Coalition's criticism of opt-out algorithm akin to 'protesting seatbelts': Butler
By Courtney Gould
Labor frontbencher Mark Butler is rejecting claims the introduction of an opt-out algorithm amounts to censorship.
The government's digital duty of care legislation will be introduced to parliament later this week and is expected to create an opt-out system so users can turn off algorithms on social media.
But the Coalition is concerned the laws would hand the minister too much power to determine what constitutes online harm.
Speaking with ABC Radio National Breakfast, Butler said the change is pretty "unremarkable" as he dismissed the opposition's claim.
"It's pretty unremarkable really to expect that big companies have a duty of care not to harm Australian citizens, particularly frankly young Australians," he says.
"You know, the idea is that this is some censorship or infringement of civil liberties almost harks back to the days of the 1970s when people were protesting about seatbelts being introduced to cars."
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One Nation super plan an inflation risk: Littleproud
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By Holly Tregenza
One Nation's super proposal raises the serious risk of "unintended consequences" such as higher inflation, Nationals MP David Littleproud says.
"When you've got inflation out of control at the moment, and you fuel that with putting more money in to the economy, the unintended consequence is that inflation will go up and interest rates will go up," he told News24 (formerly Sky News)
The Reserve Bank has increased interest rates three consecutive times this year in an attempt to curb inflation.
The minor party's policy would allow renters and mortgage holders to carve out a quarter of their 12 per cent super payments for up to three years.
Coalition concerned new online powers could lead to 'censorship'
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By Courtney Gould
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor is concerned a plan to enact an opt-out on social media algorithms could amount to censorship.
The Coalition has yet to see the details of the digital duty of care bill, which is due to be introduced to parliament this week.
While Taylor says he thinks Australians should have control over what people see on social media, he's worried about overreach.
"We are deeply worried about censoring by the minister," he says.
"We see what the big tech companies do at times is unconscionable but, frankly, letting this minister or the government or the prime minister control my algorithms or anyone's algorithms, well, there's a lot of questions to answer."
One Nation super plan lacks detail: Taylor
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By Courtney Gould
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has described One Nation's superannuation proposal as raising more questions than answers.
"There's all sorts of questions that I haven't seen answered on it. Is that money going to get access to the tax concessions of superannuation? How will paid parental leave superannuation delt with this? Will this contribute to the concessional caps?" he says.
"I mean, what we see with these policy announcements constantly is no detail and the detail really maters."
The minor party's policy would allow renters and mortgage holders to carve out a quarter of their 12 per cent super payments for up to three years.
So where does the Coalition stand on super? And is it open to revisiting the opposition's previous proposal to allow early access to super for a house deposit?
Taylor reiterates the opposition supports the superannuation guarantee and says he'll further details closer to the election.
To my ears, that's not completely shutting it down.
Joyce argues One Nation super plan a 'change in attitude'
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By Courtney Gould
Barnaby Joyce can't see why the government would have an issue with One Nation's proposed superannuation plan.
"This is not a seismic shift in administration. It's a change in attitude — that if you're doing it tough, you get some of your own money back," he argued at a press conference in Sydney this morning.
The One Nation treasury spokesman said the policy, which would allow renters and mortgage holders to carve out a quarter of their 12 per cent super payments for up to three years, would help "keep people in their home".
"What we are doing here is giving people back some of their own money from the future, not taking it out of their current balance, but [out of] some of their own money in the future. And what we have to realise [is] that superannuation is not a national asset. It's individuals' asset," he says.
"If you lose your house, as an accountant, you're going to be vastly worse off than the benefit you'll get from that margin of investment over the longer-term. I just can't see why the government's got a problem with this."
One Nation wants to 'end super as we know it': Chalmers
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By Courtney Gould
Jim Chalmers has accused One Nation of wanting to "end superannuation as we know it" by allowing renters or mortgage holder to access some of their super early.
The minor party has proposed giving people a choice to divert 3 per cent of their 12 per cent compulsory superannuation contribution to boost their income. The opt-in scheme could apply for up to three years.
The treasurer is no fan of this idea and made his way down to the House of Representatives doors (where reporters are stationed to lob questions at arriving MPs) to make his feelings known.
"It's now beyond doubt that any Coalition government with One Nation in it will cut your super. This means less money and less economic security for millions of Australian workers," he says.
"Every time One Nation is asked to support the financial interests of Australian workers, they oppose the financial interests of Australian workers. By ending super as we know it, by making Australian workers poorer as a consequence … this is exactly why One Nation poses an unacceptable and dangerous risk to Australian workers."
We'll need to wait and see how an opt-out algorithm would work
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By Courtney Gould
Communications Minister Anika Wells isn't giving much away when it comes to the design of a proposed plan to allow Australians to opt out of social media algorithms.
The plan is part of the government's digital duty of care legislation which is expected to be introduced to parliament later this week.
Wells says it's about giving Australians "more choice" about what they see on their social media feeds. But how would it work? She wouldn't say.
"That's something we'll work through with our experts … but the policy intent is clear. Australians want more choice. We want to give that to them and we want to hold big tech to account," she says.
'Nothing more than a headline': Coalition rubbishes One Nation's super plan
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By Courtney Gould
Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume has dismissed One Nation's super proposal as nothing more than a "headline".
The minor party wants to grant workers with a mortgage or paying rent access to a portion of their superannuation contributions as a pay boost.
She said One Nation had a lot of questions to answer on how this policy would interact with a person's super balance or their concessional caps.
"This so far is nothing more than a headline. It hasn't really been explained," she tells News Breakfast.
"One Nation does have a bit of a habit of putting out a headline and putting out no details and they don't think this is a serious thing."
Coalition concerned plan for opt-out algorithm would hand minister too much power
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By Courtney Gould
Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume is concerned a proposal for social media users to turn off their algorithm could result in government overreach.
The digital duty of care legislation, expected to be introduced to parliament this week, will create an opt-out system so users can turn off algorithms on social media.
Hume tells ABC News Breakfast she's concerned the draft laws hand the minister too much power.
"We don't feel that the minister should have the powers to determine what is and is not online harm ... particularly without any parliamentary scrutiny. That would be of considerable concern," she says.
"Now, we haven't seen anything about this legislation. We'll wait to see what it is that the government proposes. But of course, you could understand why there would be a natural suspicion. When the government tries to control the internet, it invetibly fails."
One Nation wants you to 'raid your super': Plibersek
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By Courtney Gould
It's probably no surprise that Labor's Tanya Plibersek is not a fan of One Nation's super proposal.
"It's obvious One Nation wants you to raid your super instead of getting a pay increase. We support higher wages and better super when you retire," she tells Seven.
She argues that if you opted in to the minor party's plan, which would grant workers paying rent or with a mortgage access to a quarter of their super contribution, you would be "thousands of dollars worse off in retirement".
'People competent enough' to make decision to access early super: Joyce
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By Courtney Gould
Barnaby Joyce was out and about early this morning, defending One Nation's push to allow workers to access a portion of their super as a pay boost.
The minor party's treasury spokesman tells Seven the current system where a person applies for early access to their super in times of hardship is "incredibly convoluted".
He argued that even when the tax office grants funds due to hardship, such as to pay for medical treatment or to prevent the foreclosure or forced sale of your home, it's taxed between 17 and 22 per cent.
Asked if One Nation should spell out to people that taking money out of your super now would affect your balance in the future, Joyce says "people are competent enough to work that out for themselves".
"People aren't stupid. We give them credit for more brains than the Labor Party does," he says.
"This is about giving you your own money."
Wells challenges Coalition and the Greens over social media ban
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By Lexie Jeuniewic
Communications Minister Anika Wells is urging parliament to pass laws this sitting week to strengthen Australia's social media age restrictions for under-16s.
Labor's bill to bolster the eSafety Commissioner's information-gathering powers, and double the maximum penalties for tech companies that breach the social media minimum age law, was introduced in June.
However, the bill hit a hurdle in the Senate, after the Coalition and Greens referred it to an eight-week inquiry.
The committee has since recommended the bill pass.
Wells says parliament needs to "put politics to the side", and pass the legislation when it goes before the Senate on Tuesday.
"Australian kids and parents needed these laws eight weeks ago," she says in a statement.
"This is the kind of dawdling and delay that has enabled social media companies to get away with harming our kids for so long."
This week an exposure draft of the long-awaited Digital Duty of Care is also expected to be released, as Labor steps up efforts to tackle online harm.
One Nation reveals plan to take from superannuation to boost pay
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By Courtney Gould
Australians paying rent or a mortgage would be given a choice to divert a portion of their superannuation to boost their income for up to three years under a One Nation proposal.
Under the policy, the full 12 per cent compulsory super contribution would still be paid by employers but 3 per cent would be paid directly to a person by the super fund, if they opt in.
The payments would still be subject to the concessional tax rate of 15 per cent, rather than the higher personal income tax rate.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says the plan is aimed at giving Australians "breathing room" amid cost-of-living pressures.
"That's a real boost to help you pay the rent or the mortgage, leaving more room for groceries, power bills and the costs of raising a family. Your existing super won't be touched. Not one dollar," she said.
"This only applies to future contributions. If you take the boost, at least 9 per cent will continue going towards your retirement and the choice is limited to three years."
