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Australian politics live: PM grilled over golf club grant again as five ejected from question time; Bowen says he’s ‘triggered’ opposition | Australian politics
Australian politics live: PM grilled over golf club grant again as five ejected from question time; Bowen says he’s ‘triggered’ opposition | Australian politics
PM questioned again over Marrickville golf club grant
In case you were wondering, the MP for Cook, Simon Kennedy, asked about the Marrickville golf club grant.
He said:
Yesterday, the prime minister claimed the sewerage works were originally part of the $6 million invite-only taxpayer funded grant to Marrickville golf club.
Can the prime minister explain, with a straight face, why there’s no mention of the sewerage works in the prime minister’s own announcement on March 2025?
The prime minister answers: “on the 27th of April, 2025, we made an election commitment, building and securing the Marrickville Golf Club precinct that went to a range of activities … and ensure this inner west institution can be enjoyed for decades to come.”
Key events
Cait Kelly
NDIA spent more than $30,000 in three months ‘maintaining plants and flowers’
The NDIA spent $31,960 over three months to March on maintaining plants and flowers in its offices, Senate estimates have heard.
Under questions from Liberal senator Chris Gatenby, chief operating officer, Matthew Swainson, said:
I would observe that we’ve got 149 offices nationally. Some of those are standalone NDIA offices. Some of them are co-located with Services Australia.
We are looking for efficiencies right across our property portfolio and program. As I mentioned earlier, we are deeply committed to managing the agency within the budget envelope that we’ve been provided with.
Donna Lu
Asic to review accounts of Woodside, Santos and six other oil and gas companies
Australia’s corporate regulator will audit the accounts of Woodside, Santos and six other oil and gas companies to check they are accounting for the cost of cleaning up offshore infrastructure.
In response to questions from Greens senator Vanessa Bleyer in Senate estimates on Thursday, the Asic commissioner, Kate O’Rourke, confirmed the corporate regulator was reviewing how eight oil and gas companies disclose decommissioning liabilities in their financial statements.
The companies under review are Woodside, Santos, Beach Energy, Amplitude Energy, Horizon Oil, Strike Energy, Cue Energy and Canarvon Energy.
Bleyer said:
“We have attempted to do a … sample of those whom we think are representative of the issues of importance … We hope it’s a valuable and sufficiently wide sample for us to draw conclusions.
After a complaint from the Wilderness Society, Asic named the review of decommissioning as a 2026-27 focus area in May.
Amanda Holly, manager of corporate advocacy and engagement at the Wilderness Society, said:
This intervention didn’t come out of nowhere. It follows years of investigation by the Wilderness Society, two complaints to Asic, and the exposure of serious deficiencies in how the oil and gas sector reports its clean-up liabilities.
There is over $60bn worth of oil and gas infrastructure sitting off Australia’s coastline that has to be cleaned up. Right now, too many companies are lowballing that bill in their accounts, and if they can’t pay when the time comes, it could land on taxpayers.
Cait Kelly
NDIA managers subject to ‘adverse findings’ by anti-corruption commission
Two National Disability Insurance Agency senior staff members who have been investigated by Ibacc for attempting to conceal almost $260m in Covid-19 grants were paid to ineligible businesses when they worked in the Victorian public service now hold high-level roles at the NDIA, it’s been revealed in Senate estimates.
Speaking about the situation, CEO of the NDIA, Graeme Head, said the officers, who held high-level positions in the NDIA and who cannot be named, are currently not on duty:
I can confirm that two current NDIA employees are the subject of adverse findings by Ibacc in its operation.
I want to reassure the committee that as agency head, I am taking all steps available to me to ensure the matters are considered carefully and appropriately, and that work is under way.
Neither officer is on duty in the agency. It’s important that the work be allowed to proceed properly and fairly, in accordance with all applicable legislative and procedural requirements.
Tl;dr here’s what happened in question time
The cost of living and the growing chances of a rate rise loomed large over the chamber, fuelling taunts and jabs from both sides of the political aisle.
A $6m grant to the Marrickville golf club continued to offer ample opportunity for the opposition to dig into the government.
Energy minister, Chris Bowen, proudly took accountability for “triggering” the opposition after mentioning renewable energy in the government’s datacentre requirements
Today’s ejection count: five
Jason Clare pleads with Coalition to support digital duty of care bill
Education minister, Jason Clare, offers harrowing recollections of a child subject to online bullying, and another who died by suicide after engaging with an AI chatbot.
Education minister Jason Clare, Thursday, 29 October 29, 2026. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
He makes an impassioned plea for the Coalition to support the government’s digital duty of care bill:
This is not about censorship. It’s not about freedom of speech. It’s about them.
And so I say to my colleagues and friends on the other side of the chamber, please think again about it. It’s not too late.
Biggest driver of inflation is petrol, Chalmers says
Asked by the about interest rate rises, the treasurer says takes another jab:
I find it bizarre, frankly, that those opposite won’t acknowledge what was factually the biggest driver of yesterday’s inflation figures, which was higher petrol prices.
It’s this weird post-truth stuff that they get engaged in, where they see the same ABS data that we see, and the biggest driver of yesterday’s inflation number – which was too high – was fuel.
It’s a triple combo for speaker, Milton Dick.
In one fell swoop he has punted the shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, the member for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, and the former Nationals leader David Littleproud.
Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson during question time on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Tribute to Queensland police officers who lost their lives at Wieambilla
The prime minister and the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, have paid tribute to a number of police officers, including Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, who died while conducting a check at the property in Wieambilla.
The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, agrees:
I’d like to associate the Coalition with the fine words of the prime minister and the minister of home affairs, and pay tribute alongside them to those brave police officers who put themselves in harm’s way, to all our police officers, preventing, detecting, responding to or investigating crime.
Chalmers is asked about spending and inflation
Asked by shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, whether Jim Chalmers will “take responsibility and admit his out of control spending is forcing Australian families to pay more for everything”, the treasurer hits back.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers during question time, Thursday, 29 October, 2026. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Chalmers:
“Their argument about spending and inflation, like the Liberal party itself, is falling down all around them.”
As he continues his answer, listing government promises, he mentions “Medicare”, and the opposition begins jeering. Tim Wilson is seen laughing and pointing while those around him make faces.
Another one bites the dust.
MP for Forrest, Ben Small, has been pulled up for interjecting throughout treasurer Jim Chalmers’ answer to a dixer on the impact of tax reform during times of economic uncertainty.
Chris Bowen ‘triggers’ the Coalition after question from Monique Ryan
Independent for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, asks: “Will the government legislate to ensure that new datacentres are not permitted to use expensive, polluting backup diesel generators?”
Independent member for Kooyong Monique Ryan. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Energy minister, Chris Bowen, says the government is ensuring datacentres bring their own new energy, and “that energy should be the cheapest form of energy”.
While giving his answer, he says there will be a focus on renewable energy, attracting a barrage of discontent from across the aisle.
Bowensays:
I’ve triggered them. That’s my fault, Mr Speaker.
EU free-trade deal ‘in Australia’s national interest’, Albanese says
First dixer of the day as Trish Cook, the MP for Bullwinkel, asks how the proposed free trade agreement with the EU benefits Australia’s economic and security interests.
Through a rabble of Coalition complaints, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, points to improved diversification, quotes support from the Business Council and other bodies, and finishes with:
This is in Australia’s national interest. It should be agreed, and everyone in this parliament should back it.
Anthony Albanese speaks during question time. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
PM questioned again over Marrickville golf club grant
In case you were wondering, the MP for Cook, Simon Kennedy, asked about the Marrickville golf club grant.
He said:
Yesterday, the prime minister claimed the sewerage works were originally part of the $6 million invite-only taxpayer funded grant to Marrickville golf club.
Can the prime minister explain, with a straight face, why there’s no mention of the sewerage works in the prime minister’s own announcement on March 2025?
The prime minister answers: “on the 27th of April, 2025, we made an election commitment, building and securing the Marrickville Golf Club precinct that went to a range of activities … and ensure this inner west institution can be enjoyed for decades to come.”
First ejection from question time
First ejection of the day before we even finished the opening question.
The member for Perth, Patrick Gorman, has been kicked out of the chamber.
Question time begins
We’re running it back one last time for this sitting week.
Australia’s free trade deal with the EU is sure to spark some spats, and no doubt yesterday’s inflation figures remain at top of mind.
The opposition could tee up a few more questinos about a $6m grant for the Marrickville golf club.
Get your QT bingo cards ready.
Josh Butler
Bowen proposes ‘last resort’ penalties on datacentres flouting power usage rules
Energy minister, Chris Bowen, said new rules to potentially cut off the power supply to AI datacentres would only be a “last resort” if operators consistently flouted rules.
As part of the Labor government’s new rules on power-hungry datacentres, Bowen has floated that the Australian Energy Market Commission be able to turn off supply if certain facilities disregarded national rules requiring the use of renewable energy.
Energy minister Chris Bowen during Question Time, Thursday, 29 October, 2026. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Power supply to datacentres has been a key policy debate, with the federal government initially insisting on the AI factories being powered entirely by renewables, but later relenting with dispensations for gas-rich Queensland and Northern Territory.
Bowen’s office has asked the AEMC to assess a number of options, including financial penalties, but there are concerns that fines could not be enough to force such change. The government is still keen to hear feedback from developers, industry and the community, and remains open to what penalties could apply.
‘Makes no sense’ for Australia to miss out on trade opportunities, Steggall says
Crossbencher Zali Steggall has backed Australia’s free trade agreement with the EU, saying it creates opportunities for Australian businesses, strengthens ties and diversifies markets.
In a statement she said:
Climate denialism must not stand in the way of Australia’s trade future.
Europe is a $30 trillion market and it makes absolutely no sense for Australia to miss out on the opportunities a free trade deal would bring … Claims that the free trade deal would take away Australia’s right to set its own climate policies are simply wrong.
Steggall said the agreement requires parties to uphold their commitments under the Paris agreement, which itself does not dictate Australia’s emissions targets. The targets are determined through Australia’s laws and processes.
Nationals condemn EU trade deal
The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, has said his party is opposed to Australia’s free trade deal with the EU.
But Canavan claims it is “no good in its current form”, telling reporters at a press conference:
From day one, we said this is a bad deal … The Coalition wants to see a successful EU [free trade agreement] concluded, but it has to be in the national interest.
We cannot have a situation where our farmers, our producers, our business people end up being penalised because Australia misses the target set by the Albanese government with respect to climate.
