Independent Helen Haines says whistleblower protections ‘insufficient’
Independent MP Helen Haines says the government needs to better protect whistleblowers, after former Australian Taxation Office employee Richard Boyle avoided jail time for blowing the whistle on unethical debt recovery practices at the ATO.
Boyle avoided a conviction after admitting to four criminal charges linked to his 2017 exposure of the ATO’s practices in May.
Haines spoke to the media a bit earlier and said the attorney general needed to prioritise whistleblower reforms.
It’s not enough to see Richard Boyle walk free today … time and time we stand up in this place speaking to you about the solutions to this problem, and the solutions are the complete rehauling of the Public Interest Disclosures Act.
We know that there are whistleblowers out there right now who are too afraid to come forward and they rightly should be afraid because there are insufficient protections.
Independent member for Indi Helen Haines and Independent member for Clark Andrew Wilkie at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, 28 August, 2025. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 05.40 CEST
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Questions turn to energy price rises
The opposition now moves on to energy prices, and Dan Tehan asks why energy prices have increased 39%, when the government (in 2022) promised that bills would be reduced by $275 by 2025.
Energy minister Chris Bowen starts by saying yesterday’s inflation numbers reflected price increases due to the end of some state energy rebates.
He then also does a bit of an energy compare and contrast – which doesn’t sit well with the opposition.
Tehan stands up on a point of order; before he speaks, Milton Dick tells everyone to be quiet, saying “there’s just far too much noise for anyone’s liking.”
Dick agrees with Tehan’s point that Bowen should stop slagging the Coalition, the Speaker says the question isn’t an opportunity for a “free-for-all to talk about the opposition’s policies”. Bowen continues:
I was referring to the report this week of the Australian Energy Regulator about the Australian market today, which is also dealing with the impact of 4 gigabits of dispensable power leaving the grid over the last decade, that’s what the government and Energy Market Operator and everybody involved in energy system is dealing with.
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Updated at 06.36 CEST
Question time begins on decision to list Iran’s IRGC as terrorist organisation
Sussan Ley begins the questions, and asks why the government delayed listing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, when a report in Nine newspapers said the home affairs department advised Labor to list the IRGC as a terror organisation more than two years ago.
Albanese reiterates the argument that the government received the advice from Asio that Iran was involved in two antisemitic attacks in Australia on Monday. He then also brings up Andrew Hastie’s comments on Tuesday that he had pushed for the terror listing while the Coalition was in government.
Sussan Ley stands up (twice) to get the PM to stick to the question, on why that home affairs advice was ignored.
Albanese also says the shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, backed the decisions.
I stand with the government, as does the rest of the Coalition. That’s what the shadow minister responsible said this morning. He went on to say, went on to say as well, not just yesterday, it backs up his statement yesterday that the decision was a good one. It was backed up by forensic intelligence provided by Asio and other partners.
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Updated at 06.34 CEST
US congressman welcomed to parliament
The PM also welcomes US congressman Jason Smith, chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
Albanese says he had a lengthy meeting with Smith yesterday, and that the congressman has met with several parliamentarians in recent days.
Sussan Ley jokes that Smith is “about to witness Australia’s robust and unique democracy from a front row seat.”
She then also takes a jab at Anthony Albanese.
Face to face meetings are important. So, we welcome yours with the prime minister.
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Updated at 06.23 CEST
Sussan Ley says police deaths a ‘heartbreaking tragedy’
Ley says the deaths are a “stark reminder” of the danger police officers face each day.
The deaths of these men is a heartbreaking tragedy that touched us all. Today our nation grieves for these officers who have lost their lives, their families, their friends and their colleagues. Our thoughts also go out to the injured detective who is now recovering.
We must recommit ourselves to stronger action to cure the sickness that has seized the outer-most fringes of society.
The alleged offender has been linked to the sovereign citizens movement, a group which the government has said is a “growing risk”.
Helen Haines, the independent MP for Indi, who represents the area of Porepunkah, also speaks to the House.
She says the police officers are heroes and their names will never be forgotten.
To the beautiful people of Porepunkah, I acknowledge that you are living with grief and shock and this event is not over for you yet. And I stand in this parliament today in solidarity with you, today and beyond, I thank you all for everything you’re doing right now to support the emergency services who are undertaking a most difficult and traumatic search for the offender.
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Updated at 06.18 CEST
PM offers condolences to families of police officers killed in Porepunkah
Before we get into questions, the prime minister offers his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the two police officers killed in Victoria, and the third officer who was injured and remains in hospital.
Albanese says he’s told the Victorian government that the federal government “stands ready” to provide support where needed.
Right now the Victoria Police are still engaged in their search for the killer at the centre of these terrible events … I’ve been speaking regularly with Victoria premier Jacinta Allan and the commonwealth stands ready to provide any support now or in the future. I understand in these raw early days, the close knit community of Porepunkah is grappling with the sense of horror and also disbelief.
The events are a “sombre reminder”, says Albanese, of the dangers police officers face every day to keep communities safe.
I say it not just on behalf of this parliament, but as Australia’s prime minister on behalf of every Australian. Detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson was a hero. Senior constable Vadim De Waart was a hero. They’ll be honour and remembered as heroes by Victoria Police, by Victorians, by all of us and all Australians.
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Updated at 06.11 CEST
Marles’s trip to US a ‘magical mystery tour’, Angus Taylor says
Angus Taylor says he “can’t make heads or tails” of deputy prime minister Richard Marles’s trip to the United States.
As we’ve been bringing you, there’s been a lot of back and forth over whether he and US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, had a meeting or not.
A US defence spokesperson told Nine it was a “happenstance” event, but the chief Pentagon spokesperson told Guardian Australia it was a meeting and had been organised in advance.
Taylor tells Sky News that, whatever it was, there’s still little detail on what that meeting involved.
It truly has been Richard Marles’ magical mystery tour, and it would be good for you [Marles] to front the media and explain what happened, what the outcomes were.
Asked whether the US administration should take some responsibility for the communication mishap, Taylor says the administration is “concerned, as I am actually, that we have an administration here in Australia, a government here in Australia that is underfunding defence”.
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Updated at 05.51 CEST
Expelled Iranian ambassador waves to media
The expelled Iranian ambassador to Australia has been spotted again outside the embassy.
He and three other Iranian diplomats have been ordered to leave the country, after Asio revealed Iran was involved in two antisemitic attacks in Australia.
Ahmad Sadeghi has just been seen smiling and waving to the cameras, but won’t be doing so for much longer – his time to leave the country is running out.
Iranian ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, waves outside his residence in Canberra, after being expelled on Tuesday. Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersIranian ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi. Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersShare
Updated at 05.41 CEST
Independent Helen Haines says whistleblower protections ‘insufficient’
Independent MP Helen Haines says the government needs to better protect whistleblowers, after former Australian Taxation Office employee Richard Boyle avoided jail time for blowing the whistle on unethical debt recovery practices at the ATO.
Boyle avoided a conviction after admitting to four criminal charges linked to his 2017 exposure of the ATO’s practices in May.
Haines spoke to the media a bit earlier and said the attorney general needed to prioritise whistleblower reforms.
It’s not enough to see Richard Boyle walk free today … time and time we stand up in this place speaking to you about the solutions to this problem, and the solutions are the complete rehauling of the Public Interest Disclosures Act.
We know that there are whistleblowers out there right now who are too afraid to come forward and they rightly should be afraid because there are insufficient protections.
Independent member for Indi Helen Haines and Independent member for Clark Andrew Wilkie at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, 28 August, 2025. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 05.40 CEST
You can read the full story on the meeting – turned “happenstance” – turned meeting here:
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Updated at 05.02 CEST
Pentagon clarifies earlier statement to say Marles-Hegseth meeting was planned ‘in advance’
There’s been a lot of back and forth this morning over whether the deputy prime minster and defence minister, Richard Marles, actually met with his counterpart Pete Hegseth.
There were reports this morning that a US defense spokesperson said the pair didn’t meet, but interacted after “a happenstance encounter”.
Well, the plot thickens!
The chief Pentagon spokesperson has told Guardian Australia that the encounter was, in fact, a meeting, walking back that previous statement, and confirming that it was coordinated “in advance”. Chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, said in a statement:
Secretary Hegseth welcomed the opportunity to meet in person with Deputy Prime Minister Marles for the third time this year. Their meeting at the White House on Tuesday was coordinated in advance.
Screengrab from Richard Marles X account with caption: ‘The Alliance between Australia and the United States is longstanding, built on our shared history of deep collaboration. I was pleased to have the opportunity to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to building on this partnership with US @VP JD Vance and Secretary of Defense @PeteHegseth in Washington D.C. today.’ Photograph: X via Richard MarlesShare
Updated at 06.08 CEST
Labor’s penalty rates and overtime bill passes
The government’s legislation to enshrine penalty rate entitlements into law has passed parliament.
You can read more about the purpose of the bill here:
The Coalition was critical of the legislation, saying that whilst they’re supportive of penalty rates, the government hadn’t released an impact statement on the affect of the legislation on small businesses.
Shadow small business minister Tim Wilson said this morning that there was still confusion over whether the legislation would affect current awards.
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Updated at 04.20 CEST
