Australia news live: ‘unusually prolonged flu season’ in NSW; Geraldton bushfire out of control in WA

12.59am GMT More than 670 NSW pokies venues to be stripped of ability to stay open after 4am More than 670 poker machine venues across New South Wales will lose their “outdated exemptions” to operate after 4am as the state government responds to pressure to address “a public health catastrophe”. The decision, announced by the state’s gaming minister David Harris, will ensure gaming rooms are closed at the mandated 4am deadline. Currently, some venues allow them to be played 24/7. The change, which may result in pushback from the powerful clubs and pubs lobby, comes after criticism from the government’s own independent advisory panel on gambling, a damning audit report and political pressure from the Greens and Liberals. It also follows state government-funded research that showed poker machine players were significantly more likely to experience harm after midnight. The exemptions have been provided for a variety of reasons, including venues being considered tourist destinations or experiencing financial hardship. Clubs and pubs that believe they have a “strong case” for the exemptions to remain will be able to appeal the decision before 31 March, but must meet tougher conditions imposed by the state’s independent regulator. Read more: Related: More than 670 NSW pokies venues to be stripped of ability to stay open after 4am 12.50am GMT ‘Completely incorrect’ to suggest digital ID system pending, eSafety boss says Further on eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant, she says the Coalition is “completely incorrect” in claiming that a new age checking system for search engines like Google was the first step toward a digital ID system. She also conceded the under-16s social media ban would not be perfect, and expected many young people to migrate to different social media platforms not included in the ban - and that some of those may eventually be wrapped into the ban. “We watched what American kids did when Tiktok went blank. They went to Rednote, they went to Lemonade, which is an Instagram clone. We’ve been talking to the likes of Yubo, which is a French site.. we expected there will be some migration, and some of these will become age restricted social media platforms,” she said. “We don’t think we’re going to totally turn off the spigot. We will be watching the migratory patterns, and we’ll be talking to these companies. Some of that’s going to happen inevitably, but that’s what teenagers do. So again, it’s not going to be perfect, but the normative change in the mid to long term will be significant.” Asked about Coalition claims on the age checking for search engines, coming in later in December, Inman Grant responded: “Well, that’s just completely incorrect.” She said the new system would compel search engines to blur violent pornography, explicit violence - giving the example of Charlie Kirk’s assassination - and other unsavoury content. 12.46am GMT Tech companies ‘disappoint’ eSafety boss ahead of social media ban eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant says it’s “disappointing” more tech companies haven’t put out earlier advice to users about the under-16s social media ban, with several large platforms not having communicated to users yet about what they’ll need to do. Inman Grant was at Parliament House today with social services minister Tanya Plibersek, speaking about tech-facilitated abuse and domestic violence. At a press conference, the commissioner said more tech companies will release information this week – specifically noting TikTok’s advice would come within days – but said companies could be doing more to tell users what their age assurance technology systems will require. Inman Grant said: It’s disappointing ... We suggested the best timeframe was two weeks in advance. My powers don’t come into effect until December 10, and that’s when we’ll start gathering information notices. We’ve been working on compliance plans. We’ve been engaging. We’ve been telling companies what best practice is. We’ve been talking to them for over a year. So this should be a surprise to none of them, but there’s nothing I can do, from a regulatory perspective, to light a fire under them, only that this is the right thing to do to their young users that are going to use the platform. Meta’s platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Threads – and Snapchat have put out that advice, but the likes of TikTok, X and Google’s YouTube have not yet. She said the eSafety office had asked all tech companies to “compassionately and kindly” tell users how their accounts will be deactivated or moved. Updated at 12.51am GMT 12.40am GMT Queensland government considering mandatory jail for breach of bail Deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie says the Queensland government is considering mandatory sentencing for children who breach bail conditions. LNP candidate Wayde Chiesa won the north Queensland seat of Hinchinbrook at a byelection on the weekend on a platform of “breach of bail go to jail”. “I think it’s fair to say the government’s now actively considering breach of bail go to jail, considering the historic result we had on the weekend, and the strong support from that community for those laws,” Bleijie said at a press conference on Monday. Labor suspended the state’s Human Rights Act to make breaching bail a criminal offence in 2023. Two third of children charged under Labor’s laws were Indigenous, according to police data from that year. Related: Two-thirds of children charged with Queensland’s new breach of bail offences are Indigenous Updated at 12.43am GMT 12.24am GMT Workforce shortages in early childhood sector ‘significant and ongoing’ despite pay rise, union says The Australian Education Union (AEU) says the federal government’s 15% pay rise for early childhood educators is welcome, but further reforms are needed to address workforce pressures facing the sector. Educators received the first 10% of the pay rise last December, with the final 5% coming into effect on Monday. It’s equivalent to an extra $160 per week, or $200 per week when combined with minimum wage rises. The AEU’s deputy federal president, Meredith Pearce, said today’s rise was “recognition of the professionalism, skill and dedication of early childhood educators across Australia”: This pay rise is meaningful and will make a real difference to educators’ lives. But we know the workforce shortages in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) are significant and ongoing. To attract and retain the highly skilled professionals children deserve, we must continue to improve pay, address workload, and provide secure employment across the sector. Updated at 12.26am GMT 12.04am GMT Melbourne could have its coldest 1 December since 1987 Melbourne may be on track to have its coldest first day of summer since 1987, if the sun doesn’t come out. The Bureau of Meteorology says if the city’s thermometers don’t top 15.5C today, it’ll be the coldest 1 December since 1987. The forecast for the day is a high of 15, but it’s already reached 14.7C. Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist at the BoM, said a large stretch of south-eastern Australia is in for temperatures 10 to 15C cooler than average, including parts of inland NSW and Victoria. But at the same time, Perth is on track for temperatures 5 to 10C above average, with a forecasted high of 37C. Updated at 12.07am GMT 11.49pm GMT Sydney police charge four men over alleged ‘international satanic child sex abuse material ring’ NSW police say they have uncovered an “international satanic child sex abuse material ring” and charged four Australians for their alleged involvement, AAP reports. Detectives from the sex crimes squad said that as part of Strike Force Constantine, an investigation into the online distribution of child sexual abuse material involving ritualistic or satanic themes, they disrupted a Sydney-based network. In a statement, police alleged the network was actively involved in possessing, distributing and facilitating this material through a website that was “administered internationally”. Detectives, accompanied by the riot squad, carried out six search warrants in Waterloo, Ultimo and Malabar on Thursday morning last week. Read more here: Related: Sydney police charge four men over alleged ‘international satanic child sex abuse material ring’ 11.32pm GMT NSW experiencing ‘unusually prolonged flu season’ New South Wales is experiencing an “unusually prolonged flu season” which is continuing to affect hospitals across the state, NSW Health has warned. More than 370 people presented to emergency departments across the state with an influenza-like illness, while more than 3,100 cases were notified in NSW in a single week in mid-November. NSW Health said this is the second week in a row that cases have climbed and were around the same number of cases notified as at the start of June this year, the first week of winter. The NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said: When we compare this respiratory illness season to others, we are experiencing a longer tail, which is a concern. Usually by September or early October influenza levels have tapered to quite low levels from the peak, which traditionally occurs during winter – but we’re well into November and notifications are increasing. No one wants influenza, or any respiratory illness for that matter, to ruin the end of their year, so it’s important everyone takes preventive measures to stop its spread. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. If you are sick, please stay home, and wear a mask if you need to go out, to help stop the spread. Updated at 12.05am GMT 11.06pm GMT Some residents of Geraldton in WA told to 'leave now' as bushfire threatens homes An out-of-control bushfire is threatening homes and properties in Geraldton, with residents warned to leave now or put their lives in danger, AAP reports. An emergency warning is in place for residents of Bluff Point, Spalding and Sunset in Geraldton, Western Australia. “You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,” the warning reads. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued an evacuation order just before 6am on Monday. Residents in Glenfield have also been told to prepare to leave. A full list of active alerts can be found here. 06:23 AM - Bushfire Emergency Warning - LEAVE NOW - BLUFF POINT, SPALDING and SUNSET BEACH: https://t.co/dh3YtI2ctW— DFES (@dfes_wa) November 30, 2025 Updated at 12.13am GMT 10.52pm GMT Victoria premier says Pauline Hanson’s ‘division is not welcome here’ Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has been on a media blitz this morning to spruik the Metro Tunnel’s opening yesterday. Appearing on ABC Radio Melbourne, she was asked about an anti-immigration protest that also happened on Sunday, which included a speech by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson. Hanson, in her speech, told the crowd she wasn’t from Victoria and that she “wouldn’t move” to the state. Asked by host Raf Epstein what she made of Hanson’s comment, Allan replied: Good. That sort of division is not welcome here. That sort of divisive politics has been rejected by the Victorian community. Epstein also asked the premier whether police would be releasing the number of searches they conduct in Melbourne’s CBD after declaring the city and its surrounds a “designated area” for six months. Allan replied that the release of such figures was an operational decision for police. She went on: Transparency, of course, is important, but not where it compromises the operational work of Victoria police to keep our community safe. This is why these powers are important. It is keeping the community safe, and I think we saw that yesterday … [it] was a safe and peaceful day around the city. Alongside the opening of the Metro Tunnel, there were the Christmas windows. It was a big and busy weekend in Melbourne’s CBD, and people were able to go around and shop and enjoy a meal, check out the Metro Tunnel, and did so safely. Updated at 10.58pm GMT 10.30pm GMT Is McLaren costing Oscar Piastri the F1 title, department asked at Senate estimates It’s a strong start to Senate estimates this morning, with Nationals senator Matt Canavan asking the department of infrastructure secretary, Jim Betts, about the F1 results from Qatar overnight. As an F1 fan myself, my ears immediately pricked up. Canavan asked: It’s been a bit of a frustrating night for some Australians … you deal with transport and cars, so do you think McLaren is biased against Oscar Piastri and costing him the world championship? Without going into too many details, Piastri is an Australian F1 driver on the McLaren team, who went into this morning’s race in first place but came in second at the end due to some poor calls from his team. There’s just one race to go for the championship and those points were critical, to say the least. Betts wasn’t keen to dive into the controversy: “You’re asking for an opinion there senator”, he said. “Good answer”, Canavan replied, and then asked the representing minister, Anthony Chisholm the same question, who said: I definitely think he’s copped some raw decision [making] this year. Both senators said their kids are very invested. Updated at 10.42pm GMT 10.09pm GMT New energy infrastructure needed if major coal plant shuts as planned: Aemo report Urgent investment is needed in new energy infrastructure – particularly synchronous generators – if the Eraring coal power plant in New South Wales is to shut as planned in 2027, authorities have warned. An Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) report on Monday said investment was needed in the country’s main electricity grid over the next decade. It focuses on “system security” – a reference to the frequency and inertia needed in the grid to keep it operating. That security is provided by spinning generators, which can include coal, gas and hydro plants. It does not come from solar and wind energy. It means the system security will need to come from other sources as the amount of solar and wind energy increases, including synchronous condensers that are connected to the grid not to provide electricity, but to stabilise the system. Aemo said energy company Transgrid was fast-tracking investment in synchronous condensers, but they were not expected to be operational until “at least 2028”. It said if Eraring shut before there were enough synchronous condensers in the system the market operator would be forced to intervene, including by ordering spinning capacity that mostly sits idle – gas and hydro plants – to run at “significant cost to consumers”. It said this could happen up to 30% of the time. It said without Eraring or synchronous condensers the NSW system could face periods when there was a “plausible risk of last-resort operational actions” – code for cuts in supply. Updated at 10.21pm GMT 9.53pm GMT Government to issue guidance calling for AI generated content to be labelled Businesses, creators, and AI developers will be encouraged to label AI generated or modified content under new guidance from the government. The guidance is a part of Labor’s national AI plan which will be more broadly released this week. The government has been considering whether to follow the EU and other nations who have implemented a designated AI act. The guidance will also encourage industry to use water marking to verify the authenticity of content and trace its origin and record metadata. Minister for industry and innovation, Tim Ayres, said: AI is here to stay. By being transparent about when and how it is used, we can ensure the community benefits from innovation without sacrificing trust. That’s why the Albanese Government is urging businesses to adopt this guidance. It’s about building trust, protecting integrity, and giving Australia’s confidence in the content they consume. Last week, the government announced it will establish an AI safety institute next year. 9.33pm GMT Queensland Labor to reset all party policy after state conference vote Queensland Labor will reset its entire policy platform following its state election defeat last year. The party secretary, Ben Driscoll, who sponsored the motion, said Queensland Labor’s policy platform hadn’t been reviewed in full since the last time the party spent a term in opposition, under the premiership of Campbell Newman, and it had long since passed elements of the platform into law. The opposition leader, Steven Miles, who was defeated last October, told media that the party had not acted on concerns about crime quickly enough while in government. “Labor has to accept that there were mistakes made in the previous government. That’s why I’ve said we have a policy clean slate, and now we will review the entire party’s platform to ensure that it is fit for 2028,” he said. Parties need to ensure they are constantly evolving, constantly representing what the community is asking for. And that’s why, that’s why this review and the policy claim slate is really important. The party conference was the first since Annastacia Palaszczuk stood down as premier in 2023. It concluded on Sunday. The motion passed on the voices. Updated at 9.39pm GMT 9.17pm GMT Activists lock on to coal equipment during Rising Tide protest in Newcastle Sixteen protesters with Rising Tide have locked themselves to coal equipment in Newcastle this morning. Rising Tide said eight people have locked on to two coal loaders and another eight on to conveyor belts on the final day of the People’s Blockade, an annual climate protest that has seen thousands gather to protest against the use of fossil fuels. Related: Rising Tide protest: climate activists stop three ships from entering world’s largest coal port in Newcastle Fiona Lee, an activist who locked on to a coal conveyor, said she could “not stand by as our government continues to approve the new coal and gas projects that are making these unnatural disasters worse”, adding: It’s time that our government starts supporting coal workers by investing in new industries for our region and making coal corporations pay their fair share. NSW police have arrested at least 141 people during the protest this weekend. An official said there have been no additional arrests this morning so far. Updated at 9.43pm GMT 9.06pm GMT Minister says pay rise delivering security for workers and for kids in their care Jess Walsh, minister for early childhood education, said the pay bump for early childhood educators is already “paying dividends”, saying it is good for workers and good for the kids in their care. Walsh told RN Breakfast: This is a workforce that has been underpaid and undervalued for too long. When we took office, that meant that early educators were leaving the sector in droves. We wanted to see a strong, stable workforce to deliver quality early education, and that’s why we’ve committed to this pay rise. And it is paying dividends. It’s reducing turnover in the sector. It’s allowing educators to stay in jobs that they love. That’s good for them, but it’s also good for the children in their care because a strong, stable workforce is the foundation for quality early education. She went on to say the government was guaranteeing that the sector was strong, adding: “Every child deserves to be safe, and parents deserve to know that their children are safe.” Updated at 9.10pm GMT 8.54pm GMT Final stage of early childhood educator pay rise kicks in Early childhood educators will receive a 5% pay rise today, the last instalment of a promised 15% wage increase by Labor. The government says the increase will mean educators will receive an extra $160 per week. That sits on top of the Fair Work Commission’s minimum wage rise which took effect earlier this year. The government’s also released some retention data, saying the wage rises have helped increase the number of educators by 6% in the year to August, while vacancy rates are down 14% in the year to October. Not-for-profit provider Goodstart says it’s reduced its use of labour hire by 70%. In a statement, the education minister, Jason Clare said: Our early educators deserve to be paid fairly for that work. That’s why we’re delivering this 15 per cent pay rise, with the final 5 per cent hitting the pay packets of early educators from tomorrow. We know the pay rise is working to bring more people into sector and help to keep the great educators we’ve already got. It follows an announcement from Clare that mandatory safety training for educators to begin in February next year, and be undertaken through early childcare centres. The mandatory training was agreed by state, territory and federal education ministers as part of safety reform. Updated at 8.59pm GMT 8.43pm GMT Home price rises outpacing benefits of interest rate cuts Surging home prices have wiped away the benefits of three interest rate cuts to new buyers, new data reveals. AAP reports across Australia, home values grew by 1% in November with the median dwelling now worth $888,941, property analytics firm Cotality reported on Monday. That follows a blistering result in October, when prices rose at 1.1% rise, and 0.8% in September. On a monthly basis, growth in Sydney slowed from 0.7% to 0.5%, while Melbourne fell from 0.9% in October to 0.3% in November. Meanwhile, the mid-sized capitals picked up. Brisbane became the second Australian city to break the $1m median home price barrier. Already, the impact of 75 basis points of cash rate cuts since February are wearing out. Cotality research director, Tim Lawless, calculated the cuts increased the borrowing capacity of a median income household by $55,000, but home values have since risen by $60,000. For renters, the outlook continues to be one of worsening affordability. Rents are rising across every capital city, with the national rental index 5% higher over the past 12 months – the highest annual rate of growth in a year. Updated at 8.57pm GMT 8.35pm GMT Greens call for 25% gas export tax The Greens are calling for all gas exports to be taxed 25% and domestic gas supply to be prioritised as the country faces a future gas shortfall by 2028. The minor party – who just secured a deal with the government on the EPBC nature law reforms – say they will not support any new gas fields. There is more than enough uncontracted gas being exported overseas, they say, to meet any future shortfalls. The 25% tax would replace the petroleum resource rent tax which the Greens say has failed to collect “meaningful” revenue from gas exporters due to “massive loopholes”. Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May says gas corporations have created a “crisis” that Australian households have had to pay for. Government and industry lies are quickly unravelling. We don’t have a gas shortage, we have a gas export problem. If Labor brings forward an option that incentivises new gas and hands more rewards to the corporations that have been ripping off Australians, they won’t have the support of the Greens. Updated at 8.51pm GMT 8.27pm GMT Good morning Good morning, and happy December. Another month down, another season begins. Nick Visser here to get you started on the blog this morning – here’s what’s on deck. The Greens are calling for all gas exports to face a 25% tax, with a new prioritisation on domestic gas supply. The party, which recently secured a deal with the Labor government on new federal nature law reforms, says it will not support any new gas fields. Surging home prices have wiped out the benefit of three interest rate cuts to new buyers, according to recent data. Across Australia, the median dwelling is now worth nearly $889,000. The government is encouraging businesses, creators and AI developers to label AI generated or modified content. Tim Ayres, the minister for industry and innovation, said the strategy would see the “benefits from innovation without sacrificing trust”. Stick with us.