News and politics live updates: Coalition attacks Labor over private health insurance rebate cuts

Australian tourists heading to Japan are being urged to stay alert as authorities warn the danger isn’t over following the powerful earthquake that devastated parts of the country’s south.

The federal government’s Smartraveller service has updated its travel advice after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, killing at least 30 people and injuring dozens more.

Officials are warning travellers that strong aftershocks remain a risk, with more than 100 already recorded since the initial quake. Transport disruptions are continuing across the region, while emergency crews race to search damaged buildings for survivors.

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Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has refused to comment on assault charges laid against Labor MP Luke Gosling, saying the matter is now before the courts.

Gosling, the federal member for Solomon, has been charged with two counts of assault over an alleged incident involving NT Administrator David Connolly at a festival earlier this month.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Ms Rowland said she would not be drawn into the case and confirmed she had no plans to meet with Gosling while visiting the Northern Territory.

“I am applying the same principle that I apply to every other matter that I’m asked about, which is that I cannot comment on specific details or provide commentary around that,” Ms Rowland says.

“I’m happy to answer factual questions if you wish to pose them, but I won’t be providing opinions or commentary around this matter.”

The attorney-general remains confident state and territory counterparts will sign on to reforms for national working with children checks.

A meeting of attorneys-general in Darwin on Friday will consider standards that would mean a person convicted of offences in one jurisdiction would be barred from holding a working with children check in other states.

Nationally consistent checks have been on the agenda for top law officers following several high-profile cases of child abuse in childcare centres.

Attorneys-general are also set to consider what sort of information is shared between states and territories for the checks in order for the decisions to be consistent.

Minimum national standards for the checks process will also be on the agenda.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said while reforms in the sector had been rolled out, further measures were necessary for child safety.

“While all states and territories have introduced ‘banned in one, banned in all’ legislation, there is more to do,” she said.

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The Coalition has labelled Labor’s private health insurance rebate changes a “mean-spirited” hit on older Australians, warning the policy could force retirees out of the private system and pile more pressure on public hospitals.

Speaking on Sunrise, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Jane Hume said the Government had failed to reveal the changes before the election and claimed many seniors on fixed incomes would struggle to absorb the extra cost.

“This is a tricky and sneaky, and dare I say, mean spirited, $11 billion tax on older Australians,” Senator Hume said.

“My office has been inundated with emails and letters from older Australians that are telling me that they’re either gonna go have to go back to work, or they’re gonna have to give up on their private health insurance.”

Health Minister Mark Butler was forced to defend the Federal Government’s plan to cut higher private health insurance rebates for older Australians, insisting the savings will be redirected into aged care and rejecting claims the move will overwhelm public hospitals.

Speaking on Sunrise, Mr Butler said government modelling showed only a “very marginal impact” on private health insurance membership and argued the changes would return the rebate system to one based on income rather than age.

“We have to find more money for age care services. So every dollar we save through this measure will be invested in more age care beds, better care, more age care, home care packages,” Mr Butler said.

“I think this has been a difficult decision. Of course, I’d prefer not to make it, but I think it takes us back to the old position where people received health insurance subsidies based on their income, rather than their age.”