Prime Minister Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, HE Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, to Australia from 17 to 20 August 2026.
Australia and Thailand share substantial trade and investment links. Thailand is Australia’s fourth largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and our 11th largest trading partner overall.
The Prime Ministers will meet in Canberra on Wednesday 19 August to discuss deepening economic cooperation under the Australia-Thailand Strategic Partnership.
The visit will be Prime Minister Anutin’s first to Australia since taking office. The Leaders last met on the margins of ASEAN-led Summits in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Anutin on his first visit to Australia as Prime Minister.
“Australia and Thailand enjoy a warm relationship, built on trust and a shared commitment to a prosperous Indo-Pacific.
“Many Australians have experienced Thailand’s warmth and hospitality through travel, while the Thai-Australian community continues to enrich our nation and strengthen the enduring ties between our countries through business and culture.”
The Albanese Government and Minns Government have reached an agreement to deliver a NSW Gun Buyback Scheme to reduce the number of firearms and make communities safer.
New South Wales will be the first state to commence the Commonwealth Government’s National Gun Buyback Scheme, with both governments agreeing to share the costs of the buyback 50:50.
Following the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, National Cabinet stood in solidarity and agreed to action to eradicate antisemitism and to strengthen gun laws across the nation.
In the days that followed, the NSW Government acted to significantly tighten the state’s gun laws, including introducing new limits on the number of firearms a person can own, reclassifying some types of firearms, introducing stronger background and eligibility checks, and reducing firearms licence periods from five years to two.
The NSW Gun Buyback is the next step in those reforms and will commence on 2 November 2026, administered by NSW Police. It will provide compensation to individuals for firearms above the new ownership limits and newly reclassified firearms, plus a flat fee for associated ammunition.
The scheme will also provide financial assistance for businesses and industry to adjust to the reforms.
In addition, the Commonwealth will contribute 50 per cent for administration costs and fully fund the destruction costs for surrendered firearms and administration.
Importantly, the scheme will be administered in in two phases:
Phase 1 of the NSW Buyback Scheme will include a fixed price schedule for individual licence holders, who are above the new legal limit for their licence, to return their firearms in exchange for fair compensation.
Firearms Type
Firearms Sub-type
Compensation
Handgun
Revolver
$1,000
Semi-auto
$850
Shotgun
Double barrel
$850
Single barrel
$650
Rifle
Rimfire
$600
Centrefire
$1,000
Air rifle
$450
It will also include an initial industry support package to help eligible local businesses and dealers adjust to the new laws, available from 2 November 2026.
This package will include:
Up to $25,000 in grants available to eligible businesses and dealers
one-off licence fee relief for eligible gun dealers in NSW, worth $500 over two years per dealer.
Phase 2 of the NSW Buyback Scheme, commencing in early 2027, will provide a pathway to compensation, for a fee, for eligible higher-value firearms with an indicative market value above $3,000, capped at $10,000 per firearm.
It will also involve further support for affected industry. More details on Phase 2 will be announced in due course.
The New South Wales Government estimates up to 274,000 registered firearms – approximately 24 per cent of the total number of registered firearms in New South Wales – and approximately 50,000 licence holders are affected by the new limits on gun ownership and reclassification of some types of firearms.
This Scheme is informed by the Interim Report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion’s Recommendations to prioritise efforts to finalise and implement an updated and nationally consistent National Firearms Agreement (Recommendation 13) and the proposed Buyback Scheme (Recommendation 14).
These reforms build on the Commonwealth Government’s Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 and the New South Wales Government’s Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025, which together include the toughest firearm reforms in a generation.
“We must do everything we can to make sure the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn’t happen again. That includes meaningful nationwide gun reform.
“I thank the New South Wales Government for their collaboration as we work to take guns off our streets in order to better protect Australians.”
Premier Chris Minns:
“After Bondi, we promised the people of New South Wales we would introduce the toughest gun laws in the country, and that’s exactly what we did.”
“The next step is getting the guns that are no longer permitted under those laws out of circulation and permanently off our streets.” “There are potentially hundreds of thousands of firearms affected by these changes. We want those guns handed in, compensated for and safely destroyed.”
“This is a big undertaking, but the principle behind it is simple: fewer dangerous guns in our community means a safer New South Wales.”
Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke:
“After the tragedy at Bondi we committed to dealing with the motive and the method.
“Since then, we have strengthened our hate crimes and hate speech laws, which are now the strongest in our country’s history.
“Today we continue the proud Australian tradition of sensible gun reform designed to protect our community from weapons which have no utility other than to cause harm.”
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley:
“Today, we’re announcing details of the biggest gun buyback in NSW in three decades.
“I want to thank the Commonwealth for its support in delivering and co-funding this reform.
“Community safety is our top priority which is why we’re reducing the number of firearms in the community, along with strengthening checks and increasing oversight.
“The NSW Police Force are overseeing a significant logistics exercise in public safety. We ask affected firearms licence holders to be patient. Everyone affected by the new laws in NSW will have the opportunity to participate in the Buyback Scheme.”
Older people across Australia continue to experience delays and unacceptable challenges with the Support at Home program, with ABC Four Corners bringing national attention to critical issues that need urgent reform.
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has consistently raised these issues with the government since the commencement of the Act. OPAN CEO Craig Gear said the recent media coverage is a powerful reminder of the need for urgent changes to be made.
Issues included concerns about the prioritisation system and the use of a controversial algorithm within the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), which is used to determine an older person’s priority status and funding allocation. Additional concerns include unacceptably long wait times for assessments and reassessments, access to the full level of funding approved, and timely access to assistive technology and home modifications.
We continue to hear directly from older people about issues in aged care, which will continue to worsen unless changes are made,” Mr Gear said.
The problems highlighted last night are the same ones that our advocates have been hearing since day one.
Support at Home is well intentioned but it is abundantly clear that the program is not reaching its intent for too many older people.
While OPAN supports a consistent and rigorous approach to the assessment process, the IAT algorithm has been an ongoing challenge and concern for older people. Especially since it determines a person’s level of aged care funding and priority, which can impact their wellbeing and autonomy.
The algorithm may work for some to receive the right levels of support, but we continue to hear from frontline aged care advocates about instances where the outcome does not logically match an older person’s identified care needs.
These assessments go to the core of an older person’s dignity and independence, so it is crucial that a human element remains when it comes to decision-making.
We look forward to seeing the findings from the government’s review and working together to find a better way forward to escalate exceptional cases, including times when an older person’s needs or priority level have changed. This must occur with appropriate clinical and human oversight.”
Mr Gear said the government’s latest Aged Care Wait Times report shows some improvement, but it still takes on average 7-10 months for standard priority to get Support at Home and 5 months for a spot in an aged care home.
More than 250,000 older people are currently on the wait list for aged care, either for an assessment, allocation of funding or a package at their approved level,” Mr Gear said.
These are not numbers, they are human beings, who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. While there have been some gains in allocating more packages there are still a large number of older people who are not getting the support they need or have been assessed for.
Older people have a right to access a safe, quality aged care system that genuinely realises their rights in practice, not just in legislation.”
New expectations for NSW data centres to invest in renewable power sends the right signal to help protect households and businesses against the risk of rising power bills and climate pollution posed by a poorly managed data centre boom.
With the NSW Government saying in media reports today it will require data centre investment to be matched with increased investment in renewable energy, the Climate Council is calling for mandatory standards so data centre proposals that fall short don’t go ahead.
The state’s new guidelines are another step forward, in line with the Albanese Government’s commitment to legislate national standards – despite resistance from Queensland and the Northern Territory.
The standards are expected to require data centres to supply their own additional renewable power, no matter where they are built around Australia.
Climate Council Senior Advisor Ben McLeod said:
Australians are rightly asking: Where is the power for the data centre boom going to come from? Guidelines like these set us on the path to making sure the answer won’t push up household bills, or climate pollution. The NSW Government should be decisive in shielding its citizens and make these expectations mandatory.
All states and territories should get on board with similar rules under the proposed national guidelines. Governments must set the bar higher, and require data centres to be powered by new wind, solar and storage, otherwise Australians will pay the price of higher power bills and more climate pollution.”
Five years on from the fall of Kabul our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who continue to face violent repression at the hands of the Taliban, as well the Afghan community in Australia and around the world.
We acknowledge the brave contribution and sacrifices made by more than 39,000 Australian Defence Force and civilian personnel who conducted or supported operations in Afghanistan over 20 years.
We remember the 41 Australian soldiers who died during operations in Afghanistan and those we have lost after they returned home. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and those who still carry the mental and physical toll.
We also recognise our coalition partners, and the Afghan Locally Engaged Employees who worked alongside us, thousands of whom now call Australia home, along with their families. Their service is an important part of our shared story, and we remain committed to helping those who helped our mission.
The Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 marked a devastating turning point for Afghanistan.
It also triggered one of the largest humanitarian operations in Australia’s history. In the days that followed, Defence personnel, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Home Affairs officials along with Australian Border Force officers, worked around the clock to help thousands of Australian citizens, visa holders and locally engaged Afghan employees leave Afghanistan. Their actions, at a time of extreme danger, saved lives and reflected two decades of Australian commitment to stabilise Afghanistan.
Australia has not stepped back from that responsibility. The Afghan people endure one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Since September 2021, we have delivered $310 million in sustained humanitarian assistance through trusted partners, including UN agencies, to ensure it reaches those most in need, not the Taliban. We have expanded migration pathways for displaced Afghans and continue to work with international partners to support those most at risk, particularly women and girls.
The Taliban’s ongoing violations of human rights – including systematic attempts to erase women and girls from public life by stripping away education and employment opportunities that deny their potential – remain unacceptable.
We have worked with partners to pursue action against this coordinated discrimination under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. We have established a world-first autonomous sanctions framework for Afghanistan and imposed financial sanctions and travel bans against senior Taliban figures.
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the Afghan people to hold the Taliban to account. We will continue to press for consequences and support international efforts to protect fundamental freedoms, ensuring that the Afghan people are not abandoned.
Greens reject dangerous NDIS cuts after inquiry exposes threat to disabled people, workers and families
The Australian Greens have released their final report on the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, reaffirming their strong opposition to legislation they say goes too far, too fast and should not pass the Parliament.
The report follows an extended parliamentary inquiry, with the Greens securing an additional eight weeks of hearings and evidence after sustained pressure from the disability community.
The Greens said the additional inquiry period was vital in exposing the potential consequences of the Government’s proposed changes.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for the NDIS.
“The Greens’ central recommendation is clear: this Bill should not pass Parliament.
“This inquiry has made one thing abundantly clear: support needs do not disappear when funding does. They are pushed onto disabled people, families, support workers and the broader community.
“These cuts risk undermining the independence, dignity and participation of disabled people while shifting costs onto families, hospitals, schools, universities and the wider care economy.
“Thousands of jobs are at risk. The Australia Institute estimates cuts to social and community participation supports could result in the loss of 51,641 full-time equivalent jobs, representing almost 94 million hours of work.
“The Government cannot cut billions from participant supports and pretend there will be no impact on the workers who deliver those supports. When funded support disappears, the work does not; it is pushed onto families and unpaid carers.
“The inquiry also heard that reduced supports could leave people unable to live independently, participate in education or employment, or safely return home from hospital. From the classroom to the emergency department, these cuts will be felt far beyond the NDIS.
“The NDIS can and should be reformed, including through stronger anti-fraud measures and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens. These cuts should not come at the expense of disabled people’s rights and essential supports.
“Budgets are about choices. This Government is choosing to take essential supports away from disabled people while leaving enormous potential revenue from taxing gas exports on the table.
“Disabled people have been subjected to months of public debate about the value of their lives and the supports they rely on. They deserve to be listened to, not treated as a budget problem.
“The Greens will always fight for the rights, dignity and autonomy of disabled people. We will strongly oppose this Bill when it reaches the Senate, and we urge the crossbench and the Opposition to do the same.”
A man has been charged after two people were allegedly threatened by a person armed with a knife at Horseshoe Beach earlier this week.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were called to the scene after reports that two men had been confronted in the car park by an armed man about 5.15pm last Wednesday (12 August 2026).
The men backed off and, a short time later, police arrested a 40-year-old man nearby after checks revealed he was wanted on an outstanding warrant.
A knife was seized at the scene and sent for further examination.
The man, from Bar Beach, was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with an outstanding warrant for the offences of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV), custody of knife in public place (subsequent offence), and fail to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgment.
He was refused bail and appeared in Bail Division Local Court 2 yesterday (14 August 2026), where he was again refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court next Wednesday (19 August 2026).
Following further inquiries, the 40-year-old man has now been charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence intimidation, and use knife in public place – cause person to fear for their safety, in relation to the incident at Horseshoe Beach.
He remains in custody and is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court next Thursday (20 August 2026).
The ACT Greens are laying the groundwork for a new agreement with the ACT Labor Government – real, measurable commitments that deliver for Canberrans and the environment.
After the 2024 Territory election, former Greens leader Shane Rattenbury struck an agreement with Chief Minister Andrew Barr. That agreement saw the ACT Greens move to the crossbench: rather than holding Ministries, Greens MLAs agreed to support Mr Barr as Chief Minister in exchange for a commitment by Labor to deliver a range of specific community outcomes under a confidence and supply agreement. That agreement expired with Mr Rattenbury’s retirement from politics.
New ACT Greens Leader Jo Clay has now approached the Chief Minister to negotiate a new agreement. With only two years left this term, there is mutual appetite for a short, sharp agreement that delivers tangible outcomes for the community.
“Canberrans deserve published, enforceable commitments from the ACT Labor Government, not two years of good intentions,” Ms Clay said.
Ms Clay noted the pattern of delayed delivery and community concerns about the Government’s performance.
“This isn’t one bad headline. It’s a public housing waitlist that keeps growing, essential services like libraries being cut, projects being continually delayed, public school teachers and waste collection workers pushed to strike. The warning signs are flashing. Canberrans can see this pattern, and they expect better. That’s why we’re at the table: to work with the Labor Government to get our city back on track, deliver outcomes, and provide the stable government Canberrans need.”
The ACT Greens’ priorities for a new agreement are:
Integrity and accountability
Housing and renters’ rights – stronger protections, and more public and community housing
Climate and environment – protecting the Western Edge, and delivering on recycling and waste
Health, disability and education – more free GP visits, stronger support during proposed NDIS cuts and commitments to our public schools
Public transport and community services – free travel for concession card holders, and community libraries open on weekends
First Nations justice.
Ms Clay said negotiations were underway and progressing constructively. “The Greens are negotiating in good faith, and we want this agreement to succeed, because Canberrans are the ones who benefit when it does. But community confidence must be earned, item by item.
“Given that this agreement is being negotiated in the shadow of Operation Kingfisher, our first asks are real integrity outcomes to restore confidence in government.
“Our focus remains on housing, protecting our environment and climate, going further and faster on buses and light rail, and supporting the most vulnerable people in our city.”
Today’s parliamentary hearing into the ethics and professional accountability of KPMG leadership has reinforced the case for major renovation of the Big 4’s governance, regulation, surveillance and penalties.
It has revealed further evidence of KPMG’s toxic culture of cover-ups, NDAs and large payments for whistleblowers’ silence, and weak accountability for wrongdoing.
KPMG is accused of sharing confidential client information to rig audit tender bids, using AI to cheat on internal exams, breaching audit independence, and mistreating and paying off whistleblowers who raise concerns.
The Greens say KPMG leaders are gold class exemplars of greed trumping ethics at every turn. They have taken advantage of yawning regulatory gaps and revealed broken ‘self-government’ amongst the Big 4.
Greens finance and public service spokesperson Senator Barbara Pocock:
“The Parliament heard evidence today of a repetitive pattern of unethical behaviour by KPMG leadership. They have misled the parliament and the public, and drip fed us self-congratulatory whitewash and misinformation.
“At the same time, they take taxpayers for mugs and milk us for hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.
“KPMG are hiding behind inadequate investigations from their legal friends. Some in the leadership appear to be so far down the rabbit hole of bad behavior and poor culture that too often they fail to understand where they went wrong.
“KPMG leaders have played by their own rules with zero accountability. They have bullied whistleblowers, mistreated confidential information and failed basic tests of transparency and good governance. They buy political pull through donations and make sure they are at every political table of influence.
“Through scandal after scandal, KPMG have shown Australians their lack of integrity, coverups, dishonesty and pursuit of revenue at any cost. They have shown us they are not worthy of taxpayer dollars.
“Australians are outraged. How many more scandals need to happen before Labor acts.
“The Big 4’s governance is a farce. They have lost their social licence and they cannot be trusted. Self regulation has failed. It is time for root and branch structural reform.
“Labor needs to put an end to their special treatment on board rules and regulation, tax, public reporting, professional liability and whistleblower protections.
“The Government must review all contracts with KPMG and ban them from government work. They must break up and regulate the Big 4, and increase penalties for dishonest behaviour and ethical failures.”
The last Coalition government ensured that GST distribution encouraged States to develop their economies and natural resources. We stand by that approach. We want States to grow the economy first, not start by reaching for the begging bowl.
Western Australia isn’t in a strong fiscal position by luck. It dug, drilled and backed its own industry to drive the prosperity of the state. That’s the model every state should follow, not a target for punishment.
The Prime Minister should be encouraging every state to grow its own economy, not looking for ways to claw back what Western Australia has earned.
In 2024, Anthony Albanese stood in Perth and signed “NO CHANGE TO WA GST” on a journalist’s arm and said there were no circumstances under which he’d ever change Western Australia’s GST deal.
We know he betrayed the Australian people 50 times over not to introduce new taxes, so West Australians are now looking to see if he has had a “change of policy” on the GST too.
The Prime Minister should immediately recommit to his 2024 promise, if not it will be confirmed he is once again playing his slippery and sneaky games.
The Coalition will continue to follow the Productivity Commission’s work until the final report is released early next year.
