News and politics live updates: Albanese Government warned over rising debt, persistent Budget deficits
LIVE UPDATES: Australia’s former top Treasury official has sounded the alarm over mounting debt and deficits, warning that future generations will be left with the bill.

Scroll down for the latest news and live updates.
Key events
17 Aug 2026 - 05:00 PM
That’s a wrap!
17 Aug 2026 - 04:44 PM
Former Labor adviser, bureaucrat slams Chalmers over Budget
17 Aug 2026 - 04:07 PM
LATIKA M BOURKE: Why Anthony Albanese is being told to get out of the DMs
17 Aug 2026 - 03:26 PM
NAB warns of 30pc rent rise as Labor changes hit investors
17 Aug 2026 - 02:07 PM
First-homebuyer mortgage demand plunge worst since 2022
17 Aug 2026 - 01:23 PM
Butler pressed over major NDIS changes
17 Aug 2026 - 01:18 PM
‘Cut the crap’: Minister booted from Question Time
17 Aug 2026 - 12:53 PM
‘Level playing field’: Labor’s housing claim
17 Aug 2026 - 12:44 PM
‘Shocked and disappointed’: Swans CEO on alleged incident
17 Aug 2026 - 10:10 AM
‘Going to pay’: Ex-treasury boss issues blunt warning on deteriorating Budget position
17 Aug 2026 - 08:38 AM
‘Unfair’: GST war erupts between State treasurers
17 Aug 2026 - 07:55 AM
Skilled migration crucial to Australia’s future: Westpac CEO
17 Aug 2026 - 07:27 AM
Morrison fires back over WA GST deal after ‘costly mistake’ verdict
17 Aug 2026 - 06:45 AM
Major bank’s loan applications plunge on softer market
17 Aug 2026 - 06:37 AM
‘Shonks’ targeted as NDIS plan faces final push
17 Aug 2026 - 06:17 AM
Australian National University to unveil Julie Bishop’s replacement
17 Aug 2026 - 06:05 AM
Joyce and Plibersek clash over One Nation’s super plan
‘Shonks’ targeted as NDIS plan faces final push
Sweeping reforms to disability support, gambling advertising and media funding could finally pass parliament after months of political horse-trading.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Liberal leader Angus Taylor multiple times in the first sitting week after a five-week winter break in an attempt to find common ground on the three significant pieces of legislation.
Contentious efforts to reduce spending on the National Disability Insurance Scheme could pass as early as Monday.
The recommendations from a Labor-led inquiry into the NDIS reform on Friday urged the immediate passage of the legislation despite significant backlash from disability advocates.
The Coalition has flagged the need for further measures to crack down on dodgy operators within the scheme, but it has voiced support for the attempted funding cut of about $38 billion over four years.
The latest report from the NDIS Quality and Standards Commission shows 111 banning orders were issued in the last quarter, the most on record. A further 453 NDIS providers had their registration revoked.
NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said increased powers for the commission legislated in April have successfully weeded out the “shonks and grifters”.
with AAP
Australian National University to unveil Julie Bishop’s replacement
The most recent Public Service Commissioner is emerging as the likely replacement for Julie Bishop as the next Chancellor of the Australian National University, three months after the former Foreign Minister quit the role after a tumultuous tenure.
ANU sources say an announcement on who will fill the part-time and largely ceremonial role was scheduled to be made over the weekend as the Canberra institution celebrated its eightieth birthday but is instead expected to be revealed on Monday.
Inside the university speculation is growing that former Australian Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer has been chosen for the position after announcing his retirement from government earlier this year.
Mr De Brouwer previously studied at ANU and worked as Professor of Economics in the Crawford School of Public Policy from January 2000 to March 2004 and remains an adjunct professor.
Joyce and Plibersek clash over One Nation’s super plan
Barnaby Joyce and Tanya Plibersek have clashed over One Nation’s push to give Australians earlier access to their superannuation.
Asked whether early withdrawls could leave people more reliant on taxpayers during retirement, Mr Joyce instead pointed to claims that $1.2b had been lost in the collapse of the First Guardian and Shield.
“I tell you what, they (taxpayers) didn’t foot the bill for the $1.2b that was stolen,” Mr Joyce told Sunrise, accusing regulators and auditors of failing Australians.
Pressed on how far the proposal would go, Mr Joye argued Australians facing cost of living pressures should have greater control over their retirement savings.
“Well you already have people that can access their super. When you’re in hardships you can. And I think one of the hardships people have is they can’t feed themselves because of the cost of living,” he said.
“And another hardship is, if they don’t have a house and they are put out on the street and they are living in a car. Surely it is their money and we should give it a little bit more respect about what they can do with their own money.”
Ms Plibersek defended the current system, saying people can already access super in cases of particualr hardship, but warned super is designed to prevent people from retring into poverty and becoming reliant on the age pension.
“If they need to get their super to hang onto their house, if they get sick, if they are dying there are a whole range of issues where you can get it, but super is there so you don’t retire into povery. It makes the hugest difference to people so they aren’t relying on the age pension,” she said.
“We spent about $7b a year on the age pension as a nation and that would be much higher if people didn’t have super accounts.”
The exchange became heated as Ms Plibersek accused Mr Joyce of repeating “talking points”, saying “I am proud of what we do, why aren’t you proud, Barnaby?”
