Key events
What we learned today, Wednesday 12 November
We will wrap up the live blog here for the evening. This is what made the news:
Until tomorrow, enjoy your evening.
Josh Butler
Tehan won’t say what is in energy policy paper
Going back to Dan Tehan’s press conference, the shadow energy minister said he would present a proposal paper to the Liberal frontbench meeting tomorrow – but declined to say what would be in it.
He also defended the time and process he and Sussan Ley had taken to get to this point, after criticisms from some colleagues about the drawn-out timeline.
Tehan said he would present his work to the meeting at 9am. He said it would be informed by the discussions today, but just 16 hours ahead of the big meeting, Tehan said he had to go away and finish writing it. In any case, he was not giving away any advance detail to journalists, which he said was out of respect to colleagues.
“I obviously had to wait and see what was discussed in the party room today. Right throughout this process, the one thing that I’ve been very, very careful about and always wanted to do is to make sure that I’ve respected my colleagues,” Tehan said.
“We’ve had incredible engagement and can I say today, once again, there were a lot of people who stood up and said how much they appreciated the engagement that had taken place, and especially the Liberal party meeting today, to be able to flesh out these issues. And I’m going to continue to respect that because that’s what the party room deserves.”
Josh Butler
Federal government could explore using AI to write cabinet submissions
The federal government could “explore” using artificial intelligence programs to write sensitive cabinet submissions or business cases, as part of a major initiative to embed AI across the public service, despite concerns about the technology increasing the risk of security and data breaches.
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, also announced on Wednesday the public service would build its own AI program for government workers, spruiking productivity benefits for rolling out generative programs such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini to departments.
While many public servants said trials of AI had helped their work, others voiced alarm at the poor quality and inaccuracies in AI-generated work, the potential slashing of entry-level jobs, and public fears about automated decision-making in the wake of the robodebt scandal.
Tehan would not confirm that a majority of the Liberal party room was opposed to retaining the net zero policy, saying he would “protect the sanctity of our party room”.
He said:
My job now is to respect what was said in the room today, to now take that away, form a shadow ministerial paper, take that to the shadow ministry tomorrow, and then myself and Sussan will formally announce our policy after that meeting tomorrow.
So you can all be rest assured that by around midday tomorrow you will very clearly know what our energy and emissions reduction policy is, as a Liberal party.
Tehan won’t reveal Liberals’ net zero position until Thursday
The shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction, Dan Tehan, would not say what the Liberals’ position on retaining the net zero by 2050 target was, after a marathon five-hour meeting in parliament on Wednesday.
Tehan described the meeting as constructive, and said there were “very passionate discussions” in the room.
He said:
And the overwhelming thing that came out the meeting for me was that everyone wants to make sure that our policy, our energy policy and our emissions reduction policy, is in the national interest.
Tehan said he will prepare a submission for shadow cabinet, which will meet at 9am tomorrow, and then he and leader Sussan Ley will announce the policy formally tomorrow.
The two guiding principles for emissions policy, Tehan said, were that energy affordability comes firsts, and that the party must be serious when it comes to emissions reduction.
Catie McLeod
ACCC formally greenlights new industry-led soft plastic recycling scheme
The competition regulator has approved an industry-led soft plastics collection and recycling scheme, three years after the collapse of the REDcycle program.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced earlier today it has formally greenlit the Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA) scheme.
The scheme, whose founding members include Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and major food manufacturers Nestlé, Mars and McCormick Foods, was created earlier this year and plans to fund collection and recycling through participant fees.
Because it involves competitors working together, the scheme required the ACCC to “authorise” it to be exempt from some of Australia’s competition laws.
In a statement, one of the ACCC’s deputy chairs, Mick Keogh, said:
As the scheme aims to acquire and broaden the current instore and kerbside trial collection programs for soft plastic recycling, we’ve determined that it will likely result in some soft plastics being diverted from landfill.
The recycling and collection options currently available to consumers are limited, and we consider that the SPSA scheme is an important way to expand those choices.
As we have previously reported, the scheme will only recycle a tiny fraction of the soft plastics used in Australia and, at least initially, none of it will be turned back into packaging. Critics had also raised concerns about the SPSA being industry-led and participation in it being voluntary.
The ACCC said today issues of policy and regulations around soft plastics, including decisions about whether to introduce mandatory regulations, were beyond its scope.
You can read more about the new scheme here:
Josh Butler
Most Liberals didn’t stop to talk to media on the way out. Ted O’Brien, the shadow treasurer and deputy leader, walked out with Paul Scarr, neither talking. Andrew Hastie and James Paterson didn’t speak either, but shook hands warmly on the way out before going separate ways.
Jane Hume said “good meeting”.
Dan Tehan told the waiting media pack that he would speak at a doorstop press conference in about 15 minutes’ time.
Josh Butler
Nobody gives away outcome of the net zero meeting
The Liberal meeting is over and MPs are leaving the room. Nobody has given away any idea of the outcome, but a number of people – including Jane Hume – said it was a good meeting.
Leader Sussan Ley stopped briefly to talk to journalists, saying that Dan Tehan, the shadow energy minister, would speak shortly.
“Shadow ministry will convene tomorrow to resolve a final position. But it was an excellent meeting, and terrific to hear from all of my Liberal party colleagues,” she said.
Tehan will be holding a doorstop press conference at 5.10pm
Sussan Ley says final position on net zero to be finalised tomorrow
Exiting the marathon five-hour party room meeting on net zero policy, the Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, said the shadow ministry will convene tomorrow to resolve the final position but she said it was an “excellent meeting” and “terrific to hear from all of my party”.
We haven’t yet heard what that final position is.
Ben Doherty
Nauru had to make ‘sacrifices’ for economic stability, president says
The Nauruan president, David Adeang, addressed a Micronesia leadership course at the Australian National University this week.
He told his audience Nauru had had to make “sacrifices” in order to achieve a measure of economic stability. He said his country’s economy had previously collapsed, with frequent power outages, shortages of essential services and a resulting loss of public services.
Adeang, re-elected president last month, said Nauru’s economic relationship with Australia was critical, including the acceptance of asylum seekers and, “long-term visitors” – members of the so-called NZYQ cohort who have been removed from Australia to Nauru on 30-year visas.
So far, Australia has forcibly sent four men to Nauru from that cohort, in exchange for more than $400m upfront and up to $70m a year. The scheme is expected to cost Australia $2.5bn over 30 years.
Currently, about 100 asylum seekers and refugees are also held on the island.
Adeang said the government needed to speak with Nauruan communities “face to face” to earn community support and trust for the initiatives he said had brought financial stability and new opportunities to the country.
“We succeeded because we were transparent, because we spoke directly with our people and because they trusted that the sacrifices were for Nauru’s future.”
Also while in Canberra, Adeang met with the foreign minister, Penny Wong; the minister for Pacific island affairs, Pat Conroy; and the home affairs minister, Tony Burke. Adeang also met with India’s high commissioner to Australia.
Josh Butler
Liberals’ net zero meeting nearing end
Journalists are waiting outside the Liberal party room meeting in Parliament House, in anticipation of imminent news about any outcome of the net zero meeting.
The meeting is nearing an end, with nearly all members having had their say by now. We are expecting a press conference or statement after the meet, but we might get some idea or comments from the politicians on their way out.
For now, the doors to the room remain closed. But a pack of reporters and cameras are waiting for movement.
Australia will earn back what is spent if Cop bid is secured, assistant minister says
The assistant minister for climate change, Josh Wilson, who is in Brazil for the Cop30 climate summit, would not confirm estimates that it could cost Australia $2bn to host the summit next year, as Australia is still aiming for joint hosting rights with the Pacific.
He told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that there was “speculation” around the cost of hosting it, but it would be very valuable to Australia and the Pacific region – particularly drawing attention to the existential threat to the Pacific.
He said it is valuable, arguing the UK’s hosting of the event found $2-worth of value for every dollar spent.
Wilson said we should know in the next 10 days or so about a potential consensus decision on who will be hosting the climate summit, otherwise it will be hosted by Germany.
He said Germany hosting would mean no active presidency, and a loss of momentum of the work being achieved by Cop.
As the Liberals debate net zero policy, Wilson said if they dump the policy it would not be helpful for achieving net zero, and not responsible for the two parties making up the alternative government.
Angus Taylor confirms opposition to net zero
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The senior Liberal Angus Taylor wants the party to move on from net zero and create a point of political difference with Labor, siding with senior colleagues in calling for the climate target to be dumped at Wednesday’s party-room meeting.
The intervention from the right-faction heavyweight is significant because he’s considered, along with Andrew Hastie, the biggest threat to Sussan Ley’s leadership.
It’s worth noting that Taylor was energy minister when Scott Morrison signed up to net zero emissions by 2050 in late 2021.
As reported earlier, the deputy Liberal leader, Ted O’Brien, and the Liberal Senate leader, Michaelia Cash, also spoke in favour of ditching the target at the Parliament House meeting, which has now been running for more than four hours.
While we wait for the Liberals to finish their meeting on net zero policy, here’s an explainer on what it’s all about.
Josh Butler
Indonesia security treaty will provide stability and security for both nations, Wong says
Going back to the Indonesia security treaty, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says Australia and Indonesia will “both benefit from each other’s stability and sense of security”.
Wong said in a statement it would be a “significant extension” of current security arrangements between the two countries. She said the treaty will commit both parties to:
Undertake to consult at Leader and Ministerial level on a regular basis about matters affecting their common security and to develop such cooperation as would benefit their own security and that of the region;
Undertake to consult each other in the case of adverse challenges to either party or to their common security interests and, if appropriate, consider measures which might be taken either individually or jointly and in accordance with the processes of each Party; and
Agree to promote – in accordance with the policies and priorities of each – mutually beneficial cooperative activities in the security field, in areas to be identified by the two Parties.
Wong went on to say:
Through this Treaty we will take our cooperation to a new level, for the benefit of both our own security and that of the region.
The Treaty will set out in formal terms our common interest in the peace and security of our region, and our commitment to work together to support the security of our region.
Penry Buckley
Police release CCTV footage after media allegedly assaulted outside NSW parliament
Police have released CCTV footage after a man allegedly assaulted two members of the media outside NSW parliament yesterday, after stealing a wreath from a Remembrance Day memorial.
In a statement this afternoon, NSW police said officers commenced inquiries yesterday morning after reports a man was seen behaving in “an offensive manner”. They said:
“Police established about 7am, the man stole a wreath from a police memorial at a park on Sir John Young Crescent. From there he walked to Parliament House where he approached members of the media and allegedly assaulted two members of the media before throwing a cup of coffee at a camera.”
CCTV footage shows the man then allegedly throwing the wreath over the fence of Parliament House on Macquarie Street. Police allege he later struck the rear of a car being driven into a nearby car park, causing damage, before leaving the scene.
“No injuries were reported, and the news crew left the area before police arrived,” the statement said. Police have urged anyone who identifies the man, or has information about the incidents, to contact Crime Stoppers.
