Coalition divided over vitality coverage, Ruston admits
The Coalition is split on how one can deal with the existential risk of local weather change and the way forward for web zero, the Liberal senator Anne Ruston says.
Ruston is talking to ABC Insiders host David Speers. She was requested about how the events could confront the problem within the context of feedback by the Australian Trade Group CEO, Innes Willox, that reopening the local weather wars can be “like reopening an old wound”.
Willox stated:
Oh God, no, no, something however, please. Now we have been there earlier than many occasions over the previous 20 years or so and to reopen the local weather wars, as you aptly describe them, is like reopening an outdated wound.
Ruston stated “energy is the economy and we need to get energy policy right”.
However there’s no secret there’s a divergence of views in our occasion room about how we obtain that, however proper now, I completely assume the factor we have to consider is ensuring that folks can afford their energy payments, ensuring that trade, as Innes factors out, that they’ve confidence in our vitality coverage in Australia to allow them to’t to speculate right here.
We don’t need corporations to go broke like we now have seen. We don’t need corporations offshoring like we now have seen. I believe some of the essential points is to get, you recognize, strong suggestions and ensure our vitality coverage is match for objective for contemporary Australia.
Key occasions
Victoria declares free public transport for beneath 18s, as state’s debt projected to rise
Each Victorian baby will get free public transport from 1 January subsequent yr, the state authorities has pledged.
A brand new youth myki, legitimate throughout the state, will save households as much as $755 a yr (the price of a yearly scholar move) beneath the scheme. Anybody beneath 18 in non-Myki areas will even be eligible to journey free.
The profit will apply to all types of public transport together with trams, trains, buses and coach companies.
The premier, Jacinta Allan, stated it meant “free public transport for every child, every day, everywhere”.
“Families are doing it tough and I’m on their side,” she stated.
The federal government says a couple of million youngsters and their households will profit. This system will value $318m over 4 years.
For extra on this story, learn the complete report from Guardian Australia’s Tory Shepherd:
PM to satisfy world leaders in Rome for Pope Leo’s inauguration
Anthony Albanese will signify Australia at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass, which is able to draw collectively a uncommon focus of world leaders and royalty.
The prime minister is anticipated to carry talks with different leaders as a hive of diplomatic exercise is anticipated to play out on the sidelines of the historic occasion.
Since arriving in Rome on Friday, Albanese has met with the Sydney Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Fisher, and the Melbourne Archbishop, Peter Comensoli, 9 newspapers reported.
The prime minister additionally spoke briefly concerning the significance of the inauguration mass for Australia’s 5 million Catholics at a church in Rome that welcomes visiting Australians.
It’s a whirlwind two-and-a-half-day go to and one the just lately re-elected prime minister will make sure to use in advancing Australia’s home and international coverage agenda.
Though official itineraries haven’t been launched, Albanese is anticipated to satisfy with the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, and the EU chief, Ursula von der Leyen.
On the high of the agenda for each conferences will probably be commerce and the conflict in Ukraine.
Different notable attendees embody the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the US vice-president, JD Vance, who is about to signify the US rather than Donald Trump, and Britain’s Prince William.
The mass, anticipated to be attended by tens of 1000’s of individuals in St Peter’s Sq., will start at 10am native time (6pm on Sunday AEST). It’s anticipated to comply with a go to by the Pope to St Peter’s tomb within the basilica.
– AAP
Ruston says she is open to the introduction of quotas for ladies within the Liberal occasion after the disastrous election consequence, saying “nothing is off the table”.
I believe our coverage choices must mirror the suggestions that we get extra broadly throughout Australia.
Ruston requested AI why Liberals misplaced – and ‘no clear theme’ emerged
After the disastrous 2025 election consequence for the Coalition, Ruston says she requested an “off the shelf” large-language mannequin, generally known as AI, what individuals thought concerning the occasion and the election outcomes, and that the consequence returned “no clear theme”.
Truly greater than something, it confirmed me that there have been so many various points that Australians have been contemplating after they went to the poll field to vote that I believe it reveals us we completely have to have a look at the whole lot. There was no clear theme other than fairly clearly the Australian public went to the poll field and didn’t vote for us.
The senator continued:
Mainly, it stated that the product provide that we took to the Australian public, Australians didn’t help fairly clearly and we have to return to the drafting board and take a look at all the points that factored into it. Many points have been ventilated over the past two weeks by colleagues, by commentators and each single considered one of them deserved to be thought-about.
Ruston was additionally fast so as to add that the occasion gained’t be relying solely on AI to conduct its post-election evaluate.
There are a lot of ways in which we have to deal with this. We have to communicate to our occasion members, we have to communicate to the frontbench and the backbench. We’d like to ensure the backbench is included within the means of going ahead. We have to communicate to the Australian public.
However clearly, expertise offers us a chance to have the ability to collate the broader commentary throughout Australia that one thing we in all probability haven’t had entry to earlier than and we should always use that as properly. Each instrument that’s obtainable needs to be used.
Local weather coverage to be left to shadow ministry – Ruston
Requested about ongoing negotiations on the Coalition settlement between the Liberal and Nationwide events, Ruston says the talks are beneath manner.
Ruston says it’s her desire that the Coalition’s angle in direction of local weather change and the Paris settlement, and the way forward for nuclear, needs to be left to the shadow ministry to hash out.
Liberal occasion coverage is developed within the Liberal occasion room. Nationwide occasion coverage is delivered within the Nationals occasion room and Coalition coverage is designed or is agreed to across the shadow cupboard desk. So a Coalition shadow cupboard would be the one that may put ahead Coalition coverage. However we should always by no means shrink back from the truth that we now have obtained two separate occasion rooms that undergo coverage processes individually.
Requested whether or not she’s going to keep within the Coalition, the senator says “I certainly hope so”.
Liberals ‘work best’ after they’re a broad church – Ruston
Ruston can be requested a couple of choice by the South Australian Liberals to put Alex Antic, a member of the occasion’s factional proper who has been consolidating energy inside the state by courting spiritual teams particularly, forward of her on the Senate ticket.
Ruston:
Properly, clearly that’s a choice for the occasion members right here in South Australia. What I’m enthusiastic about is now having been hopefully re-elected to the parliament for one more six years to play my function as a part of the group, a part of the management group, as a result of I’m actually excited concerning the alternative to rebuild our occasion.
On the takeover by the conservatives in South Australia:
Properly, look, as I stated, we’re a broad church. That’s the place we work finest once we’re tolerant of the broad vary of views that we now have, however our values are all the identical. I imply, I don’t assume anyone in my occasion doesn’t imply that aspiration is a very powerful factor we should always try to have the ability to allow each Australian to have the ability to obtain.
Ruston not ruling in or out Liberals’ help for Aukus
Ruston has additionally demurred on the query of whether or not the occasion will evaluate its help for Aukus, saying she is “not going to rule in, rule out”.
Fairly clearly that may be a very, essential coverage place that has been adopted by each side of the parliament – in actual fact, each the Labor occasion and the Coalition. I believe it stands in very sturdy stead in very unsure occasions. However it’s not for me to be ruling in, ruling out. The leaders made it very clear, I believe you’ll be able to learn from what I’ve simply stated, I believe we may contemplate Aukus a really sturdy platform in our coverage rebuild.
On well being coverage, Ruston says she needs “the Labor party well to make sure their policies are implemented so Australians can afford to go and see a doctor” however is “not ruling anything in or out” on whether or not the Coalition would assist move Labor’s reforms.
On abortion, Ruston says the problem is “something that’s well and truly in the domain of the states and territories and should stay there”, and he or she will not be conscious of any proposal that will “make any changes in relation to the small amount of responsibility that the federal parliament has for this issue”.
Liberals should ‘build from the bottom up’ after election catastrophe – Ruston
Requested why the Liberals have been now reviewing their embrace of the Paris local weather settlement beneath the previous authorities of Scott Morrison, Ruston says the walloping voters handed the occasion meant “absolutely everything” was up for evaluate.
To be fairly frank, we now have to construct from the underside up once more as a result of that election consequence was fairly disastrous for the Liberal occasion and we should be open and sincere with ourselves about what we have to take ahead in order that we’re assembly Australia the place they’re and never speaking about the place we’re.
Ruston additionally dodges a query when pressed on the place taken by Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Worth, who has blamed a cost-of-living disaster on efforts to realize web zero.
The senator has additionally signalled that the Coalition’s help for nuclear may additionally be up for evaluate.
Clearly we should be doing one thing completely different. I believe, you recognize, protecting an open thoughts, ensuring we’re sincere and open with that evaluation of what went mistaken, and truly come out with a coverage proposal and a contemporary Liberal occasion, nonetheless sustaining all the values that we maintain so dearly.
Coalition divided over vitality coverage, Ruston admits
The Coalition is split on how one can deal with the existential risk of local weather change and the way forward for web zero, the Liberal senator Anne Ruston says.
Ruston is talking to ABC Insiders host David Speers. She was requested about how the events could confront the problem within the context of feedback by the Australian Trade Group CEO, Innes Willox, that reopening the local weather wars can be “like reopening an old wound”.
Willox stated:
Oh God, no, no, something however, please. Now we have been there earlier than many occasions over the previous 20 years or so and to reopen the local weather wars, as you aptly describe them, is like reopening an outdated wound.
Ruston stated “energy is the economy and we need to get energy policy right”.
However there’s no secret there’s a divergence of views in our occasion room about how we obtain that, however proper now, I completely assume the factor we have to consider is ensuring that folks can afford their energy payments, ensuring that trade, as Innes factors out, that they’ve confidence in our vitality coverage in Australia to allow them to’t to speculate right here.
We don’t need corporations to go broke like we now have seen. We don’t need corporations offshoring like we now have seen. I believe some of the essential points is to get, you recognize, strong suggestions and ensure our vitality coverage is match for objective for contemporary Australia.
O’Brien sidesteps query on his selection of shadow portfolio
O’Brien is requested if he desires the shadow treasurer’s function, as was extensively speculated forward of final week’s management vote.
For context, the deputy Liberal chief sometimes will get their selection of portfolio, though it doesn’t all the time play out that manner. Ley herself was believed to have requested for the international affairs function earlier this yr just for the then chief Peter Dutton to nominate David Coleman.
Again to O’Brien, who once more performs a straight bat.
These conversations proceed available. We haven’t finalised them.
Clennell asks O’Brien if Ley has promised the function to another person.
I perceive your want for a sure or no reply to any query, Andrew, and I respect that. I actually do, however once more, my reply doesn’t change. We’re having these discussions in the meanwhile
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Russia’s jailing of Australian Oscar Jenkins a ‘sham trial’ – Watt
Simply taking a step again for a minute to the interview with Labor senator Murray Watt.
The frontbencher was requested for his response to information Oscar Jenkins has been sentenced to 13 years in jail in Russia for combating alongside Ukrainian forces.
Watt stated:
That is an appalling choice from Russia, and one other outrage in a protracted line of outrages in terms of issues involving Ukraine. We’re appalled by this choice from Russia. We contemplate this to be a sham trial, and we don’t settle for that Mr Jenkins needs to be handled this manner. In our view, he needs to be handled as a prisoner of conflict.
O’Brien: nuclear dialogue between Coalition occasion leaders
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The brand new deputy Liberal chief, Ted O’Brien, is up subsequent on Sky.
First off the bat, he’s requested whether or not the Liberals and Nationals will strike a proper settlement or go their separate methods after the election catastrophe.
O’Brien says:
There’s little doubt … that the Liberal occasion and the Nationwide occasion are at their strongest when they’re in a Coalition they usually’re working collectively. That’s confirmed to be the case over many a few years.
One potential sticking level is the way forward for the opposition’s nuclear plan, which O’Brien spearheaded as shadow local weather change and vitality minister.
O’Brien sidesteps the query of whether or not the Nationals have insisted that the nuclear plan be retained in an effort to conform to a Coalition deal.
Look, the discussions are between (Liberal chief) Sussan Ley and (Nationals chief) David Littleproud – I’ll go away it to them. Relating to problems with coverage, the Liberal occasion has already made very clear what our method is, and that’s, we should be listening to the Australian individuals.
Austria wins Eurovision
Austria has gained the Eurovision music contest for the third time after a jury vote delivered the 2025 win for Viennese-born JJ with their music, Wasted Love.
The favorite Switzerland obtained no love from the general public as Austria took out the competition, however not with out problem from Israel.
Accepting the trophy, JJ stated they needed there to be “more love”.
Australia was knocked out within the semi-final and so didn’t compete on this spherical.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Watt: ‘I’m somebody who can carry completely different teams collectively’
Watt was appointed to the portfolio to interchange Tanya Plibersek, whose three years within the function have been outlined by a failure to ship Labor’s promised nature reforms.
Clennell asks Watt if he was positioned within the function as a result of he’s a “fixer” who may make extra “reasonable” selections than Plibersek.
Watt responds:
I’ll go away it to commentators such as you, Andrew, to find out why I’ve been put on this function and give you completely different descriptions, however I suppose, you recognize, I believe my document does present that I’m somebody who can carry completely different teams collectively and make decisive selections after which get issues handed by the Senate.
Watt factors to his success as agriculture minister in legislating an finish date for the reside sheep commerce in addition to overseeing the federal authorities’s intervention into the CFMEU as industrial relations minister.
For extra on Plibersek’s effort to barter the character optimistic reforms, learn the Guardian’s earlier reporting right here:
We’d like an EPA ‘with teeth’, atmosphere minister tells Sky
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The atmosphere minister, Murray Watt, is talking on Sky Information.
In an interview with Guardian Australia printed on Friday, Watt stated establishing a federal atmosphere safety company was a “very high and immediate priority” for the re-elected Albanese authorities after Labor didn’t get it by parliament within the earlier time period.
One of many huge unanswered questions is the design of the EPA 2.0, together with whether or not it could have the ability to make selections on initiatives or simply implement nature legal guidelines.
Talking with Sky, Watt is refusing to rule something in or out at this stage:
Clearly, it’s very early days in my tenure on this function and I’ll be consulting extensively about all of those points.
He provides:
We did go to the election committing and recommitting, in actual fact, to having an unbiased EPA. And we want such a physique with tooth to have the ability to help in defending our surroundings. However when it comes to the small print across the mannequin of that, that’s one thing I’ll be consulting on.
As we reported on Friday, Watt will subsequent week journey to Western Australia to satisfy with the premier, Roger Prepare dinner, and mining leaders who lobbied to sink the character watchdog within the final time period.
Host Andrew Clennell suggests it’s “unusual” for an atmosphere minister to make a beeline for the mining state so quickly after taking over the function.
Watt responds:
I don’t assume so. I imply, whether or not it’s Tanya Plibersek or different atmosphere ministers, they’ve all the time engaged in wide-ranging consultations.
Anne Ruston to talk on Insiders
South Australian Coalition senator Anne Ruston will communicate with ABC Insiders host David Speers this morning.
Labor’s new atmosphere minister, Murray Watt, is talking to Sky Information, as is the Australian ambassador to the Holy See, Keith Pitt, and the Liberal deputy chief, Ted O’Brien.
We’ll carry you all the most recent because it occurs.
Good morning
And welcome to a different Sunday morning Guardian reside weblog.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has described the 13-year jail sentence handed to an Australian man on the cost of combating in Ukraine as a “mercenary” as an “outrage”. The PM was talking in Rome in a single day, the place he stated the federal government would proceed to advocate for Oscar Jenkins.
Albanese is representing Australia at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass and is anticipated to carry talks with different leaders, with the conflict in Ukraine on the agenda, in addition to commerce. He’s anticipated to satisfy with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although he informed reporters on Saturday a time had not but been locked in, in keeping with the ABC.
The Victorian authorities has pledged free public transport for under-18s from 1 January subsequent yr, permitting youngsters to register for a particular youth Myki card. The federal government says greater than 1 million youngsters and their households will profit from the $318m program.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs and I’ll be taking the weblog by the day.
With that, let’s get began …
