Key Points
- Opposition condemns Albanese government over transparency record
- Super fund reports two thirds of members afraid they can’t retire
- Leeds beat Chelsea 3-1 in Premier League
TRANSCRIPT
The opposition is ramping up its attacks on the federal government, accusing senior ministers of misplaced priorities and a lack of transparency as cost-of-living pressures bite.
Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley today targeted energy policy, ministerial travel and concerns over national security during a fiery press conference.
Ms Ley singled out Energy Minister Chris Bowen over rising power prices, while also criticising Communications Minister Anika Wells for charging taxpayers almost $100,00 for an overseas trip to New York.
"The wheels are well and truly falling off the Albanese government. Last week, we learned that Chris Bowen is a part time energy minister delivering a part time energy grid. This week, we learnt that Annika Wells is a part time communications minister, but a full-time frequent flyer ... And today, we learn that Tony Burke has held secret meetings about the return of so-called ISIS brides to Australia."
Ms Ley is demanding answers from the Labor government on what senior ministers, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong, knew about the brides, and when, as well as on other matters.
---
New research reveals nearly two in five Australians fear they will never be able to retire, as housing and living costs continue to rise.
According to MFS Investment Management, about 38 per cent of superannuation members now share that concern, up from 28 per cent last year.
Two-thirds of survey respondents expect to work longer than planned.
Housing has become the top financial worry, overtaking everyday expenses, with inflation close behind.
Fewer than half of retirees are confident their savings will deliver enough income throughout retirement.
---
Ten major social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and, most recently, Twitch, will face fines of up to $50 million dollars if they fail to remove accounts belonging to Australians under 16 from the 10th of December.
The eSafety Commissioner will issue notices to all ten platforms on 11 December demanding data on account removals, followed by monthly requests for six months.
Regulators say courts could impose the maximum penalty where breaches are systemic or repeated.
Communications Minister Anika Wells says the government expects platforms to implement age checks carefully but firmly.
“The government recognises that age assurance may require several days or weeks to complete fairly and accurately … One week from today, this law is starting. Over the coming months, we will fight to defend this law in the High Court because parents right across Australia asked the government to step up.”
Google says the reform is misguided and that it does not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online.
---
Hong Kong’s deadly high-rise fire has claimed at least 159 lives, as police arrest six people suspected of disabling fire alarms during maintenance at the housing complex.
Victims ranged from a one-year-old child to a 97-year-old resident.
Police say they have now searched seven of the eight towers engulfed by the blaze, which burned for more than 40 hours, though around 30 people remain unaccounted for.
Commissioner of Police Joe Chow says the operation is far from over.
“So, this is the interim, but we have not finished our work yet because as you can see the scaffoldings, a lot of bamboos, that they have fallen down. So, we still need to do some work on those bamboos to see any remaining or any bodies were covered by these bamboos.”
Authorities say suspected human remains have been found in several apartments, with DNA testing now underway.
---
Five Palestinians, including two children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, according to medics at Al-Kuwaiti Hospital in Khan Younis.
A tent sheltering displaced people in the southern part of the enclave was among the sites hit.
The Israeli military says the strike targeted a Hamas fighter after what it described as a ceasefire breach, accusing militants of attacking Israeli troops near Rafah and injuring five soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel will respond to any harm to its forces.
Gaza's health authorities say 357 Palestinians have been killed over the first 50 days of the ceasefire, while Israeli authorities say three Israeli soldiers have been killed in the same period.
---
To sport and in football, Chelsea's Premier League title hopes have suffered a major setback, with a humbling 3-1 defeat at Leeds United which lifted the hosts out of the bottom three.
An attacking start from Leeds was rewarded with a sixth minute goal when Jaka Bijol powered in a header from the corner and the home side doubled their lead, with Ao Tanaka scoring a stunner two minutes before halftime.
Chelsea pulled one back five minutes after the break, through substitute Pedro Neto, but their comeback attempt was ended when a mistake at the back gave Leeds a third goal in the 72nd minute, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin wrapping up the win.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca says Leeds were impressive opponents.
"I think they were better than us in all the aspects, they deserved to win the game. There is nothing that we can take from this game. The only thing we can do is try to understand the mistake we have done, try to reset, because again in 48 hours we have one more game."
Chelsea remains on 24 points and slipped to fourth place in the league table with Leeds now in 17th on 14 points.
