Twenty-eight parents of transgender and gender diverse children have written to Tasmanian MPs urging them to support a Greens bill banning conversion practices. Parents say the bill is lifesaving and warn against the bill failing or being weakened. The bill is due to be debated in the House of Assembly. It needs 18 votes to pass, and the Greens, Labor and independent Kristie Johnston hold 15. Liberal MPs have a conscience vote, and several have said they will vote against it.
The Coalition will introduce a bill to expand protections for people who prefer paying with cash. The opposition says current rules introduced by Labor do not go far enough. Those rules require most retailers to accept cash for in-person purchases up to $500 between 7am and 9pm, but the opposition argues they exclude essential goods such as medicine, clothing and hardware. The proposed Cash is King Bill would require major retailers to accept cash, lift the transaction limit from $2000, remove the 7am to 9pm restriction and apply the same rules to Commonwealth agencies.
Forced adoption survivors in Western Australia say they are frustrated by slow progress two years after the government responded to a 2023 inquiry. The inquiry made 39 recommendations, but a working group advising the government has operated under confidentiality agreements. Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski says 10 recommendations are now complete and that redress is under further consideration. The minister has also pledged laws for integrated birth certificates listing biological and adoptive parents. Survivors want a set timeline for redress, which they say could help fund counselling.
The Canberra Liberals have introduced a bill that would allow ACT Policing to issue warnings to people who regularly associate with convicted offenders. Those who continue the associations could face criminal charges. Opposition leader Mark Parton said the number of outlaw motorcycle gangs in the ACT had grown from one to at least five. He said the ACT lags behind NSW, which already has anti-consorting powers. Debate on the bill has been adjourned and will resume at a later sitting.
The ACT Government has introduced legislation guaranteeing a public holiday every Anzac Day, with an extra day off when it falls on a weekend. Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Greg Harford supports recognising Anzac Day but opposes the extra Monday holiday. The Chamber estimates lost productivity of $30 million to $35 million a year and higher wage costs for businesses that stay open. Minister Michael Pettersson argues Anzac Day should receive the same treatment as Boxing Day. Debate on the bill has been adjourned to a later sitting.
Anthropic has reportedly circulated a draft AI safety bill that Congress could consider, according to Politico. The proposal would allow a model's release to be halted where an imminent risk threatens more than 50 deaths or over a billion dollars in property damage. Such risks would need to involve a biological weapon, a model escaping its developer's controls, or a cyberattack. Independent evaluators, registered with the U.S. Commerce Department, would assess models and could be paid by the labs, provided payment is not tied to results.
Legal services and women's safety advocates in the Northern Territory warn that proposed changes to suppression laws for sexual offences may hurt some victims. Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro plans to introduce legislation lifting suppression orders that stop the identification of people charged with serious sexual offences. The Northern Territory Legal Assistance Forum says victims and their support services should be consulted, as the laws may have unintended consequences. The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service says that in rural and remote communities, naming an offender is often as good as identifying the victim.
The NSW Government will introduce legislation to protect around 400 jobs at MACH Energy's Mount Pleasant coal mine near Muswellbrook. The move follows a High Court decision that created legal uncertainty for the mine's operations. MACH Energy has agreed to a job guarantee, committing to keep its current permanent workforce until 2032. The proposed law would allow annual production of up to 16.5 million tonnes until 2032 and require existing staffing levels to be maintained. Premier Chris Minns said the intervention protects regional workers and their families before Christmas.
Climate activists have condemned a New South Wales government move to protect jobs at the Mount Pleasant coal mine in the Hunter region, calling it dangerous political interference. The High Court had backed a challenge by community environmentalists, upholding a finding that planning bodies must weigh the climate effects of downstream emissions. Premier Chris Minns said the one-off intervention was needed to avoid production cuts and protect at least 400 jobs, adding that he had agonised over the choice. Lock the Gate and Greens MP Sue Higginson argued the legislation would allow significant unassessed climate pollution.
The NSW Government has introduced a bill that makes it a specific criminal offence to covertly monitor an intimate partner's movements. The laws target people who use GPS trackers, AirTags and hidden spyware. Under the previous law, prosecutors had to show the victim knew about the surveillance. The new standalone offence applies even if the victim is unaware, where a reasonable person would consider the conduct likely to cause fear. The bill also bans the commercial marketing of tracking devices for stalking.
US Representative Ritchie Torres has proposed a bill that would give video game buyers ownership rather than a licence. Many disc-based games still need online servers, and licence agreements typically describe a revocable licence, not ownership. The bill reportedly requires normally online-only games to offer offline modes, so players can keep playing after servers close. Its full text is not yet public, and it faces a long path before any vote.
Parliament has passed legislation to strengthen Australia's anti-doping and sport integrity system. The Sport Legislation Amendment (World Anti-Doping Code Implementation) Bill 2026 implements reforms required under the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code. Responsibility for imposing consequences will move from sports to Sport Integrity Australia, and publication decisions will weigh the public interest against privacy safeguards. The laws also update the definition of athlete and strengthen athletes' appeal rights over Therapeutic Use Exemption decisions. The revised Code takes effect on 1 January 2027. Sport Minister Anika Wells said the laws keep Australia aligned with international anti-doping frameworks.
Victorian taxpayers could be liable for tens of billions of dollars in a major fuel crisis, under laws that allow compensation for economic losses. A draft government proposal from June estimated the potential burden at up to $80 billion and prompted plans to update the 1970s-era Fuel Emergency Act. The amendments were not introduced before the end of the parliamentary sitting year, so any changes must wait for the next parliament. A government spokesperson said the state's fuel supply remains strong and that Victoria is better prepared for any emergency.
Communications Minister Anika Wells says adults will still be able to listen to manosphere podcasts and claim the moon landing was fake under new digital duty of care laws. Introduced to parliament today, the bills are intended to address online harm. Speaking at the National Press Club, Wells rejected claims the legislation amounts to censorship or would be used to silence criticism of the government. She said the government was not controlling free speech or conducting covert surveillance. Wells also said the duty of care is not a step towards regulating misinformation or disinformation.
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The Northern Territory government will require all future operators of Darwin Private Hospital to provide private maternity services, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says. Calvary Health Care is expected to take over the hospital before the end of the year, after Healthscope closed its private maternity ward and went into receivership. Critics say rebuilding a maternity ward could take at least two years, citing the need for obstetricians, paediatricians, anaesthetists, midwives and equipment. Maternity advocacy group Our Birth, Our Voice welcomed the decision. The legislation is expected to be tabled in parliament next week.
WA Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John will take a leave of absence following allegations about remarks made to women, with the Greens treating the matter with utmost seriousness, according to Mark Shoebridge.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has scrapped discretionary powers that would have let her define new online harms, to help pass her digital duty of care bill. The bill would require platforms to protect users under 18 from harmful content, and let users over 16 turn off algorithms. The Greens, who hold the balance of power in the upper house, will push the bill to an inquiry due to report in November. Ms Wells says she expects the bill to pass before Christmas. The Coalition said it would not support the bill in its original form.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has scrapped discretionary powers that would have let her define new online harms, to help pass her digital duty of care bill. The bill would require platforms to protect users under 18 from harmful content, and let users over 16 turn off algorithms. The Greens, who hold the balance of power in the upper house, will push the bill to an inquiry due to report in November. Ms Wells says she expects the bill to pass before Christmas. The Coalition said it would not support the bill in its original form.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has introduced legislation to change the tax treatment of discretionary trusts, arguing they allow some wealthy people to manage their tax in ways most workers cannot. The government needs Greens support to pass the bill and is unlikely to see it passed before late 2026, as the Greens push for a Senate inquiry. Business groups say trusts have legitimate uses, while opposition leader Angus Taylor and Liberal senator Michaelia Cash say the changes would hit small businesses. Chalmers has suggested fewer than 10 per cent of small businesses would be affected.
