Live: Shadow minister says he backs drop in house prices if it helps young people

Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg says he supports a drop in house prices if it helps young people get into the housing market.

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Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 8:10am

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 8:10am

Minister calls for restraint in Middle East following flare up in fighting

By Joshua Boscaini

Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain has called for restraint in the Middle East following a flare up in fighting between the US and Iran.

US President Donald Trump says Washington is reinstating its blockade of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and will start charging for ships from elsewhere to transit through it.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, McBain says both parties to the conflict need to secure a lasting agreement,

McBain says Australia has been "steadily increasing" its fuel supplies and is working with other countries to secure fuel.

"The longer this war goes on, the greater the impact will be, particularly to Australian households and Australian businesses," McBain says.

"So we really need to see some restraint here and constructive engagement to prevent further escalation, secure a lasting agreement which will benefit not only Australia but other countries around the world as well."

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:55am

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:55am

The eSafety commissioner says big tech making children vulnerable to sextortion

By Joshua Boscaini

And just before we get into the next post, a warning that it raises themes of mental health and sexual extortion.

The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says big tech companies are making children vulnerable to sexual extortion by not cracking down on online criminals.

Australians have made more than 2,000 complaints about sexual extortion in just six months, according to the commission.

It has accused big tech companies of failing to address significant "blind spots" in detecting abuse.

Inman Grant says sextortion can lead to severe psychological distress and is linked to 17 deaths by suicide in Victoria.

She says victims of sextortion commonly include young men.

"Sometimes they feel like their life is over and one of the key tips we give them is to disclose, disclose, disclose. You won't be surprised that it's an underreported crime," Inman Grant says.

She says victims should report sextortion to a trusted family member, the Australian Federal Police and the eSafety Commission.

If this post raises any concerns, you can call Full Stop Australia on 1800 385 578.

Key Event

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:41am

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:41am

Taylor says he criticised One Nation with a 'heavy heart'

By Joshua Boscaini

The opposition leader says criticism he made of One Nation in a speech last week was done with a "heavy heart".

In his speech, Angus Taylor said One Nation's economic plan for the country would "send us broke" and accused the right-wing party of being a "column of smoke".

But speaking to 2GB this morning, Taylor has defended his speech and said most of it focused on Labor.

"The speech I gave last week ... 95 per cent of that speech was against Labor and how they're wrecking this country," Taylor said.

"I say what I say about One Nation with a heavy heart frankly. I say it with a heavy heart."

Asked if he was conflicted when attacking One Nation, Taylor says he wasn't and turned the focus back to Pauline Hanson's party.

He referenced reports in the Nine newspapers saying One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts praised conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

"They do not have a plan for the future of this country. They are a one-person show. They don't have the team," he says.

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:29am

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:29am

Angus Taylor says he wouldn't have met far-right podcaster

By Joshua Boscaini

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has made a trip to the UK where she met far-right podcaster and activist Tommy Robinson.

But Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says he wouldn't do what Hanson has done and travel to the UK to meet Robinson.

However, Taylor has stopped short of criticising the One Nation leader.

"I wouldn't be spending time over in the UK and I certainly wouldn't be meeting with Tommy Robinson right now," Taylor says.

"We've got an economic crisis in this country … We have an economic crisis where Australians are poorer under Labor, where they're paying more on their mortgage, they're paying more for everything."

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:19am

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:19am

More than 2,000 sexual extortion complaints spark warning to young men

By Clare Armstrong

Australians have made more than 2,000 complaints about sexual extortion over just six months, with big tech accused of failing to address significant "blind spots" in detecting abuse.

The eSafety Commissioner has found "serious gaps" in how online platforms are tackling sextortion, despite companies being provided details of well-known coercion scripts and images used in scams.

Men aged 18 to 24 were the most common victims among the sexual extortion complaints received by the online safety watchdog between July 1 and December 31 last year.

Read the full story from chief digital political correspondent Clare Armstrong in the link below.

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:15am

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:15am

Bragg says falling house prices could be good for the young

By Joshua Boscaini

Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg says he backs falling house prices if they improve affordability for young people.

According to property data firm Cotality, dwelling values fell 0.4 per cent nationally in June. Sydney led the decline, falling by 1.2 per cent, while Melbourne values dropped 1 per cent.

The shadow housing minister says falling house prices are all part of the government's "war" on young people.

But speaking to Channel Nine, Bragg also says he thinks it's good if house prices drop if that helps young people get into the market.

"If it improves affordability it will help young people, but the fundamentals haven't changed and that is that the migration program is too strong and the house building program is too weak," Bragg says.

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:07am

Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 7:07am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog. It's great to have your company here early this Tuesday morning!

I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.

In some news around today, the eSafety commission says Australians have made more than 2,000 complaints about sexual extortion over just six months.

Meanwhile, the shadow housing minister says he supports a fall in house prices if it means young people can get into the market.

Let's get this show on the road!