Australian news and politics live: Watt says environment bill will happen with or without Coalition, Greens

Australia’s labour market is expected to weaken in 2026 as AI threatens almost 40 jobs and high inflation restricts the Reserve Bank’s ability to cut interest rates, a new report predicts

Deloitte Access Economics has identified 37 occupations facing an artificial intelligence threat, including 24 clerical and administration roles, seven sales positions and three in management.

Ticket sellers were at the top of the list, ahead of receptionists, keyboard operators, call centre workers, office support workers, switchboard operators, telemarketers, library assistants, human resource clerks and payroll officers.

“Many of these occupations face high AI automation with a relatively low human necessity to undertake the tasks associated with those occupations,” the report said.

“These occupations are hypothesised to face the highest risk of declining employment as AI replaces tasks which have less requirement for human judgement, empathy or interpersonal skills.”

Politicians and their staff have been urged to place their phones and iPads in “lockdown” mode during a visit to Parliament House this week by a senior Chinese Communist Party official.

Zhao Leji, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, flew into Canberra on Monday for a series of meetings, after arriving in Brisbane over the weekend.

Ahead of his arrival at Parliament House, the Department of Parliamentary services has formally advised building occupants of disruptions that can be expected during Chairman Zhao’s visit.

In advice sent to parliamentary offices on Monday morning, DPS advises staff to use “alternative routes and follow the direction of Parliamentary security officers” to “ensure a smooth visit and clear routes”.

“Suites and offices adjacent to the delegation movements may wish to ensure doors and blinds are closed during the visit for privacy,” DPS says in a message seen by The Nightly.

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Liberal MP Aaron Violi has called on Australian men to stand up and act to end domestic violence in a powerful speech to Parliament to mark the start of 16 Days of Activism.

The Casey MP is one of several politicians from across parties who joined together last week to launch the “Parliamentary Friends of Healthy Masculinities” group.

In his speech on Monday, Mr Violi labelled the deaths of 74 women in the past year to DV as “shocking” and declared Australian men had to step up on the insidious issue.

“We need to understand. It’s not just the women of Australia that have a role to play

“The men in this place, the men in communities, have a role to play. We need to call out inappropriate behaviour of our friends, of our colleagues, of our workmates. We need to show courage and call it out when we see it. I don’t believe that men are evil. I have to live in hope.

“We need to make sure that all men understand that violence is not acceptable in any circumstance.”

He said “early intervention” was key and that it was critical to engage with younger generations in conversations about healthy masculinity, including conveying that “it’s okay to share your weaknesses, it’s okay to be vulnerable”.

Dickson MP Ali France has vowed that the Albanese Government will work on further action to prevent perpetrators from using the tax and social security systems for abuse.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Monday, the Queensland Labor MP shared the harrowing domestic violence story of one of her constituents named Lauren.

Ms France detailed the systemic barriers Lauren faced after her DV ordeal began in 2015, when her partner harmed her three-month-old baby. DV had pushed Lauren into debt, homelessness, and forced her to place her child in care.

“At one point, that abusive partner took out a domestic violence order against her, a move that prevented her from completing her nursing studies and left her with significant student debt as a single mother,” Ms France told the House.

“She was doing everything she could to protect her child, but the system made her feel like a criminal. The Albanese Labor Government is committed to changing this. We know there is more we need to do.

“We’re committed to making changes to prevent perpetrators from using the tax and social security system as coercive control or financial abuse.”

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has read the names of 74 women lost in the past year to domestic violence in Australia to Federal Parliament.

In her solemn speech to mark the launch of the 16 Days campaign, Ms Ley urged the nation to “maintain the rage” to help end the insidious issue.

“Today, I stand here in our national parliament and read these names into our national record. These women matter,” she told the House of Representatives.

“These names should echo through this building and echo across our country.”

“How do we maintain the rage? We must not look away. We must continue to go into the dark places.

“We must continue to shine the light. These women have stories. These women have names. We must not ever forget them.”

It comes after she revealed at her first National Press Club as Liberal leader in June that she had experienced domestic violence in the form of coercive control.

Politicians on both sides have raised questions over the Bureau of Meteorology’s $96 million bill for a website design which was loathed by Australians.

Labor Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government simply couldn’t explain the spending which was why the Environment Minister had launched a probe into it.

“That cost blowout is ridiculous and that’s why Murray Watt has launched an investigation to try and find out how this has occurred,” he told Sky News on Monday.

“That cost blowout is ridiculous and simply unacceptable.”

Liberal Senator Maria Kovacic said the BOM app was an important piece of government infrastructure but agreed the excessive cost of the redevelopment needed to be explained.

“For the cost to blow out to almost $100 million is extraordinary and something that this government needs to explain as to how this has happened, why it has happened, and how the spending has gotten so out of control,” she said.

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Nationals Leader David Littleproud has criticised the Bureau of Meteorology’s $96 million website redesign, saying it “misled” the public on the bill, which had the potential to erode public trust.

“It’s disgraceful and there’s a cultural deficiency at the Bureau of Meteorology,” Mr Littleproud told Sky News on Monday.

“They actually said publicly that it costs $4.1 million, it’s now 96 million. The fact that they have misled the Australian people in that way is disgraceful.

“They should be an organisation that the Australian people can trust, particularly when they’re using Australian taxpayers’ money.

“This is a disgrace for the Bureau of Meteorology. They’ve had a litany of errors, not just in their forecasting, but now treating people with such disrespect.”

“It just goes to show there’s a cultural problem at the Bureau, and unless the minister gets involved, I suspect we’re going to see an erosion of any confidence in the bureau moving forward.”

Environment Minister Murray Watt has urged the Bureau of Meteorology to “take taxpayers’ money seriously” after their “disappointing” $96 million website bungle.

It comes as it has been revealed the cost of the recent BOM website overhaul, which angered scores of Australians, was a staggering $96 million rather than the $4.1million that was originally claimed.

Speaking on Sky News on Monday, Senator Watt said it was clear the agency hadn’t met public expectations with the project.

“I’m as disappointed as anyone about this. I’m very disappointed in the way this has been handled,” Senator Watt said.

“The BOM is an independent agency, and it manages its own affairs. But obviously it’s important that they, like every other federal agency, take taxpayers’ money seriously.”

Adding to the intrigue surrounding Sussan Ley’s future, Andrew Hastie will miss at least one day of Parliament this week as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

The Canning MP didn’t make the trip across the Nullarbor on Sunday with his West Australian colleagues (nor did Michaelia Cash, who continues to recover from a broken ankle).

He injured his shoulder in a jujitsu lesson in June and told supporters on Friday that he’d had “a repair job” on it last Wednesday.

“This week I’ll be working on a writing project and publishing an extended essay each week,” he wrote in an email to supporters, asking them to suggest topics.

“What questions do you think I should spend time answering? From the personal to the political, let me know what you’d like me to focus on.”

The Liberal party room will meet on Tuesday, ahead of the usual joint meeting with Nationals colleagues.

Police are preparing for protests around Federal Parliament on Monday as the third-highest ranking figure in the Chinese Government flies into Canberra for a visit, which will include a meeting with the Governor General.

Over the weekend, Zhao Leji, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, touched down in Brisbane, where he was met by the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Milton Dick

On Monday, Chairman Zhao will call on Governor General Sam Mostyn at Government House, then head to Parliament House for a formal dinner with the presiding officers.

The Nightly has confirmed the senior Chinese official will have breakfast with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday morning before he flies out of Australia.