Australia politics live: speculation grows over Barnaby Joyce defection to One Nation; AI ‘nudify’ service blocks Australians

Parliamentary Debates Intensify on Final Sitting Day

As the Australian Parliament concluded its final sitting day of the year, a flurry of critical policy discussions and political manoeuvres unfolded, touching upon government spending, environmental protection, digital safety, and the nation's energy future. Ministers and opposition figures alike addressed pressing issues, setting the stage for the legislative agenda ahead.

Government Clarifies Fiscal Discipline Amidst Savings Directive

The federal government has moved to allay concerns regarding its directive for departments to identify budget savings, with Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher clarifying the intent behind the policy. Speaking to the ABC, Minister Gallagher emphasised that the initiative is rooted in "fiscal discipline" rather than being a mandate for widespread job losses or a blanket 5% budget cut across the board.

The directive, which has drawn scrutiny and some "misunderstanding" according to Gallagher, asks departments to scrutinise their lowest 5% priority activities and assess whether these operations remain essential. "We are certainly having since we with came to Government, been seeking savings for the budget," Gallagher stated, highlighting a consistent effort since Labor took office. She firmly rejected the notion of a 5% budget cut, asserting, "That’s just simply incorrect… it’s not about job losses and it’s not about budget cuts."

This approach aims to foster greater efficiency within the public service, encouraging agencies to reprioritise spending and ensure taxpayer money is allocated to the most impactful areas. Such exercises are common practice in government, often undertaken to free up funds for new initiatives or to address broader economic pressures, without necessarily resorting to direct staff reductions or service curtailments. The government's stance seeks to differentiate this strategic reallocation from austerity measures, focusing instead on optimising operational expenditure.

Environment Laws Nearing Breakthrough with Greens

A significant legislative hurdle appears close to being cleared, with both the government and the Greens indicating substantial progress towards a deal on the crucial environment protection and biodiversity conservation bills. Cabinet Minister Katy Gallagher expressed optimism, noting "substantial progress, including progress overnight," and hinted at an imminent announcement.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young echoed this positive sentiment, stating her party is "very close" to an agreement. While acknowledging that not "everything we want" would be achieved, Hanson-Young expressed increased positivity compared to the start of the week. Her primary objective has been to secure "more protections for our forests, and protections for climate," signalling the Greens' commitment to strengthening environmental safeguards. The government's eagerness to pass these laws underscores their importance to its legislative agenda, particularly on what was billed as "D-day" for the environment bills, being the final full sitting day of the parliamentary year.

The proposed reforms aim to overhaul Australia's national environmental laws, which have faced criticism for failing to adequately protect biodiversity and address climate change impacts. Securing the Greens' support is vital for the Labor government, as it typically requires crossbench votes in the Senate to pass legislation. A successful agreement would mark a significant step towards modernising Australia's environmental governance framework and delivering on election commitments.

Skepticism Surrounds Proposed Social Media Ban for Under 16s

A government proposal to ban social media access for individuals under 16 years old has met with skepticism from the Greens, who question its effectiveness in safeguarding young people online. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, also the Greens' environment spokesperson, voiced her concerns on ABC News Breakfast, arguing that the ban might not "keep our kids safe in the ways that we really want."

Hanson-Young highlighted the critical issue of platform accountability, asserting that there are "no requirements on them [social media companies] to create a space that doesn’t have harmful content… That doesn’t target them with advertising." She pointed to the inherent challenge of enforcement, noting that children might simply migrate to "darker corners of the internet that haven’t been designated" if mainstream platforms are restricted. This concern is widely shared, with the government itself acknowledging the difficulty of creating a foolproof ban.

The debate reflects a broader societal struggle to balance youth online safety with individual freedoms and the practicalities of digital regulation. Critics of outright bans often suggest that education, parental controls, and compelling social media companies to implement stronger safety features and age verification mechanisms are more effective long-term solutions than blanket prohibitions that can be easily circumvented.

The Energy Debate: Coalition's Plan vs. Government Subsidies

Australia's energy future and the rising cost of living continue to be a hot-button issue, with the Coalition promoting its "Affordable Energy Plan" while the government considers extending power bill subsidies. Shadow Minister for Energy, Sussan Ley, has been a vocal proponent of the Coalition's strategy, frequently brandishing its plan and asserting it will bring down prices for households.

Ley highlighted the significant impact of energy costs on inflation, noting that energy prices have "gone up by 40%." The Coalition's plan, as articulated by Shadow Treasurer Ted O'Brien, suggests that prices would drop due to a lower spend on transmission lines required for renewable energy projects. This perspective often contrasts with the government's view, which, along with many experts, points to renewable energy as the cheapest form of energy generation in the long term.

When pressed on whether she would support an extension of the government's current power bill subsidy program, Ley remained non-committal, stating she would "consider it in the normal way." However, she quickly pivoted to the Coalition's core argument: "Australians don’t want the government to subsidise their power bill. They want cheaper power bills… But the critical thing here is this is not the solution to the problem." This stance underscores a philosophical divide: the government's short-term relief measures versus the Coalition's proposed structural reforms to the energy market, which critics argue lack detail on immediate price reductions.

Shadow Treasurer Calls for Spending Cuts, Offers Limited Specifics

Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien, following his National Press Club address, continued to press the government on reducing spending but remained largely vague on where the opposition would implement cuts. O'Brien advocated for the reintroduction of "fiscal rules" that would cap government spending and necessitate "offsets" for any new expenditure, meaning savings would have to be found elsewhere to fund new initiatives.

While he declined to provide a comprehensive list of areas for cuts, O'Brien did single out the government’s fringe benefits tax (FBT) carve-outs for electric vehicles (EVs) as an immediate target. He claimed this incentive is "costing about five times more than what the government estimated, and it is unfair." The FBT exemption for EVs was introduced to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and reduce transport emissions, but its cost-effectiveness and equity have become points of contention.

O'Brien also reiterated his argument that government spending is a primary driver of inflation, a claim that the Labor government has consistently pushed back on, noting that the Reserve Bank of Australia has not identified it as a significant contributing factor. The debate over government spending and its impact on the economy remains a central battleground in Australian politics, with the opposition often demanding fiscal restraint without always detailing the hard choices required to achieve it.

Australia Records Significant Drop in Carbon Emissions

In a positive development for Australia's climate targets, the nation has recorded its largest annual drop in carbon emissions outside of the Covid-19 pandemic. Data released by the government shows a 2.2% reduction in pollution in the year to June, amounting to a decrease of 9.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

During the same timeframe, total emissions were recorded at 437.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing a 28.5% reduction below 2005 levels. This progress puts Australia closer to Labor's ambitious 2030 target of reducing emissions by 43% on 2005 levels. Preliminary data further indicates a 2.8% reduction on 2005 levels in the year to September 2025, suggesting continued momentum.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen hailed the figures, stating, "We are on track to bring down energy bills and meet our climate targets if we stay the course and continue to lift our efforts." The substantial decline is largely attributed to the increasing penetration of renewable energy into the national grid, with electricity from renewables now surpassing 40% of the total supply. This shift away from fossil fuels in electricity generation is a key driver in Australia's decarbonisation efforts, demonstrating the tangible impact of investments in clean energy technologies.

eSafety Commissioner Forces AI 'Nudify' Service to Block Australian Users

In a significant victory for online safety, Australia's eSafety Commissioner has successfully compelled a UK-based company, Itai Tech, behind three widely used "nudify" deepfake services, to block Australian users. This action follows a warning issued by eSafety in September that the services were being exploited to generate AI child exploitation material.

The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, highlighted the devastating impact of these services, particularly within Australian schools. "We know ‘nudify’ services have been used to devastating effect in Australian schools and, with this major provider blocking their use by Australians, we believe it will have a tangible impact on the number of Australian school children falling victim to AI-generated child sexual exploitation," she stated.

Correspondence obtained under freedom of information laws confirmed Itai Tech as the company in question. The services were reportedly receiving approximately 100,000 visits from Australians monthly and were implicated in high-profile cases involving the creation of sexual exploitation material of students. Itai Tech had previously been fined by the UK regulator for failing to implement adequate age verification on its site and reportedly also blocks UK users. Furthermore, global AI model hosting platform Hugging Face has also updated its terms of service to prevent the misuse of its models for child exploitation, following concerns raised by eSafety, underscoring a broader international effort to combat this insidious form of online harm.

Police Resume Search for Samantha Murphy

Victoria Police have recommenced a search for the body of Samantha Murphy, the Ballarat woman who disappeared on 4 February 2024 after leaving her home for a morning run. The search operation, which began yesterday, is set to continue today as part of the ongoing investigation.

In a statement, police confirmed, "Since February 2024, police have regularly undertaken a range of enquiries and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation." They requested that the public refrain from attending the search area to avoid hindering operational activities. The case remains a high-profile matter, particularly since Ballarat man Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged with her murder in March of the previous year. As the matter is currently before the court, police are unable to provide further specific details regarding the investigation or search efforts.

Speculation Mounts Over Barnaby Joyce's Potential Defection to One Nation

Political circles are abuzz with speculation that former Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce could announce his departure from the Nationals and a defection to Pauline Hanson's One Nation party as early as today. Reports from major Australian newspapers suggest that an announcement might be made before parliament rises for the year.

Joyce had previously indicated in the past month that he was considering his future within the Nationals following a reported breakdown in his relationship with current leader David Littleproud, promising a decision over the summer. However, the latest reports suggest an accelerated timeline. Nationals leader David Littleproud publicly urged Joyce to remain within the party, emphasising his potential to "make a contribution" and honour the "contract" with his New England constituents as a National Party member.

The potential defection would represent a significant shake-up in Australian federal politics, particularly for the Nationals, and could alter the dynamics within the conservative crossbench. While some colleagues, such as Matt Canavan and Michael McCormack, have reportedly encouraged Joyce to stay, others have indicated a readiness to "take the fight" to him if he joins One Nation. Such a move would undoubtedly spark considerable debate about party loyalty, political opportunism, and the shifting landscape of Australian regional politics.