Australian news and politics live updates: Albanese claims ‘ISIS bride’ will be monitored, defends tax reform

Victorian MP Matthew Guy has told colleague Moria Deeming she must apologise publicly after accusations of assault were made against him.

Victoria Police investigated the claims of Ms Deeming, something which they have now concluded without pressing any charges.

“My wife, my sons, my parents, my brother, my cousins, my family who share my name deserve those apologies as well. My family name, my reputation is not a political toy. No one’s is, and so I want, and my family deserve those apologies, particularly from Moira Deeming,” Mr Guy said on Friday.

“There was no ambiguity. I did not do what was alleged. The CCTV proves this. It did from the start, and Victoria Police agree.”

Mr Guy’s legal team said in a statement that women should always be believed, but so should men.

Mr Guy added: “The Premier and the Attorney General yesterday told every Victorian male over 40, they don’t have your back. They never believe you. In (their) eyes, you’re guilty before proven innocent.”

“To Aussie males who are sick of this treatment, who are sick of not being believed, some of us in parliament still have your back. I have your back. Your word matters as much as anyone else’s. You shouldn’t have to prove your innocence.”

Ms Deeming is yet to share a public comment.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been hired by an Indian company specialising in worldwide visa and citizenship services, as the Liberal party he once led pushes to clamp down on Australia’s immigration levels.

His appointment to BLS International, which boasts it is a “globally trusted, tech-enabled, AI-powered service partner”, has also drawn sharp criticism, given the Morrison government’s role in the Robodebt scandal involving automated assessments.

“BLS International hopes to draw on Mr Morrison’s deep economic, trade, and commercial background to further its long-term growth vision built on the pillars of cutting-edge technologies, government engagement, public-service transformation and long-term institutional partnerships,” the New Delhi-based company said in a statement.

“Before and during his time in public office, his career heavily centred around market economics, financial regulation, infrastructure, and trade diversification.

“Mr Morrison has built a substantial track record working directly with corporate boards, private equity, and global advisory firms”.

Read Andrew Greene’s exclusive here.

During the domestic spy agency’s latest threat assessment, Director-General Mike Burgess said tech giants had a responsibility to help fight extremism.

“It’s something that many of us have actually pressed into,” Mr Burgess said.

“I’ve been on the record before talking about how young minds can go from like a couple of clicks to some really bad material that actually can radicalise them quickly.”

Anthony Albanese said it was not just violence but extreme porn was an increasing issue, with hospital admissions of strangulation and anal injuries “growing at an extraordinary, horrific rate”.

Read the full story here.

When asked if the tax reform package was “mission accomplished” for the government, Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned there was more to come.

“It’s the most important part of the most ambitious tax reforms in more than a quarter of a century,” he told ABC’s Radio National.

“We’re making the tax system fairer by better aligning the tax treatment of labour and asset income.

“There’s more work to do on the other significant elements of the tax reform package.”

He added that the changes shouldn’t come as a surprise, as his May Budget had made clear there would be ongoing “consultation” and “there would be multiple pieces of legislation” to follow.

Read the full story here.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it’s not his responsibility to give Australian workers the “green light to call in sick” as the country prepares for today’s Socceroos World Cup clash with Paraguay.

“Sick days are not part of my responsibilities as Treasurer. I suspect there will be a bit of that, I suspect there might be a few long-ish lunches, particularly if we win,” Dr Chalmers told reporters in Canberra.

“I think a lot of people might be finding a reason not to go back to the office after lunch if we win, and you know, that’s a good thing.”

Anthony Albanese claims the concessions Labor made to their tax reform package should curb “scare campaigns” as people understand how the Budget measures impact them.

The government legislated its changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing on Thursday, after winning support from the Greens.

“This is important reform and it’s good that it’s been passed,” he said.

“Now that it’s been passed as well, what you’ll see is some of the scare campaigns, about things that are not true and are not happening, that will be more difficult,” he told ABC on Friday.

“Anyone who has a negatively geared property will not have that negative gearing change, for example.

“So, they’ll actually see that. A whole lot of people think at the moment that they are impacted, they’re not.”

The Prime Minister has vowed the country’s security agencies will provide the “strongest possible monitoring” of the final Australian “ISIS bride”, insisting his government was powerless to stop her return.

On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the woman, who was previously barred from Australia, could return from Syria after finding a way around her temporary exclusion order.

“We’ll continue to provide the strongest possible monitoring,” Mr Albanese said.

“No one wants people who fled our country and fought or supported ISIS to be able to just come back.

“But Australian citizens, of course, do have rights.

“That’s one of the things as a democracy and a different country, we respect the rule of law.

“So what we’ll do is make sure that there’s as strong as possible monitoring in place. I have absolute confidence in our security agencies to make sure that that occurs.”

The Prime Minister says he has been briefed on the situation unfolding in Venezuela in the wake of back-to-back earthquakes.

Almost 200 people have been confirmed dead but there are fears the death toll could be up to 100,000.

Anthony Albanese called the situation “horrific” and said the amount of Australians impacted was not yet confirmed.

“It’s not clear yet whether Australians are caught up in it because Australians are great travellers, of course, right around the world,” he told the ABC.

“Given the numbers that have been impacted, it’s certainly possible Australians are caught up in it.

“We’re continuing to monitor the situation, and our hearts go out to anyone here who has relatives or friends in Venezuela because this is one of the worst earthquakes we’ve seen in recent times, with catastrophic human consequences, massive loss of life, enormous infrastructure damage and real consequences for the people of Venezuela.”

Labor won Senate backing for its housing and tax reforms but won’t rule out more changes.

Mark Butler has insisted more legislation is still to come as the Coalition accused the Government of presiding over a “balls up from go to woah”.

Appearing on Sunrise on Friday morning, Health and NDIS Minister Mark Butler was forced to defend the Government’s handling of reforms after a series of concessions and carve-outs made since the Budget was handed down six weeks ago. Asked whether he would do anything differently, Mr Butler argued it was normal for major tax reforms to be refined as legislation progressed through Parliament.

“Every significant tax reform package this country has had a series of implementation details that take place over the course of months,” he said.

Mr Butler insisted the package delivered what Australians needed, pointing to tax cuts, support for first-home buyers and relief for small businesses. He also confirmed further legislation was still on the way, including measures covering start-ups and trust arrangements.

​Read the full story here.​

The Prime Minister has commented on Nine’s decision to immediately terminate Karl Stefanovic after his controversial podcast caused a stir.

Anthony Albanese called the decision “consequential” but said it was a matter for the broadcaster.

“Words do matter, and what people who are very prominent in our public discourse do, and how they conduct themselves, matters as well,” he said on ABC News Breakfast.

“It’s unfortunate the way what has been a very big career has ended in this way.

“That’s a matter for Karl Stefanovic to think about—his actions and the decisions he’s made.”