Coalition gave Labor a ‘free kick' with poor election campaign
Mr Kennett told Sky News host Andrew Bolt that the Coalition gave Labor a 'free kick'.
'I want to learn from the mistakes.'
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The Age
36 minutes ago
- The Age
Australia news LIVE: Morrison tells US Congress Australia ‘going to sleep' on China threat; top court makes key climate ruling
Latest posts Latest posts 6.47am Labor going backwards on transparency, new analysis finds Labor is hiding information from the public more often than the Morrison government despite campaigning on a platform of integrity, frustrating a critical accountability mechanism intended to maintain faith in bureaucrats and keep politicians honest. Analysis by the Centre for Public Integrity shows Canberra's culture of secrecy has sunk to its worst point in more than a decade, with the proportion of freedom of information requests released in full plunging from almost half in 2021-22 to just 25 per cent under Labor in 2023-24. The government is increasingly releasing documents to the public filled with black ink covering up key sections of text and Labor is more often ignoring Senate votes requesting details on policies and ministers' decision-making. Independent senator David Pocock said the data under Anthony Albanese's watch was shameful compared to the prime minister's predecessor, Scott Morrison. 6.37am Australians 'going to sleep' on China threat, Morrison tells US Congress By Michael Koziol Former prime minister Scott Morrison has told the United States Congress that Australians are at risk of 'going to sleep' on the security threat posed by China, and warned the US and its allies they must be prepared to wear economic pain to stand up to Beijing. Appearing before a congressional hearing on the Chinese Communist Party, Morrison cited polling by the Lowy Institute that showed, in 2025, 50 per cent of Australians said China was 'more of an economic partner to Australia', whereas 47 per cent said it was 'more of a security threat'. That had changed significantly from 2021-22, a time of strained relations between Canberra and Beijing, when 63 per cent said China was more of a security threat and 33 per cent said it was more of an economic partner. 'That is an objective of the CCP – that Western democracies will go to sleep on the threat,' Morrison told the hearing. 6.35am What's making news today By Daniel Lo Surdo Hello and welcome to the national news live blog. My name is Daniel Lo Surdo, and I'll be helming our live coverage this morning. Here's what is making news today: The Albanese government will march forward with its legislative agenda after introducing two key draft laws on Wednesday. Labor is hoping the passage of its legislative agenda will be expedited behind support from the Coalition, which also appears receptive to its student debt reduction bill. It comes after the first question time of the 48th parliament on Wednesday, with the government and opposition exchanging blows spanning topics including housing affordability, climate change policy and superannuation tax reform. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has warned the United States Congress that Australians are at risk of 'going to sleep' on the security threat posed by China, and warned the US and its allies they must be prepared to wear economic pain to stand up to Beijing. He later told reporters that Australians' level of awareness of the security threat posed by China had clearly diminished significantly over the past three years. Countries besieged by the effects of climate change can legally pursue their neighbours for reparations if they fail to uphold their obligations to curb emissions, a top court has found. The historic advisory ruling was handed down by the International Court of Justice, and paves the way for massive compensation claims in a case brought by a group of law students from Vanuatu.
Sydney Morning Herald
36 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia news LIVE: Morrison tells US Congress Australia ‘going to sleep' on China threat; top court makes key climate ruling
Latest posts Latest posts 6.47am Labor going backwards on transparency, new analysis finds Labor is hiding information from the public more often than the Morrison government despite campaigning on a platform of integrity, frustrating a critical accountability mechanism intended to maintain faith in bureaucrats and keep politicians honest. Analysis by the Centre for Public Integrity shows Canberra's culture of secrecy has sunk to its worst point in more than a decade, with the proportion of freedom of information requests released in full plunging from almost half in 2021-22 to just 25 per cent under Labor in 2023-24. The government is increasingly releasing documents to the public filled with black ink covering up key sections of text and Labor is more often ignoring Senate votes requesting details on policies and ministers' decision-making. Independent senator David Pocock said the data under Anthony Albanese's watch was shameful compared to the prime minister's predecessor, Scott Morrison. 6.37am Australians 'going to sleep' on China threat, Morrison tells US Congress By Michael Koziol Former prime minister Scott Morrison has told the United States Congress that Australians are at risk of 'going to sleep' on the security threat posed by China, and warned the US and its allies they must be prepared to wear economic pain to stand up to Beijing. Appearing before a congressional hearing on the Chinese Communist Party, Morrison cited polling by the Lowy Institute that showed, in 2025, 50 per cent of Australians said China was 'more of an economic partner to Australia', whereas 47 per cent said it was 'more of a security threat'. That had changed significantly from 2021-22, a time of strained relations between Canberra and Beijing, when 63 per cent said China was more of a security threat and 33 per cent said it was more of an economic partner. 'That is an objective of the CCP – that Western democracies will go to sleep on the threat,' Morrison told the hearing. 6.35am What's making news today By Daniel Lo Surdo Hello and welcome to the national news live blog. My name is Daniel Lo Surdo, and I'll be helming our live coverage this morning. Here's what is making news today: The Albanese government will march forward with its legislative agenda after introducing two key draft laws on Wednesday. Labor is hoping the passage of its legislative agenda will be expedited behind support from the Coalition, which also appears receptive to its student debt reduction bill. It comes after the first question time of the 48th parliament on Wednesday, with the government and opposition exchanging blows spanning topics including housing affordability, climate change policy and superannuation tax reform. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has warned the United States Congress that Australians are at risk of 'going to sleep' on the security threat posed by China, and warned the US and its allies they must be prepared to wear economic pain to stand up to Beijing. He later told reporters that Australians' level of awareness of the security threat posed by China had clearly diminished significantly over the past three years. Countries besieged by the effects of climate change can legally pursue their neighbours for reparations if they fail to uphold their obligations to curb emissions, a top court has found. The historic advisory ruling was handed down by the International Court of Justice, and paves the way for massive compensation claims in a case brought by a group of law students from Vanuatu.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'People are trying to attack me': Barnaby Joyce's mission to blow up net zero
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce insists that he's not railing against the science of climate change. As the former deputy prime minister prepares to table a private member's bill to abolish Australia's net zero by 2050 emissions reduction target, the backbencher says he is squarely focused on advocating for the powerless. In his regional NSW electorate of New England, Mr Joyce tells this masthead, people are suffering with the soaring cost of living, chiefly high electricity prices. "We represent the poorest people, power bills they cannot afford," he said. "Cost of living is beyond them ... Small businesses are saying 'I can no longer afford to run like this, it's just not viable'." Australia's net zero target was no more than "a virtue signal", he said, arguing it would not make a difference in the global scheme of things. "I'm not here to say I deny climate change. It's not about that. It's about what you're doing now is not working," he said. "I want the honest cheapest form of power - and if that's coal, okay, it's coal .. if that is nuclear, it's nuclear," he said, acknowledging a role for renewables, which he calls "intermittent power". Mr Joyce's lastest move, which included giving a joint interview to The Australian with former Nationals leader Michael McCormack - sparking renewed speculation of a leadership challenge - has created a headache for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley as she seeks to reunite a fractured Coalition. She told the ABC when asked about the coverage: "Nobody's getting under my skin." Mr Joyce rejected any suggestion his bill was intended to lay the groundwork for a leadership challenge to Nationals Leader David Littleproud. "People are trying to attack me on this net zero, so they throw in red herrings," he told this masthead. "It's about him going for leadership. No, it's not." Ms Ley on Wednesday declined to recommit to net zero, saying only that the Coalition's review of policies it took to the election was probing the commitment through an energy working group led by opposition spokesman Dan Tehan. READ MORE: Nationals net-zero pushback intensifies, Littleproud open to dropping policy "Every single person in our party rooms can feed into that," she told Channel 9's Today. "Our policy will be underpinned by two goals, playing our part internationally in reducing emissions transparently and producing a reliable stable energy grid, so we've got affordable energy for households and businesses." Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, the party's leader in the Senate, told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday it was "important to recognise the difference between recognising climate change is real [and] how we deal with that challenge." "We have a problem with how the Labor Party is addressing this question," Senator McKenzie said. "We actually care about the jobs [and] our communities, the businesses and the humans ... impacted by this government's policies." Nationals senator Matt Canavan said: "We need to tell Australian people that if we want to keep these jobs, we want to keep these industries, we actually have to return to a planet called reality and stop and stop telling ourselves fairy tales that we can keep these jobs while still pursuing these fantastical objectives." Mr Tehan told Sky on Wednesday: "We can reconcile this, and we can work through it like we always do." He said Australia needed "energy abundance" and noted state governments were "looking to extend the life of coal-fired power stations." Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said both parties had gone to the election with a commitment to net zero and that "now the Coalition, held hostage by Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, has walked away from that commitment." "Even Peter Dutton backed net zero," Mr Bowen said. Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie described Mr Joyce's push to repeal net zero as " disgraceful, delusional, and totally out of step with the Parliament and the country." "It's a stunt and it'll be swiftly squashed in Federal Parliament." Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce insists that he's not railing against the science of climate change. As the former deputy prime minister prepares to table a private member's bill to abolish Australia's net zero by 2050 emissions reduction target, the backbencher says he is squarely focused on advocating for the powerless. In his regional NSW electorate of New England, Mr Joyce tells this masthead, people are suffering with the soaring cost of living, chiefly high electricity prices. "We represent the poorest people, power bills they cannot afford," he said. "Cost of living is beyond them ... Small businesses are saying 'I can no longer afford to run like this, it's just not viable'." Australia's net zero target was no more than "a virtue signal", he said, arguing it would not make a difference in the global scheme of things. "I'm not here to say I deny climate change. It's not about that. It's about what you're doing now is not working," he said. "I want the honest cheapest form of power - and if that's coal, okay, it's coal .. if that is nuclear, it's nuclear," he said, acknowledging a role for renewables, which he calls "intermittent power". Mr Joyce's lastest move, which included giving a joint interview to The Australian with former Nationals leader Michael McCormack - sparking renewed speculation of a leadership challenge - has created a headache for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley as she seeks to reunite a fractured Coalition. She told the ABC when asked about the coverage: "Nobody's getting under my skin." Mr Joyce rejected any suggestion his bill was intended to lay the groundwork for a leadership challenge to Nationals Leader David Littleproud. "People are trying to attack me on this net zero, so they throw in red herrings," he told this masthead. "It's about him going for leadership. No, it's not." Ms Ley on Wednesday declined to recommit to net zero, saying only that the Coalition's review of policies it took to the election was probing the commitment through an energy working group led by opposition spokesman Dan Tehan. READ MORE: Nationals net-zero pushback intensifies, Littleproud open to dropping policy "Every single person in our party rooms can feed into that," she told Channel 9's Today. "Our policy will be underpinned by two goals, playing our part internationally in reducing emissions transparently and producing a reliable stable energy grid, so we've got affordable energy for households and businesses." Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, the party's leader in the Senate, told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday it was "important to recognise the difference between recognising climate change is real [and] how we deal with that challenge." "We have a problem with how the Labor Party is addressing this question," Senator McKenzie said. "We actually care about the jobs [and] our communities, the businesses and the humans ... impacted by this government's policies." Nationals senator Matt Canavan said: "We need to tell Australian people that if we want to keep these jobs, we want to keep these industries, we actually have to return to a planet called reality and stop and stop telling ourselves fairy tales that we can keep these jobs while still pursuing these fantastical objectives." Mr Tehan told Sky on Wednesday: "We can reconcile this, and we can work through it like we always do." He said Australia needed "energy abundance" and noted state governments were "looking to extend the life of coal-fired power stations." Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said both parties had gone to the election with a commitment to net zero and that "now the Coalition, held hostage by Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, has walked away from that commitment." "Even Peter Dutton backed net zero," Mr Bowen said. Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie described Mr Joyce's push to repeal net zero as " disgraceful, delusional, and totally out of step with the Parliament and the country." "It's a stunt and it'll be swiftly squashed in Federal Parliament." Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce insists that he's not railing against the science of climate change. As the former deputy prime minister prepares to table a private member's bill to abolish Australia's net zero by 2050 emissions reduction target, the backbencher says he is squarely focused on advocating for the powerless. In his regional NSW electorate of New England, Mr Joyce tells this masthead, people are suffering with the soaring cost of living, chiefly high electricity prices. "We represent the poorest people, power bills they cannot afford," he said. "Cost of living is beyond them ... Small businesses are saying 'I can no longer afford to run like this, it's just not viable'." Australia's net zero target was no more than "a virtue signal", he said, arguing it would not make a difference in the global scheme of things. "I'm not here to say I deny climate change. It's not about that. It's about what you're doing now is not working," he said. "I want the honest cheapest form of power - and if that's coal, okay, it's coal .. if that is nuclear, it's nuclear," he said, acknowledging a role for renewables, which he calls "intermittent power". Mr Joyce's lastest move, which included giving a joint interview to The Australian with former Nationals leader Michael McCormack - sparking renewed speculation of a leadership challenge - has created a headache for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley as she seeks to reunite a fractured Coalition. She told the ABC when asked about the coverage: "Nobody's getting under my skin." Mr Joyce rejected any suggestion his bill was intended to lay the groundwork for a leadership challenge to Nationals Leader David Littleproud. "People are trying to attack me on this net zero, so they throw in red herrings," he told this masthead. "It's about him going for leadership. No, it's not." Ms Ley on Wednesday declined to recommit to net zero, saying only that the Coalition's review of policies it took to the election was probing the commitment through an energy working group led by opposition spokesman Dan Tehan. READ MORE: Nationals net-zero pushback intensifies, Littleproud open to dropping policy "Every single person in our party rooms can feed into that," she told Channel 9's Today. "Our policy will be underpinned by two goals, playing our part internationally in reducing emissions transparently and producing a reliable stable energy grid, so we've got affordable energy for households and businesses." Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, the party's leader in the Senate, told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday it was "important to recognise the difference between recognising climate change is real [and] how we deal with that challenge." "We have a problem with how the Labor Party is addressing this question," Senator McKenzie said. "We actually care about the jobs [and] our communities, the businesses and the humans ... impacted by this government's policies." Nationals senator Matt Canavan said: "We need to tell Australian people that if we want to keep these jobs, we want to keep these industries, we actually have to return to a planet called reality and stop and stop telling ourselves fairy tales that we can keep these jobs while still pursuing these fantastical objectives." Mr Tehan told Sky on Wednesday: "We can reconcile this, and we can work through it like we always do." He said Australia needed "energy abundance" and noted state governments were "looking to extend the life of coal-fired power stations." Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said both parties had gone to the election with a commitment to net zero and that "now the Coalition, held hostage by Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, has walked away from that commitment." "Even Peter Dutton backed net zero," Mr Bowen said. Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie described Mr Joyce's push to repeal net zero as " disgraceful, delusional, and totally out of step with the Parliament and the country." "It's a stunt and it'll be swiftly squashed in Federal Parliament." Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce insists that he's not railing against the science of climate change. As the former deputy prime minister prepares to table a private member's bill to abolish Australia's net zero by 2050 emissions reduction target, the backbencher says he is squarely focused on advocating for the powerless. In his regional NSW electorate of New England, Mr Joyce tells this masthead, people are suffering with the soaring cost of living, chiefly high electricity prices. "We represent the poorest people, power bills they cannot afford," he said. "Cost of living is beyond them ... Small businesses are saying 'I can no longer afford to run like this, it's just not viable'." Australia's net zero target was no more than "a virtue signal", he said, arguing it would not make a difference in the global scheme of things. "I'm not here to say I deny climate change. It's not about that. It's about what you're doing now is not working," he said. "I want the honest cheapest form of power - and if that's coal, okay, it's coal .. if that is nuclear, it's nuclear," he said, acknowledging a role for renewables, which he calls "intermittent power". Mr Joyce's lastest move, which included giving a joint interview to The Australian with former Nationals leader Michael McCormack - sparking renewed speculation of a leadership challenge - has created a headache for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley as she seeks to reunite a fractured Coalition. She told the ABC when asked about the coverage: "Nobody's getting under my skin." Mr Joyce rejected any suggestion his bill was intended to lay the groundwork for a leadership challenge to Nationals Leader David Littleproud. "People are trying to attack me on this net zero, so they throw in red herrings," he told this masthead. "It's about him going for leadership. No, it's not." Ms Ley on Wednesday declined to recommit to net zero, saying only that the Coalition's review of policies it took to the election was probing the commitment through an energy working group led by opposition spokesman Dan Tehan. READ MORE: Nationals net-zero pushback intensifies, Littleproud open to dropping policy "Every single person in our party rooms can feed into that," she told Channel 9's Today. "Our policy will be underpinned by two goals, playing our part internationally in reducing emissions transparently and producing a reliable stable energy grid, so we've got affordable energy for households and businesses." Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, the party's leader in the Senate, told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday it was "important to recognise the difference between recognising climate change is real [and] how we deal with that challenge." "We have a problem with how the Labor Party is addressing this question," Senator McKenzie said. "We actually care about the jobs [and] our communities, the businesses and the humans ... impacted by this government's policies." Nationals senator Matt Canavan said: "We need to tell Australian people that if we want to keep these jobs, we want to keep these industries, we actually have to return to a planet called reality and stop and stop telling ourselves fairy tales that we can keep these jobs while still pursuing these fantastical objectives." Mr Tehan told Sky on Wednesday: "We can reconcile this, and we can work through it like we always do." He said Australia needed "energy abundance" and noted state governments were "looking to extend the life of coal-fired power stations." Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said both parties had gone to the election with a commitment to net zero and that "now the Coalition, held hostage by Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, has walked away from that commitment." "Even Peter Dutton backed net zero," Mr Bowen said. Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie described Mr Joyce's push to repeal net zero as " disgraceful, delusional, and totally out of step with the Parliament and the country." "It's a stunt and it'll be swiftly squashed in Federal Parliament."
