Category: Australian News

Aged care experts have slammed Labor’s ham-fisted attempt to repair its broken aged care assessments system at a public hearing in Canberra today.

The Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) has been widely criticised for relying on automated, algorithmic decision-making, which has been demonstrated to systematically underassess care need and priority, denying thousands of older people essential care.

Labor is attempting to add an “escalation pathway” for review via an amendment to an unrelated bill, but this pathway would not give clinical assessors override power, but instead send the decision to the Department for review.

Ian Yates, who established the office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care, labelled the IAT a ‘methodologically inept and ill-conceived tool’, and gave evidence the proposed escalation pathway did not address its fundamental problems. Mr Yates called on the Senate to reject the attempted fix, stating ‘two wrongs don’t make a right.’

Professor Kathy Eager, an advisor to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, also slammed Labor’s amendment, telling the committee that the Department ‘developed the algorithm in-house and when it’s now making a mistake, it gets to mark its own homework’.

These government amendments come after a cross-party bill to restore human override and a Greens motion to abolish the tool entirely both passed the Senate.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens spokesperson for Older People:

“The Integrated Assessment Tool is broken, and this half-baked amendment won’t fix it.

“The IAT systematically denies essential care to older people, especially those with cognitive issues, mental health conditions and frailty, and yet the government still gave it absolute power over aged care assessments.

“The Labor government, the Minister and the Department have all shown a complete lack of understanding as to how badly this tool has gone wrong, and how poorly designed it is.

“The expert evidence is blindingly obvious. Scrap this broken tool, restore human override by clinicians, and start putting the needs of older people at the centre of the aged care system.

“The Department shouldn’t be trusted to check its own homework when it comes to its mistakes, that power should rest with clinical professionals.”

The Labor Government and the Canberra Liberals have joined forces to actively court major technology companies to build large new data centres across Canberra.

In amendments that completely re-wrote Laura Nuttall MLA’s motion, the major parties also rejected measures that would ensure communities share in the benefits, protect the environment, or pause further data centre expansion while its impacts are assessed.

Laura Nuttall MLA, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Water and Air:

“Canberrans are rightly asking tough questions about the explosion of AI powered data centres, their impact on our environment, and what our community gets in return. Today the Labor government and the Liberals made it clear they don’t want those questions getting in the way.    

“Faced with an opportunity to put safeguards around a fast-growing industry, the major parties instead chose to roll out the red carpet for Big Tech, actively backing more large-scale data centres across Canberra, regardless of community or environmental impact. 

“My motion called for common-sense measures: making sure new data centres deliver real benefits for Canberra, fund new renewable energy generation, genuinely consult with Traditional Custodians about their Country, and not driving up water or energy costs for households. Labor and the Liberals stripped those measures out.

“They also rejected calls to explore a levy or other way for the community to share in the profits generated from Canberra’s land, water, and energy.

“Given this, the Greens did not feel that in good conscience we could vote for the final rewritten motion. 

“If Labor’s objective was to reassure worried residents that the Government isn’t in Big Tech’s pocket, today’s vote was a spectacular misfire.

“Today’s vote showed that when given a choice between standing up for Canberrans or doing favours for billion dollar tech companies, Labor and the Liberals know exactly whose side they are on.

“The Greens will keep fighting for our community on this issue, and for a framework that puts communities ahead of corporate interests. Right now though, the Government’s message to Big Tech seems to be: take the land, take the power, take the water, and don’t worry too much about what Canberra gets in return.”

The Albanese Labor Government must explain how an AI agent gained unauthorised access to a Services Australia system and why the Government did not detect it. 

Australians only know this breach occurred because OpenAI told us about it. 

This incident raises serious questions about the adequacy of Services Australia’s cyber defences, particularly given the Auditor-General has previously raised concerns about its cyber security.

The incident should be a warning about the new cyber risks posed by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

The Government needs to explain what it is doing to ensure Australia has the capability to detect and defend against AI-enabled attacks before an external company has to tell it that a breach has occurred. 

It must also explain why seven days passed between the Minister being advised of the incident and Australians being told. 

Services Australia was notified of the incident on 10 September. Minister for Government Services Katy Gallagher was advised around 17 September, yet Australians were not told until 24 September.

The Government says it needed time to understand the incident and receive further technical information, but that does not explain why Australians could not have been told earlier while those investigations continued.

Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor said Australians deserved transparency when government systems were breached.

“Seven days passed between a Minister being told about this incident and Australians being told about it. The government needs to explain why,” Mr Taylor said.

“This incident is a serious warning about the security of our government systems in the age of AI. These systems hold an enormous amount of personal information, so the government must explain what steps it has taken to keep those systems safe from this new form of attack.

“To address a problem, you must first acknowledge there is an issue. The Prime Minister gave a keynote address just a few months ago on AI and didn’t mention cyber defense.

“The Prime Minister needs to act urgently. We need leading frontier companies to make sure we are identifying vulnerabilities in our critical systems as early as possible, to protect all Australians and our way of life.”

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Senator Jane Hume, said the incident raised serious questions about the cyber security of government systems.

“Labor has questions to answer about why Services Australia’s cyber defences were not good enough, despite concerns raised by the Auditor-General two years ago,” Senator Hume said.

“The only reason we know about this incident is because the Government was told. They have no idea if this has happened before, and no idea how to stop it happening again.

“Labor have no plan for this emerging threat. While they want to censor Australians online, they haven’t even thought about basic online protections for Australians’ data.

“Why did it take seven days for Services Australia to inform the Minister that their system had been breached.

“Then, once the Minister knew, another seven days passed before Australians were told.

“The government says this was serious enough for the Prime Minister to raise directly with the head of OpenAI. If it was serious enough for that, Australians deserve a proper explanation for why they were kept in the dark for a week.

“You can investigate an incident and inform the public at the same time. Australians should not have to wait a week to find out that a government system has been accessed without authorisation.”

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Jonathon Duniam, said the incident raised broader questions about the security of government systems.

“This is a serious incident where an AI agent has got to where it was not authorised to go and accessed non-public government files,” Senator Duniam said.

“The question that the government must answer for all Australians is: what actions have been taken to bolster the cyber security of all government departments to protect the data of Australians?”

Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy and Cyber Security, Aaron Violi, said the core role of government is to keep Australians safe.

“AI brings new and bold opportunities for our nation, but it also increases the sophistication and scale of cyber threats and presents a cyber challenge we have never seen before,” Mr Violi said. 

“But just like AI can be used against us, we can choose to harness AI to strengthen our cyber defences and national security to protect our way of life. We need to significantly scale up our cyber security, and the best tools to do that are AI tools.”

Responding to Donald Trump’s interference in Australia’s domestic legislation, Greens spokesperson for Communications, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Donald Trump is not our President and Big Tech are not our masters. Australians will not cop being bullied by Mr Trump and his tech bro mates.

“The intervention of the Trump administration into a domestic political debate in Australia is an extraordinary act of foreign interference and the Albanese Government needs to immediately reject it.

“Australians get to decide the laws of our country and how we protect our citizens from harm. For a foreign government to try and tell us what laws we can pass in our sovereign nation is an incredible overreach.

“Mr Trump might be used to trashing reason and convention in his own country, but we will not stand for the US trying to muscle in on Australian domestic policy.

“The Australian parliament can not be lectured on political censorship by a man who is locking journalists out when they do their job of holding him to account.

“The digital duty of care is not about censorship. It is about dealing with the harm created by addictive and dangerous technologies that have led to immense harm both in children and people of all ages.

“Freedom of choice is a cornerstone of democracy and a robust digital duty of care law will give all Australians the freedom to choose how they engage online.”

Yesterday’s hearing of the Senate inquiry into Labor’s aged care ‘Support at Home’ program has heard more disturbing testimony of how the government is failing older people, denying them their right to care.

Support at Home is premised on the ideal of ‘rights based care.’ But, as pointed out in multiple submissions, the way care is rationed calls these ‘rights’ into question.

“Rights that exist in legislation but not in practice are not rights at all.” – Saviour Buhagair, Uniting NSW.ACT

Alternate to the government’s approach would be a ‘right to care.’ Rather than just guaranteeing rights once care has commenced, have a proactive right to receive essential aged care.

Labor continues to forge ahead with steep copayments, and the inquiry heard sharp criticism of the means testing for copayments from Professor David Cullen, former Chief Economist of the NDIA.

“The Support at Home means test is just economically illiterate.” – Professor David Cullen

Older people on the same income are paying significantly more or less depending on how much support they’re getting, which forces those with the highest needs into residential care. Professor Cullen calls this method of means testing a ‘stupid idea.’

The inquiry also heard more shocking evidence about the total inadequacy of support for older people with Motor Neurone Disease. The highest level of funding secures just two hours per day of care. Labor announced reforms to prioritise the delivery of care for those with MND, but hasn’t acted on the funding itself.

“Getting faster access to inadequate funding doesn’t solve the problem.” – Clare Sullivan, MND Australia

Worse, Labor’s broken aged care assessment tool is routinely underassessing those with MND. The highest level care, level 8, is still inadequate, but the assessment tool is often assigning recipients level 4 packages. This is approximately ten times less funding than they would receive on the NDIS. 

“The Integrated Assessment Tool is not working for people with MND. Our analysis shows no correlation between the packages that are allocated and their disease progression, their circumstance, their care needs. It just doesn’t marry up the assessments that people are getting to what we know they would need. And there’s no relativity in even the spread amongst them. It doesn’t make any sense and it doesn’t reflect what people need.” – Clare Sullivan, MND Australia

The Senate passed a Greens motion last month calling on the Integrated Assessment Tool to be abolished.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens Older People Spokesperson:

“The evidence proving that Labor’s aged care reforms are harming older Australians continues to pile up.

“Support at Home is rights-based in name only, and it’s past time Labor guaranteed a genuine right to care and an end to rationing.

“Copayments are denying care to the most vulnerable, and forcing them into the residential system or hospital.

“The Integrated Assessment Tool is broken and beyond fixing – the government needs to listen to the Senate and scrap it.

“Labor and the Minister are clearly out of their depth on aged care, and their ignorance and recklessness are hurting older people.”

The ACT Greens will tomorrow move a motion calling for a moratorium on new data centres until the ACT Government finalises a comprehensive framework that protects Canberra’s environment, resources, and communities.

“Around the world, we’re seeing data centres demand more power, more water, and more land, while local communities are left carrying the impacts,” said Laura Nuttall MLA, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Air and Water.

“But Canberrans expect better, and as data centres become more prevalent, we have an opportunity to put the rules in place now to ensure they serve Canberra’s interests, so the community isn’t forced to pick up the tab later.

“If the Labor Government is dead set on approving more data centres, there are real-world, global examples of communities already making better use of waste heat for public benefit.

“In Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, Canada and France, data centre waste heat is being explored or already used to heat homes, buildings, pools and district heating networks. Waste heat reuse is a proven technology – it shouldn’t be dismissed as fanciful or unrealistic.

“Frankly, it’s really disheartening to see the word of the Chief Minister, one of the most politically powerful men in the territory, taken over that of the young woman MLA who’s actually done her research, listened to experts, and is the one who actually brought this motion to the table.

“Canberrans deserve a genuine debate about what we’re proposing, rather than the Labor Chief Minister’s bad faith AI-generated jabs presented as Greens gospel.

“The Chief Minister is shadow-boxing with a proposal nobody made. The only thing we’ve said is: if Big Tech companies profit from ACT land, water, and energy, Canberrans should share in the benefits.

“Government has already committed to creating a Data Centre Framework, but they also need to ensure clear and genuine community consultation, and most importantly, with Traditional Custodians.

“My motion calls on the Government to enact a temporary pause on all new data centres until this framework is in place and there are clear requirements established to protect households and the environment.

“This will ensure the government can include provisions in the framework to ensure that new data centres do not drive up water or energy costs for Canberrans, are fully powered by additional renewable electricity, and demonstrate clear benefits to the community,” said Miss Nuttall.

At a time of global uncertainty and major challenges, Australia is an untiring advocate for peace and security. We understand that this is best achieved through international cooperation, which is why we are launching our campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, to serve a two-year term from 2029 to 2030.

Australia is seeking a seat because a safer world is one governed by rules, not by power and force alone. Our priority is to work across continents and regions to prevent conflict, advance ocean and climate security, and promote peaceful, resilient and inclusive digital futures.

The UN Security Council is the world’s principal body for the maintenance of international peace and security. As we know too well, conflicts overseas can affect Australia’s security, economy and way of life.

A seat on the Security Council would give Australia a stronger voice in the decisions that affect Australians and our region.

As a member of the Security Council, Australia will amplify the views of small and mid-sized states and ensure decisions are informed by a wide range of positions.

Australia’s campaign will be guided by a simple approach: listening with respect, partnering as equals and protecting what matters most.

As a founding member of the UN and the first President of the Security Council, Australia has been a consistent voice advocating for global peace and security for more than 80 years.

If elected, Australia will support bold, practical reform to ensure the UN can continue to fulfil its important mission well into the future.

The UN General Assembly will elect 2029-2030 Security Council members in June 2028. Australia last served on the Council in 2013-2014.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“The hopes of Australians are the hopes of people everywhere – to live in peace and to build a better future. That is the voice that Australia will bring to the security council.

“Australia played a pivotal role in the founding of the United Nations – because we have always understood how important it is for small and mid-sized nations to have their voices heard on the challenges facing our world.

“Our vision is simple: We listen with respect, we partner as equals and we protect what matters most.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong

“A safer world is one governed by rules, not power and force alone. Australia’s vision is a world where all countries have the freedom to decide their own future.

“As an active and ambitious middle power, we have a practical contribution to make to international peace and security.

“Australia’s focus on the UN Security Council will be conflict prevention, the protection of civilians and defending the rules that protect us all.”

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 22 September 2026. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Ordinary business 

Financial Assistance Grant proposed methodology consultation

Council voted unanimously on an amended motion to endorse City of Newcastle’s submission to the Local Government Grants Commission on proposed changes to the Financial Assistance Grant methodology and write to our local MPs asking them to make clear their position on the proposed methodology and the capacity of ratepayers to pay more to maintain current services.

Local Government Performance Ratios

Council voted unanimously to endorse a proposed submission into the NSW Office of Local Government’s review into Local Government Performance Ratios.

City of Newcastle development assessment performance 

Council noted City of Newcastle’s development assessment performance, including the determination of 1,018 development applications in 2025/26, ranking sixth in NSW by volume, with an average assessment time of 65 days.

Landslide Planning Proposal – Amendment Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012

Council voted unanimously to endorse the commencement of the planning proposal to amend the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012 to introduce a landslide risk assessment clause for land affected by the New Lambton landslide, including a Geotechnical Planning clause and Landslide Risk Map.

Endorsement of the public exhibition for Hexham and Woodberry swamp catchments flood study and adoption of the updated Throsby, Styx and Cottage Creek flood study

Council voted unanimously to endorse the public exhibition of the draft Hexham and Woodberry Swamp Catchments Flood Study 2026 for a minimum period of 28 days.

Endorsement of public exhibition for the draft Planning Agreement for 1 McIntosh Drive Mayfield West 

Council voted unanimously to endorse placing the draft Planning Agreement associated with the Steel River East battery energy storage system at 1 McIntosh Drive, Mayfield West on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days.

Endorsement of motions for submission to the 2026 Local Government NSW Conference and nomination of delegates

Council voted unanimously to endorse the amended motions for submission to the Local Government New South Wales 2026 Annual Conference and nominate Lord Mayor Gavin Morris, Cr Clausen, Cr Winney-Baartz, Cr Johnson, Cr Brooker, Cr Barrie and Cr Isherwood as voting delegates.

Executive Monthly Performance Report

Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for August 2026.

Offsite storage services

Council voted unanimously to accept the tender for a 10-year contract for offsite storage services for City of Newcastle’s cultural collection, valued at more than $145 million and comprising 7,000 works of art.

Notices of Motion 

Recognising Meredith Laing 

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion to acknowledge the passing of Meredith Laing, whose work made a significant contribution to and leaves a lasting impact on biodiversity and the environment in Newcastle and the Hunter.

Congratulating the Newcastle Knights on an historic NRL season 2026 and wishing them success in the Preliminary Final

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion that City of Newcastle formally congratulates the Newcastle Knights on their remarkable turnaround and success during the 2026 NRL season, reaching the Preliminary Finals.

Responding to new technology and privacy risks 

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion to request the CEO work with the operators, licensees and lessees of City of Newcastle owned facilities to establish a technology-neutral framework within their conditions of entry addressing the use of wearable surveillance and recording technology.

Today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the Australia–Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement. 

The Agreement provides a framework for defence and security cooperation and affirms Australia’s enduring commitment to Ukraine.

After more than four years of defending itself against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion, Ukraine has developed one of the world’s most innovative and agile fighting forces. 

Ukraine’s battle-tested expertise, complemented by its cutting-edge defence sector, will offer valuable lessons for Australia.

The Australian Government will provide an additional $60 million in support to Ukraine, including $45 million in Australian Defence Force equipment, $10 million for Ukraine’s Energy Support Fund and $5 million in humanitarian assistance. 

This brings Australia’s total contribution to Ukraine to almost $1.9 billion. 

Australia will also join the United Kingdom and Norway-led Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine, to support the development of Ukraine’s Navy. Australia’s membership will provide insights into advanced maritime capabilities and their operational use, helping to inform and strengthen Australia’s own capabilities.

The Australian Government has also today imposed additional sanctions on Russia, bringing our total to almost 1,900 sanctions on Russia and its supporters, and almost 300 shadow fleet vessels listed.

Since the outset of Russia’s invasion, Australia’s position has been clear – we condemn Russia’s unprovoked full-scale assault on Ukraine, a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. Russia’s actions are immoral and undermine international peace and security. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“It was an honour to meet President Zelenskyy again – I am always struck by his determination, courage and allegiance to the Ukrainian people.

“This Bilateral Security Agreement underscores Australia’s ongoing commitment and enduring support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s aggression.

“I am proud to announce a further $60 million in support, bringing Australia’s total support to almost $1.9 billion, as well as further sanctions on Russia in response to its unprovoked and unjustified invasion.

“Australians stand with Ukraine.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles:

“Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes to resolve this conflict on its terms.

“This additional military assistance will provide targeted support to Ukraine’s defence and demonstrates Australia’s enduring commitment to Ukraine’s security and the global rules-based order.

“Ukraine has shown extraordinary resilience and innovation in defending its people and sovereignty. Through deeper defence cooperation we can lend our strengths and insights to help grow Ukraine’s defence industrial base, and likewise learn from the hard-fought lessons of Ukraine’s resistance in developing our future capabilities.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“Australia has been steadfast in our support for Ukraine since Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion.

“We will continue to provide unwavering support to Ukraine and we will continue to work with partners to impose costs on Russia and starve its war machine.  

“Australia wants to see a lasting peace that upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, supports security and stability in Europe, and ensures Russia does not renew its aggression.”

A Carlton man has been charged by the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) with being a member of a terrorist organisation and accused of sharing thousands of extremist media files and ISIS propaganda.

The Victoria JCTT, comprising of the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, arrested the man, 65, and executed a search warrant at a Carlton home today (Wednesday, 23 September, 2026) where a mobile phone was seized.

The man is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today.

The investigation commenced following a referral from Australian Border Force, who intercepted the man at Melbourne International Airport on 21 November, 2020, and conducted an examination of his luggage ahead of his departure to Egypt.

During an examination of the man’s mobile phone, ABF officers located suspicious content. The phone was subsequently seized by the AFP for further examination.

A subsequent forensic review of the devices revealed the man had allegedly viewed and shared ISIS extremist material on an encrypted messaging platform.

As part of the ongoing investigation, a further search warrant was executed in 2024, where additional electronic devices were seized for forensic examination.

Further analysis of the devices revealed the man allegedly pledged his allegiance to ISIS and performed the role of an online propagandist from Australia, sending about 10,000 files containing extremist content between November 2015 and July 2020.

The JCTT alleges the violent and extremist content shared on the platform included videos, images, audio files, documents and messages relating to executions, torture, and ISIS-propaganda purporting to be from battlefields.

In addition, it will be alleged in court that the man shared information about avoiding detection from law enforcement, along with instructional guides on planning and conducting mass casualty attacks.

Investigators allege the man’s role was significant, with the scale of the dissemination of extremist material placing him as one of the principal distributors of ISIS propaganda within the groups on the messaging platform.

The man was charged with:

One count of membership of a terrorist organisation, namely ISIS, contrary to section 102.3(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
Three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, namely by transmitting violent extremist material, contrary to section 474.17(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
One count of possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.45C(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalties for these offences include ten years’ imprisonment.

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Paula Hudson said the investigation demonstrated the unwavering commitment of JCTTs to disrupting individuals who allegedly support terrorism and extremist ideologies.

“The material allegedly shared by this man glorified acts of extreme violence and promoted a terrorist organisation, spreading a hateful ideology that’s designed to radicalise others,” acting Assistant Commissioner Hudson said.

“Terrorist organisations like ISIS rely on online platforms to distribute propaganda and recruit supporters. Their content is specifically designed to radicalise individuals, encouraging them to adopt extremist beliefs and commit acts of violence.

“The AFP and our JCTT partners remain committed to identifying and disrupting anyone who is alleged to be participating in or supporting violent extremism, regardless of whether that activity occurs online or in the physical world.”

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Crime and Counter Terrorism Investigation Services Martin O’Brien said the outcome should serve as a reminder that online extremist offending is actively monitored by law enforcement.

“Alongside our JCTT partners, the priority for Victoria Police is to ensure the safety of our community. It is an offence to access or share violent extremist material and authorities will act when these crimes are identified and hold offenders to account,” Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said.

“I’d like to remind the public that every piece of information is valuable to law enforcement. If you see something concerning online, please contact the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

The priority for law enforcement is to ensure the safety of the community, and suspicious activity can be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400; or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police also recognise this information may be distressing for some people in the community, and support is available. Anyone feeling overwhelmed is encouraged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.