Australia politics live: Cheney pushes bill to ban AI child abuse apps; Georgie Purcell announces pregnancy with Labor's Josh Burns

The Guardian

27-07-2025

Update:
Date: 2025-07-27T21:23:50.000Z
Title: Emma McBride
Content: The government has said the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is 'not a bargaining chip' as it introduced legislation to fulfil its election promise of making PBS prescription medicines cheaper.
Last week the government announced some regulations would be lifted to allow more beef from the US to be imported to Australia, something the Trump administration had been publicly calling for.
Labor said biosecurity laws wouldn't be weakened in the process, and said there was no coincidence in the timing of the ten year review with the US administration's calls.
The US pharmaceutical lobby has been calling for the Trump administration to also slap tariffs on the PBS.
Assistant minister for mental health, told ABC News Breakfast this morning the government's position that the PBS isn't on the negotiating table, hasn't changed.
The PBS is not up for negotiation, it is not a bargaining chip. Labor introduced the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to make sure that essential medicines were available to all Australians.
Update:
Date: 2025-07-27T21:23:50.000Z
Title: Anthony Albanese
Content: The government will progress another of its election commitments this week, introducing legislation into parliament for cheaper medicines on the PBS.
Fulfilling a key campaign pledge, the new legislation will mean prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be capped at $25 from January.
The government has spruiked this as a key cost of living measure, building on a similar measure introduced in 2023. The change will mean a 20% cut in the maximum cost of medications on the PBS, which Labor says will save $200 million per year.
Prime minister said:
The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your healthcare. My Government will continue to deliver cost of living relief for all Australians.
Health minister Mark Butler added:
Cheaper medicines are good for the hip pocket and good for your health.
For general patients medicines haven't been this cheap since 2004.
Update:
Date: 2025-07-27T21:23:50.000Z
Title: MPs Georgie Purcell and Josh Burns announce pregnancy
Content: Victorian upper house MP Georgie Purcell has announced she is expecting a baby girl in early 2026 with her partner, federal Labor MP Josh Burns.
Purcell, an MLC for the Animal Justice party representing the northern Victorian region, made the announcement on social media on Sunday night and said she will still be contesting the 2026 state election. She wrote:
I'll be working right up until the end of the parliamentary year, and I'll return to sitting weeks as usual in February, with every intention to campaign and contest the 2026 election. I am more committed to animals, people and the planet than ever before, and this is just one more path I am choosing. And I am ready to call out any suggestion otherwise. Not just for me, but for everybody else who may face conscious or unconscious bias when choosing to have a career and a family.
She also shared that due to her autoimmune condition, she is considered a high-risk pregnancy and will require weekly hospital visits.
Purcell said while 'two members from two different parliaments having a baby is a bit unique, and there is bound to be interest in it' they have requested respect and privacy. She wrote:
While we are indeed in public life, pregnancy is an incredibly personal experience, so I ask that we're granted respect and privacy just like anybody else (but I do look forward to sharing the parts with you that we are willing to share).
Burns also posted on social media:
Georgie and I are so excited to share with you that we're expecting a baby girl in the very first few days of 2026. Our little baby already has the most excited and loving big sister in Tia. And she'll have a home full of animals, love, and fun.
Next year, my team and I will keep working hard for the community we love, but I also plan on being a present and involved dad every step of the way.
The couple made their official public debut at Canberra's 2024 Midwinter Ball. You can read more about them in this profile on Purcell from January:
Update:
Date: 2025-07-27T21:23:50.000Z
Title: Good morning
Content: Krishani Dhanji here with you, and we are locked in for another busy sitting week here in Canberra.
Independent MP Kate Chaney will introduce a new bill today targeting AI tools that create or facilitate the production of child sexual abuse material.
It's not too often you get really happy news around parliament, but Victorian MP Georgie Purcell and federal Labor MP Josh Burns are expecting a baby together. Purcell shared the news on her social media – we'll have more details on that shortly.
And the government's childcare bill will continue its passage through parliament this week. Guardian Australia has new data showing the depth of reports of abuse in childcare centres – you can read that report here.