Albanese defends gambling reforms, says he’s ‘not against someone having a punt’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, defended the gambling reforms on ABC Radio Sydney this morning, stating that in some respects they go “further” than the recommendations of the Peta Murphy report.
He described the reforms as part of a “comprehensive approach” addressing online gambling and overseas gambling among other issues, adding:
“This has been worked through in a comprehensive way. It was only introduced yesterday morning. There was never any consideration of it passing yesterday, in a day. That’s not what happens. And there’ll be an inquiry, which is absolutely fine and normal process.”
When questioned about criticisms that the reforms do not go far enough, Albanese responded:
“I think we have gone far enough. I think we’ve got the balance right between … an absolute ban across the board.
I’m not against someone having a punt on a Saturday. What I’m against is problem gambling, which overwhelmingly, by the way, overwhelmingly is poker machines, which is of course regulated by the states.”
You can about pokies revenue here:
Teen charged with murder after boy, 15, found with fatal stab wounds outside medical centre
A teenager has been charged with murder after a 15-year-old boy was found with fatal stab wounds outside a community medical centre.
AAP reports the boy was discovered critically injured outside Craigieburn Community Hospital in Melbourne’s north at approximately 7.50pm on Wednesday. A clinic staff member administered CPR, but the boy died at the scene.
Police have made multiple arrests since the incident, beginning with the apprehension of a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man early on Thursday. The 16-year-old has been charged with murder and remanded to appear in a children’s court at a later date.
The 20-year-old man, from Beveridge, was charged with criminal damage by fire and granted bail to appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court later.
On Friday, police announced further arrests related to the investigation. A 15-year-old girl was arrested overnight and charged with affray and theft of a motor vehicle; she was bailed to appear in a children’s court later. Additionally, a 15-year-old boy was arrested on Friday morning for interview.
Former Sydney childcare worker sentenced to 12 years in jail
Former childcare worker David William James, 28, was sentenced to a maximum of 12 years imprisonment at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court after pleading guilty to 11 charges related to the production and possession of child abuse material, AAP reports.
James committed offences against children as young as five years old at six out-of-school centres across Sydney between April 2021 and May 2024.
Judge Guy Newton stated on Thursday:
“Childcare centres are of critical importance [and] young children depend upon their carers.”
“Childcare is often necessary for children to grow up in economic stability … it is vital parents can have trust in childcare facilities.”
The judge imposed a non-parole period of seven years, meaning James, who has been in custody since October 2024, could be eligible for release in October 2031.
Newton added:
“In each case, he was the child’s carer … the offender abused both a position of trust and authority. That breach of trust was egregious.”
James worked casually at nearly 60 childcare centres during the offending period, prompting police to notify 1,500 parents after his charges were laid.
Between ages 22 and 26 during the offences, James worked as a probationary constable until he failed to pass probation, after which he shifted to a civilian role until May 2023.
NSW police stated they were unaware he was simultaneously employed in childcare.
Pocock says it’s ‘tragic’ gambling reforms don’t go nearly far enough
Independent senator David Pocock criticized the gambling reform bill, calling it a “real opportunity for a prime minister to have a real legacy” but said Albanese had “buckled” to the gambling lobby.
Speaking on RN Breakfast, Pocock said the Senate could strengthen the bill from a “pretty weak starting point”:
“I just find the whole thing tragic. Labor voted against a Senate inquiry into their bill because they know it is so far off the mark.”
“As to compromises in the Senate, we’ve got Simon Kennedy and others in the Liberal party, Sarah Henderson, saying that it’s not strong enough. How is it that a Labor-chaired committee gave such strong recommendations and then the prime minister just buckles to the gambling lobby, introduces weak legislation and now we have the Liberal party saying that it’s not strong enough?”
Pocock suggested changes including establishing a regulator and addressing inducements.
Liberals say Labor’s gambling reform bill ‘undercooked’
Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson also spoke on RN this morning regarding Labor’s gambling advertising reforms, which have drawn criticism from both the Liberals and Greens for insufficient strength.
“We think this bill is undercooked. … We’ve got a lot of work to do to interrogate the bill. I am concerned and have a number of concerns that it’s not strong enough.”
Pressed on potential amendments, Henderson said she would explore options during the bill’s investigation.
“I won’t prejudge where we might land on this bill other than to say we don’t think it’s good enough, we do have concerns, and we are very serious. The Coalition is very serious about combating the terrible harm caused to so many Australian families by gambling addiction.”
Butler says government takes extended NDIS inquiry ‘seriously’
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler addressed recommendations from the inquiry aimed at improving the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
He told RN Breakfast the government was carefully considering the suggestions, noting some were already being implemented. He stated:
“We’re very keen to work on registration schemes for workers across the care economy, not just in the NDIS but also in the aged care sector as well. … Our priority right now is to register providers. It doesn’t make much sense to have workers registered if they’re employed by providers who are not registered and whom we know nothing about.”
“We’re moving at a pace really to make sure that the few hundred thousand organisations and companies that are providing services are registered, that they tick a range of boxes around quality and we have a good line of sight of who they are and what their character is.”
Butler expressed that further insights are expected during an extended inquiry into NDIS changes, negotiated with the Greens last week.
“We’ll take this extended inquiry very seriously and treat it with the respect that all of those inquiries deserve.”
Greens claims government ‘politicising fraud’ to justify NDIS changes
The Coalition’s report identified an unregistered market of providers beyond the regulator’s reach and entry-point screenings that assess qualifications but not always suitability.
Meanwhile, the Greens’ report acknowledged fraud as a serious issue but expressed concerns that the government was “politicising fraud” to justify significant reductions in NDIS spending.
Greens NDIS spokesperson Jordon Steele-John, a committee member, said:
“Disabled people deserve an NDIS that is both protected from fraud and designed around their rights, not one where they are treated with suspicion because governments have failed to crack down on those actually exploiting the system.”
Committee recommends national NDIS worker register but others offer muted interest
A parliamentary inquiry into integrity and fraud controls within the NDIS recommended establishing a national NDIS worker register to remove unsafe providers and carers and assist participants in making informed decisions about their support and care.
The government-chaired inquiry also called for improved information-sharing between government agencies and stronger regulatory powers to address systemic integrity issues.
During hearings, National Disability Insurance Agency deputy executive John Dardo stated that approximately 8.3%, or $3.7 billion, of the NDIS’s $45 billion in payments last financial year were affected by “integrity leakage,” a term encompassing suspected fraud, mistakes, or non-compliance.
However, non-government MPs and senators criticized the committee’s report as insufficient, describing it as “little more than welcome the steps that responsible agencies already have in train.”
Opposition MPs added in an additional report:
“The evidence pointed to an organised and systemic threat; the committee report answers a smaller and more individual one. A response calibrated to the latter will not meet the former.”
Moira Deeming launches court challenge as Victorian Liberals consider her fate
Victorian MP Moira Deeming has initiated an 11th-hour court challenge against her own party ahead of a meeting to determine her candidacy, following an assault allegation against a former leader, AAP reports.
Deeming filed legal action against the Liberal’s Victorian president, Brian Loughnane, scheduled to be heard in the state Supreme Court this morning. Loughnane and other Liberal executives plan to meet Friday evening to decide Deeming’s candidacy after she lodged a police complaint against Matthew Guy, the opposition’s public transport spokesperson, alleging he placed her in a “headlock” at a gala dinner on 23 May.
Victoria Police investigated the incident and found “there was no offence detected.” Guy has demanded a public apology from Deeming, who says she misunderstood the meaning of “headlock” and has refused to apologise.
Deeming has been invited to the state executive meeting to present her account.
In a statement to AAP, Deeming’s lawyer said her complaint was made “honestly, in good faith and only as a matter of last resort.”
Good morning
Good morning, and happy Friday. Nick Visser here to wrap up the week after a busy stretch in parliament. Here’s what’s on deck:
- Liberal MP Moira Deeming has lodged legal action against the party’s Victorian president, Brian Loughnane, with the case set for hearing in the state Supreme Court this morning.
- Microsoft has reached a deal with Nine to pay the media company for its content. Under the agreement, Nine’s journalism will play a “crucial role” in AI outputs generated for Microsoft’s Copilot service, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
- Significant snowfall has finally occurred in New South Wales and alpine Victoria, providing good news for skiers.
