8m agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 11:07pmDo you have a question for the PM?
It’s question time!
But a little bit different to how we normally do it on the blog.
Tomorrow at 5:15pm (AEST) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be joining us for an interview.
And we want your questions, so got a burning one?
Maybe you’re passionate about the NDIS or education. Or perhaps cybersecurity and international relations is more your thing?
Either way, let us know!
Catch the interview here, on Instagram, TikTok or later on the ABC News Channel, radio and online.
30m agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 10:46pm
Greens say Labor has increased consultancy spend
The Greens have criticised the federal government for spending nearly $1 billion on consultants last financial year, arguing the outsourcing of work to the private sector is wasting taxpayer money and eroding the public service.
According to new analysis prepared for the Greens, Labor has spent less on contracts with the “big four,” but in the last year increased its overall spend on consultants by more than $300 million from $653 million to $969 million.
Greens finance spokesperson, Barbara Pocock says the government is just “arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”
“This data paints a picture of a business as usual approach following the PwC consultancy scandal and a continued lack of transparency by a government which claims to be spending less, while in fact spending even more,” she said in a statement.
But Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says Labor is reducing its reliance on external labour and has saved billions since being in office.
“Our government is committed to reducing spending on contractors, consultants, and labour hire and reversing the decade-long trend of outsourcing that became entrenched under the Coalition,” she said.
“We have already achieved $5.3 billion in savings in our first term — including by reducing spending on external labour — but the job is not done.”
49m agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 10:26pm
Australia Post halts most parcel postage to US as tariff chaos hits global carriers
Australia Post has immediately suspended most postage to the United States, with only the delivery of letters, documents and gifts worth less than $150 continuing.
The postal service has taken the extraordinary step to halt many forms of postage to the US, as a Trump administration tariff on low-value parcels is due to come into effect within days.
Australian businesses selling to American customers will be blocked from shipping to the US via Australia Post from today.
The government-owned postal service joins other global carriers in taking this step, ahead of new levies beginning on Friday, August 29.
It will continue shipping letters and documents to the US, along with packages that are declared as gifts and are worth less than $US100 ($153).
1h agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 10:10pm
Consultation ongoing over who will get final say on environmental approvals
Environment Minister Murray Watt. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
Murray Watt is still weighing up whether an independent authority or the environment minister should be the final decision maker.
The government has gone to the past two elections promising to establish an Environment Protection Agency. But there is dispute between the business and environment sectors on whether that body or the minister should be the one to give the final green light to projects.
“The exact powers and the exact remit of the EPA is an issue that we are still consulting with different stakeholders on, and it won’t surprise you to hear that there are different views there,” Watt told ABC’s Radio National Breakfast.
“So I guess once we’ve landed that position, I’ll ensure that you and the rest of the world know.”
Speaking after Watt, Greens leader Larissa Waters said she had an “open mind”.
1h agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 9:55pm
Climate trigger must be included in environment reforms: Greens
Greens leader Larissa Waters has welcomed the sense of urgency on environment reforms but says any reforms couldn’t be considered effective unless climate is considered.
The minor party has long called for a climate trigger to be included in the reforms, which would require the minister to consider the impact of proposed projects on climate change.
“We have always said that climate should be considered by our nature laws. And you just have to look at the algal bloom in South Australia to know that you can’t consider climate and nature separately,” she told ABC Radio National Breakfast.
Environment Minister Murray Watt says he hasn’t settled on whether to include a climate trigger. Waters said Watt’s position was “baffling”.
1h agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 9:46pm
Watt open to deal with Coalition or Greens on environment reform
Murray Watt has also stopped by the ABC Radio National Breakfast studio, where he was asked even more questions about the government’s environment reforms.
The environment minister says he’s open to accepting support from either side of the political aisle to pass the reforms through parliament early next year.
“I mean in an ideal world, I’d love to see the parliament vote for these reforms. And what we are seeing is a growing coalition of support for reform across different interest groups, regardless of where they sit on the perspective,” he says.
“So I think it will be important for both the Coalition and the Greens to listen to that broad coalition of support for change.”
On the climate trigger, which has been a sticking point for the Greens, Watt notes Graham Samuel (who authored the review into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation act) didn’t recommend the idea.
“What he said, and I tend to agree with, is that the government has a whole range of other measures and legislation in place to reduce emissions,” he says.
Watt says if the point of the reforms is to wind back duplication, then why would the reforms “duplicate things that we’ve got in other legislation regarding climate”.
1h agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 9:37pm
No deal yet on environment reforms
Environment Minister Murray Watt says a deal hasn’t yet been breached on an overhaul to the nation’s environment laws.
The government tried, and failed, to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) act in the last term of parliament. But a proposed deal was thwarted at the last minute.
“We have committed today to bring forward by several months the introduction of this legislation, we’ll be introducing it to the Parliament this side of Christmas, and we certainly will be seeking the support from both the Coalition and the Greens to deliver these reforms,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
A so-called climate trigger, which would require the minister to take into account the impact projects have on global warming before approving it, has been a sticking point for the Greens.
Watt says he hasn’t settled on a position yet.
“But what I would point out, Graham Samuel in his review did not recommend a climate trigger. He expressly ruled that out,” he says.
“What he
recommended is companies when they’re putting forward projects for approval, should disclose their emissions and what their plans are to reduce their emissions going forward.”
Environment Minister Murray Watt. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)1h agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 9:24pmGaza hospital strike a breach of international law
Environment Minister Murray Watt has described a double strike on a hospital in Gaza as a breach of international law and an outrage.
Israel’s prime minister says his country “deeply regrets” attacks by Israeli forces on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which killed at least 20 Palestinians including five journalists.
Speaking with ABC News Breakfast, the Labor frontbencher condemned the strikes.
“We utterly condemn this action and it’s yet another outrage in a war that’s gone on too long and cost too many innocent lives,” he says.
“It’s very clear that targeting or hitting hospitals, health workers and civilians is a breach of international law.
“We join with the rest of the international community in condemning this action.
“We can’t speak for Israel’s intent in this,
but it appears to be a clear breach of international law and these sort of incidents have got to stop as we find a ceasefire and peace in the Middle East.”
2h agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 9:13pm
AUKUS a ‘dog of a deal’: Greens
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth says she has no doubts when it comes to the AUKUS deal as the defence minister arrives in the US for meetings with counterpart Pete Hegseth.
“It is really critical for decades to come. Of course, we will keep working very closely across the board. I would note that in the US there is bipartisan support for this
arrangement,” she says.
“Obviously, one of the most focal areas has been the submarines. But of course, there’s other work underway which have been autonomous maritime exercises.
“They’ve already been conducted between Australia and the US. So there is plenty of work going on and plenty of commitment.”
Greens leader Larissa Waters, who was also on the panel, called AUKUS a “dog of a deal”.
“It’s unravelling with every passing week. We keep on giving cheques to an increasingly erratic Trump-led US.
“This is a dog of a deal. Subs that we may never receive anyway. It’s costing us an absolute motza. And tying us closer to Trump’s America is not making us any safer. We need a strong and independent foreign policy.”
2h agoMon 25 Aug 2025 at 8:54pm
👋 Good morning
Hi friends, I’m Courtney Gould and I’ll be guiding you through the morning on our politics blog.
What’s on the agenda today? Well, Environment Minister Murray Watt is out and about this morning to talk about his plan to introduce reworked environment laws to parliament six months earlier than planned.
Meanwhile, skills minister Andrew Giles will stop by the National Press Club to talk about the government’s investment in training.
And who could forget, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be answering your questions tonight in a joint ABC social team and blog team event (more on that shortly).
As always, grab a coffee and settle in.
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