The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has identified online misogyny as a contributing factor to domestic violence, while the opposition proposes allowing homebuyers to use superannuation as mortgage collateral. The comments follow a violent weekend across New South Wales that claimed multiple lives and prompted urgent calls for systemic reform.
What is driving the domestic violence crisis?
Chalmers has pointed to multiple interconnected causes of violence against women and children, describing the problem as urgent and requiring coordinated action across government. Speaking to ABC's 7.30 program, he outlined the range of factors contributing to the crisis.
We're trying to deal with the sources of all of this violence, whether it be more security in the housing system, whether it be the monetised misogyny that we see online – there are a whole range of factors feeding in here.
The treasurer emphasised that the government has increased resourcing for child and family violence services, and stressed the need for broader community engagement.
We do acknowledge that all of this violence is obviously entirely unacceptable. It's horrific in every way. That's why we've increased the resources and that's why we all need to do better to do everything we can to make a difference here.
Research released by the Minderoo Foundation on 21 September 2026 found that technology-enabled abuse disproportionately affects women, particularly on dating platforms. The study revealed that 99% of women surveyed reported experiencing at least one instance of tech-based abuse on dating platforms within the previous three months.
Tanya Plibersek, the minister for social services, told RN Breakfast that a spate of alleged domestic violence incidents over the weekend had not been previously flagged by police, highlighting gaps in early intervention systems.
All of these big points of contact as potential systems where we can identify that there is a risk that there's family, domestic or sexual violence happening and be able to intervene earlier.
Plibersek outlined a multi-sector approach to tackling violence, calling for engagement across health, mental health, schools, technical and further education, and universities.
It's not just about funding. There's also, I think, a much broader role for our community … Support for victims and survivors, making sure that we're intervening earlier, enhancing supports for children and young people, focusing particularly on sexual violence, which is the area where we've seen really extraordinary growth in incidents, focusing on reducing online harms and holding perpetrators to account.
What happened in New South Wales over the weekend?
A series of alleged violent incidents across New South Wales prompted urgent calls for action on domestic violence. In the Blue Mountains, a mother allegedly fatally stabbed a child and wounded two others. Separately, three other women were allegedly murdered inside their homes across the state.
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the incidents as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by firearms and the prevalence of domestic violence.
It's obviously an incredibly distressing situation. It's the subject of a major police investigation. I understand the adults in the house are not cooperating with police. We just urge anyone that has any information about this horrible event – we've got [an 11-year-old] in a serious condition in a NSW hospital – to come forward.
Minns also commented on the broader issue of gun violence in the community.
It's also a very tragic reminder of how dangerous guns are, and often the people who are the victims of guns, are innocent people, many times they are children. They're very dangerous, and we need less of them in our community.
An 18-year-old man was charged on 21 September 2026 with concealing a serious indictable offence following the shooting of an 11-year-old in north-west Sydney. Two other 18-year-old men were released pending further inquiries.
Police Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna called for the government to be more aggressive in preventing domestic violence. Minns acknowledged the urgency of the situation.
Well, Peter's an incredibly straight talker on these issues, and he's 100% right. I mean, the number of violent crimes against often innocent people, innocent family members is hugely distressing. It's an urgent emergency for our state and we need to throw everything we possibly can at it.
What reforms are being introduced to sexual assault trials?
The NSW government is introducing several changes to the Criminal Procedure Act designed to reduce trauma for sexual assault complainants and improve the quality of evidence presented in court. These reforms will be piloted across three locations beginning in March 2027.
Recorded police interviews will now be admissible as evidence-in-chief in sexual assault trials, allowing complainants to provide their account once rather than repeating it multiple times, including in the event of a retrial. NSW Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin explained the significance of this change.
Allowing complainants' pre-recorded evidence in chief to be used during sexual assault trials will enable them to give their account much earlier, in a safe setting, and to start rebuilding their lives sooner.
A pilot program of "ground rules" hearings will be conducted at Parramatta, Wollongong and Dubbo district courts from March 2027 until 2030. These hearings, already used in child sexual assault proceedings, will establish directions about how complainants will be questioned, including the duration, manner, topics, and support measures available to them.
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley emphasised the importance of protecting vulnerable witnesses.
Sexual assault complainants and witnesses are especially vulnerable in our justice system. We want to help them give their best evidence by ensuring they do not need to tell their story multiple times and deterring inappropriate and irrelevant questioning in court.
The government is also amending laws governing the handling of sexual assault complainants' counselling communications. Courts will now only consider such records when necessary, rather than automatically or as a precaution. This change responds to concerns that alleged perpetrators' legal teams have used counselling records to undermine complainants' credibility.
University of Sydney-led research examining alternative reform models is due to report back in mid-2027.
What is the opposition proposing on housing?
Andrew Bragg, the shadow minister for housing, is proposing a new policy that would allow homebuyers to use their superannuation as collateral for mortgages. The proposal aims to address what Bragg describes as a concerning trend of rising numbers of renters in retirement.
The general idea here is we want to have a country where more people are retired homeowners, and one of the most worrying trends we have is the growth in retired renters. Now, there's nothing wrong with renting of course, but for a lot of people, they would rather live in their own house in retirement.
Bragg told ABC NewsRadio that the proposal is designed to give Australians more options for using their savings to achieve home ownership.
And so we want to make sure that we're properly calibrating all the options people might like to have in their working life to use their own savings to promote home ownership.
When questioned about the risks of borrowers taking on loans larger than they could service, Bragg argued that the current trajectory toward increased rental in retirement poses a greater risk.
Today's address is about setting out the rationale for having a more sophisticated debate. … We are becoming a country which is going to have a lot more retired renters, but also people potentially with quite high superannuation balances. That doesn't seem to be the best outcome for all people, which is why we're having this debate, because we want to be a nation of homeowners.
Chalmers has identified housing accessibility as the defining intergenerational challenge facing Australians, noting that the government has made difficult policy changes to address the issue.
We could have left everything exactly as it was. We could have acknowledged the intergenerational unfairness that exists in the housing market and done nothing about it. We chose to make some difficult changes.
What is the government's position on migration and population?
Chalmers has defended migration as necessary to support Australia's ageing population, following the release of the three-yearly intergenerational report. The report found that Australia's declining birthrate means more Australians will die than be born within 40 years—a first for the report.
The treasurer noted that birthrates are falling faster than anticipated, as Australians choose to have smaller families later in life.
Migration is a force for good in our economy and in our society. We will continue to make the case for getting that net overseas migration down in the most responsible way, that balances all of the key considerations in our economy and in local communities.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke unveiled changes to immigration rules last week, committing to reduce net overseas migration to 245,000 in the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027–28.
What is Australia's position on artificial intelligence regulation?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined leaders from 22 countries in signing a statement calling for human oversight and control of artificial intelligence development. The declaration was signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to reporting from a national news outlet, the declaration calls for obligatory safety assessments, independent evaluations, and stronger international oversight of advanced AI systems. Signatories included the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Albanese emphasised the potential benefits of artificial intelligence while stressing the need for human control.
Artificial intelligence has the potential to improve lives, to strengthen our economy and productivity, and to massively advance science and medical breakthroughs.
But humans need to be in control of it. If it's going to be successful, then we need to make sure that humans are at the centre of everything that occurs.
The statement warned that AI systems may be able to circumvent safeguards and gain unauthorised access to multiple systems. It called on AI companies to develop transparent safety protocols and on governments to establish common standards for the technology.
According to the same reporting, Albanese said he played a pivotal role in shaping the statement through discussions with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, alongside Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The prime minister told reporters that Australia had played a "central role" in developing the declaration.
I was in direct discussions with [Finnish] president [Alexander] Stubb, and we continue to engage with our neighbours.
The signatories also urged the United Nations to explore options for creating an international institution to establish AI standards and oversee compliance.
What changes are being made to emergency services governance?
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for Australia's triple zero emergency call system to be brought back under independent public control, following a Senate committee report recommending the move. The system is currently contracted to Telstra, a private telecommunications company.
At the moment, Telstra is contracted to do this work. The taxpayers pay it. That's your money, my money, every Australian taxpayer's money to fund the operation of triple zero … We think it's time to really consider bringing that back under independent control so that the customer, the public, the safety is put first – it's not seen as some kind of chore or add-on for a privately run company …
Hanson-Young outlined the legislative changes needed to implement the reform.
There needs to be an overhaul of the telecommunications laws. Standards and reliability guarantees must be in the law. Compensation must be available for people. And triple zero must be run for the safety of people, not the profits of corporations.
What health warning has the TGA issued?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has announced that andrographis paniculata, a medicinal herb commonly found in cold and flu supplements, will be phased out of the Australian market due to links with severe allergic reactions. The herb, also known as green chiretta, is native to India and Sri Lanka and has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine to support immunity and treat cold and flu symptoms.
According to ABC News, the TGA has received 1,468 adverse-event reports linked to 90 medicines containing andrographis, including a reported death in June 2024. The regulatory change took effect on 17 September 2026, meaning new medicines containing the ingredient are no longer eligible for listing on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
Around 80 products containing andrographis are currently listed on the Australian market, available from supermarkets, health food stores and pharmacies. The TGA has encouraged suppliers to voluntarily recall products containing the herb, though existing medicines will not be immediately removed from shelves.
According to the same reporting, the TGA may take further action starting in mid-October if suppliers do not voluntarily recall or stop selling andrographis products. The regulator determined that the risk of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, could not be adequately managed within the listed-medicines framework.
What warning has Victoria Police issued?
Victoria Police have warned of heightened family violence risk during the AFL Grand Final weekend, noting that major sporting events create conditions for increased abuse. A police spokesperson explained the pattern observed during these events.
This is because we see families come together and offenders may use periods of extended contact to increase their abusive behaviours.
Data from recent years shows 315 family violence incidents were recorded on AFL Grand Final day in 2025 and 301 in 2024. Despite these figures, police said there has not been a significant increase in incidents on Grand Final day or the extended weekend in recent years.
While we have not seen a significant increase in family violence incidents on Grand Final Day or the extended weekend in recent years, we urge the community to look out for each other and report any incidents to police. There is never an excuse for family violence and Victoria Police will ensure each crime is investigated and all offenders are held to account.
What action has Sydney taken on smartglasses?
The City of Sydney has banned smartglasses and other wearable recording devices from all its pools, libraries, gyms, childcare centres and town halls, citing growing privacy and harassment concerns. The council updated signage and guidance to enforce the restrictions.
Greens Councillor Matthew Thompson, who moved the motion, noted that exemptions have been included for those who use the glasses as accessibility devices for vision and hearing loss. He called on the federal government to implement stronger national regulation.
Overseas we're seeing women being targeted and harassed in public and recorded without their consent. We don't want what's happening in the US to happen here. That's why we're banning smart glasses and other wearable recording devices from all of our pools, gyms, childcare [centres], libraries and other council spaces. Cheap wearable devices like smart glasses are already flooding the market. But instead of stopping this problem, the federal Labor government has dumped it on to councils to sort out. We need an import ban on these cheap, intrusive devices until we have stronger privacy protections and clear standards implemented nationally.
