Live: Labor minister wants RBA to go further on card surcharges ban
Independent MP Monique Ryan says she's ready to fight after Josh Frydenberg signalled he was preparing for a political comeback.
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Ryan unbothered by Frydenberg speculation
By Courtney Gould
By Courtney Gould
So what does Monique Ryan think about Josh Frydenberg's return to the political fray?
"I'm not bothered either way," she told Nine this morning.
Frydenberg lost the Melbourne seat of Kooyong to the independent MP at the 2022 election. The former treasurer is out and about this week ahead of the release of his new book.
The book's publication has stoked speculation Frydenberg could attempt to re-capture his old seat at the next election.
Ryan argued the community had already "rejected" Frydenberg, taking aim at his record on climate change and his actions during the pandemic.
"People were very unhappy with the way that he punched down on Victoria during the COVID years. I'm not sure what has changed since that time that Frydenberg now thinks that the community will welcome him back with open arms," she said.
"He says to be prime minister, but he doesn't speak much about Kooyong, and that's the part of the world that I'm most focused on."
Frydenberg hints at political comeback
By Courtney Gould
By Courtney Gould
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg hasn't closed the door to a political comeback.
During an interview with 60 Minutes last night, Frydenberg -- who was ousted at the 2022 election -- said he doesn't think "anyone gets politics out of their system".
"I certainly haven’t closed the door, but I don’t need to rush to a decision. The next election is 18 months away," he said.
Frydenberg insisted the Liberals were facing an "existential threat" ahead of the next federal election, due in 2028.
"The polls are showing that the Liberal Party is at an all time low and so things have to change because there's existential about the threat that I think the party now faces," he said.
Asked if Opposition Leader Angus Taylor would welcome free advice about how to do his job, Frydenberg said he's not the only one doing it.
"I think he's getting that from lots of corners. People saying that the Liberal Party needs to do better," he says.
Greens demand right to sue big tech
By Clare Armstrong
By Clare Armstrong
Labor is poised to walk back controversial ministerial powers in new digital safety laws amid demands from the Greens for stronger protections, including the right to seek compensation for algorithmic harms.
The Coalition remains opposed to the federal government's Digital Duty of Care proposal, which is one of three major pieces of legislation due to be introduced to parliament his week, alongside a gas reservation and changes to the taxation of trusts.
The digital laws have a potential pathway through the Senate with the support of the Greens, who have set three "tests" for the bill on private compensation, the scale of fines and addressing the addictive nature of the technology.
The duty would require social media, search engines, AI chatbots and other online platforms to take reasonable steps to reduce foreseeable "harms" for underage Australians and "serious harm" for adults.
Categories of harm were outlined in an exposure draft bill released last month, but there was also a provision for the minister to add further harms through regulation.
The Coalition has been vehemently opposed to the powers, suggesting they would lead to political censorship online.
It is understood the government is now prepared to scrap the ministerial discretion component of the bill before it is introduced later this week.
Read more at the link below.
Good morning 👋
By Courtney Gould
By Courtney Gould
Hello friends. Welcome to our politics live blog. I'm Courtney Gould from the ABC's Parliament House team, here to guide you through the day.
Politicians are already walking the halls as another sitting week is upon us. The government is preparing to scrap controversial powers included in its Digital Duty of Care bill, which is expected to be introduced later this week.
Meanwhile, the government remains under pressure by the business community over the Reserve Bank's decision to ban card surcharges.
Elsewhere, former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has hinted at a return to politics. So how has the woman who ousted him, Monique Ryan, reacted to that? I'll have that for you shortly.
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