Live: More people will take up smoking if tobacco excise is reduced, minister says

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil says reducing the tobacco excise to address the rising take-up of illicit tobacco will not help Australians give up smoking.

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Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 8:22am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 8:22am

Charlton says govt wants to attract AI investment in the national interest

By Joshua Boscaini

The assistant technology minister has been asked further questions about concerns from the creative sector on AI companies mining their content.

Australian creatives have been resisting pressure to allow AI companies to scrape their content to build their systems.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Andrew Charlton says the government won't undermine the Australian creative sector and create a text and data mining exemption.

"We want to make sure that Australian creatives, Australian publishers, Australian authors, Australian rights holders if their work is used by AI, it is used with their agreement and they are compensated for that use," Charlton says.

Asked whether AI companies could be deterred from coming to Australia due to stronger protections, Charlton says the government wants to attract investment that is in the national interest.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 8:01am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 8:01am

Govt doesn't want big tech to use creative work without consent, compensation

By Joshua Boscaini

Andrew Charlton says the government will not allow big tech companies to use Australian content without "consent and compensation".

He says the attorney-general is working on how that approach is applied to the world of artificial intelligence.

The assistant technology minister has also hinted the PM's speech today will outline Australia's approach to large data centres.

Charlton has been asked whether the government will change its expectations for data centre developments into requirements.

He says the expectations were designed to provide national consistency, but that the PM will outline more details about that today.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Charlton says the government has been watching what's happening overseas.

"We want to learn the lessons from abroad, where many of these data centres have been rolled out in ways that have damaged local communities, that have sucked up energy, that have impacted local drinking water sources. We don't want to make those mistakes in Australia," Charlton says

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:48am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:48am

Charlton says new Office of AI will bring national leadership to issue

By Joshua Boscaini

Assistant Minister Andrew Charlton is out doing the morning media rounds to spruik the PM's speech today on artificial intelligence.

Anthony Albanese will outline a shift in the way the federal government's deals with artificial intelligence.

He's expected to announce the establishment of an Office of AI within his department to coordinate the design of standards for the technology.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, the assistant technology minister says the Commonwealth is well placed to bring national leadership on artificial intelligence.

"There are many different departments within government that have equities in this space, so the prime minister is bringing national leadership to the issue," Charlton says.

"He is well placed to bring together the states and territories, bring together different parts of government, and make sure that we have a consistent national framework."

Asked if the government is taking a more interventionist approach, Charlton says the office is more designed to provide national consistency.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:23am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:23am

Anthony Albanese maps out AI future with new national framework

By Clare Armstrong

Australia will seek to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence without losing control of it by tackling challenges such as data centres, copyright and jobs through a new national framework.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will use a speech in Sydney today to declare the end of the federal government's "issue-by-issue" approach to AI and outline his plan to make the technology work in the nation's interest.

Amid community anxiety about data centre developments, workplace automation, copyright protections for artists and the use of AI in defence, Albanese wants to reassure Australians he is focused on their concerns.

Albanese will announce the establishment of an Office of AI within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and coordinate the design of new "Australian standards" for the technology, according to a short preview of his speech provided ahead of the address.

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

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:16am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:16am

O'Neil says reducing tobacco excise will lead to more people smoking

By Joshua Boscaini

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil says the government is aware that Australia's smoking rates are not going in the direction it wants.

A 7.30 investigation found Australia's illicit tobacco market is expanding online, with dozens of websites promoting cheap tobacco and vapes.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 80 per cent of the cigarettes and vapes consumed in Australia last year were illegal.

Speaking to Channel Seven, O'Neil says the government believes reducing the tobacco excise won't help people give up smoking.

"Reducing tax rates on tobacco would have two big effects. It would make more Australians start smoking more often, and it would give billions of dollars back to big tobacco companies around Australia. It's not the answer," O'Neil says.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:07am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:07am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us on this (very) chilly hump day 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.

The prime minister will give a speech today in which he's expected to outline a map for the future of artificial intelligence in Australia.

Anthony Albanese is expected to announce the establishment of an Office of AI within his department, which will coordinate the design of "Australian standards" for the technology.

We're likely to hear more on AI this morning, so without further ado, let's goooooooooooooo!