Federal Politics Live: Pacific Nations Block China Missile Stance, Smart Glasses Privacy Scrutiny

Well folks that's all I've got for you today and this week folks. Thanks for sticking with me!

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We'll see you again next week for more federal politics news! Enjoy your afternoon. Catch you again on Monday for the sitting week.

Two Pacific nations block regional statement criticising China's ballistic missile test

Naoero and Kiribati have stirred frustration at a key meeting of Pacific foreign ministers by blocking a regional statement criticising China's recent ballistic missile test in the region.

Both Australia and New Zealand have flagged that they'd push for Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) foreign ministers to make the region's opposition to the test clear, after they failed to reach a consensus immediately after the test last month.

But multiple sources have told the ABC that Kiribati and Naoero — which both have close ties with Beijing — are continuing to block consensus on the statement.

The ABC has been told that New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the meeting that outside nations (a clear reference to China) shouldn't dictate what PIF said about their one region, but that appeared to be happening today.

Officials have agreed to keep on discussing the issue in the lead up to the PIF leaders meeting in Palau in around a month, but there isn't much optimism right now about reaching a breakthrough.

Attorney-General writes to Privacy Commissioner over uptake of smart glasses

The Attorney-General has written to the Privacy Commissioner about privacy concerns about the rising uptake of smart glasses.

The technology has been all over social media recently after retailer Kmart started selling the technology for $89, compared to other more expensive options on the market.

Smart glasses are fitted with cameras that are capable of recording videos and images without the consent of others.

In a statement, the Attorney-General Michelle Rowland says she's asked the commissioner to give the issue priority consideration.

"The Albanese government has written to the Privacy Commissioner, raising widespread community concerns about the potential impacts of 'smart glasses', particularly for women and children," Rowland says.

"The government is continuing to work on the next phase of privacy reforms to ensure our privacy laws are fit for purpose in the digital age."

Greens indicate party is willing to work with Coalition on gambling ad bill

Greens leader Larissa Waters has indicated the party is willing to work with the Coalition to strengthen Labor's gambling reforms in the upper house, as the Albanese government continues to face mounting pressure to bolster the bill.

Labor needs either the Greens and Coalition to pass its reforms through the Senate, but both are opposed to the bill in its current form.

Speaking in Brisbane, the Greens leader slammed Labor's reforms as "weak".

"The only people who like the gambling laws are the gambling industry."

"Everybody else says it is way too weak and it will lead to people continually being harmed."

"If the government won't do that well we will work with whoever we can in the Senate to get some gambling laws that actually protect people, rather than protect the predatory gambling companies."

Men's behaviour programs could soon face new rules under federal government push

Men's behaviour change programs will soon face tighter regulation if the federal government can get state and territory ministers to agree to lock in Australia-wide rules for the sector by the end of the year.

The ABC understands the draft of the new standards will include a requirement for providers to undertake risk assessments as well as ensure victims and children have access to support services following behaviour change program sessions.

The programs range from one-day sessions in schools educating boys on respectful relationships to months-long programs working with men who have abused their partners and children.

State, territory and federal ministers for women and women's safety will meet online this morning to discuss the timeline for implementing national standards as well as moves to change alcohol delivery time frames following expert recommendations on ending family, domestic and sexual violence.

Read the full story from political reporter Claudia Long in the link below.

US establishing a 'rotational presence' in Western Australia under AUKUS

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the US is establishing a "rotational presence" of nuclear-powered submarines, and not a military base, in Western Australia under the AUKUS pact.

Marles has faced multiple questions about the US presence at HMAS Stirling near Perth after The Australian newspaper reported that up to 2,300 Americans would be deployed to the facility, well over the 1200 personnel previously flagged.

But the federal government says there has been no change to its plans, and that the 2,300 figure is larger simply because it includes family members of the 1,200 or so military personnel being sent.

Some analysts say the terminology being used by the US Defense Department and the number of personnel being sent means that the US is effectively establishing a joint military base with Australia.

But Marles said the Americans were establishing a "rotational presence" rather than a base.

He didn't say how long those rotations would go for, or whether there would effectively be a permanent US submarine presence at Stirling under the plan.

"There will be differences in the duration of the submarine rotation," he told reporters in Darwin.

"That will be a function of the operational deployment of the submarines and the crews that go with them."

'Very strong sovereignty' provisions for presence of US forces in Australia: Marles

The deputy PM has been asked about reports that the US scale up its personnel to the state to 2,300, to support submarine deployments to HMAS Stirling.

Richard Marles says that its 1,200 personnel, with the addition of families and contractors which will make up the larger number.

He says the arrangements are being made with "very strong sovereignty" provisions surrounding the presence of American forces.

"We are talking about a rotation of personnel, that come through here and that's what we will be talking about at HMAS Stirling," Marles says.

"At its heart, this is a rotational presence and that is the basis on which this is being established and I'd also say it is being established, in the context with the the very strong sovereignty arrangements that we have in place for the presence of American forces on the Australian continent."

Ministers discuss UNCLOS ruling on South China Sea

Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia and Philippines share a commitment to a legal ruling on the South China Sea.

The ministers discussed the 10th anniversary for 2016 Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"We are both countries which are very committed to the global rules based order, to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and to and to the way in which that is applied," Marles says.

"What we fundamentally share as two nations is a belief that this is what needs to be applied and that how we understand sovereignty and how we understand sovereignty in respect of borders is defined by international law as defined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea."

Marles confident Australia, Philippines will sign defence cooperation agreement

Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia and the Philippines made "really good progress" on its defence cooperation agreement.

Speaking from Darwin, Marles says he's confident the two sides will be in a position to sign the agreement later this year.

"We do think that this is an arrangement which will help transform the relationship between our two countries which will speak to our commitment to each other but which will also speak to the very significant defence cooperation that we have," Marles says.

Richard Marles speaks with Philippine counterpart in Darwin

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has just stepped up for a press conference with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

It follows the conclusion of Exercise Pitch Black, which wraps up in the Northern Territory today.

Marles is talking about their meeting which covered Australia and the Philippines "shared commitment" to the global rules based order.

Philippine fishers and navy crews regularly have clashes with Chinese Coast Guard crews in the contested South China Sea.

"We very much stand with the Philippines in the assertion of the UN convention on the law of the sea and international law in those bodies of water," Marles says.

Teodoro Jr. has thanked Australia for it's "unconditional support" in the country's rights in the maritime domain.

"The security of the Philippines is vital to Australia and likewise, we must also remember that these defence arrangements are foundational to provide sustainability in all other arrangements," he says.

Analysis: The battle for Victoria will send important signals to federal players

Victoria's election on November 28 has taken on a drama and significance we wouldn't have anticipated a year ago.

A sudden late change of premier after an earlier switch of Liberal leader and the big push by the strongly polling One Nation, with leader Pauline Hanson planning a major campaigning role, have transformed the climate and the playing field for the contest.

The national implications have grown, even acknowledging that voters distinguish between federal and state choices.

If state opposition leader Jess Wilson can win, the Liberal Party, presently on its knees around the country, will receive a shot of confidence federally.

But if One Nation does well, especially in the upper house but also securing a clutch of lower house seats, its momentum nationally will continue and the Liberals' and Nationals' crises will worsen.

Coalition wants to get the 'balance right' on gambling ads, Hume says

Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume has held a press conference in Victoria where she's been asked about Labor's gambling ad legislation.

Hume says the Coalition is concerned the bill doesn't tackle inducements and allows gambling ads during children's television times.

"We'll make sure that that the amendments that the Coalition put forward try and get that balance right," Hume says.

"We want to make sure that we get the balance right of supporting sporting codes but we also want to make sure that we reduce gambling harms.

"If they won't do the hard yards and the heavy lifting here, well the Coalition will help them do that."

New Zealand to push for condemnation of China's ballistic missile test at PIF meeting

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made it clear he'll push for Pacific foreign ministers to collectively condemn China's recent missile test at a major regional meeting today in Fiji.

Ministers from across the Pacific, including Peters and Penny Wong, are gathering in Fiji's capital Suva right now for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) foreign ministers meeting.

Last month several Pacific nations condemned China's move to test a nuclear missile with a dummy warhead, but the PIF failed to reach a consensus on a joint statement backed by all Pacific nations, because Nauru and Kiribati refused to back it.

This morning Peters agreed that was a "missed opportunity" but said he would push for foreign ministers to condemn the test in the joint statement they'll issue after today's meeting.

He suggested it was logical for Pacific leaders to take this step, given not long ago they endorsed the Oceans of Peace Declaration, which reaffirmed the region's opposition to nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.

"We will see whether logic prevails in this debate or whether the debate is already settled by people having a predetermined position from which they will not move," he said.

Wong was a bit more careful on the subject this morning, telling the ABC's AM program that several Pacific leaders have already made their position on the test clear, and that the meeting would have to reach consensus on any joint statement.

Pauline Hanson says she cancelled accomodation in London during Italy trip

Pauline Hanson says she cancelled accomodation in London while she visited Italy on a trip paid for by Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart.

News newspapers report the One Nation leader used party funds to pay for the stay at the five-star Conrad London St James Hotel, including when she travelled to Italy.

In a social media post taking aim at Nine and Channel Seven's Spotlight program, Hanson denied she used money raised from the 'fire the liar' campaign for the hotel stay which costs up to $860 per night in peak season.

She accused the media of publishing "lies" and challenged the Nine journalists who wrote the story to out their sources.

"Spotlight have been shady from day one," Hanson says.

"Original travel plans for the Spotlight episode were to be paid by channel Seven. They pulled out forcing One Nation to cover all travel costs.

"I can confirm that while I was in Italy, accommodation in London was cancelled."

Shadow treasurer accuses Pauline Hanson of living like a 'global elite'

Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson has accused Pauline Hanson of betraying voters who donate to One Nation, after reports she used the party's funds to pay for a luxury London hotel during her recent trip to Europe.

Nine Newspapers report Hanson used the party's funds to pay for the stay at Conrad London St James hotel, where rooms cost an average of $860 per night in peak season, including for five days while she travelled to Italy on Gina Rinehart's dime.

One Nation insists the funds used were not part of the $5 million raised by the party's 'fire the liar' viral fundraising campaign.

Speaking to the Today Show, Wilson has accused Hanson of looking like a "global elite".

"We have people who donate to her party from their limited savings, they're struggling to get ahead and now we find it's going towards luxury hotel rooms in London."

"I'm starting to see images of global elite."

"This seems like a pretty clear betrayal of the people she claims to represent."