Social media reforms stoke concerns over censorship; Reports of sexual violence at an all-time high; The Champions League kicks off with some impressive victories.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Social media reforms stoke concerns over censorship
- Reports of sexual violence at an all-time high
- The Champions League kicks off with some impressive victories.
The federal government has unveiled social media reforms that would allow users to switch off algorithmic feeds, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejecting claims the changes amount to censorship.
Labor's proposed digital duty of care laws are designed to give Australians greater control over the content they see online.
The opposition and One Nation argue the reforms would give the communications minister too much influence over what is classified as harmful content.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan voiced his concerns to Nine's Today show.
"They're not impartial. This is like this bill is like putting Anthony Albanese in charge of refereeing a South Sydney Rabbitohs game , he wouldn't be an impartial judge. These peple are not an impartial judge and we should not allow this type of censorship to emerge in a free and open country."
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But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the show the changes are about empowering users, not expanding government control, and says any definitions of harmful content would still be subject to parliamentary oversight.
"This isn't about censorship. This isn't about giving ((Communications Minister)) Anika Wells power. This is about giving (people) power and people on their devices having the power themselves to either opt in or opt out. It's that simple. Snd the Coalition, a number of Liberal party members, have supported this already."
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Acclaimed Australian author Blanche d'Alpuget, the widow of former prime minister Bob Hawke, has died aged 82.
Best known for her award-winning biography of Hawke, d'Alpuget wrote a celebrated body of work spanning biographies, novels and essays during a literary career, earning numerous honours.
The pair married in 1995 after a long relationship, and remained together until Hawke's death in 2019.
She is survived by her son, stepchildren and grandchildren.
She asked her family to share a final message: "Our highest calling and greatest achievement is love, the rule of life. Love one another."
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Reports of sexual violence have reached their highest level since national record-keeping began 33 years ago, as Australia's Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner warns people continue to face unacceptable levels of harm.
In her latest report to parliament, Micaela Cronin says progress is not happening at the scale or pace needed to save lives.
The report identifies sexual violence and the family law and justice systems as persistent areas of concern, with almost six in 10 police-recorded sexual assaults occurring outside family and intimate partner relationships.
Ms Cronin is calling for sustained national investment and action, while the federal government says reforms to family courts and support systems are already underway.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended a $560 million infrastructure grants program after a report found Labor-held electorates received almost three-quarters of the funding, including projects in his own seat of Grayndler. [[ GRAYND-luh ]]
Among the grants was $6 million for Sydney's Marrickville Golf Club, which Mr Albanese says will help address flooding and sewage issues along the Cooks River.
The Centre for Public Integrity found 45 electorates received no invitation to apply for funding, prompting accusations of pork-barrelling.
Independent MP Helen Haines says the report into the government's community funding scheme raises questions about the integrity of the process.
"What is the selection criterita to be invited? And why does it need to be an invitation only? And the government are completely mute on that. They won't tell us outside of 'it's an election commitment', which - and let's be frank - is a euphemism for a pork barrel."
The government rejects the criticism, arguing the program is designed to deliver on election commitments and fund local community projects.
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The Champions League season has kicked off, with Real Madrid and Manchester City both opening their campaigns with victories.
Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde scored as Real Madrid capitalised on two Inter Milan errors to secure a 2-1 win, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing a string of crucial saves.
Erling Haaland struck twice after halftime to lead Manchester City to a 2-0 victory over Porto and maintain coach Enzo Maresca's unbeaten start to the season.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa beat Club Brugge 3-2, Real Betis edged Lille 3-2 and Borussia Dortmund claimed a 3-2 win over Villarreal thanks to a late double from Serhou Guirassy.
