Guardian AU
Australia politics live: David Pocock rues ‘farcical’ tax review; Marles defends Ben Roberts-Smith invitation to war memorial opening
Australia's revamped War Memorial opening has drawn controversy after Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles defended the decision to invite Ben Roberts-Smith, the decorated soldier found by a Federal Court judge to have committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Senator David Pocock has criticized the government's tax review as "farcical," arguing it falls short on closing loopholes that benefit wealthier Australians while leaving small businesses inadequately supported. Both issues signal growing tension within Labor's coalition of support as the government faces scrutiny over accountability and economic fairness.
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Christian Brothers 'squib' on abuse compensation, lawyer says
The Christian Brothers have announced plans to sell their remaining assets to fund compensation for abuse victims, but the move is expected to leave survivors significantly short-changed. A lawyer representing victims has condemned the gesture as inadequate, calling out the order for failing to fully reckon with the scale of harm caused. The shortfall raises fresh questions about accountability within Catholic institutions and whether asset liquidation alone can deliver meaningful justice.
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Live: Rush to pass CGT, negative gearing overhaul 'farcical': Pocock
Labor's push to fast-track capital gains tax and negative gearing reforms has drawn sharp criticism from independent Senator David Pocock, who called the legislative urgency "farcical." The government is under pressure to lock in the changes before parliament rises, raising questions about proper scrutiny of major tax policy. The standoff highlights the outsized influence crossbench senators continue to hold over the Albanese government's agenda.
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Australia politics live: Coalition targets Labor’s ‘dangerous’ tax deal; PM says opposition ‘pining for time which has never existed’
Australia's political landscape is heating up as the Coalition takes aim at what it calls Labor's "dangerous" tax arrangements, while Prime Minister Albanese dismissed the criticism as nostalgia for a past that never existed. Meanwhile, Deputy PM Richard Marles has defended the decision to invite disgraced former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith to the Australian War Memorial's official opening, arguing his Victoria Cross status warrants the inclusion despite the war crimes findings against him. The invitation underscores the ongoing tension between institutional tradition and accountability in recognising military service.
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Australia politics live: Australia politics live: Tim Wilson attacks Labor’s ‘dodgy’ tax deal with Greens; question time begins
Ben Roberts-Smith's invitation to the Australian War Memorial's reopening event has drawn scrutiny, with Defence Minister Richard Marles defending the decision on the grounds that all Victoria Cross recipients were extended the courtesy. The move is notable given Roberts-Smith lost a defamation case in which a Federal Court judge found he had committed war crimes in Afghanistan. The distinction between his military honour and his legal record continues to create political tension for the Albanese government.
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