Australia politics live: Labor woos Greens and Coalition on nature laws in final week of 2025 parliament | Australia news
important events
NDIS is a ‘train wreck’, won’t lead to profit-making providers leaving, industry expert warns
Not-for-profit NDIS providers are leaving the system, says Dr Martin LavertyHe helped design the national disability insurance scheme and now runs registered provider Aruma.
Speaking to the ABC’s AM programme, Laverty said the NDIS situation was a “train wreck”, with not-for-profit organizations making losses for the fifth year running.
Laverty says a key issue is the pricing set by the national disability insurance agency (NDIA).
In the five years just ended, registered nonprofits lost 12%. This is unsustainable. And what we’re seeing now is some nonprofits choosing to leave. Others are on the edge and the National Disability Insurance Corporation has put the government in a really difficult position. The reason for these losses is the price. NDIA operates a flawed pricing system.”
This is a train wreck. This means that for those of us who were involved in setting up the plan, we are horrified at what is happening.
Josh Butler
Chalmers claims abandoning net zero is ‘economic madness’
The Coalition’s plan to abandon its net-zero emissions policy will “diminish investor confidence” in clean energy projects in Australia, the Treasurer claims: Jim ChalmersHe warned about the risks of investing in critical mining projects.
This morning Chalmers talks about the economic benefits of Labour’s plans for the energy transition, pointing to billions of dollars being invested in critical mineral projects. He claimed that the coalition’s commitment to abandon the net zero target and relax the government’s production tax incentives would put these projects at risk.
What the coalition is proposing will destroy the confidence of investors in Australia and put billions of dollars of investment at risk.
Giving up on net zero would cause a disruption in the energy market thanks to investor certainty and put billions of dollars of critical mineral projects at risk.
He described the net zero transformation as a “golden economic opportunity for Australia”.
Abandoning net zero is an economic folly that will mean less investment, higher energy prices and fewer jobs.
Watt says environment deal is ‘getting closer’
Minister of Environment, Murray WattHe has a big task in these two weeks: to pass environmental protection and biodiversity conservation (EPBC) bills with the support of the Coalition or the Greens.
Unsurprisingly, Watt says, each side wants very different concessions from the government.
He told ABC News Breakfast this morning that he had spoken to representatives from both sides over the weekend and that they would continue negotiations today.
The coalition wants more changes to support business. The Greens want more changes to support the environment. You’ll remember what I’ve always said throughout this process: We need to have a balanced package that will provide both environmental and business benefits. It’s not one or the other… I think we’ll go with whichever of these two parties is more prepared to approach the package we’ve already passed in the House of Representatives.
BoM faces growing pressure as $96m website upgrade cost emerges
The backlog over the Bureau of Meteorology’s controversial website redesign continues and we understand it cost $96 million.
This morning on Sunrise, Labor Cabinet Minister Tanya Plibersek and National Member of Parliament Barnaby Joyce They both say it’s not a good look for the office.
This figure is much more than the $4 million originally estimated.
Plibersek defended his government, saying the rebuilding of the website began in 2019 under a former BoM CEO.
When we came into government there was a rebranding exercise going on where people were asked to call it Bureau rather than BoM. At the time, I said we should focus on the weather, not the rebrand. Some improvements needed to be made, the security systems on the Bureau of Meteorology’s computers were very vulnerable to hacking. The government was told this.
Plibersek took action when he learned how much it would cost and whether the cabinet approved that figure; The current minister of social services said he suspected an “overrun” in spending on the project, but said work started before the Albanian government took office and improved cybersecurity was necessary.
Good morning
Krishani Dhanji
Krishani Dhanji We’re here with you in the last parliamentary session week of the year, and boy, things are going to get busy.
Bills on environmental protection and biodiversity conservation are ready for discussion in the Senate. Murray Watts He hopes he can negotiate a deal with the Greens or the Coalition by the end of the week. It’s like being single… except it’s serious and has lots of real-life consequences.
Instability in the Liberal party looks set to continue the drama, following last week’s leadership leaks in both the Victorian and NSW parties. The new poll in Australia doesn’t help their situation.
And everyone started criticizing the Bureau of Meteorology’s new website; especially when it was revealed that the total price tag was around $100 million.
Stay with us.
