The opposition is continuing to push the prime minister on a $6m grant given to the Marrickville golf club.

Anthony Albanese on Tuesday admitted he got it wrong after telling parliament the golf club funding was to stop “raw sewage” going into the nearby river.

But on Thursday, Liberal senator James Paterson told News24 the prime minister should have acted sooner:

Whenever you make a false statement, as soon as you become aware of it, you are obliged to go at the earliest opportunity to correct the record. He did not do so…

In years gone by, this would have cost a minister their job, under Albanese’s government. There are no standards at all.

When Albanese conceded “it was not correct” to say the funding was for sewerage works, he added it was a matter for the infrastructure department, and said the council was finalising the design of the project – including improvements to the clubhouse, stormwater harvesting, a new toilet and landscaping.

Andrew Hastie says a lot of report ‘rings true’ with his experiences

Continuing from the previous post, Greens senator David Shoebridge argued there was a lack of accountability for the SAS leadership.

The thing that is eroding faith and trust … is this seeming accountability gap between what happens if you don’t have gold braid on your shoulders, where the book gets thrown at you … and the people who are in leadership positions who were either aware of it, or had the data that should have triggered that [awareness], and have not taken action.

Outside parliament, opposition frontbencher and former SAS captain Andrew Hastie said the report’s findings resonated with his experience in the regiment.

I lived a lot of what I read in that report. There’s almost 50 findings and a lot of it rings very true to me as a junior officer at the time.

He said officers were responsible for the actions of those they commanded.

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‘Unacceptable behaviour’ within SAS, ADF chief says after report findings

Some Australian SAS officers knew that soldiers under their command were using “throwdowns” – planting weapons on dead Afghan civilians to portray them as combatants – but did nothing to stop the unlawful practice, a previously unpublished military report has said.

The executive summary of the report by the inspector general of the Australian defence force was quietly published online this week. And the chief of the ADF, Admiral Mark Hammond, was interrogated on the report in Senate estimates Thursday morning.

He said he agreed with the report findings, stating there had been “serious failures” within the SAS and its command structure. He said the report revealed:

Unacceptable behaviour … it is extremely unprofessional, that behaviour is absolutely not in concert with our values, our professional standards, the behaviour that we expect of our personnel

Hammond was asked specifically about the finding that legal officers within the defence force obstructed investigations into allegations of war crimes.

Related: Australian SAS officers knew about unlawful ‘throwdowns’ on dead Afghans, report says

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Cross-parliamentary women’s network launches, inspired by Haines

Female politicians across federal parliament will launch a women’s network to build stronger connections across parties after the alleged attack on Helen Haines and to encourage more women into politics.

The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, shadow minister Melissa McIntosh, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and independent MP Rebekha Sharkie announced the establishment of the Network of Women in Parliament (NOW) this morning.

“Our purpose of NOW is to build connections, strengthen relationships and create an environment where women in parliament can share experiences, support one another and learn from each other beyond political lines,” they said in a joint statement.

While Labor has internal women’s groups, female MPs from other parties have told Guardian Australia they have struggled to establish similar networks of their own due to smaller numbers.

The statement launching NOW said the group came amid “a growing recognition of the value of stronger connections between women in parliament”.

The MPs said:

The devastating [alleged] attack on our parliamentary colleague Helen Haines has further highlighted the importance of coming together in support, solidarity and friendship across political divides.

Helen has always demonstrated the importance of kindness, compassion and genuine connection across political divides. In many ways, she embodies the very spirit of what NOW hopes to achieve.

We recognise that while our political views may differ, we share many of the same experiences, challenges and responsibilities as women in public life. Through friendship, trust and solidarity, we want to strengthen the voice of women in parliament, encourage more Australian women into public life and stand together when it matters.

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Helen Haines’s offices to reopen

As Indi MP, Helen Haines, continues to recover in hospital, her staff are preparing to reopen her electorate offices in Wangaratta and Wodonga. They will be open from 10am to 3pm, three days a week, between now and the end of the year.

“Thank you to everyone who continues to show such care and support for Helen, her family and our team,” Haines’s team said in a statement on Thursday.

We know there continues to be great concern for Helen. We won’t be providing updates on her health or circumstances, and we ask that the privacy of Helen and her family continues to be respected.

Thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding as we navigate the weeks ahead.

Haines has lost both of her legs as a result of last week’s alleged attack in Wangaratta. A 43-year-old man has been charged and the incident continues to be investigated by police.

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Darwin teenager to face court on charges of collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act

An update from the AFP as the prime minister urges the Senate to pass his government’s latest social media reforms.

A teenager in Darwin is set to appear in children’s court today over charges of collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, as well as schematics for 3D-printed guns.

The Australian federal police said officials began an investigation earlier this month. They allege the teenager was the operator of several social media channels that accessed, discussed or reposted violent extremist material.

A search warrant was undertaken on Wednesday, where officials allegedly found documents and electronic devices that contained violent extremist material and instructions for the making of 3D-printed firearms.

The teenager faces several charges, which carry a maximum sentence of between five and 10 years’ imprisonment each.

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NSW government says it’s not ‘sitting back and waiting for rain’ at Menindee

The NSW water minister, Rose Jackson, says “no one is underestimating the challenge at Menindee this summer” after water volumes at the Menindee Lakes fell to their lowest point in five years.

As we have reported this morning, experts have warned that unless conditions improve there is potential for fish kills in the region that suffered millions of fish deaths in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

Jackson says:

No one is underestimating the challenge at Menindee this summer, with lake levels now at their lowest point in five years and the prospect of another hot summer.

Our focus is on doing everything we can to protect water quality and native fish through the months ahead.

Significant inflows would improve conditions but we aren’t sitting back and waiting for rain.

Temporary restrictions are in place for some upstream water users. Jackson says the government has also installed a temporary fish passage to allow for better movement of native fish.

Related: Menindee Lakes water levels drop to lowest in five years as experts warn of mass fish deaths

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ATO could have done better on credit card ban, Mulino says

The assistant treasurer, Daniel Mulino, says the tax office was dealing with a “complex” problem when deciding how to address the ban on credit card payment surcharges but, with the benefit of hindsight, it could have done better.

Speaking on ABC’s Radio National this morning, Mulino said the tax commissioner, Rob Heferen, said the reforms were really important and the Australian Taxation Office had been concurrently trying to negotiate with credit card companies while determining an adequate transition period.

The ATO stopped accepting credit card payments after the ban came into effect at the beginning of October. Heferen previously warned it would cost the ATO about $200m a year if it could not pass on the banking and credit card fees on to customers.

The ATO will now extend accept credit card payments for an extended transition period until the end of June next year.

Overnight, Heferen told a Senate estimates hearing he first realised the Reserve Bank’s surcharge ban would be a “real issue to grapple with” back in April.

The tax boss said he had received a letter from Mulino on 28 April informing the tax office of the RBA’s reforms, which brought the proposal to a “sharp head”.

Heferen told the hearing:

If we accept credit cards, it needs to be funded, and ceasing credit cards will have an effect on people who use credit cards. And some of our discussion was, ‘OK, what’s the appropriate transition for people up to transition through?’ And so that awareness, fair to say, around June, July [2026], we had staff before that who were already thinking about the issue, already formulating proposals.

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Taylor says country needs to get ‘balance right’ on datacentres

Angus Taylor, the opposition leader, said the country needs to get the “balance right” on AI, but powering datacentres with renewables only would not deliver for Australians.

Taylor spoke to reporters earlier, saying the debate around datacentres was “pretty commonsense”.

It’s like gas, you’ve got to get the balance right. And the balance is, put them in the right locations where there’s community support, and there will be locations with community support.

Critically, make sure you’ve got the energy you need. So these datacentres are not going to drive up the cost of energy for Australians.

I tell you, a renewables-only strategy is not going to deliver on this.

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Man cautioned after allegedly stalking two SA members of parliament

A man who allegedly targeted two South Australian member of parliament has been cautioned.

SA police issued stalking cautions to the 44-year-old man on Tuesday afternoon and said the cautions related to separate alleged incidents involving two MPs that were not connected.

He was also arrested for a separate alleged breach of bail.

The state’s education minister, Lucy Hood, and another Labor MP, Ella Shaw, spoke about their alleged experiences during a press conference on Wednesday.

Shaw alleged she was involved in an incident in her community while working and said she made the report because she didn’t want “any young person in my electorate to feel the way I was made to feel”.

The education minister said it was “frustrating and unfortunate”, telling reporters:

It is a sad occurrence that the political discourse has moved to such a level that we see young women in our parliament who are having to put up with this behaviour.

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Albanese dismisses economic criticism from ‘partisan participant’ Peter Costello

The PM is asked about criticism of the government’s handling of economic issues from former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello, who served under John Howard.

In response, Anthony Albanese offers a prediction for the next election in 2028:

Peter Costello is a partisan participant. He’s not an observer. He’s not a commentator. I quite like Peter.

I’ll make this prediction: when the election’s on in 2028, there’ll be a splash in a broadsheet which is ‘Howard condemns Albanese government’ – wait for it.

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Inflation rise part of ‘global uplift’: Albanese

Anthony Albanese has once again pointed to international affairs when pushed on cost pressures faced by ordinary Australians.

He says:

Some of these pressures are global, which is why we’re seeing that global uplift in inflation, and we’re not immune from that impact.

It’s one of the reasons why we have continued to call for a de-escalation in conflict in the Middle East, because it is having an impact here.

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PM insists government is addressing the cost of living

Following yesterday’s latest inflation figures, the prime minister has maintained his government is bringing down the cost of living.

Anthony Albanese points to his government’s budget surpluses and other measures that “ensure that any cost-of-living measures are ones that not just provide help for people today, but build a stronger tomorrow”.

‘Nativist’ opposition to EU trade deal not in national interest: Albanese

Opposition to the EU free trade deal is “an excuse for going down the road of protectionist and nativist politics”, Anthony Albanese says.

He told reporters:

Nativist politics is not in Australia’s national interest. We are a trading nation. We are an island continent in which economic growth and productivity is boosted by engaging with the world.

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PM says Coalition's fair trade credentials will be 'shredded' if EU deal support withheld

The Coalition’s support for free and fair trade will be undermined unless it supports the government’s deal with the EU, the prime minister has said.

For people who say they belong to a political party that supports markets and supports free and fair trade – that will be completely undermined and shredded unless they support this legislation.

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PM talks up EU free trade deal amid scrutiny

The Australia-European Union free trade agreement has come under the spotlight this sitting week.

Anthony Albanese says it would boost the economy and benefit areas like critical minerals, fruit and vegetable production, and the wine industry.

But it has been under discussion for years and continues to face roadblocks due to concerns from farmers.

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Gas reservation policy set for lower house vote today

Australia’s domestic gas reservation is set to be debated and voted on in the lower house today.

Ahead of this, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says it is important for increasingly supply and putting downward pressure on prices.

Related: Australian industry reliant on gas for ‘foreseeable future’, resources minister tells press club

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PM spruiks social media reforms in press conference

The prime minister is urging the Senate to pass his government’s latest social media reforms, telling reporters it is about returning control to Australian people:

Rather than international base companies, determining through algorithms what Australians receive, it empowers people themselves to determine what you receive on your devices, so that you should have that control.

This isn’t about government having a greater role. It’s about people having a greater role, having more control themselves, and it’s deserving of support of this parliament.

Related: ‘Emotional intimacy’ from AI chatbots would be banned under Australia’s digital duty of care laws

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Greens announce plan to make Yarra River swimmable

The Victorian Greens have announced a $70m election commitment to make Melbourne’s Yarra River swimmable in the next decade.

Approximately $50m would be spent on pollution and storm water management improvements in the urban catchment zone, while $20m would go to grants for community, environmental and First Nations groups to support the health of the river, its tributaries and surrounding land.

The plan also includes tougher penalties and enforcement against polluters and legislated targets to have the entire river swimmable by 2036 and some sections safe within five years. The government would be required to publicly report on progress.

Once swimmable, the Greens would set up accessible swimming places along the river for people with disabilities.

The Victorian Greens leader, Ellen Sandell, says:

Imagine a Melbourne where you can finish work on a hot summer’s day, head down to the Birrarung/Yarra and jump straight in. Victorians used to swim in the Birrarung/Yarra. There’s absolutely no reason why we can’t again. Paris has done it in the Seine, we could do it here too.

Earlier this month, four Melbourne councils and Melbourne Water joined together to pledge to make the Yarra swimmable by 2050. In 2024 the Yarra city council signed on to the international Swimmable Cities Charter, created in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, which aimed to make urban swimming the status quo.

Swimming in the waterway was restricted in the 1960s and then altogether banned downstream of Abbotsford due to pollution and contamination.

Related: With Paris Olympians set to dive into the Seine, could urban swimming come to Melbourne’s Yarra?

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Cutting spending best way to address ‘silent tax’ of inflation, Hastie says

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has said Australians should be “very concerned” about the prospect of another interest rate rise.

He tells ABC Radio National:

Inflation is a silent tax that is eating away at people’s wealth.

He added the best thing the government could do was to cut spending and manage its finances.

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The assistant treasurer, Daniel Mulino, has defended his government’s reaction to inflation after data showed it was 4.3% to September, telling ABC Radio National:

We’re not blaming foreign situations and leaving it at that.

I think it’s important context to acknowledge that there are inflationary impulses coming internationally.

But as I pointed to, we need to continue to strengthen our fiscal position. We’ve done that across a number of budgetsand we need to continue with productivity reforms.

Our inflation explorer tracks how prices have risen – or fallen – since 2022

Related: Electricity, insurance and eggs: see how life in Australia has got more expensive

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Australia must navigate global factors in battle against inflation, assistant treasurer says

Higher-than-expected inflation figures and an increasingly likely rate rise are continuing to dominate the news cycle.

Asked why the government is unable to bring inflation down, the assistant treasurer, Daniel Mulino, pointed to the impact of international affairs on Australia’s economy.

He told ABC Radio National:

What we saw in the figures released earlier this week is that the conflict in Iran is lasting longer and is more severe than had been forecast, and that means that global energy prices are higher than had been expected a few months ago.

We’re seeing higher inflation than expected right across the advanced economy world.

Pushed on why other nations were having more success in bringing inflation down, Mulino said other countries “have not been anywhere near as successful as Australia in terms of their labour market outcomes”.

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Thanks for taking us through those updates, Martin Farrer! I’ll steer us through the rest of the day’s news as we round off the last parliamentary sitting of the week.

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US increasingly seen as a ‘threat’ by Australians, survey shows

Australia’s immediate neighbours are trusted more than historic allies, according to a new survey AAP reports on, which shows the United States is increasingly considered a “threat”.

Only half of the Australians polled in a YouGov survey, commissioned by the Australia Institute, considered longtime ally the US a “friend”. Meanwhile 42% perceived America as a “threat” (defined as a nation viewed with caution or suspicion).

Only 4% of young voters labelled the US a “close friend” while over half of young Australians considered it a threat.

Two-thirds of One Nation voters perceive the US as a friend, with the Coalition close behind. Labor voters are largely split and only one-quarter of Greens voters view the global superpower positively.

Only 21% of respondents had confidence in Donald Trump to “do the right thing” in world affairs, ahead of only the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.

Indonesia, a close geographic neighbour and emerging partner, has been rated a more trusted partner than the United States, leading by 14% in the friend category.

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Social media a ‘business model for hate’: Chalmers

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says overheated discourse on social media is in large part responsible for the toxicity in politics, including the threats and abuse being sprayed at politicians.

Speaking at the Political Book of the Year awards in Canberra last night, Chalmers reflected on the alleged attack against Indi MP Helen Haines last week. He said hate had always been present in Australian society but it now has “a business model, a formula, an assembly line for mass-production.”

He described a new kind of digital misogyny that follows women in public life wherever they go, making the current climate harshest for women.

That climate is no accident. Hate is monetised and weaponised by algorithmic rage-bait. Extremism is incentivised; nuance is penalised. The most available public figures are the most vulnerable.

So tonight is a little reminder of why reason and research matters, why nuance matters, what’s at risk and what’s at stake and why that matters too.

Books inform our views without hardening them. Social media hardens our views without informing them.

Haines is recovering in hospital. Police have charged a 43-year-old man over the alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office.

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Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Kat Wong with the main action.

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