Australia news live: OECD says Australia will struggle to get inflation below 3%; travel woes as Qantas staff strike 23. September 2026 (23:49) Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 600 Qantas ground crew workers have begun a 24-hour strike this morning across the country over an escalating industrial dispute.Qantas said that it has contingency plans in place and any impacts would be felt primarily by the airline’s freight and regional QantasLink services.The world has become more volatile, more contested and less secure. In this geopolitical environment, it is more important than ever that like-minded partners stand together and deepen their cooperation.Australia and the Netherlands recognise the need to continue investing in our close cooperation to meet current and future challenges.Australia and the Netherlands remain resolute in their commitment to pursuing truth, justice and accountability on behalf of the victims of the downing of MH17 and their next of kin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthony Albanese says OpenAI agent hacked Medicare and he expressed ‘extreme concern’ to Sam Altman 23. September 2026 (23:38) Prime minister says he expressed ‘disappointment’ to chief executive it had taken the company ‘way too long’ to inform his government about the breachFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese says an artificial intelligence agent developed by OpenAI hacked Medicare in June.Australia’s prime minister made the comments at the UN summit in New York, saying it appeared no personal information had been accessed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tories target universal credit claimants in plan condemned as ‘fast track to poverty’ 23. September 2026 (23:30) Proposals aim to push people into work, but charities say families are still paying price of austerity cuts and rise in cost of livingPeople claiming universal credit (UC) would have their payments cut by a third if they have not paid enough national insurance, under a Conservative plan condemned by one charity as “a fast track to increased poverty”.Under the proposals, those who receive this “subsistence allowance” would have it paid into a dedicated debit card that would prevent from them buying alcohol or tobacco, based on an Australian system that was scrapped after trials found limited evidence it changed behaviour. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pupils to be offered vocational GCSEs in radical shake-up of system in England 23. September 2026 (23:30) Courses such as finance and construction form part of PM’s push for education ‘that offers a path for everybody’Teenagers are to be offered a range of new vocational GCSEs under a radical shake-up of the school system in England designed to tackle a crisis that has left nearly a million young people out of work or training.From 2029, pupils will be able to supplement compulsory GCSE subjects such as English, maths and sciences with courses such as construction, creative media production and child development, marking the biggest changes to the qualification for more than a decade. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrats accuse Susan Collins of corruption after bombshell ‘pay-to-play’ report 23. September 2026 (23:12) Republican senator calls bribery allegation ‘categorically false’ as ProPublica reports Trump derailed FBI inquiryDemocrats in Maine on Wednesday accused Republican senator Susan Collins of corruption after a major media outlet reported that the FBI had proposed investigating her for allegedly accepting bribes – before Donald Trump derailed the inquiry.The article from the investigative newsroom ProPublica rocked the race for Collins’s Senate seat, which is crucial to Democrats’ hopes of winning control of the chamber in the 3 November midterm election. The outlet reported that in the run-up to Collins’s successful bid for a fifth term in 2020, the head of her Super Pac had solicited a campaign donation from contracting firm Navatek, which demanded assurances of business from the government in return. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three charged with assault after anti-migration protests in Hampshire 23. September 2026 (23:07) Hundreds gathered on Tuesday night in anticipation of a small boat arriving in GosportThree people have been charged in connection with anti-migrant protests which drew hundreds of demonstrators to a marina in Hampshire on Tuesday night.Six people were arrested by police, as anti-migrant activists who mistakenly believed a small boat was due to arrive at Gosport gathered in an attempt to disrupt the arrival of any asylum seekers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
