Labor MPs urge time limit on welfare debts after $1.1b reboot
The Australian Financial Review revealed this week the Albanese government is considering forgiving 160,000 historical debts despite a court ruling they could be recalculated and recouped.
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AU Financial Review
20 minutes ago
- AU Financial Review
Uber drivers fail to reclaim gig work under new labour laws
The Fair Work Commission has refused to reinstate an Uber driver to the ride-sharing platform, despite labelling the company's emails to the driver 'inane' and 'mind-numbing'. No gig economy worker has successfully used the Albanese government's 'unfair deactivation' regime to overturn their sacking from a digital platform in the five months since the laws came into effect.
Perth Now
20 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Latham portrait stays on the hook in Labor party room
A picture of former Labor leader Mark Latham will keep hanging in the party's caucus room as he faces domestic violence allegations. Mr Latham is accused by his former partner Nathalie Matthews of a "sustained pattern" of abuse. Her allegations include he pressured her to take part in "degrading" sex acts. Mr Latham strongly denies the untested claims made in a civil court apprehended violence order application by Ms Matthews, saying he has "broken no laws". Calls have grown since the allegations were raised for his official portrait in Labor's federal party room to be removed. But a Labor caucus meeting on Monday was told a "unanimous consensus position" had been reached where the photo would remain, but with a caption providing context. The words will read: "In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand." Mr Latham sits as an independent in the NSW upper house and faces calls to resign over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to his former partner while sitting in the chamber of parliament. The decision to add context to Mr Latham's portrait was the right one, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said. "It's finding the balance, you can't erase history, we can't pretend he wasn't our leader, he was and so there he sits in the leaders' timeline," she told reporters in Canberra."But it's a recognition ... his behaviour and attitudes don't reflect the modern Australian Labor Party." Senator Gallagher said the wording allowed people to feel something had been done. "It will exist there forever on our leaders wall," she said. "It's a pretty strong statement." Mr Latham lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard. The campaign was marked by his aggressive handshake with Mr Howard outside the ABC's radio studios on election-eve. The infamous episode was largely blamed for his election defeat and delivered the Howard government a fourth term. The Federal Court in 2024 ordered Mr Latham pay independent NSW politician Alex Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a homophobic social media post. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Sky News AU
34 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Top European general warns Albanese government over defence spending in face of China threat
A top military general in Europe has warned the Albanese government it needs to raise its defence capability in the face of ever-growing threats in the Pacific. Dutch General Onno Eichelsheim, visiting Australia for the annual Talisman Sabre war games hosted by the Australian Defence Force, said Australia needs to 'seriously' prepare for war. The Netherlands was among the swathe of NATO nations that recently lifted their military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. The Dutch defence chief said the Netherlands had responded to Russia's increased aggression in Europe and that countries in the Indo-Pacific must be wary of China as well. 'You should look at the facts that are around you … if Russia tells us that they want to have more influence, than take that seriously,' he said. 'And if you see in this case in this region - China building up - take it seriously and get ready for something that you hope will never happen. 'But if you prepare for war, you can avoid war and that's how we look at it.' General Eichelsheim said it was 'not about the percentage' but about the 'capabilities', a notion the Albanese government has openly expressed. However, the Dutch general insisted Australia needed to lift its capabilities and spending to ensure it could defend itself from a threat. Australia's defence budget has been forecast to reach only 2.33 per cent of GDP by 2033, which has frustrated the Trump administration. The Trump administration has been publicly frustrated by the Albanese government's resistance to increasing defence spending to 3.5 per cent requested by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
