Latest news with #KateChaney
West Australian
2 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Australian news and politics live: Independent MP Chaney to introduce Bill to ban AI child sexual abuse apps
Scroll down for the latest news and updates. Independent MP Kate Chaney will today introduce a bill to outlaw technology that assists in the creation of child sexual abuse material. Under the bill it would be an offence to posess AI tools designed for the sole purpose of creating child sexual abuse material. 'This is a clear gap in our Criminal Code that I think we need to be able to respond quickly on so we can make sure we're keeping kids safe,' she said on ABC. 'Currently, possession of these images is illegal, but it's not illegal to possess these particular types of AI tools that are designed for the sole purpose of creating child sexual abuse material. 'So, it means that perpetrators can generate the material using images of real children, delete the images, and then recreate them whenever they want and avoid detection. 'This bill is focused on making it illegal to download these tools that are designed to create this material.' Ms Chaney said action was needed now. 'The challenge that we have is that we're creating a lot of reports and consultations, and the technology is moving so fast, so I think there's a need for urgent action on this. 'We need to be able to plug the gaps as we go, while addressing the broad issues about how we're going to encourage take-up of AI for its productivity benefits but creating appropriate guardrails so that people can have faith in it.'. Australians will pay no more than $25 for selected medicines for the first time in more than 20 years under a proposal to be brought before parliament. It will be the second cap on medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) introduced by the Albanese government in three years, after it cut the maximum price of PBS prescriptions from $42.50 to $30. 'The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your health care,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. 'My government will continue to deliver cost-of-living relief for all Australians.' PBS medicines would be capped at $7.70 for pensioners and concession card holders until 2030. The bill's introduction is largely a formality, with its passage through the lower house all but assured thanks to Labor's massive 94-seat majority in the 150-seat House of Representatives. Read the story West is best again in economic circles but big gains made on the other side of the Nullarbor have surprised economists and left eastern states languishing. A boost in housing construction has propelled South Australia to second position, above Queensland and Victoria, in CommSec's latest State of the States report released on Monday. Western Australia remains the nation's top performer for the fourth straight quarter with strong returns on retail spending and business investment, but an upheaval could be on the horizon. 'We are seeing Western Australia lose a little bit of momentum,' CommSec chief economist Ryan Felsman told AAP. 'It's been growing at a breakneck speed the last two or three years, and the reason for that is population growth has been the highest for some time.' Read the story A plan to boost the number of fully bulk-billing general practice clinics is likely to fall dramatically short of forecasts, a healthcare directory operator warns. Labor's $7.9 billion plan to expand the Bulk Billing Incentive Program to include non-concession patients projected the number of fully bulk-billing GP clinics to rise to 4800. But healthcare directory operator Cleanbill estimates the number of entirely bulk-billing clinics will rise by just 740 to 2081 because incentive payments will not cover consultation costs for certain clinics. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler slammed the report as inaccurate and fundamentally flawed. 'This is a headline-grabbing phone poll conducted by a private company whose own website says their data is not 'reliable, accurate, complete or suitable',' Mr Butler said in a statement. 'For the first time, Labor will expand bulk-billing incentives to all Australians and create an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Bill to criminalise AI child abuse apps to be introduced to parliament
A bill to criminalise the use of AI tools purpose-built to create child sexual abuse material is set to be introduced to parliament. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who will introduce the bill, says the urgent issue cannot wait for the government's wider response to artificial intelligence. While it is an offence to possess or share child abuse material, there is no criminal prohibition on downloading or distributing the wave of emerging AI generators designed to create the illegal material. The tools are becoming easier to access online, with some of the most popular visited millions of times. Their spread is diverting police resources and allowing material to be created offline, where it is harder to track. A roundtable convened last week to address the issue recommended swift action to make the tools illegal, prompting Ms Chaney's bill. "[This] clearly needs to be done urgently and I can't see why we need to wait to respond to this really significant and quite alarming issue," Ms Chaney said. "I recognise the challenges of regulating AI — the technology is changing so fast it's hard to even come up with a workable definition of AI — but while we are working on that holistic approach, there are gaps in our existing legislation we can plug to address the highest-risk-use cases like this, so we can continue to build trust in AI." Ms Chaney said she had met with Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, who she said recognised there was a gap in the law. The MP for Curtin's bill would create a new offence for using a carriage service to download, access, supply or facilitate technologies that are designed to create child abuse material. A new offence for scraping or distributing data with the intention of training or creating those tools would also be created. The offences would carry a maximum 15-year term of imprisonment. A public defence would be available for law enforcement, intelligence agencies and others with express authorisation to be able to investigate child abuse cases. "There are a few reasons we need this," Ms Chaney said. "These tools enable the on-demand, unlimited creation of this type of material, which means perpetrators can train AI tools with images of a particular child, delete the offending material so they can't be detected, and then still be able to generate material with word prompts. "It also makes police work more challenging. It is [getting] harder to identify real children who are victims. "And every AI abuse image starts with photos of a real child, so a child is harmed somewhere in the process." The federal government continues to develop its response to the explosion in the use of AI tools, including by enabling the tools where they are productive and useful. It is yet to respond to a major review of the Online Safety Act handed to the government last year, which also recommended that so-called "nudify" apps be criminalised. Members of last week's roundtable said there was no public benefit to consider in the case of these child abuse generators, and there was no reason to wait for a whole-of-economy response to criminalise them. Former police detective inspector Jon Rouse, who participated in that roundtable, said Ms Chaney's bill addressed an urgent legislative gap. "While existing Australian legislation provides for the prosecution of child sexual abuse material production, it does not yet address the use of AI in generating such material," Professor Rouse said. Colm Gannon, Australian chief of the International Centre for Mission and Exploited Children, said there was a strong consensus that the AI tools had no place in society and Ms Chaney's bill was a "clear and targeted step to close an urgent gap". In a statement, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the foremost priority of any government was "to keep our most vulnerable safe". "As Attorney-General, I am fully committed to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse in all settings, including online, and the government has a robust legislative framework in place to support this," Ms Rowland said. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics, and the government will carefully consider any proposal that aims to strengthen our responses to child sexual exploitation and abuse." Ms Chaney said regulating AI must become a priority for the government this term. "This is going to have to be an urgent focus for this government, regulating the AI space," she said. "Existing laws do apply to AI, and so we need to plug the gaps in those so they continue to be fit-for-purpose. "We do also need a coordinated approach and a holistic approach so we can balance individual rights with productivity, global governance and trust in information and institutions. "The challenge is the technology moves fast and government does not move fast, so we need to get it right but we also need to plug these gaps as they appear. An inquiry established by former industry minister Ed Husic last year recommended the government take the strongest option in regulating AI by creating standalone laws that could adapt to the rapidly shifting technology.
ABC News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Fremantle and Bullwinkel the two seats to watch in Western Australia post-election
As counting in Western Australia continues, everything has come down to two seats that are neck-and-neck — Fremantle and Bullwinkel. Unlike 2022, WA won't determine the outcome of the election — that is done and dusted — but both seats give unique insight into what voters were thinking about. As election night drew to a close, there were five seats yet to be resolved. Voters elected Kate Chaney to a second term in parliament. ( ABC News: Jake Sturmer ) But as Sunday morning unfolded in the west, it was confirmed the seat of Curtin would remain in the hands of teal independent Kate Chaney after she fended off close competition from Liberal candidate Tom White. The seat, which encompasses Perth's affluent western coastal suburbs, was taken off the Liberals in 2022 for only the second time in its long history. Ben Small is taking over from Liberal retiring MP Nola Marino. ( ABC News: Kate Forrester ) The seat of Forrest, which encompasses most of WA's South West region, was also decided on Sunday afternoon for the Liberals' Ben Small, who took over from retiring MP Nola Marino. But the big surprise was electrician-turned-lawyer Tom French snatching the northern Perth coastal seat of Moore for Labor from the Liberals. In fact, Labor's primary vote increased across key seats many thought were in play this election. But whether Moore will be an overall gain in representation for the ALP in the west comes down to what happens in the two seats left down to the wire. Fremantle The federal seat of Fremantle was historically a safe Labor seat, held by a pantheon of famous Labor names including John Curtin and Kim Beazley Sr. Kate Hulett is proving to be a challenge for Labor's hopes in Fremantle. ( ABC News: Courtney Withers ) That is until Climate-200 backed independent and Fremantle businesswoman Kate Hulett came onto the scene, firstly at the state election just two months ago, when she almost defeated a Labor minister. On election night, Labor's Josh Wilson looked set to soar through based on first preference votes – but that has drastically changed with preferences kicking in and boosting Ms Hulett's considerable vote, which was much higher than her Liberal challenger. Labor incumbent Josh Wilson is hoping for a fourth term as the member for Fremantle. ( ABC News: Courtney Withers ) As of Monday morning, Ms Hulett was leading by just a handful of votes. Bullwinkel Meanwhile, across the other side of the city, another story is playing out in the seat of Bullwinkel — the only new electorate added this election. Bullwinkel encompasses farming towns, the luscious Perth hills communities and the Perth metropolitan urban fringe. The three-way race in Bullwinkel is now down to two, with Labor's Trish Cook against the Liberal candidate. ( ABC News: Courtney Withers ) It was touted as a three-way tie between the Liberals Matt Moran, Labor's Trish Cook and the Nationals Mia Davies, who is a former leader of her state party. Photo shows A mural of two sheep painted on a brick wall. The three-way contest for Bullwinkel — Australia's newest electorate — is shaping up as a fiercely fought battle. But it was clear on election night Ms Davies wasn't going to make it, and preferences have put Mr Moran and Ms Cook neck and neck. As of Monday morning, Labor was ever so slightly ahead, but with an overall swing to the Liberals. "As a midwife, I'm used to waiting," Ms Cook quipped. The heat is being felt on the other side too. "I've done a fair few things in my life and I can tell you this has been the toughest,' Mr Moran said. Labor celebrates Despite those two races, there was certainly a lot for Labor to celebrate in the west. Leading the party's celebrations in Perth on Sunday morning was a jubilant Madeleine King, the resources minister. "It's a remarkable day … what a great gang it is," she said. The party was also stoked to fend off a key seat in Perth's south the Liberals were vying for, the marginal seat of Tangney, held by dolphin trainer-turned MP Sam Lim. Results so far show Labor increasing its primary vote in Tangney by 4.9 per cent — with a cumulative swing from 2022 and 2025 now at 15 per cent. Other seats some predicted were in play this election — Hasluck and Pearce — stayed in Labor's hands, with only slight swings to the Liberals recorded in Pearce and a swing to Labor in Hasluck. Andrew Hastie — touted to be a potential future leader in the Liberals — convincingly held his seat and increased his margin to 4.7 per cent. Madeleine King is the only Labor cabinet minister from WA. ( ABC News: Lauren Smith ) Given the state's influence, Ms King — who is the sole WA representative in cabinet — thinks its high time another West Aussie joined her. "There should be more of us in cabinet," she said. With those results, she'll be arguing she has a compelling case. Read more about the federal election: Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on Loading
West Australian
04-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Federal election 2025: Liberal Tom White concedes victory to sitting teal independent Kate Chaney in Curtin
The Liberal candidate for Curtin, Tom White, has conceded victory to sitting teal independent Kate Chaney. Mr White refused to concede on election night, claiming the seat was too close to call, but on Sunday morning took to Instagram to step aside for Ms Chaney. 'I have just called Kate Chaney to concede the election in Curtin and to congratulate her on a well-deserved victory,' he wrote 'Kate and I have many differences but this is not the time to dwell on them. 'She has been an impressive and formidable opponent. I admire her team and the sincerity they have brought to the campaign, even when we've disagreed strongly. 'Defeat stings but it's much less painful than the permanent, dull ache of wondering what might have been had I never tried. 'I have no regrets.' With 76 per cent of the vote counted, Ms Chaney had secured 53.3 per cent of the two-part-preferred count. The Climate 200-backed independent went into the election with a 1.3 per cent margin after winning the seat in 2022 as part of the so-called 'teal wave'. It ended the Coalition's 23-year stranglehold on a seat that was once among its safest. The result comes as another blow for the Liberals, who lost the election and their Opposition leader, with Peter Dutton unable to secure his own seat of Dickson in Queensland. In regional WA, the party fared well with incumbent Melissa Price retaining Durack and Rick Wilson holding onto the O'Connor electorate for a fifth term.
ABC News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Here's what you should know before you vote in the 2025 federal election in WA
You can't blame West Australians for waking up with a sense of deja-vu this morning, as we prepare to vote in our second election in just eight weeks. Those who haven't already voted, that is, either by post or at a pre-poll station — and more than 400,000 of us have taken that option. In March, we voted to re-elect Labor to government in WA, with Premier Roger Cook winning a comfortable majority. This time it's the federal election and the fate of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, also Labor, is on the line. Where can I vote? If you haven't visited a pre-polling station or lodged a postal vote, today is the day. Polling stations will close at 6pm WST. ( Supplied: WA Electoral Commission ) You can find out where there's a polling station near you Polling stations open at 8am and close at 6pm . Do I need ID to vote? No. You just need to give your full name and address to the polling official who issues the ballot papers once you're asked. You'll also be asked if you've already voted in the election. Will WA votes matter? Western Australia's votes were crucial in propelling Anthony Albanese into the Lodge in 2022, with Labor picking up four seats from the Liberals. WA's emphatic support of Labor at the 2022 election handed Anthony Albanese the keys to The Lodge. ( Supplied: AlboMP Facebook Page ) It was a momentous election in which five of WA's then 15 federal seats changed hands . The Liberals lost all of them, the remaining one falling to teal independent Kate Chaney in Curtin. Kate Chaney holds the seat of Curtin by a slim margin. ( ABC News: Keane Bourke ) Whether WA's votes will have the same impact this time round depends on how the numbers are falling in the other states and territories, where polls close up to two hours earlier than ours. While Labor has emerged as a narrow favourite to win, some polls are predicting a minority government — and WA's votes could once again prove crucial. The 2025 election explained: What are the seats to watch? There are several seats that could change hands. Both Kate Chaney in Curtin and Sam Lim (ALP) in Tangney won on preferences last time on slim margins. Chaney holds a 1.3 per cent margin while Lim has a 2.8 per cent buffer. Labor's Sam Lim won the previously safe Liberal seat of Tangney at the 2022 election. ( ABC News: Courtney Withers ) Chaney is facing off against Liberal hopeful and former Uber executive Tom White, while Lim's main competitor is Liberal Howarg Ong. Election essentials: Find out where your Moore is the Liberals' most marginal seat, held by just 0.9 per cent, and here's where it gets interesting. Incumbent Ian Goodenough failed to win preselection for the party and is now running as an independent candidate against Liberal hopeful and former MP Vince Connelly. The new seat of Bullwinkel is notionally Labor, but with its complicated mix of Wheatbelt farmers and suburban families, it's hard to know who will prevail. Former Nationals WA leader Mia Davies is vying for the seat against the Liberals' Matt Moran and Labor's Trish Cook Former Nationals WA leader Mia Davies is running for the seat of Bullwinkel . ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) And outer suburban Pearce is another seat to watch, encompassing a number of areas that saw big swings against Labor at the recent state election. Our electorates are HUGE WA is divided into 16 electorates — two GINORMOUS ones, and the 14 much smaller ones centred in the Perth metro and South-West Durack is by far the biggest constituency in Australia, covering a land mass of nearly 1.4 million square kilometres, and it takes up 54 per cent of the state. The Kalumburu community in northern Western Australia is part of the vast Durack electorate. ( ABC News: Erin Parke ) It covers the entire north-west of the state, from the outer metropolitan fringe at Bullsbrook, all the way through to the northern tip of the state. O'Connor is the other huge electorate and it's also more than a million square kilometres in area, stretching from the far northern Goldfields and remote desert communities of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, through to tranquil Nannup and Bridgetown in the South-West. Read more about the federal election: Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on When will we know the election result? That's a difficult question to answer. In some years, the result has been known before we've even finished voting in the west, thanks to that two-hour time difference with the east coast. That seems unlikely this time, and if it's closer than expected, the make-up of a potentially minority government could take days to determine. Having trouble seeing this form? Try Loading
