Australian news and politics live: Inflation hits low, Coalition grills Chalmers over grocery price pain

Anthony Albanese says he wants to stop parents losing young children due to harm online.

His call comes after the Government announced on Wednesday that YouTube would be captured in their new Under 16s ban.

“We know social media is doing social harm. My government and this parliament is prepared to take action to protect young Australians,” he said.

“Social media companies have a social responsibility.

“That’s why today we are pleased to announce that our government is tabling rules that specify which types of online services will be captured in our world-leading laws.”

A review of the trilateral AUKUS pact by the Pentagon has been delayed and is now expected to be published later this year.

In a statement published by the United State’s Department of Defence, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said it would be pushed to the fall after a “clear eyed assessment” but added the US “looks forward to regular engagement”.

The United States launched a review into AUKUS earlier this year, sparking fears that the strategic pact might be scrapped by the Trump administration.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has said a review was a “natural” step of any new government and pointed to a similar view under new UK PM Keir Starmer and Labor’s Defence Strategic Review.

Australia has joined a new multi-country statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.

The statement, signed by 15 nations including Canada, France and New Zealand, also demands “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of Hamas, including the remains, as well as ensuring unhindered humanitarian access,” to the strip.

It reiterates “unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions.”

It also expresses “grave concern over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in Gaza” as well as stressing “the essential role of the United Nations and its agencies in facilitating humanitarian assistance.”

The statement comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, where France has signalled its intent to fully recognise Palestine. The UK has also said it will recognise Palestine if there is no Gaza ceasefire.

Australia has “more work to do” to improve literacy and numeracy skills among school children, Education Minister Jason Clare has said.

The latest NAPLAN results show that about one third of Australian students were still not meeting “challenging but reasonable” benchmarks for literacy and numeracy, with about 10 per cent needing additional support.

Mr Clare pointed to improvements, highlighting that about two thirds of students achieved “strong” or “exceeding” proficiency levels and that numeracy results improved across years 5, 7 and 9 for the first time since 2017.

“The improvements in literacy and numeracy are good news, but there’s more work to do,” he said.

Former Cabinet Minister Ed Husic says Australia must act now to recognise a Palestinian state, and build on the international momentum created by the UK’s decision to set a September deadline for recognising Palestine.

Britain became the second G7 nation to say it would recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, further isolating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks.

US President Donald Trump said that while he didn’t support recognising Palestine as a state, only those “worse than nuts” could not be moved by the images of starving children emanating from Gaza.

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Labor MP Julian Hill has revealed the government is actively engaging in discussions with international leaders regarding the recognition of Palestinian statehood.

He pointed to recent moves from France and Britain as signs that patience on the issue is wearing thin.

“The government will determine its position based on our conception of Australia’s national interest, working with like-minded countries around the world, and the PM is in dialogue,” Mr Hill said on Sky News on Wednesday morning.

“Australia’s position … is a question of when, not if, to recognise the state of Palestine.”

Australia has lifted a 22-year-old ban on the import of Canadian beef and beef products, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.

Australia imposed import restrictions on Canadian beef in 2003, following the discovery of Canada’s first domestic case of mad cow disease.

The CIFA said Canada holds a negligible risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which means its beef production system is recognised internationally as safe.

“This regained access to the Australian market is a testament to the co-operation between the CFIA, the Canadian beef industry and our trading partners,” agency president Paul MacKinnon said in a statement.

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YouTube will be captured in the Government’s social media ban for children aged under 16.

But online gaming, messaging apps, and health and education services will continue to be exempt once the ban starts in December.

Anthony Albanese said the Government was “on the side of families” with the restrictions.

“Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I’m calling time on it,” he said.

The rules, to be publicly released on Wednesday, define age-restricted social media accounts as services that allow users to interact and post material.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the United Kingdom is prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly unless Israel takes steps to improve life for Palestinians.

Mr Starmer said the UK would make the move unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter the Gaza Strip, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a “two-state solution” - a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel.

“The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering,” Mr Starmer said.

“Now, in Gaza, because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.”

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The Albanese Government maintains Australia holds the world’s “best deal” with the United States and is committed to handling new US tariff threats with respect and careful diplomacy ahead of the Friday deadline.

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil insists the government’s approach is grounded in decades of proven partnership, not political theatrics after Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash blasted the Albanese Government’s approach, saying the Coalition negotiated a 0 per cent tariff while in government.

“We have a clear goal here. We’ve got to be calm about it. We’ve got to work through appropriate channels to get the best deal for our citizens,” Ms O’Neil told Sunrise.

“Australia does have the best deal of any country in the world in terms of its trade arrangements with the US. Australians are always there for the United States when they ask for our help and partnership on things.”