommendations as well as deliver on systemic reforms to deliver meaningful and enduring change to better support our people as we work to reduce the unacceptable rate of veteran suicide.

The Greens are reiterating their call for a minimum 25 per cent gas export tax, following the expected first back-down of Labor’s reservation legislation from a strict 20 per cent reservation. 

The Greens will examine the exposure draft in detail, but say Labor should abandon its proposed reservation scheme and instead impose a gas export tax that would, according to former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry, deliver the same objectives.

A 25% gas export tax would raise $17 billion a year in revenue that  could fund cost-of-living and energy bill relief, while accelerating the transition away from Australia’s dependence on volatile gas.

Australian Greens spokesperson for Resources, Senator Steph Hodgins-May, said:

“When gas corporations say jump, Labor asks how high. Now the 20 per cent reservation requirement is being watered down to appease the gas industry.

“A gas export tax does what Labor claims its reservation scheme will do, but it also raises revenue to compensate Australians who have seen gas prices triple since exports started a decade ago. 

“A reservation scheme won’t raise a cent for Australian households. And Labor is designing it in close consultation with the very gas industry that has spent years fighting any policy that asks them to pay their fair share. 

“We’ve been clear that a reservation scheme is a distraction from growing public support for a gas export tax, and it serves no one but the gas lobby.

“Labor should drop this pathetic capitulation to the gas industry and work with us to finally make sure Australians get a fair return from our gas. 

“A gas export tax would raise at least $17 billion a year. That’s our gas and our money. It should be used to cut energy bills, ease cost-of-living pressures and accelerate our transition away from an industry that keeps Australians exposed to an unpredictable global market. 

“Labor needs to stop choosing the gas industry over Australian households. If the growing demand for a fair return on our gas isn’t enough to convince them, what will it take?”

Background: Testimony from Dr Ken Henry at gas export tax inquiry:

“…you can design an export tax in such a way that it has exactly the same impact on the proportion of gas that is supplied domestically as against the proportion that’s exported… But there’s one big difference, and it’s a really big difference: the gas reservation doesn’t raise revenue. 

So why the hell would you do that? It just doesn’t make sense. It’s much more sensible to achieve the same goal—that is, lower price for domestic gas and more secure supply of domestic gas—through an export tax than through a gas reservation policy.”

The Greens (WA) are calling on the Cook Labor Government to immediately implement an urgent moratorium on new unhosted short-stay properties in order to curb their devastating impact on Western Australia’s long-term rental market.

Greens housing spokesperson Tim Clifford MLC this morning moved a motion in the Legislative Council urging the government to impose strict controls addressing the unsustainable growth of unhosted short-stays by instating a freeze on new registrations.

The motion also called for the introduction of a levy on unhosted short-stay properties, which would be funnelled into building social and affordable homes for West Australians.

It comes almost a year after the Greens moved a motion in Parliament calling on the Cook Labor Government to introduce a short-stay levy, criticising the government’s short-stay incentive schemes as having completely failed to address the rental crisis.

But since then and in the face of continued inaction, the government’s own data shows the number of AirBnBs in WA is growing. 

There are currently 12,037 AirBnB listings in Western Australia, up from 11,283 in November 2025. The overwhelming majority of these are listed as entire homes or apartments.

Research published by Shelter WA earlier this year revealed that there are almost three unhosted AirBnBs for every long-term property available to rent in WA – a ratio that blows out to a shocking 15 to 1 in regional WA.  

More than half are one- and two-bedroom homes, which are in highest demand among low income households, singles and older people – the same cohort of West Australians struggling to find affordable rental homes.

The Greens (WA) housing spokesperson Tim Clifford MLC says that the Cook Labor Government must do more to control unhosted short-stays and their impact on WA’s rental affordability crisis. 

“In the middle of the worst housing crisis in living memory, the Cook Labor Government continues to twiddle its thumbs while unhosted short-stays continue to cannibalise tens of thousands of would-be rental homes.

“Almost a full year after I first moved a motion on this issue, WA’s rental affordability crisis has gone from bad to worse on WA Labor’s watch.

“Rents have continued to skyrocket, homelessness is at crisis levels and a whole generation has given up the dream of being able to afford their own home.

“Yet the Cook Labor Government has effectively washed its hands of the short-stay issue, claiming to have done its job with the introduction of a short-stay register and an investor cash incentive – both of which have categorically failed to ease pressure on the almost one-third of West Australians who rent. 

“An immediate freeze on new unhosted short-stays would prevent any further hollowing out of WA’s long-term rental market, as well as helping to minimise further rent spikes spurred by low vacancy rates.

“Meanwhile, an investor levy would generate millions in extra revenue that could be used to build more social and affordable homes, further mitigating the relentless impacts of unhosted AirBnBs on our community.

“This isn’t rocket science. These are simple, necessary and proven reforms that should have been introduced a long time ago. 

“Instead, the Cook Labor Government is too busy ensuring the pockets of wealthy property investors stay as full as possible.

“Enough is enough. I’d like to remind them where their responsibility actually lies: providing every West Australian with a safe and secure home.”

The Coalition will oppose Labor’s exposure draft of the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026 in its current form.

Australians want their children protected online and the world’s biggest technology companies held to account.

But protecting children cannot become an excuse to hand politicians sweeping powers over lawful speech, news, political debate and what Australians are allowed to see online.

Labor’s exposure draft goes too far, contains inadequate safeguards for free speech and journalism, and leaves too much power in the hands of the Communications Minister.

The Leader of the Opposition said the Coalition will continue to engage constructively on measures that genuinely make children safer online, but we will not support this bill in its current form.

“This exposure draft is unacceptable in its current form because the reality is it’s providing a blank cheque for political censorship to the minister and to the government,” Mr Taylor said.

“This Minister has admitted Australians don’t trust her, and this government has repeatedly broken its word on tax and power prices. Handing them a blank cheque for political censorship is unacceptable..” 

Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said Labor should be focused on fixing the problems Australians are already facing, not expanding Canberra’s power over the internet. 

“I don’t trust Big Tech, but the answer is not to trust the Labor Party instead. No politician should get to decide for themselves what lawful speech is harmful and then pressure platforms to make it disappear,” Senator Canavan said.

“Labor has given up trying to lower prices, cut taxes and bring migration under control. Now they want extraordinary powers over the internet where Australians go to complain about how badly they’re being governed. That should worry everyone.”

Our concerns include:

• Ministerial power to define new harms. Anika Wells has given herself unfettered powers to make regulations governing categories of harm, including material that may be completely lawful, representing a significant threat to free speech. The draft separately allows the Minister to determine additional material that may cause harm to children and additional platform features deemed to have “negative behavioural impacts”.
• The risk to free speech and journalism. The duty is not confined to social media. It applies across a wide range of online services, including potentially websites carrying news, commentary and political debate. The exposure draft does not contain the clear protections for journalism, democratic debate and freedom of expression found overseas.
• Vague and subjective tests. The draft includes concepts such as material that “encourages or promotes hostile attitudes towards women or gender equality” and “harmful practices”. Protecting children is essential, but poorly defined tests risk catching legitimate political, religious, cultural and social debate.
• A powerful incentive to censor first and ask questions later.If online services face legal duties to identify and mitigate broadly defined harms, the obvious commercial response will be to remove, suppress or restrict borderline lawful material rather than risk regulatory action.
• The algorithm promise is not actually guaranteed. Labor says Australians will be able to turn off personalised recommendations for their social media feeds. But the exposure draft instead gives the Minister power to specify “user empowerment tools” through future legislative instruments. The law Parliament is being asked to consider does not itself guarantee the precise choice Anthony Albanese and Anika Wells are promising Australians.
• The impact on small businesses has not been considered.Thousands of Australian small businesses rely on content recommendations and digital platforms to find customers. At a time when family businesses are already battling rising costs, Canberra should not rush major changes without understanding the consequences.
• Labor’s record should give Australians little confidence. Its under-16 social media ban has fallen well short of the government’s rhetoric, with eSafety finding the proportion of under-16s still using social media had fallen by just 4.4 percentage points three months after commencement. Now, before it has made its existing regime work properly, Labor wants Parliament to hand it a much broader set of powers over the online world.

The Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety Sarah Henderson said the Coalition has consistently supported stronger protections for children online and tougher accountability for Big Tech.

“Protecting children online is one of the most important jobs we have, but it does not give Anika Wells a blank cheque to determine what lawful material Australians should be protected from seeing. These powers are far too broad and the safeguards are simply not good enough,” Senator Henderson said.

“We need to protect children, empower parents, force greater transparency from Big Tech and protect free speech. Labor’s approach is to give unfettered powers to the Minister and ask Australians to simply trust that it won’t be abused.”

That is why Australians deserve absolute clarity about the powers Labor is seeking and how they will be used. 

Australians should be deeply concerned that the Minister asking Parliament for these powers could not clearly explain them herself.

In a trainwreck interview with Laura Jayes on News 24, Anika Wells confirmed that she would ultimately determine new categories of serious harm, before appearing to contradict herself over whether news websites could be captured by the regime.

Asked who would determine what constituted a new serious harm, Minister Wells conceded: “the test for what would constitute a new serious harm would ultimately be made by me”.

When questioned about whether the laws applied to news websites, she first said: “sorry, yes, it does go to all online services,” before later insisting: “It is not captured by the Digital Duty of Care. It’s just not.”

If the Minister responsible for the bill cannot clearly explain the reach of these powers, Australians should not be expected to simply trust her with them.

Labor’s failed misinformation legislation showed the danger of giving governments a role in deciding what Australians should be allowed to see and hear.

Changing the language from “misinformation” to “harm” does not remove that danger.

The Coalition will oppose the bill in its current form and will fight for genuine safety measures that protect children, hold Big Tech accountable and protect the basic freedoms Australians expect.