Australia news live: Jean-Claude Perrottet tells Icac inquiry ‘I honestly don’t recall’ why lobbying company sent him monthly $5,000 payments

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Jean-Claude Perrottet uncertain on why he was receiving $5,000 monthly sums, inquiry hears

Penry Buckley

Returning to the NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny, Jean-Claude Perrottet has been questioned about his time after his departure from the ministerial office of Damien Tudehope.

Jean-Claude Perrottet has frequently answered “I don’t know” to questioning from counsel assisting Juliet Curtin today.

In 2021, Jean-Claude Perrottet was working a day job at Medallion Finance, which he says gave him a base salary of $55,000.

Curtin shows him invoices for four monthly payments of $5,000, and one payment of $5,500 to registered lobbying company Beckington, set up by Reformer Christian Ellis. Asked about the “substantial injections of cash into your account”, Jean-Claude Perrottet said:

double quotation markI’m honestly trying to do my best here. I honestly don’t recall why I might have done some work for them. I don’t know. I mean, it could have been for work. I mean, maybe, maybe Christian owed me money. I don’t know.

The ABC has apologised to Gina Rinehart for a short film that appeared on its Race Around the World program.

Rinehart threatened the ABC with legal action last week over crude remarks in the film, titled A Very Relaxing Video, that included offensive comments about the billionaire, including a line about “mixing her guts up nice and smooth to make one big sausage roll”.

The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, said the broadcaster’s ombudsman found the film did not breach editorial policies but had “fallen short of community expectations”. He wrote:

\n The ABC apologises to Mrs Rinehart and to anyone else affected or upset by the publication of the film.\n As part of our review of this matter, we have considered whether the guidance in the ABC Editorial Policies adequately reflects current community expectations.\n We have also considered whether the relevant guidance sufficiently distinguishes between news and non-news content.\n

The ABC said it will amend its guidance as it applies to violence. It has edited the film to remove the relevant material.

Returning to the NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny, Jean-Claude Perrottet has been questioned about his time after his departure from the ministerial office of Damien Tudehope.

Jean-Claude Perrottet has frequently answered “I don’t know” to questioning from counsel assisting Juliet Curtin today.

In 2021, Jean-Claude Perrottet was working a day job at Medallion Finance, which he says gave him a base salary of $55,000.

Curtin shows him invoices for four monthly payments of $5,000, and one payment of $5,500 to registered lobbying company Beckington, set up by Reformer Christian Ellis. Asked about the “substantial injections of cash into your account”, Jean-Claude Perrottet said:

\n I’m honestly trying to do my best here. I honestly don’t recall why I might have done some work for them.\n I don’t know. I mean, it could have been for work. I mean, maybe, maybe Christian owed me money. I don’t know.\n

The federal parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is continuing this week, with hearings held in Melbourne.

The inquiry has heard harrowing evidence from sportspeople, including community-controlled sporting groups and Olympian boxer Marissa Williamson Pohlman, the first Indigenous female boxer to represent Australia and competed in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Williamson Pohlman, a Ngarrindjeri woman, told the inquiry there was widespread racism, sexism and violence in the sport, saying there was a lack of support, and made allegations of inappropriate behaviour and assaults – urging an inquiry into Boxing Australia.

“I think there needs to be an independent investigation on that organisation and there’s something terrible going on there.” Williamson Pohlman told the inquiry.

“All these athletes come from the school of hard knocks. So the racism, the sexism, the misogyny, the homophobia, and just the violence is rife in those places. It’s in the organisation too.”

Gina Rinehart has lost an estimated $283m on paper as Elon Musk’s SpaceX company slumps in value.

SpaceX shares fell overnight to US$108.27, 19.8% below its price of US$135 when it listed on share markets. It is now valued at US$1.4tn. Musk, its founder, was briefly the world’s first trillionaire but is now worth US$693.7bn, according to Forbes.

The company had released financial results showing strong revenue growth but capital spending on AI development was particularly high. Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG, said the report had unsettled investors.

Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, took a stake in SpaceX at its share market debut. It has republished articles on its website reporting it bought over US$1bn worth. Wednesday’s price fall implies the company has lost about US$200m (A$283m) on paper.

A Hancock Prospecting spokesperson said the company was still invested in SpaceX but did not directly answer when asked whether it had sold or bought more shares since its initial investment. A spokesperson said Hancock was a “long-term investor” with a diverse portfolio and a particular focus on companies with “outstanding leadership”. They added:

\n Our investment in SpaceX reflects our confidence in Elon Musk, an exceptional and brilliant person, and SpaceX’s execution under his leadership, as well as in Elon Musk’s proven ability to use science for the betterment of mankind.\n

SpaceX’s share price is at risk of falling further tonight. Early investors and company insiders may rush to cash out when they gain permission to sell their shares in the company, after a lockup period expires on Thursday, US time.

A 60-year-old man has died after an alleged assault in Melbourne, where he was allegedly set upon by a group of youths.

Victoria police said the man sustained critical injuries on 1 August after the group of young people allegedly attempted to steal items from a nearby store in the suburb of Sunshine. The victim allegedly came to the aid of a shop employee before he was attacked himself.

The man was transported to hospital, but died yesterday, 5 August.

Two boys, aged 12 and 15 and two girls, both 14, have been charged with affray, violent disorder and intentionally causing serious injury and injury. They have been remanded to appear before a children’s court.

Earlier charges against a boy, 13, were dropped after investigations exonerated him.

Detectives will consider upgrading the charges already laid after the man’s death.

A New South Wales man has been charged for allegedly threatening violence towards a female MP in social media posts earlier this week.

Officials said the man allegedly made a number of posts towards the parliamentarian, making alleged threats of violence, threats to damage property and statements that they intended to find the victim in public and cause her harm.

After an investigation, police arrested the man, 43, in Tascott on the NSW Central Coast on Wednesday.

He was charged with the use of a carriage service to threaten serious harm. He was refused bail and will appear before court today.

News Corp has delivered a strong rise in revenue across its global business, despite weakness in its news division, marked by a slide in digital subscribers at its Australian mastheads.

The Rupert Murdoch family-backed business reported a 7% lift in full-year revenue to $US9bn, according to financials released this morning, driven by strong results in its business news-focused Dow Jones unit, book publishing and digital real estate assets.

Its well known news media division, however, weighed on results, with advertising revenue falling 2% during the financial year to 30 June. The company’s global newspaper stable includes the Sun and the Times in London, the New York Post and The Australian, and many other mastheads.

Digital subscribers at News Corp Australia slid from 1,166,000 to 1,162,000 during the year, according to the company’s internal data.

News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson used the results to hit out at AI models that “pilfer and profit from our work” without compensation.

“We will pursue those pilferers, and companies that are clients of these crass kleptomaniacs should know they are patently in possession of stolen goods,” Thomson said.

News Corp already has commercial agreements in place with OpenAI and Meta.

Thomson claimed that “without our journalists, our authors, our data, our brands and our professional expertise, users would be drowning in a slimy sea of AI slop”.

The government has asked the consumer watchdog to draw up some national safety standards to crack down on the sale of unsafe ebikes in Australia.

Ebike incidents have escalated in recent years (as their use has also skyrocketed). NSW recorded 226 injuries related to ebikes in 2024. In the first seven months of 2025, that had already to surged to 233 injuries plus four deaths.

The government says new rules will ensure the standards are the same across all states and territories and will apply to the sale of ebikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards. High-powered and high-speed devices linked to serious injuries and deaths won’t be allowed to be sold.

The transport minister, Catherine King, says:

\n This standard will give Australians the confidence that the products being sold are legal and fit for purpose, and will help keep Australians safe.\n

Almost 600 childcare services were shut down in the latest quarter, a twentyfold increase on the same quarter last year, as federal, state and territory governments crack down on dodgy and underperforming providers.

State and territory regulators took action against 589 services and cancelled their approval to operate – meaning they lost access to childcare subsidy funding and cannot legally run. Though, not all of those services were currently operating.

The government says state and territory regulators also took 1,538 compliance actions in the March quarter – which puts providers on notice if they are not meeting standards. It was double the number of notices compared with the same time last year.

Governments have been under significant pressure to lift safety and standards across the childcare sector following allegations of child sexual abuse and safety breaches.

The education minister, Jason Clare, says the proportion of childcare services meeting the national quality standards has lifted from 88% in 2022 to 92%.

\n Enforcement action is at record highs. The percentage of services meeting the national quality and safety standards is at the highest level ever as well.\n We have also introduced legislation to cut funding to centres that aren’t up to scratch … This is a good sign. But there is more to do.\n

Good morning, Nick Visser here to guide you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:

A New South Wales man was charged after allegedly threatening violence against a female MP via social media. Officials allege the man threatened to find the victim in public and cause her harm. He will appear before court today.

States and territories shut down almost 600 childcare services in the last quarter for substandard care, part of a broader crackdown on dodgy or underperforming providers.

The government has asked the consumer watchdog to draw up national safety standards for ebikes amid a rise in incidents in recent years. NSW recorded 226 injuries related to ebikes in 2024, but that figure surged to 233 in just the first half of 2025.

Stick with us.

Key events

• 8m agoABC apologises to Gina Rinehart and partially takes down Race Around the World film
• 16m agoJean-Claude Perrottet uncertain on why he was receiving $5,000 monthly sums, inquiry hears
• 2h agoFederal parliamentary inquiry focusing on racism in sports and media
• 3h agoSpaceX share slump leaves Gina Rinehart with $283m loss on paper
• 5h agoMan, 60, dies after alleged assault by group of youths in Melbourne
• 6h agoNew South Wales man charged on allegations of threatening MP on social media
• 6h agoNews Corp’s Australian division weighs on robust results
• 6h agoEbikes to face new safety standards
• 6h agoStates and territories shut down hundreds of substandard childcare services
• 7h agoWelcome to Thursday

ABC apologises to Gina Rinehart and partially takes down Race Around the World film

The ABC has apologised to Gina Rinehart for a short film that appeared on its Race Around the World program.

Rinehart threatened the ABC with legal action last week over crude remarks in the film, titled A Very Relaxing Video, that included offensive comments about the billionaire, including a line about “mixing her guts up nice and smooth to make one big sausage roll”.

The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, said the broadcaster’s ombudsman found the film did not breach editorial policies but had “fallen short of community expectations”. He wrote:

double quotation markThe ABC apologises to Mrs Rinehart and to anyone else affected or upset by the publication of the film. As part of our review of this matter, we have considered whether the guidance in the ABC Editorial Policies adequately reflects current community expectations. We have also considered whether the relevant guidance sufficiently distinguishes between news and non-news content.

The ABC said it will amend its guidance as it applies to violence. It has edited the film to remove the relevant material.

Gina Rinehart, seen in 2023. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

Jean-Claude Perrottet uncertain on why he was receiving $5,000 monthly sums, inquiry hears

Penry Buckley

Returning to the NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny, Jean-Claude Perrottet has been questioned about his time after his departure from the ministerial office of Damien Tudehope.

Jean-Claude Perrottet has frequently answered “I don’t know” to questioning from counsel assisting Juliet Curtin today.

In 2021, Jean-Claude Perrottet was working a day job at Medallion Finance, which he says gave him a base salary of $55,000.

Curtin shows him invoices for four monthly payments of $5,000, and one payment of $5,500 to registered lobbying company Beckington, set up by Reformer Christian Ellis. Asked about the “substantial injections of cash into your account”, Jean-Claude Perrottet said:

double quotation markI’m honestly trying to do my best here. I honestly don’t recall why I might have done some work for them. I don’t know. I mean, it could have been for work. I mean, maybe, maybe Christian owed me money. I don’t know.

Cait Kelly

Disability advocates warn billions of NDIS funding is flowing overseas

A Senate inquiry examining the NDIS reforms has been told the NDIS funding model has seen billions of taxpayer dollars flow into the profit of overseas companies, while leaving disabled Australians under-resourced.

People with Disability’s Sam Connor, who got a $1 NDIS plan a few weeks ago, said:

double quotation markThe waste that goes towards occupational therapists is ridiculous. I was born disabled. When I was told by the NDIA I had to hire a wheelchair, that means you have to have a lease agreement; there are only two places here that do that.

She said huge companies, many based overseas, have “hoovered” up smaller players in the disability market and now dominate – sending profits overseas.

double quotation markThey’ve aggressively rolled up NDIS care and equipment providers …. $5bn is being siphoned offshore as profit rather than being reinvested in care.

Analysis from Spinal Life has previously revealed $20bn of NDIS funding is flowing to providers owned by overseas private equity firms, delivering a 25% profit margin, or $5bn.

Benita Kolovos

Victorian cult inquiry refers itself to information commissioner after it accidentally shares email address of anonymous survivors

A Victorian parliamentary committee investigating “cults and organised fringe groups” has referred itself to the state information commissioner after accidentally sending the email addresses of anonymous survivors who made submissions to current members of those groups and to journalists.

Last week the committee tabled its final report in parliament and emailed hundreds of recipients shortly after to inform them it had been published. However, they erroneously left the recipients’ email addresses visible.

Recipients included whistleblowers who trusted their anonymity would be maintained even as they spoke out about their experiences.

In an email this afternoon, the committee chair, Labor MP Ella George, said the clerk of the legislative assembly voluntarily reported the disclosure of private information to the office of the Victorian information commissioner on behalf of the committee. She said:

double quotation markThe committee continues to take this matter very seriously. Work is ongoing to review the circumstances of the incident and to strengthen processes to reduce the risk of a similar incident occurring in the future.

George said the committee has also arranged a free counselling support service for those affected until Sunday.

Read more:

Records smashed as Australian share market pushes higher

Australia’s share market has soared to record heights for a second straight day, shrugging off a weak US session as gold stocks shine, AAP reports.

The S&P/ASX200 gained 50.2 points by midday, up 0.56%, to 9.279.5, as the broader All Ordinaries advanced 53.9 points, or 0.57%, to 9.459.3.

The top-200 hit a fresh intraday record of 9,296.7 in early trade and was on track to top Wednesday’s record close.

The exchange shrugged off a weak Wall Street session and dips across indices in Japan and South Korea as chip stocks sold off, while Australian mining stocks continued to rally on hopes of an imminent US-Iran peace deal.

The Australian dollar is buying US70.57 cents, up from US70.49 cents on Wednesday.

Cait Kelly

Greens question return of some welfare payment cancellations

In response to some payment cancellations being turned back on, the Greens’ spokesperson on social services, senator Penny Allman-Payne, has said there is nothing in the secretary’s statement that gives confidence to the system now running lawfully.

She said:

double quotation markThere was nothing about improving DEWR’s capacity to monitor providers’ misconduct. They told the ombudsman that they had an ‘app’ for that, which turned out to be a new dashboard on their existing system. There is no mention of any improved capacities in this regard anywhere.

Providers use threats of payment suspensions and cancellations to force people to comply, in some cases to bolster the provider’s incentive payment.

double quotation markIf these sanctions are resumed, the providers will be administering them. How can Minister Rishworth or her department trust these providers to do the right thing when they are financially incentivised to do otherwise? The TCF appears fundamentally at odds with lawful and fair decision-making. The minister and the department’s failure to communicate these matters in a timely, effective or comprehensible fashion is characteristic of all the worst Robodebt-style governance.

Greens senator Penny Allman-Payne. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Cait Kelly

Welfare cancellations back on, but some question legality of system

There is big news for jobseekers this week, with the government announcing it will be slowly turning back on payment cancellations.

Many of you will remember that payment cancellations are currently switched off because the Targeted Compliance Framework – the automated system that runs mutual obligations – has been paused since January last year after the government found it was working illegally.

On Tuesday, Simon Duggan PSM, secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, announced that from 26 October the system will start suspending and cancelling payments for a refusal or failure to accept an offer of suitable work and a failure to “reconnect” with a provider within four weeks.

He said:

double quotation markResuming these decisions on 26 October 2026 is contingent on successful completion of assurance activity and system testing to ensure the necessary IT changes, improved guidance for decision-makers and additional safeguards to ensure decision-making under these provisions align with the law. The department has a responsibility to ensure the systems we administer are operating within the law as enacted by the Australian parliament, and this is an important step in returning the TCF system to lawful operation.

Two other types of cancellations, those relating to persistent MO failures and work refusal failures, will still be turned off as the government works to ensure they are overseen by a human who can make a legal decision.

It’s unclear exactly how many people had their payments illegally cancelled but, speaking at Senate estimates earlier this year, representatives for DEWR said the number of illegal cancellations, where people were not given enough time to reconnect to a job provider after missing a compulsory activity as part of their mutual obligations, was in “the vicinity” of 300,000.

Penry Buckley

Late former Liberal party vice-president Teena McQueen may have made payments to the Reformers, inquiry hears

Icac’s Operation Rosny has heard about the ways in which the late former Liberal vice-president Teena McQueen may have supported conservative factional group the Reformers.

McQueen, who served as the federal Liberal party vice-president from 2017 to 2023, died in June this year after battling severe sickness. McQueen, known for her conservative commentary and long-term membership of the Liberal party, had defected to One Nation in May.

Teena McQueen, pictured in 2019. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Previously, Reformers associate Dylan Whitelaw said McQueen would “pay for a bar tab” for Reformers events. Reformer Robert Assaf told the inquiry had provided a venue for training sessions, and a call centre for recruitment. “I think … we used Teena McQueen’s boardroom, God rest her soul,” Assaf said.

Today, Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet has been read messages between Reformers which suggest McQueen may have also donated $500 directly to the group via the Catholic Schools NSW chief executive, Dallas McInerney, who has been named in Icac’s allegations. Perrottet says he does not know if McQueen donated to the group.

Federal parliamentary inquiry focusing on racism in sports and media

Sarah Collard

The federal parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is continuing this week, with hearings held in Melbourne.

The inquiry has heard harrowing evidence from sportspeople, including community-controlled sporting groups and Olympian boxer Marissa Williamson Pohlman, the first Indigenous female boxer to represent Australia and competed in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Williamson Pohlman, a Ngarrindjeri woman, told the inquiry there was widespread racism, sexism and violence in the sport, saying there was a lack of support, and made allegations of inappropriate behaviour and assaults – urging an inquiry into Boxing Australia.

“I think there needs to be an independent investigation on that organisation and there’s something terrible going on there.” Williamson Pohlman told the inquiry.

“All these athletes come from the school of hard knocks. So the racism, the sexism, the misogyny, the homophobia, and just the violence is rife in those places. It’s in the organisation too.”

Pauline Hanson details who she wants to remove from the country under mass deportation push

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was interviewed on Sky News a moment ago, where she detailed more about her plans for a mass deportation of some 75,000 people she says have overstayed their visas.

She said she wasn’t concerned about those who she is targeting with the move, and was focused on Australians:

double quotation markI don’t care. My concern is for those Australians that can’t get a roof over their head and a decent standard of living and way of life …

When asked who she would target if in government, Hanson had this to say:

double quotation markThey had a contract to come out here for only a certain period of time. That was a visa that was given to them. They’ve overstayed. I’m not against migration … never have been. But we’ve got to bring in people who are going to make the country prosperous, that they have something to offer, that they want to be Australians … We don’t need any more Uber drivers, nail technicians, dog walkers. These people, gone, stop all that.

Police official says suspected murder-suicide in outback Queensland town confronting for officers and small community

Matthew Vanderbyl, the southern region assistant commissioner for Queensland police, said police responding to a suspected murder-suicide in an outback town overnight were confronted with a “terrible” scene.

Vanderbyl said the investigation was still in its very early stages, with officials still heading to the remote town of Charleville, and couldn’t provide much information about the pair’s relationship or circumstances of the deaths.

But he said the region was a small, tight-knit community:

double quotation markThese types of events affect communities badly, let alone small communities. It will be something that will have a tragic impact on the wider community of Charleville and the police, friends and relatives of the deceased, who our thoughts remain with today.

SpaceX share slump leaves Gina Rinehart with $283m loss on paper

Luca Ittimani

Gina Rinehart has lost an estimated $283m on paper as Elon Musk’s SpaceX company slumps in value.

SpaceX shares fell overnight to US$108.27, 19.8% below its price of US$135 when it listed on share markets. It is now valued at US$1.4tn. Musk, its founder, was briefly the world’s first trillionaire but is now worth US$693.7bn, according to Forbes.

The company had released financial results showing strong revenue growth but capital spending on AI development was particularly high. Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG, said the report had unsettled investors.

Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, took a stake in SpaceX at its share market debut. It has republished articles on its website reporting it bought over US$1bn worth. Wednesday’s price fall implies the company has lost about US$200m (A$283m) on paper.

A Hancock Prospecting spokesperson said the company was still invested in SpaceX but did not directly answer when asked whether it had sold or bought more shares since its initial investment. A spokesperson said Hancock was a “long-term investor” with a diverse portfolio and a particular focus on companies with “outstanding leadership”. They added:

double quotation markOur investment in SpaceX reflects our confidence in Elon Musk, an exceptional and brilliant person, and SpaceX’s execution under his leadership, as well as in Elon Musk’s proven ability to use science for the betterment of mankind.

SpaceX’s share price is at risk of falling further tonight. Early investors and company insiders may rush to cash out when they gain permission to sell their shares in the company, after a lockup period expires on Thursday, US time.

A billboard of SpaceX is pictured on the day of SpaceX’s initial public offering. Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Ian Sample

Unprecedented images may explain one of greatest mysteries of the sun

Golden bands and swirling vortices have been spotted on the sun in the most detailed images ever captured of the turbulent surface of our home star.

Astronomers observed the sun with the Inouye solar telescope in Hawaii, the world’s most powerful solar telescope, and saw new features smaller than 20km (12 miles) across in a magnetically active region close to a sun spot.

The unprecedented pictures show processes on the surface that are likely to explain the decades-long mystery of why the corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere, is millions of degrees hotter than its surface.

Read more:

The most high-res image of the sun

Penry Buckley

Icac resumes as factional ally of Angus Taylor due to appear next week

The NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny hearings into corruption in the NSW Liberal party have resumed this morning, with Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of former premier, Dominic Perrottet, giving evidence again.

Yesterday, he admitted he occasionally paid for memberships of people he was signing up to the Liberal party, which the inquiry has heard is against party rules. Branch stacking is not itself illegal, but the group is under investigation for allegedly soliciting or accepting illegal donations as part of branch-stacking efforts. Jean-Claude Perrottet has previously denied any wrongdoing, while Dominic Perrottet has not been named in any allegations by Icac.

Jean-Claude Perrottet arrives at the Icac hearing in Sydney on Thursday. Photograph: George Chan/AAP

Icac has also announced next week’s witnesses. They include Jeremy Greenwood, who was originally scheduled to appear this week.

He has been named in two allegations. The corruption watchdog is examining a second allegation that between 2020 and 2023, Liberal figures including Greenwood solicited or accepted donations from fugitive property developer Jean Nassif and his company, Toplace in exchange for the pursuit of outcomes sought by Nassif.

Also expected to appear on Wednesday and Thursday next week is Catholic Schools NSW chief executive, Dallas McInerney. Icac is investigating the allegation that illegal donations were made by the schools governing body, arranged and approved by McInerney.

Last week the inquiry heard a message sent by McInerney, who is a factional ally of federal opposition leader, Angus Taylor, to Reformer advising of a plan to “shake down Angus for 10K”. Taylor has not been named in Icac’s allegations and has denied he ever made payments to the Reformers.

Ben Smee

Man and pregnant woman found dead in outback Queensland home in apparent murder-suicide

A sad update from our earlier post:

A pregnant woman and a man have been found dead at a home in the outback Queensland town of Charleville, in an apparent murder-suicide after a protracted overnight standoff with police.

Several streets in the remote town, 600km west of Toowoomba, were locked down by police on Wednesday evening after officers arrived at the property on King Street after reports of “a serious assault”.

Read more here:

Ed Husic looking forward to returning to full duties ‘shortly’

We have more from Ed Husic’s office following news he was injured in a car crash this week. Husic’s team wrote on Instagram:

double quotation markMr Husic thanked the doctors, nurses and paramedics at Westmead Hospital for providing him with outstanding care and thanked his family and friends for their support, especially during his hospital stay. He said he looked forward to returning to full parliamentary duties shortly and assured constituents his electorate team would continue to support the people of Chifley in the meantime.

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Luca Ittimani

Nearly 1,500 properties bought using first home buyers’ 5% deposit scheme converted into investments

The government’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers has enabled the purchase of nearly 1,500 properties that were turned into investments, new data shows.

The scheme is also helping hundreds of Australians earning more than $300,000 a year, after Labor stopped excluding high-income borrowers.

First-time buyers can borrow 95% of a property’s value and have the government guarantee the loan, waiving costly lenders’ mortgage insurance, under the scheme.

Housing Australia, which runs the program, provided the data in response to a Senate estimates question on notice in June.

Read more here: