Australian politics live: Pauline Hanson offers qualified apologies to Albanese and Indigenous Australians over podcast comments

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Hanson offers qualified apologies to Albanese and Indigenous Australians

Well about 10 minutes after her interview on News24, Pauline Hanson has done somewhat of an about-turn and offered a qualified apology for her comments about Indigenous Australians and about Anthony Albanese’s mother – both which have been widely condemned.

Speaking to a very large crowd of journalists squeezed into the press gallery corridor, Hanson says her comments were “not distasteful” towards Albanese’s mother but then apologises.

double quotation markI don’t think my comments were derogatory towards his mother at all. I was referring to housing commission at that time. So if he’s taken offence to it, well, I’m sorry for that.

When asked about her comments on Indigenous Australians, calling them the “most primitive race” she also eventually gives a half-apology.

double quotation markAll I’ve asked is for accountability from our … governments and from our politicians to address these concerns and stop using it as a political football, and I will continue to talk about this.

If I’ve offended people by using that [word], yes, I will apologise for that.

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Updated at 23.19 EDT

Key events

Government shuts down motions on political advertising laws and veterans’ affairs

The House has been busy today with multiple suspensions of standing order motions flying around.

Independent MP Zali Steggall tried to bring on truth in political advertising laws – something she has been pushing for a while. The government in its last term had some draft laws but has basically put them on the backburner. Steggall told the House:

double quotation markAustralians will confront an information environment that is rapidly changing at extraordinary speed, Australia lacks a national truth in pol ad laws to protect voters from misinformation and disinformation during election campaigns but also from deepfake content.

The motion was shut down by the government.

Liberal MP Phil Thompson also didn’t have much luck trying to suspend standing orders to force the government to abandon a $5,000 allied health service cap for veterans. It’s an issue the Coalition have been pushing hard in QT.

The Queensland MP and veteran tells the House of veterans who have contacted him to say they’ll lose access to critical support, and calls the veterans’ affairs minister, Matt Keogh “incompetent”.

double quotation markIt’s not him who carries the coffins. I carry the coffins, veterans around the country will carry the coffins, this is incompetence from a minister who is out of his depth and laziness from a prime minister who should sack him.

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Updated at 23.54 EDT

Luca Ittimani

Canavan says Labor won’t cut far enough in migration negotiations

Matt Canavan has said the Coalition is still not willing to make a deal with Labor on migration policy as the government looks for a path to cut back.

The Nationals leader has told reporters in Canberra the talks are ongoing. He said:

double quotation markWe’ll be absolutely constructive. … What’s on the table right now, as I’ve been briefed, haven’t been involved in the direct discussions, but as I’ve been briefed, is the government is still not serious about bringing these numbers down and therefore, it’s not something we can support.

Canavan accused the government of failing to reach a position internally.

double quotation markI think I’ve counted, in reports now, six cabinet meeting that have dealt with migration policy. Tony Burke’s being rolled six times.

He said the Coalition was committed to maintaining access to working holiday maker visas and did not want to revise the UK or New Zealand free trade deals, which had contributed to the easy access for overseas backpackers.

One Nation is proposing severe cuts to migration, capping international student visa grants in Australia to 115,000 a year and refusing entry to their families. About 680,000 international students studied in Australia between January and May this year.

When asked, Canavan said he had no specific issue with One Nation’s proposal and believed student numbers had to be cut, adding the Coalition would have more to say on the issue.

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Updated at 23.48 EDT

Benita Kolovos

Victorian premier announces review of Western Renewables Link

The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has issued a statement just hours after fronting the media to confirm a pause of compulsory reacquisitions while the cost of the Western Renewables Link is reviewed.

The Western Renewables Link, a major transmission project managed by AusNet, links Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west and is due to be completed in 2029. But opposition to the project has been on display for five years near Daylesford in central Victoria, where a farmer sprayed “piss off AusNet” on to a hillside.

In the statement, Carroll said the project was planned “almost 10 years ago and Victorian consumers deserve updated, transparent costings”.

He said an immediate, independent assessment will be complete by the end of the year, and its findings will be made public:

double quotation markAs it moves along this considered process, Minister Jaclyn Symes has spoken with VicGrid and can reassure the community that no compulsory acquisitions will occur during this time.

Carroll also thanked Labor MPs Martha Haylett, Michaela Settle and Steve McGhie for “their advocacy on behalf of locals on this issue” and said they had “made it crystal clear to me that locals want transparency on this project”. Their respective seats of Ripon, Eureka and Melton are under threat from One Nation and the Coalition, who have already committed to reviewing the transmission project.

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Updated at 23.45 EDT

Henry Belot

Public sector union calls for more detail over NDIA redundancies plan

The Community and Public Sector Union, which represents NDIA staff, has expressed concern about the agency’s voluntary redundancy plan.

The union’s national president, Beth Vincent-Pietsch, says the union is yet to receive details on how many jobs the NIDA would like to see made redundant.

double quotation markThe CPSU remains concerned that the government has not provided enough detail about how many jobs will be cut in the NDIA or where those cuts will fall.

And we are also deeply concerned for the public sector workers left behind, who will face heavier workloads and greater pressure while the agency continues to spend taxpayer money on expensive labour hire firms.

The NDIA has been contacted for comment.

In an email to staff, the NDIA’s chief executive, Graeme Head, said the voluntary redundancies were necessary as its staffing costs were higher than the government’s allocated budget.

He said decisions about redundancies would consider the agency’s “workforce capacity” and its “priority areas”, including service delivery.

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Updated at 23.30 EDT

Henry Belot

NDIA announces voluntary redundancies for first time since creation

The National Disability Insurance Agency has announced voluntary redundancies for the first time since its creation in 2013.

The job cuts were announced by the NDIA’s chief executive, Graeme Head, on Monday with staff to be provided with more detailed information in group sessions over coming weeks.

In an email to staff, Head did not state how many redundancies would ultimately be approved.

Head said the NDIA’s “staffing level is slightly above the level provided for in the budget”. He also revealed the NDIA has limited recruitment to critical roles since July.

double quotation markIn a first for the NDIA, we are also opening voluntary redundancy expressions of interest for eligible APS employees.

The voluntary redundancy expression of interest process is just one of the ways we can manage our workforce capacity and direct our resources to priority areas, while supporting service delivery (...) and critical reform work.

To save money, the NDIA has also announced a “mobility register”, which allows staff to be moved to other sections of the organisation that may be understaffed.

The expression of interest period for redundancies is open until 16 October. Decisions will be made according to the NDIA’s “business and workforce needs” along with “workforce priorities and organisational capacity”.

The NDIA was contacted for a response, including for detail on how many voluntary redundancies would be accepted.

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Updated at 23.27 EDT

‘We never spoke about a gas reservation policy’: Hanson denies Guardian report

Pauline Hanson says her party has “never” spoken about a gas reservation policy, after my colleague Sarah Martin published a story this morning that One Nation quietly dropped the plan.

She tells the press gallery her policy was to adopt a Norwegian-style equity share on gas production.

Unfortunately for Hanson, the internet exists.

Here she is in March introducing a bill for a 15% gas reserve – in a social media post on One Nation’s account.

And even a quick look at One Nation’s own website shows it was once on the table:

double quotation markOne Nation has previously considered an East Coast gas reservation policy. However, through consultation with industry and stakeholders, it became clear that it fell short of our policy objectives.

Hanson tells the press gallery:

double quotation markWe never spoke about a gas reservation policy. We spoke about the government having a, like Norwegian gas over there, that they play a part in the exploration plus the development of the gas. The gas reservation policy that the government is advocating at 20% is not going to work.

But that is still under consultation with these companies to ensure that we utilise our resources to the best of our abilities, without the multinationals taking a lot out of this country, which both political parties have allowed to happen, and we have not had our returns on our resources.

She looks physically uncomfortable as she answers and then shortly after ends the press conference.

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Updated at 23.14 EDT

Hanson offers qualified apologies to Albanese and Indigenous Australians

Well about 10 minutes after her interview on News24, Pauline Hanson has done somewhat of an about-turn and offered a qualified apology for her comments about Indigenous Australians and about Anthony Albanese’s mother – both which have been widely condemned.

Speaking to a very large crowd of journalists squeezed into the press gallery corridor, Hanson says her comments were “not distasteful” towards Albanese’s mother but then apologises.

double quotation markI don’t think my comments were derogatory towards his mother at all. I was referring to housing commission at that time. So if he’s taken offence to it, well, I’m sorry for that.

When asked about her comments on Indigenous Australians, calling them the “most primitive race” she also eventually gives a half-apology.

double quotation markAll I’ve asked is for accountability from our … governments and from our politicians to address these concerns and stop using it as a political football, and I will continue to talk about this.

If I’ve offended people by using that [word], yes, I will apologise for that.

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Updated at 23.19 EDT

Lisa Cox

Tuvalu’s climate minister says ‘pushing people to move is not a solution’ for island nation

Tuvalu’s climate change and environment minister has said migration should not be considered the solution for the low-lying nation as it deals with the effects of global heating.

Speaking at The Australia Institute’s climate integrity summit in Sydney, Dr Maina Talia said the reality of the climate crisis for the small island nation “keeps me awake at night”. He said:

double quotation markEvery time we think of the climate impact in Tuvalu, we are not just simply talking about a climate rescue plan. We are thinking of the … people that [do] not want to leave.

Australia has offered up to 280 visas to Tuvaluans annually under a world first agreement as rising seas threaten the low-lying nation.

In October, world leaders will visit Tuvalu as part of preparatory events leading into Cop31. Talia said addressing Tuvalu’s “economic vulnerability” resulting from the climate crisis needed to be a priority.

double quotation markIt’s scary. Even with this issue of migration attached to the climate change narrative, it’s scary. And it’s blurry because we don’t want to encourage people to move … It’s a matter of choice.

People have the freedom to leave but that should not be the solution for climate change. Pushing people to move is not a solution.

We should not trade life with migration … that’s immoral.

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Updated at 22.39 EDT

Hanson complains about ‘dirt’ being dug up on her

Pauline Hanson is not happy about her old comments being resurfaced by the media, and says everyone is trying to drag her party down.

Her comments on Indigenous Australians were from a podcast released in September last year, while comments about Anthony Albanese’s mother from another podcast in February came to light this week – both received wide condemnation.

She claims that no other politicians have been treated the way she has.

double quotation markSomeone’s out there digging up whatever dirt that I said how many years ago … Everything that’s happening, through my office and other staffers [who] have worked in other political parties’ offices, said we’ve never, ever, ever seen anything like this. Of what they’re trying to put on to One Nation, drags down all the time. Wake up to yourselves because the real enemy there is the Albanese, Labor, Greens government.

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Updated at 22.57 EDT

‘I’ve always put my foot in my mouth’: Hanson refuses to apologise over comments on Indigenous Australians

Pauline Hanson has refused to apologise for her comments calling Indigenous Australians the “most primitive race”, and has doubled down on the claim.

She concedes she has always “put my foot in my mouth” but then tells News24 that she said in a podcast that Indigenous Australians “were” the most primitive race when Australia was colonised, and backs that comment now.

double quotation markI’ve always put my foot in my mouth and why I come out and say things. I’m not the most eloquent speaker and how I deliver something, what I say.

Host, Keiran Gilbert asks if Hanson is proud of the thousands of generations of knowledge of Indigenous communities in Australia, the oldest continuous culture on Earth.

She says it’s part of Australia’s heritage but that the “victimisation” needs to stop. She says she’s worried about Indigenous communities living in “third world conditions”.

Eventually she says she “regrets” the comments but still won’t apologise:

double quotation markWell, then I regret saying that because I don’t want to upset people. That’s not my intentions. That wasn’t my intentions to hurt people. My intentions are keeping people together. I want to address the rape that’s going on. The Indigenous, most people in their prisons, about 37% in their prisons. We’ve got alcohol abuse. We’ve got domestic violence abuse. We’ve got kids in poverty.

Here is more on Hanson’s comments:

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Updated at 22.30 EDT

Hanson denies migration plan will send country into recession

Pauline Hanson has pushed back against criticism that One Nation has released a migration policy without costings or detail, and says she doesn’t believe the plan will punt the country into recession.

Speaking to News24 in a live interview – her first time talking about the policy since it was released yesterday – Hanson says she’s “sick of listening” to bureaucrats and big business.

Hanson says Australia is in a per capita recession – which is true – but can’t explain how her plan of removing migrants from the country will fix that. She adds that she doesn’t trust economists.

double quotation markDo you trust these economists what they come out and say? Because I don’t. I don’t believe they always get it right as well.

By taking the migration figures back to 2017, did the economy crash at that time? No, they didn’t … I’m concerned about the 150,000 plus people that are living homeless in their cars, in tents, couch surfing, and all the rest of it.

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Updated at 22.33 EDT

Taylor says One Nation’s comments fail ‘basic test on decency’

Sarah Basford Canales

Angus Taylor has praised his colleagues, including Andrew Hastie, for holding One Nation to account in recent weeks, saying the Pauline Hanson-led party’s comments “do not meet the basic test on decency”.

In a party room briefing this morning, Taylor mentioned clashes with One Nation by Hastie, Garth Hamilton and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in response to controversial comments.

double quotation markThe test will always be decency, and One Nation’s comments do not meet the basic test on decency.

The deputy opposition leader, Jane Hume, delivered a similar message to colleagues, saying commentary claiming there are no good Muslims, disparaging veterans, attacking people’s families and circumstances, and attacking Indigenous Australians is “unacceptable”.

Hume also appears to have floated a catchy slogan for her Victorian party counterparts. The senator questioned how One Nation could “run a campaign to fire a liar, and then ask Victorians to hire a liar”, referring to the party’s state leader, Warren Pickering.

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Updated at 22.15 EDT

Victorian Labor struggling to turn election tide under new premier, new polling shows

Support for Victoria’s Labor government securing a fourth term remains stuck at one in four voters, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor conducted last week and published by Nine Newspapers on Tuesday.

With Victorians headed to the polls in November, Labor and the Coalition have been duking it out in recent weeks over potholes, road and train upgrades, a secret public transport levy, crime and free dental clinics.

Labor’s primary vote was steady at 25%, the Coalition’s pushed up one point to 27% and One Nation remained at 23%.

With state net debt forecast to hit almost $200bn by 2030, Victorians (72%) more commonly expressed worry about debt levels than residents in other states such as NSW (67%) and Queensland (63%).

Almost half of respondents preferred to pause Suburban Rail Loop East rather than keep tunnelling, while 35% backed Labor’s $230m free dental care plan compared with 43% who reckoned it was not worth the cost and should not proceed.

The poll showed primary support for the Greens was 12%, while independents scooped up 8%.

The Victorian Coalition needs to hold all of its current lower house seats and win at least 16 more to govern alone.

– AAP

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Updated at 21.59 EDT

Tom McIlroy

Albanese to head to US to launch’s Australia’s bid for UN security council seat

Anthony Albanese is headed to the US this week, and has told Labor MPs he will launch Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations security council in New York.

The prime minister departs Australia on Friday and will take part in the annual UN general assembly, and receive a global citizen award from the Atlantic Council. Other honorees in the awards include Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, the chief executive of Formula One, Stefano Domenicali, and Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked star and Academy Award-nominated actor.

During the visit, Albanese will stop at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino in California to talk about technology and government regulation.

Albanese is expected to catch up with a series of world leaders, including the US president, Donald Trump, and the UK prime minister, Andy Burnham.

Australia is running for one of the two non-permanent seats on the UN security council for the 2029–2030 term. The election is due to take place in June 2028.

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Updated at 21.55 EDT

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