Category: Australian News

The Greens say that the government needs to find a solution for first homebuyers who have been conned by Labor’s 5% home deposit scheme – encouraged to maximise borrowing at the top of the market, and now pushed into unsustainable debt.

The timing of Labor’s interventions – getting first homebuyers into the market via the 5% deposit scheme, before making tax changes and letting inflation run wild, have cumulatively left first homebuyers at significant risk of negative equity.

Currently, the primary beneficiary of the scheme is the banks – who benefit from selling more and larger mortgages with even higher risk.

The Greens say that with interest rates rising and mortgages soaring, first homebuyers risk being forced out of their homes, left with significant debt and no home to show for it. 

Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator David Shoebridge:

“Thanks to Labor, first homebuyers risk being forced out of their homes, left with significant debt and no home to show for it. 

“Labor created this problem and now they’ve got to fix it.

“Anthony Albanese has lured first home buyers into a scheme that’s left them trapped in debt and facing losing their home. The only winner here is the banks.

“House prices coming down will help more first homebuyers get into the market, once corporate profit fuelled interest rates come down – but Labor’s inaction means the banks are winning while everyone else is paying the price.

“Like all of Labor’s housing schemes, this wasn’t about helping people – it was a con to make it look like they’re doing something while pushing up prices for investors selling at the top of the market.”

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness and Senator for South Australia, Barbara Pocock:  

“Labor’s 5% deposit scheme was reckless. It has encouraged some of our lowest paid workers to take out very large loans at the top of the market. And now they are at risk of negative equity and that’s on Labor!

“First homebuyers under this scheme have been conned into massive debts. As interest rates continue to rise, they’re struggling to hold onto their home and risk owing the bank. Labor has screwed them.

“The government is letting corporate profit-driven inflation run wild, and it’s renters and first homebuyers who are paying the price.

“House prices need to fall if first homebuyers stand any chance of getting into the housing market. First homebuyers are typically in it for the long-haul, not a short-term investment. It’s the government’s responsibility to make sure first homebuyers drawn into Labor’s 5% deposit scheme aren’t the ones paying the price.

“The Greens want Australia’s big banks to be required to offer low-interest mortgages for first homebuyer owner occupiers so that more of their early repayments go to paying off the loan, not to bank profits.  

“Our large banks are amongst the most profitable in the world and they have been making money from the financial stress of Australians for too long. It’s time the banks shouldered a fairer share of the costs facing younger generations entering home ownership.” 

As the new statutory decision maker for NDIS price limits, the Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Mark Butler MP, has made the first NDIS pricing determination under changes introduced through the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendments (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026. 

The pricing determination sets the price limits for NDIS supports for 2026-27 after taking advice from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The pricing arrangements will promote value for money and support participants to manage how they use their NDIS plan budgets, while ensuring controls are in place to prevent financial exploitation. The price limits align with previous pricing guidance published by the NDIA and are effective immediately. 

The government is currently consulting disability stakeholders on the implementation of differentiated pricing, which would adjust the price of supports based on whether they are delivered by a registered or unregistered NDIS provider. The NDIA’s Annual Pricing Review report for 2026-27 recommended differentiated pricing begin on 1 January 2027.

On 11 September 2026, the Fair Work Commission issued their decision on Schedule E of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS) as part of their gender-based undervaluation review. Changes to the award will take effect on 1 December 2026.

The 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule will be updated later this year to reflect any required changes.

Further information on NDIS pricing can be found on the NDIS website.

“The Albanese government’s war on small business has continued with higher costs from surcharge bans, followed by the ATO’s announcement they’ve closed paying tax bills by card because of surcharging. These changes double-tap small business with higher costs”, said Shadow Treasurer, Tim Wilson. 

Mr Wilson’s comments come in the wake of the credit card surcharge “ban” commencing and the ATO revealing it will be sneaking in an announcement today that they’re no longer accepting credit card payments, rather than absorb the costs like every small business will have to do.

“Small business is being double ‘tapped’ by the Albanese government when there’s already near record insolvencies, business closures and collapses in profitability”, Mr Wilson said. 

“Today the Albanese government is going to double ‘tap’ the local café, the community pharmacy and the tradie, not the big supermarkets who get preferential terms from the banks”, Mr Wilson said.

“The ATO says it wouldn’t be appropriate to pass merchant fees on to the community, yet that is exactly what the government is forcing every small business in the country to do. There is one rule for Canberra and another rule for the corner store”.

“The ATO sat on this until the very morning the ban started. If the government’s own tax collector can’t absorb the cost, how does the Treasurer expect a family-run cafe to?”

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned the ban “will not save Australians from the cost of transaction; it is just pushing up prices and hurting small business”, with ACCI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar labelling the ATO’s decision “utter hypocrisy”.

Mr Wilson said, “Australia needs a stand-up economy, not a sit-down economy, where small businesses are backed, not billed. That’s why the Coalition is standing with small business and fighting for a Small Business Act that makes Canberra count the cost before it hands down decisions like this”.

The Reserve Bank’s October 2026 Financial Stability Review confirms the downturn in the housing market is leading to negative equity for first home buyers lured into a falling property market by the government’s 5% Deposit Scheme.

In its latest FSR out today, the RBA warned that recent buyers and high-LVR borrowers “are more likely to be in negative equity. This includes first home buyers participating in the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.”

These, often younger cohorts, who took up 95% mortgages thanks to Labor are now likely to be in trouble given the downturn in house prices across Australia, and in areas like the Sydney and Melbourne suburbs. 

The RBA’s modelling further shows a 20% fall in house prices would mean that “around 5% of mortgages would fall into negative equity.” This is not beyond reasonable doubt given major banks are already warning of a large house price falls of some 15%.

The RBA’s warnings are already being borne out in APRA LVR data – with APRA’s latest September 2026 quarter Quarterly property exposures statistics showing that the value of loans with a 95% or greater LVR has blown out to $15.6 billion since Labor recklessly expanded the 5% Deposit Scheme in October 2025. This is a 62.6% increase on the previous 9-month period (see Figure below). It is a record for any 9-month period since APRA’s dataset which starts in March 2019. 

Labor has smashed the housing market from both ends, with economic mismanagement driving up interest rates and its toxic new housing taxes threatening investment and supply.

The RBA noted real disposable income per person fell in the first half of 2026, “mostly driven by higher inflation and increases in interest rates”.

the Shadow Treasurer:

“The Albanese economic model is now catching up with them, while Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers are drowning in their own inflation, they’re pulling the wages of Australians and profitability of small businesses with them.” 

“To cover for their failing economy, the Albanese government lured aspirational first home buyers at the greatest time of risk, and now they’re paying higher interest on empty debt.” 

“The Albanese government’s addiction to spending is stoking inflation, increasing interest rates, collapsing home values and sending families backwards.”

the Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness:

“Labor turned a targeted scheme into an uncapped free-for-all, pumping up entry-level prices and saddling young Australians with 95% mortgages.”

“As we discovered under Freedom of Information requests, Labor ignored warnings from the RBA about the 5% Deposit Scheme. So, they are likely to do the same with this RBA report.”

“Instead of building more houses, Labor is saddling often young Australian home buyers with more debt and higher housing taxes. This is an entirely preventable disaster of Labor’s making.”

The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments are working together to fast-track more housing for South Australians, through the redevelopment of two key Defence sites near the Adelaide CBD.

Hampstead Barracks was recently identified as a property for divestment, as part of the Australian Government’s response to the independent Defence Estate Audit. The Audit identified sites surplus to Defence’s need, with no clear or ongoing link to capabilities or keeping Australians safe.

Today, the Albanese and Malinauskas Governments announce they are entering into formal negotiations to advance this work, with a view to divesting Hampstead Barracks to the State Government, which would allow the delivery of new housing and community facilities.

In addition, Defence expects to vacate Keswick Barracks two years ahead of schedule.

The Malinauskas Government’s $500 million Housing Fast-Track Fund is available to support the acquisition of strategically located land that can help deliver more homes sooner for South Australians.

Early planning indicates the Hampstead Barracks site could support about 400 homes, including a mix of apartment buildings alongside two and three-storey townhouses centred around a large public park.

Defence has begun looking at options for Australian Defence Force personnel currently based at Hampstead Barracks, including administration staff, cadets and Australian Defence Force Reservists, who currently use the site. No personnel will be required to relocate until suitable alternatives are identified in consultation with the affected workforce.

Any divestment to the State Government will be subject to achieving market value and mutually acceptable terms, including ensuring there is appropriate investment in infrastructure to support future development.

The Federal and South Australian Governments are also progressing plans to develop housing at the 12.81 hectare Keswick Barracks, located just outside the Adelaide CBD.

Defence expects to vacate Keswick Barracks by as early as 2030, two years earlier than previously planned at which point Renewal SA will take control.

This process will be managed in a staged and sensible way in close consultation with the Defence workforce, the Department of Finance, local community, and First Nations people.

Renewal SA took ownership of Keswick in late 2023 under a land exchange agreement with the Commonwealth to help deliver AUKUS at the Osborne shipyard. Under the agreement, the land was leased back to the Commonwealth for up to eight years.

The South Australian Government has since begun considering the future development and master planning of the site.

Keswick Barracks represents a longer-term urban renewal opportunity. Renewal SA has begun assessing the site’s housing potential, with detailed heritage investigations of historic buildings on the site underway, alongside investigations into infrastructure and services.

The Keswick Barracks will form part of a new connected inner-south precinct with the Forestville development at the old Le Cornu site and a development at the Adelaide Showgrounds on Rose Terrace.

The South Australian Government has committed that at least 15 per cent of dwellings at any future development at Keswick will be reserved for affordable housing.

The site boasts ample connections to public transport, and key amenities such as Adelaide Showground and Ashford Hospital.

ADF personnel and Defence services will gradually relocate to alternative facilities over the coming years. As with Hampstead Barracks, this will be done in close consultation with the workforce, local community, and First Nations people.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We’re making sure Defence has the facilities it actually needs, and making better use of this land, delivering more homes for Australians.

“Every dollar raised through these divestments will be reinvested in Defence.

“When it comes to housing, my government leaves no stone unturned to help Australians – whether it’s a first home buyer, or a renter in need of affordable housing.

“I’m proud of the work my Government is doing, in partnership with Premier Malinauskas, to deliver for South Australians.”

Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas: 

“We need more homes, and we need to build them where people want to live.

“Hampstead and Keswick Barracks are close to the city, close to jobs and close to public transport. That makes them prime sites for housing developments.

“The Albanese Government has made a sensible decision about land Defence no longer needs, and we’re working together to put that land to good use.

“We’re using every lever available to us to get more homes built, in the right places. That means more choice for families, more affordable housing and better-connected communities.”

The Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments are getting on with building Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 2, with work set to begin in the coming weeks.

It will include a new 7.4-kilometre rail line from Albion toward the Airport precinct via a brand-new Keilor East station, as part of the $12 billion joint commitment from the Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments.

The line will connect directly to the Metro Tunnel and feature the same high-capacity signalling to enable frequent services.

Built alongside the Jacana freight corridor, the new line will feature 1.1 kilometres of elevated rail and cross the Maribyrnong River.

Site investigations, procurement and development works will begin in the coming weeks with community engagement and early designs to follow next year.

Major construction on Stage 2 will start in 2028 and finish in 2031, when trains will take passengers to Keilor East for the first time.

The Melbourne Airport Rail Steering Committee is continuing to work through options for the final stage of Airport Rail, Stage 3 which will include an above ground station at the Airport precinct.

Once complete, Keilor East station will connect an estimated 5,200 passengers a day to the city. Another 6,600 passengers and airport workers are expected to use the new line every hour.

The project will be delivered alongside the $4.1 billion Sunshine Superhub project – the first stage of Melbourne Airport Rail.

The project will transform Sunshine Station into a six-platform superhub and untangle six kilometres of track between West Footscray and Albion, creating capacity for 1,000 trains a day.

Due for completion in 2030, Stage 1 will deliver more trains, more often on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines, and pave the way for the electrification of the Melton Line.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“We’re building Victoria’s future, unlocking capacity to run more trains, more often, and ensuring we have a train line to Melbourne Airport.”

Victorian Premier and State Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll

“Melbourne needs a direct rail link to the airport, that’s why we’re getting on and delivering it.

“A new Keilor East Station will give locals direct access to the city via the Metro Tunnel.

“Only Labor will fast-track a train line to Melbourne Airport, delivering more frequent services for Melbourne’s west and brand-new stations at Tottenham, Albion and Keilor East.”

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King

“This is important progress that is getting us a step closer to a long-awaited rail connection to Melbourne’s airport. Only Labor Governments at a State and Federal level are working to deliver it.”

Victorian Minister for Public Transport Vicki Ward

“This investment takes us closer to a train line to the airport and lays the groundwork for more trains across Melbourne’s west.”

Member for Fraser Dr Daniel Mullino

“Melbourne’s west is growing and previous Liberal Governments didn’t invest in the infrastructure our communities needed. This new line and accompanying stations won’t just give us a valuable link to the airport, but a direct line to the city for thousands of people in the west.

Member for Maribyrnong Jo Briskey

“The heart of this project is people. Connecting workers to jobs; people to services; and every day providing 5,200 members of my community with access to the city through the new Keilor East Station.”

State Member for Laverton Sarah Connolly

“Construction on Melbourne Airport Rail is already underway, with works ramping up to untangle six kilometres of track and to rebuild Sunshine Station – unlocking capacity for 1,000 trains a day.”

State Member for Footscray Katie Hall

“We are delivering a new and accessible Tottenham Station, giving locals safer connections across the west.”

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are securing the future of Bell Bay Aluminium smelter, supporting the facility’s 550 workers, their families and the 1,000 workers indirectly employed across Northern Tasmania. 

We want to see Australia make more things here.

This investment will boost jobs in the region while strengthening our national sovereignty.

The Bell Bay smelter is a major contributor to Tasmania’s industrial and manufacturing sectors and is vital to the Northern Tasmanian regional economy.

The $200 million investment over five years will help secure Australia’s ongoing aluminium production capability and ensures all Australians share in the benefits – while a future regional industrial strategy is developed.

The Tasmanian Government’s Northern Economic Plan identifies Bell Bay as uniquely positioned to support the next phase of Northern Tasmania’s economic development.

As the region’s leading industrial and clean energy precinct, Bell Bay can attract the investment, infrastructure and skilled workforce needed to establish a new generation of high-value businesses that complement Northern Tasmania’s traditional strengths in manufacturing, resources and export-focused industries.

BBA is Australia’s oldest and greenest aluminium smelter, owned and operated by Rio Tinto, and uses more than 25 per cent of Tasmania’s electricity.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“We want Australia to make more things here and support good well-paid jobs for Tasmania.

“That’s why we’re backing Bell Bay Aluminium – supporting hundreds of workers, their families and the region while boosting Australia’s national sovereignty.”

Premier of Tasmania, Jeremy Rockliff

“We have worked closely with the Federal Government and Rio to support hundreds of jobs at BBA, hundreds of associated supply chain jobs, support our economy and back Tasmanians.

“This investment also provides certainty for the supply chain, with many Tasmanian businesses having the confidence to invest, grow and do business.

“Our Northern Economic Plan highlights the central role the Bell Bay precinct will play in Northern Tasmania’s future growth, leveraging renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, export capability and strategic industrial land to attract investment and create jobs.”

Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres

“The Albanese Government is backing Australian industry, Australian workers and Australian manufacturing by securing Bell Bay Aluminium smelter while a future plan for the Bell Bay region is worked through.

“This joint investment secures hundreds of local jobs in regional Tasmania and provides certainty for the workers, their families and the businesses that rely on its ongoing operations.

“The Bell Bay region has been facing difficult industrial circumstances, and the Commonwealth is backing in the Tasmanian Government and Rio Tinto as they work through the future of the facility and the region.”

Minister for Energy and Renewables, Nick Duigan

“This support package is in addition to the power deal, which has been locked in for the next five years.

“We have delivered a globally competitive and lowest possible electricity price for Bell Bay Aluminium through Hydro Tas. Together with this joint package, we have secured 550 direct jobs in the region and $5 billion of economic activity over the next five years.

“With its deep-water port, advanced manufacturing capability and skilled workforce, the Bell Bay region has the foundations to remain a major industrial and economic powerhouse.”

Australia will host the 12th South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) in 2027, after members endorsed Australia’s nomination at this year’s meeting in Fiji.

SPDMM is the region’s premier defence ministerial forum, bringing together Pacific partners to strengthen defence cooperation and support Pacific-led responses to shared security challenges.

Ministerial representatives from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga met in Fiji from 22 to 24 September 2026 for the 11th South Pacific Defence Minister’ Meeting under the theme “Securing the Blue Pacific: Collective Responsibility, Resilient Futures”. 

Officials from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated as observers while Pacific Islands Forum representatives were also in attendance, providing a regional perspective.

Discussions focused on regional preparedness, countering transnational organised crime, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and strengthening cooperation across the Pacific security architecture.

Australia welcomed the outcomes of the meeting, including continued progress on regional initiatives that enhance collective security and resilience across the Pacific.

Australia’s hosting of SPDMM in 2027 reflects its enduring commitment to working alongside Pacific partners to address shared security challenges and support a peaceful, stable and resilient region.

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“I thank Fiji for hosting a successful meeting and look forward to welcoming our Pacific partners to Australia next year.

“Australia is committed to working closely with all members to deliver a successful meeting in 2027 that advances our shared vision of a secure, resilient and prosperous Pacific.”

the Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil:

“Australia is proud to host the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting in 2027 and continue supporting Pacific-led cooperation on our shared security challenges.

“As demonstrated in Fiji this week, SDPMM brings regional partners together to strengthen preparedness, build resilience and deepen practical defence cooperation across the Pacific.”

The Joint Communique from the 11th South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting is now online.

The Victorian Greens say revelations that a rogue OpenAI agent interacted with the Victorian Department of Health website as part of its testing should be a wake-up call for the Carroll Labor Government over its rush to embrace AI.

The Prime Minister has confirmed an OpenAI agent gained unauthorised access to non-public information held on a federal Medicare statistics portal in June. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has also confirmed the agent interacted with the Victorian Department of Health website, although the government says only publicly available information was accessed from the Victorian site.

The revelations come just months after the Victorian Greens warned Labor against rushing AI into Victoria’s public hospital system without clear safeguards for patient information, transparency about how the technology would be used, or proper public scrutiny.

They also come as the Victorian Labor Government continues to encourage investment in AI infrastructure and data centres across the state, and fails to listen to resounding community demands for a moratorium.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for AI and Data Centres Dr Sarah Mansfield said:

“Three months ago we warned Labor that rushing AI into Victoria’s public health system without strong safeguards was a risk. Now we learn a rogue OpenAI agent was interacting with the Department of Health website.

“The Albanese government says the Victorian site was not breached and only public information was accessed. But the fact an AI agent went on to break through protections on a federal Medicare portal should set off alarm bells.

“Victorians entrust our public health system with some of the most sensitive information imaginable. Labor needs to explain exactly what happened when this OpenAI agent interacted with the Department of Health website, what protections are currently in place, and whether any other Victorian government systems have been targeted.

“This is exactly why governments should regulate first rather than rolling out the red carpet for multinational AI corporations and asking questions later.

“The Victorian Greens have been calling for a moratorium on new AI data centres. Today’s revelations make the need for caution even clearer.”

The Victorian Greens are horrified by the treatment of a child transferred into an adult maximum-security prison revealed in a damning new Victorian Ombudsman report today, and say the findings are an indictment on the Labor Government and the cruel pathway they’ve chosen with putting children through the adult courts and prison system.

The report details how a 16-year-old child transferred from youth justice to Melbourne Assessment Prison was confined to his cell for an average of more than 22 hours a day for six weeks, routinely handcuffed when outside his cell and largely cut off from meaningful human contact.

The child told the Ombudsman the experience left him with “dark, dark thoughts”, including thoughts of self-harm and suicide, and that he still thought about the experience “pretty much every day”.

The Ombudsman found the Department failed to properly consider the child’s human rights before applying for his transfer and that its assessment focused heavily on justifying the transfer through his behaviour rather than meaningfully considering what adult prison would do to him.

The report reiterates the long-standing position of the Ombudsman that there are ‘no circumstances that justify the placement of a child in the adult prison system’.

The Victorian Greens say that the report is an indictment on the Victorian Labor Government who have engaged in this relentless race-to-the-bottom with the Liberals over who can sound the toughest while putting children in serious harm and doing absolutely nothing to reduce crime.

Victorian Greens justice spokesperson, Katherine Copsey:

“No child should be locked alone in a maximum-security adult prison for more than 22 hours a day until they are having thoughts of suicide and self-harm. That is torture.

“This report is horrifying and an indictment of the Labor Government who ignored the evidence and engaged in this relentless race-to-the-bottom with the Liberals, bragging about putting children through the adult system and life sentences.

“Meaningful relationships, education, treatment, exercise, culture and connection – this is how you support a child to make better choices and thrive. Stripping them of these things doesn’t rehabilitate them, it’s traumatising. Dragging children into the adult system is exactly what causes cycles of reoffending.”