A portrait of Bob Katter, who has served in the Queensland and federal parliaments for more than 50 years, has been unveiled by the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the government passes its environmental reforms through the lower house.

Follow our live coverage below.

Key Events

Bill to allow listing of IRGC as terrorist organisation passes parliament

4 hours agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 12:32am 1.

Labor’s Freedom of Information bill passes lower house

5 hours agoWed 5 Nov 2025 at 11:32pm 1.

Bill on local content quotas for streaming services introduced to parliament

6 hours agoWed 5 Nov 2025 at 10:35pm

12m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 4:25am

📷: Question time is a tiring business

By Joshua Boscaini

23m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 4:14am

📸 Pictures from the thick of the action

By Tom Crowley

Another day, another close study of the body language on the opposition frontbench. Our snapper, Luke Stephenson, is in the chamber to capture the action. See if you can tell which leader is enjoying themselves more.

Where’s that net zero review, Dan? (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)Pointing fingers (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

24m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 4:13am

And that’s all for Question Time

By Tom Crowley

Anthony Albanese puts it to an end, and we’ve made it through the eighth and final Question Time for the format.

26m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 4:11am

Truth in political advertising under the spotlight in Question Time

By Joshua Boscaini

The next question from the crossbench is from Kennedy MP Bob Katter, who has asked about truth in political communication.

The minister representing the minister of state, Amanda Rishworth, has first paid tribute to Katter for the unveiling of his official portrait at Parliament House today.

Rishworth says truth in political advertising is a genuine issue that is being examined by the parliament through several avenues.

She says some states and territories have already moved to legislate truth in political advertising.

“We know regulating paid political communication and indeed more broadly mis- and disinformation is a complex issue, with many members and senators having varied ideas, concerns, and views on these types of pieces of legislation,” Rishworth says.

“As the Commonwealth, we must consider the constitutionally implied freedom of political communication in any reform, but of course, Member for Kennedy does raise an issue that concerns all elected members of parliament,” he says.

31m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 4:06am

Sophie Scamps on the Northern Beaches Hospital

By Tom Crowley

A local flavour to the question from crossbencher Sophie Scamps, who asks about the private hospital in her seat, which went into receivership earlier this year.

The question: public services have been transitioned to NSW Health, but what about the “world-class” private services that were delivered there?

Mark Butler takes the opportunity to talk about the problems with privatising public hospitals, saying he remembered another hospital in Adelaide, privatised by the same company, Healthscope.

“It was a debacle,” is his assessment.

On Northern Beaches, he says the NSW government is “consulting closely with clinicians and the community” about what private hospital services will continue to be available.

37m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 4:01am

PM turns energy question around to Coalition infighting on net zero

By Joshua Boscaini

Nationals MP Alison Penfold was ejected from the chamber under section 94a of the standing orders just before Health Minister **Mark Butler **responded to a government dixer.

Nevertheless, we move on to Nationals MP Andrew Willcox, who has stepped up to ask the PM a question about power bills.

Prime Minister** Anthony Albanese **has used the opportunity to take aim at the Coalition for its infighting on the future of net zero by 2050.

“We have a very clear position, and it comes to energy going forward. It is to support the cheapest form of new energy, which is renewables,” Albanese says.

“To then support as well, it is backed up by batteries and storage, as well as gas for firming capacity. That is our position, that is the way forward, not the fantasy that those are indulging in,” he says.

46m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:51am

Will the PM listen to Roger Cook on environmental laws?

By Tom Crowley

The next opposition question is from Angie Bell, the spokesperson for the environment. She asks Resources Minister Madeleine King about the WA premier’s visit to parliament.

With Roger Cook agitating for a settlement on Labor’s environment laws that would align with business hopes for faster approvals, Bell asks whether the government will “cave into the Labor left-dominated backbench”.

It provokes a fair bit of heckling, and Tony Burke complains the question is not in order because it doesn’t go to the minister’s responsibilities. Bell rephrases her question, and it proceeds, but a sledging **Ed Husic **is evicted amid the ruckus.

“I and this government are on a unity ticket with [Cook on] the development of critical minerals.”

King then takes the opportunity to champion her backbench and mock the one opposite her. “They referred to unhinged backbenchers, well, I can tell you where I can see them. I only need to look straight ahead!”

She says the government is working towards an environment protection law “that works for the environment, heaven forbid for those opposite, and works for industry”.

53m agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:44am

PM fires back at Coalition on cost-of-living measures

By Joshua Boscaini

(ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

Liberal MP Mary Aldred has stepped up to ask a question of the prime minister, citing a report showing 68 per cent of single-parent households are going hungry.

“Prime minister, in light of these disturbing figures, why are more Australians going hungry under Labor?” Aldred asks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Coalition has opposed all of the government’s cost-of-living measures, including changes to Medicare and moves to cut the costs of medicines.

The prime minister says the job of assisting is never finished, and has criticised the government for cutting funding to Foodbank.

“One of the things I am very proud of is in our first budgets, we changed the single-parent payment so it applied until the youngest child reaches the age of 14, something that was never done by those opposite,” Albanese says.

“I won’t be lectured by a bunch of people who have never seen an increase in living standards that they did not oppose, who just stand up and continue to argue against minimum wage increases, continue to argue about tax cuts,” he says.

1h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:35am

Monique Ryan on medical research

By Tom Crowley

The independent MP has a question about the Medical Research Future Fund, set up under the Coalition.

She says it was supposed to be delivering about $1 billion each year in research funding, but is only delivering $650 million.

It’s the same issue she held a press conference on earlier this morning, appearing with medical researchers to say that more of the fund should be used, and citing the fact that only about a third of applicants for funding are approved.

Health Minister Mark Butler says that the rate is higher than in similar funds.

“Success rates for all of the government’s research funds are well short of 100 per cent, so well short of 100 per cent of good, worthy applicants are actually able to receive funding ... We’d all like that to be higher, but the MRFF performs pretty well.”

He adds that the government is preparing a broader medical research strategy, and a statutory review of the fund is due soon.

“We will use that ... to consider a range of things, including the matter that the member has now raised a number of times,” he says.

1h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:28am

Chalmers quizzed on link between government spending and interest rates

By Joshua Boscaini

Deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien has stepped up to ask a question now about the Reserve Bank of Australia’s forecasts.

He has asked if the treasurer will admit that government spending is making it “impossible” for the RBA to offer further interest rate relief to mortgage holders.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Reserve Bank has made it clear that government spending has nothing to do with the RBA’s decision to put interest rates on hold.

“I acknowledge there are a number of challenges, but one of the welcome developments in our economy is that the private sector has been taking over,” Chalmers says.

“Over the last two or three-quarters, the private sector has been regaining, resuming its rightful role as the primary driver of growth in our economy,” he says.

He says nothing does the shadow treasurer’s leadership ambitions in the Liberal Party more harm than putting him in front of a microphone.

“The shadow treasurer is precisely the last person I will take advice from when it comes to responsible economic management,” Chalmers says.

1h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:17am

Sussan Ley is up first in Question Time

By Tom Crowley

(ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

The opposition leader has had a fortnight she’d rather forget, but has one last Question Time to make an impression.

She gets us started with the first question on the cost of living. She cites the charity Foodbank, saying more people are going hungry, and asks what the government plans to do.

Anthony Albanese calls the Coalition “the temple of doom”, saying they voted against several of Labor’s cost-of-living measures and then proceeded to “talk everything down”.

“Sledges don’t feed people”, Ley says, using a point of order. Speaker Milton Dick says it is “absolutely unacceptable” to use points of order that way.

Albanese’s answer highlights bright spots in Australia’s economic performance, including the low unemployment rate.

1h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:13am

PM, Sussan Ley wish Australian Winter Olympics, Paralympics team best of luck

By Joshua Boscaini

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is making a speech just before we get into questions without notice to wish Australia’s 2026 Winter Olympics team luck.

Athletes representing Australia at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics are in the public gallery.

The prime minister has wished the team all the best and urged them to enjoy the experience.

“You should all be so proud of everything you have already achieved in representing the best nation on Earth. And you can be absolutely certain of when you wear the green and gold in Italy next year, all Australians will be proud of you and cheering for you,” Albanese says.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says the Olympians are some of Australia’s finest examples of courage, discipline and spirit.

“To those here in the chamber and those who have joined us in Parliament House during the day, we say thank you for inspiring a nation. You are more than athletes, you are all models,” Ley says.

“We wish you every success as you complete your preparations and head to the northern snow and ice, and carry the hopes, pride, and all our love of country,” she says.

1h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:06am

Question Time is here 🚨🚨🚨

By Joshua Boscaini

Question Time in the House of Representatives is here!

MPs are just finishing up a division on the government’s National Environmental Protection Agency Bill.

Join us as we bring you questions without notice here on the blog live in just a moment.

1h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 3:02am

Environment Protection Reform Bill passes lower house, moves to Senate

By Joshua Boscaini

Labor’s Environment Protection Reform Bill has passed the lower house of parliament.

Several amendments were moved by independents with most of them not accepted by the government which has the numbers in the lower house.

The bill will now move to the Senate where Labor currently doesn’t have the support needed to secure its passage through parliament.

A separate bill still within the government’s package of environmental reforms is currently being debated which is delaying question time.

2h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 2:37am

Labor showing ‘arrogance’ by passing FOI bill through lower house: Coalition

By Jake Evans

As we brought you earlier, the government’s widely panned reforms to Freedom of Information laws have been rushed through the lower house without debate, after the government gagged attempts to speak on the bill.

The proposed reforms were widely criticised for claims it would make FOI laws — used to obtain government documents or communications that may otherwise stay secret — harder to use and more restrictive.

The legislation is doomed to fail, since the Coalition, Greens and crossbenchers all oppose it, leaving Labor without the numbers to see it through the Senate.

Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Wallace said Labor had shown “arrogance” with the bill.

“Today Labor used its numbers to silence debate, block a proper inquiry, and force this legislation through with no justification or urgency,” Wallace said.

The Coalition said FOI laws were not designed to “make life comfortable for those in power”, but to hold governments to account.

2h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 2:26am

PM meets with Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

By Joshua Boscaini

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at Parliament House.

Tsikhanouskaya was the top opposition candidate in the 2020 Belarus presidential election and fled to Latvia after a massive crackdown on protests.

(Supplied: Australian Government)

2h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 2:13am

Labor suffers another defeat on the floor of the Senate

By Joshua Boscaini

The government has had another defeat on the floor of the Senate, this time over its Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal amendments before parliament.

Independent senator David Pocock moved to suspend standing order to have the bill removed from the senate notice paper.

The Greens, Coalition and members of the crossbench joined Pocock in passing the motion which was successful.

2h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 1:51am

📷: Covers come off Bob Katter’s portrait

By Joshua Boscaini

2h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 1:46am

Bob Katter’s official portrait unveiled in Member’s Hall at Parliament House

By Joshua Boscaini

(ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

Bob Katter’s official portrait has been unveiled at the Member’s Hall at Parliament House in Canberra.

The Historic Memorials Committee commissioned David Darcy to create the portrait to recognise the Kennedy MP’s more than 50 years of service to Queensland and federal parliaments.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was bipartisan support to commission to painting.

The PM reminisced about the number of times he had visited Katter’s electorate in north-west Queensland, before the unveiling of the painting.

“He’s able to bring people together from across the political spectrum who might not agree with Bob’s views all the time ... but who respect the fact that he is the most Australian in terms of fair dinkum on how he deals with people,” Albanese said.

Katter thanked the prime minister.

“This is not a painting of a person, and I hope one sees it that way. It is recognition of people who have very strong feelings about their country to make it a land of opportunity,” Katter said.

He appeared to address a confrontation with a reporter at a press conference in Brisbane in August, saying: “If I get a bit confrontational with a bloke a few weeks ago, eh well, you know, out the back of the pub mate”.

(ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

3h agoThu 6 Nov 2025 at 1:16am

Researchers ask why crucial medical research funds are being held up

By Jade Toomey

Medical experts have gathered in Canberra to ask why the government is clinging onto billions of dollars in funding intended for medical research — a sector noted for the cochlear implant, the bionic heart and HPV vaccines.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) was set up 10 years ago to fund medical research and was designed to disburse $1 billion every year once it had grown to $20 billion.

The good news? The fund has exceeded expectations to reach more than $24.5 billion in June this year.

The questionable news? The government plans to release just $650 million a year for the next decade.

Independent MP Monique Ryan, who was a paediatric neurologist before entering politics, said the funding would help a growing number of medical research institutes, which are really up against it at the moment.

“Nine out of the 14 in my home state of Victoria are in danger of going to the wall in the next five years,” Dr Ryan said.

“At the same time, we have this extraordinary opportunity where we could benefit from Donald Trump’s evisceration of the healthcare and medical research centre in the US, and we could profit by stepping up into the space.”

Many researchers also spoke about the different projects that have missed out on MRFF funding recently.

These include an AI system to prevent the next pandemic, a national domestic violence surveillance project, treatment for cardiomyopathy, which predominantly affects women, and best-practice treatment for traumatic brain injuries.