PM defends going to $10,000 dinner in Perth

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Topic: Government and Politics

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was right to go to a $10,000‑per‑person fundraising dinner in Perth before a cabinet meeting.

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By Joshua Boscaini

The energy minister said Labor will make one law for AI that covers copyright, security and skill training.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will create a national plan for AI.

Chris Bowen said the government is working on a "full package" for parliament.

He said the government will try to pass the law even though Queensland and the Northern Territory disagree.

"Like all laws, Commonwealth law would apply across the country," Bowen said.

"The constitution says if a Commonwealth law and a state law clash, the Commonwealth law wins," he added.

By Joshua Boscaini

Energy Minister Chris Bowen held a press conference in Perth where the federal cabinet met today.

The minister was asked if Australia’s energy plan can meet data‑centre needs.

Data centres may use as much electricity by 2036 as all homes in NSW and Victoria use today, the market operator predicts.

Bowen told reporters in Perth he believes Australia can meet data‑centre demand if policies are right.

"If we don’t, the answer is no. If we do, we can make sure data centres help Australia and Australians," Bowen said.

"That’s why new data centres must bring their own renewable power, backed by gas. It is a sensible, common‑sense plan," he added.

He criticized the Queensland government for opposing Labor’s plan to use renewables for new data centres.

By Joshua Boscaini

South Australian Greens senator Barbara Pocock said she will not run for a second term in the 2028 election.

Pocock, first elected in 2022, was the Greens’ housing and homelessness spokesperson.

She said she decided not to run again because her partner was recently diagnosed with cancer.

"After thinking a lot, I have decided not to seek preselection for a second Senate term," Pocock said.

"It is personal: my partner has brain cancer. Even though his outlook is good, I feel running again is not right for me," she explained.

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By Joshua Boscaini

Barnaby Joyce said One Nation would keep the 12% minimum super contribution if it formed government.

One Nation wants people in financial trouble to be able to apply for early super access.

Joyce told News24 that super funds should be put into projects that give the best returns for members.

"Your super is safe with One Nation. It is at risk with Labor. Don’t judge it by talk, judge it by record," Joyce said.

By Stephen Dziedzic

China’s new ambassador to Australia arrived in Sydney yesterday.

In his upbeat arrival statement, Liu Jinsong said there are "no historical grievances" and "no fundamental conflicts of interest" between the two countries.

China’s political culture differs from Australia’s, and Chinese officials can sometimes seem a bit formal to Australians.

The new ambassador wants to show an open, friendly image and stresses the importance of personal ties between the nations.

He also said he loves exploring Australia and meeting its people, and he travelled from Sydney to Canberra by bus, not by plane or car.

"I travelled by bus from Sydney to Canberra, chatting and enjoying time with ordinary Australians," he said.

"Good relations need the affection between peoples," he added.

By Stephen Dziedzic

Australian officials said they are upset by the Trump administration’s attacks on the International Criminal Court, even though federal ministers have stayed quiet.

The government is quietly keeping contact with Australians working at the ICC who might be targeted by future US sanctions, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised to increase his campaign to "dismantle" the court.

The Trump administration has already sanctioned several ICC lawyers, and last week Rubio announced new sanctions on ICC president Tomoko Akane, a Japanese citizen, and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, who is Senegalese.

Read the full story from foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic in the link below.

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By Joshua Boscaini

Anthony Albanese said migration policy will not be discussed at today’s cabinet meeting in Perth.

The PM said the cabinet will finish work on national standards for data centres, which he will bring to the national cabinet.

"That is the main agenda. There are other items, but we do not talk about them now," Albanese said.

"We have many plans. There is more work to do, and we will make announcements at the right time," he added.

By Joshua Boscaini

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said data centres need a social licence and must add power to the grid.

The prime minister will speak at a Business Council of Australia dinner tonight, where he is expected to talk about artificial intelligence.

"They must add energy to the grid, not just use power that could be used for other things and raise electricity bills for others," Albanese said.

"We must get energy right, water right, and location right as well," he added.

By Joshua Boscaini

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked about a fundraising dinner he attended in Perth.

The Australian Financial Review reported the PM held a $10,000‑per‑person dinner at Mosman Park in Perth’s wealthy western suburbs.

When asked what donors receive for the dinner, Albanese said they get "engagement".

"They want to help the political process. That is part of the process," Albanese said.

"We are open. No donor gives us a plane worth millions. We do not have a single benefactor like some other parties do," he said.

By Joshua Boscaini

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke to ABC Radio Perth about his promise to keep Western Australia’s GST share unchanged.

Yesterday, Albanese said there would be no change to WA’s GST deal after a report suggested scrapping it.

The prime minister said WA is an engine of the national economy and the Commonwealth wants to support its role.

"It is fair that WA gets its share, and the Commonwealth must also help other states," Albanese said.

"GST will not change. I have made that very clear," he added.

By Joshua Boscaini

Two federal MPs condemned video that seemed to show Richmond football players copying scenes linked to the Sydney Swans sexual‑assault claims.

The video appears to show a Tigers player pulling down his shorts and covering his mouth as another shirtless player hits him on the buttocks four times.

Liberal MP Aaron Violi said the video is "disturbing" and "very inappropriate".

"At the end of the season players can relax, but they should do it in a more appropriate way," Violi said.

"They are in the spotlight, role models, and this was not the right behaviour," he added.

Labor MP Dan Repacholi said it was not the right image.

"This is ridiculous, especially with the Swans sexual‑assault allegations happening now," Repacholi said.

"Mocking and joking like this is not the right look for AFL or anyone," he said.

By Jack McKay

Anthony Albanese faces more pressure from Labor and Liberal states to change the GST split after he said he would keep WA’s lucrative deal.

The prime minister promised on Monday not to change the 2018 agreement that increased WA’s share of GST revenue.

This was despite a Productivity Commission report urging the government to scrap the deal, saying it cost billions more than expected and increased inequality between states.

Read the full story from political reporter Jack McKay in the link below.

By Joshua Boscaini

Dan Tehan said the Coalition is willing to work with the federal government on rules for data centre energy use.

Federal Labor expects to finalise new data‑centre energy rules at Wednesday’s national cabinet, despite Queensland’s opposition.

Queensland and the Northern Territory said they will not join a rule that ties data centres to renewable projects and excludes coal and gas.

The shadow energy minister told ABC Radio National Breakfast that the Coalition has shown it can work with the government on NDIS and gambling ads.

"We need the government to sit with us and say they are ready to work together for the national interest on key principles," Tehan said.

"So far the government has not done that, but we have made it clear we are ready," he added.

By Joshua Boscaini

Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan said he believes his home state Victoria is getting a fair share of GST revenue.

The Productivity Commission’s interim GST report found the split cost the federal budget $23 billion in six years, with $22 billion going to WA.

Tehan told ABC Radio National Breakfast that Victoria must use its own resources to grow its economy.

"Victoria has locked down its resources and cannot develop like before," he said.

By Joshua Boscaini

Madeleine King said the Productivity Commission’s interim GST report offered no half‑measures.

The report found the WA deal from eight years ago is costly and unfair and needs to be changed.

But in Perth yesterday, Prime Minister Albanese repeated that WA’s GST deal will stay the same while he is prime minister.

The resources minister, a WA MP, told ABC Radio National Breakfast that WA’s suggestions were not mentioned in the commission’s report.

"Anyone across the country would think the state most affected by the proposed changes would be mentioned in the report, but it is barely mentioned," King said.

"That is a problem," she added.

By Marina Freri

Prominent WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie said his party is fighting for its life in the upcoming Secret Harbour by‑election.

"We are fighting for our lives and must win every vote in Secret Harbour," Hastie told 7.30.

Hastie, whose electorate of Canning includes parts of Secret Harbour, warned Liberal leader Basil Zempilas not to be soft in the campaign.

"I do not accept the idea that a One Nation win is a win for the Liberal Party," Hastie said.

"Zempilas said a One Nation win would be an opportunity. I see no such thing. We must fight to win every contest, or not contest at all," Hastie added.

"The 2021 state election taught us not to wave a white flag. Voters sense weakness and back the stronger party," he said.

"People in my area are turning to One Nation because of a housing crisis. Major parties need to do a better job helping people," Hastie said.

"If you visit the beach in my electorate, you will see people sleeping in cars because they cannot find a home, and that frustrates them," he explained.

He said the state Liberal Party had time to prepare for the by‑election and should support its candidate against One Nation.

"We have known about this by‑election since December. I announced in my Canning division in January that we should expect a by‑election, so we have had time to prepare," he said.

By Stephen Dziedzic

China’s new ambassador to Australia has taken an upbeat tone after arriving in Sydney to start his posting.

Liu Jinsong replaces Xiao Qian, who left Canberra last month after more than four years in the role.

Liu previously led the Chinese foreign ministry’s Asia department and has served in Thailand, the UK and Japan.

After landing in Sydney, where a small group welcomed him, he gave a brief, lyrical statement.

The ambassador said people in Australia and China share a "resilient and self‑reliant spirit" and dream of "a beautiful and happy life".

He also said he wants ordinary people in both countries to benefit more from the relationship, adding that "the bonds between states lie in the closeness of the people".

"International relationships need mutual respect, equality, and common ground while accepting differences," he said.

"Next year China and Australia will mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations," he noted.

"Both sides should respect each other’s core interests and major concerns and work to grow the cake of mutual benefit," he said.

He added that handling differences well and managing expectations is "crucial" for the relationship.

Key Event

By Joshua Boscaini

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor appeared on Channel Seven after falling during a 1,000‑km fundraising bike ride for veterans.

He took a light jab at the PM, saying he is not in denial about his fall and that it is "important to fess up".

Back to the issues, the opposition leader was asked about the Coalition’s migration policy.

The issue rose after One Nation MP David Farley told ABC Insiders that the party’s migration cuts put it at a level "not too different" from the government’s, about 230,000 per year.

Pauline Hanson later said One Nation’s net migration target would be 130,000, "less than half" of Labor’s current level.

Taylor said the Coalition’s migration policy will link migration numbers to housing supply, and the opposition’s target could be "well below" 200,000.

"We must match the number of people coming in with the number of houses being built. I expect it will be well below 200,000," Taylor said.

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It is great to have you join us early this Tuesday morning.

I am Josh Boscaini, live from Parliament House in Canberra, ready to bring you today’s federal politics news.

The prime minister will give a speech to the Business Council of Australia’s annual dinner tonight.

We expect Albanese’s speech to focus on artificial intelligence before a national cabinet meeting this week.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says the Coalition’s migration target, tied to house building, will be well below 200,000.

Let’s get into the day and see what happens!

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