Mark Butler has promised to reintroduce a bill that would reduce subsidies for private health insurance for people over the age of 65. The bill was previously rejected by the Senate following votes from independent MPs and the coalition.
Sarah Hanson-Young stated that the Greens would in principle support a digital duty bill. The Greens will refer the bill to a committee, which will be formally confirmed later in the day, with a report expected by late November. Hanson-Young added that the Greens would support the bill if the government included a provision allowing Australians to directly sue technology companies. She also announced that the Greens would introduce a bill during November to ban the live broadcasting of executions.
Jess Wilson stated that the coalition had no plans to change state abortion laws. Wilson said there would be no changes to abortion laws under a government she led. She described Prime Minister Ben Carroll as a coward for not appearing at a press conference with his minister. Wilson also stated that the coalition would accept part of the government’s plan to expand travel subsidies for women in regional Victoria who must travel long distances for an abortion.
Ingrid Stinton announced a $30 million pledge to remove the out-of-pocket costs for abortion.
Unemployment has reached 4.7 per cent, the highest in nearly five years. The total number of Australians in employment fell by 39,300 in September. Employment in full-time work rose by 34,400, while part-time employment fell by 73,700. The Australian Bureau of Statistics revised the August unemployment rate from 4.6 to 4.7 per cent.
NSW will abolish stamp duty on the restructuring of trusts.
