Australia politics live: federal police to investigate leaked melon memo; Labor wants nation to adopt AI ‘everywhere we can’
This story was selected and curated by our editorial team in the Angus Taylor category. Published on August 17, 2026 • Originally reported by Martin Farrer. OMEGAZEPRIME provides independent news coverage and analysis for our readers. Stay informed with the latest developments.
Labor minister Andrew Charlton says Australia should do more to produce new AI models. Follow today’s news live
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Chalmers calls gambling amendments ‘very substantial changes’
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the opt-out register on gambling advertising will be revenue neutral, because the gambling industry will have to cover the costs.
These changes that we’re proposing are very substantial changes. And they will make it much easier for people to opt out of this advertising. At the same time, as we make it easier for the regulator to enforce the rules around inducements.
I understand people’s concern about inducements. And the minister and the government does as well. I think primarily there’s an important role for the regulator to crack down on and enforce these inducements.
There’s absolutely no doubt that the implementation of the reforms has made everything worse for older Australians … the government’s got a lot to do to fix the implementation of these once-in-a-generation reforms that should have and could have and still can be what they were intended to be, but they just aren’t being rolled out like that.
If the automation that we’re seeing in aged care is transferred over into the NDIS, yes I have very serious concerns about that. We saw 250,000 older Australians reassessed under aged care.
Are we talking over 750,000 Australians who live with disability who possibly need to be reassessed? If they’ve got an algorithm that’s as botched as the one we’ve got in aged care, well we would have very serious concerns and certainly we’ll be raising those matters.
Continue reading...