Weekly Wrap Up, September 5 2025
While global events dominated headlines again this week, federal parliament got down to business with several key reforms, including new laws to keep Australians safe online. The long-anticipated release of the Age Assurance Technology Trial Report has sharpened the national focus on how Australia plans to enforce its world-leading under-16 social media ban, set to begin in December.
The report found that while age assurance is technically feasible, there is no single “silver bullet” solution. Instead, the report pointed to a patchwork of approaches – from facial age estimation to document-based verification – each with trade-offs in accuracy, privacy, and accessibility. Crucially, the report flagged serious concerns about data security, identity fraud, and the risk of digitally excluding vulnerable groups, such as young people without formal ID, First Nations communities, and recent migrants. Despite these challenges, the findings suggest the technology is workable, provided safeguards are strengthened and implementation is nuanced. The overall message was clear: the tech is viable, but it must be carefully and ethically implemented.
The political push on digital platforms didn’t stop there. Anika Wells announced new measures to combat AI-generated deepfakes, particularly those that depict child abuse or are used for political manipulation. This saw Wells shift the conversation to regulating how AI tools can be used to create synthetic media, calling for mandatory watermarking, platform responsibility, and criminal penalties for harmful content. These efforts are being framed as part of the government’s broader digital safety agenda, aimed at shielding young Australians from harm in an increasingly complex online landscape.
With social media age restrictions set to commence in under a 100 days, what remains to be seen is whether the government can translate its policy ambitions in the digital platforms space into real, measurable outcomes – and whether the big players in the industry are truly willing to play ball.
Stay tuned.
Top talking points
Net Zero Woes: Following debate on Barnaby Joyce’s Bill, Matt Canavan introduced a bill to the Senate proposing to repeal Australia’s net-zero target.
Online Safety Push: Anika Wells announced measures to tackle AI deepfakes, including stronger content regulations and expanded powers for the eSafety Commissioner.
Age Assurance Trial: The final report concluded that while age assurance technologies are technologically feasible and can effectively verify users’ ages, no single “one-size-fits-all” solution exists.
March for Australia: Anti-immigration protests occurred nationwide, with rallies held in major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
Nauru Developments: Up to 80,000 non-citizens may lose legal protections under the Albanese Government’s proposed $2.5 billion deportation plan to Nauru.
Making headlines this week
Santos Darwin Leaks
Home Care Package Delays
More than 200,000 older Australians are currently waiting for home care support, including over 121,000 who are still awaiting assessment and nearly 90,000 who have been approved but are yet to receive services. In response, the Coalition, Greens, and the Crossbench have established a Senate inquiry, chaired by Greens Senator Penny Allman‑Payne, to investigate the impact of the Government’s decision to defer the Support at Home program. The Coalition vowed to eliminate waiting lists, calling for the immediate release of home care packages. Following this, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae committed to funding an additional 20,000 support packages.
Things to watch
8 September: The ABS will release building approvals data.
9 September: New South Wales, Victorian, Western Australian and Tasmanian Parliaments will sit.
9 September: The AFR will host the 2025 Asia Summit.
9 September: CEDA will host an international students panel.
10 September: The ABS will release industrial disputes data.
10 September: Telstra CEO Vicki Brady will address the National Press Club.
13 September: The 2025 Kiama State by-election will be held.
Payments Modernisation, GDP Growth and Regulatory Simplification
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Payment Systems Modernisation) Bill 2025 passed the Senate, paving the way for the regulation of digital wallets and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services. The Bill also introduced ministerial powers allowing the Treasurer to designate payment systems as being in the national interest.
Australia’s economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the June quarter, with discretionary spending increasing by 1.4 per cent. Jim Chalmers attributed falling business investment to project waiting approval time delays.
ASIC released[PDF] its Regulatory Simplification Report, recommending changes to the reportable regime, moving beyond reliance on relief and making substantial holding notice forms easier to navigate.
Overseas Visits and Foreign Policy Review
Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews travelled to China to attend a Victory Day parade alongside Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and other world leaders. The event marked 80 years since Japan’s defeat at the end of World War II. Andrews faced criticism for his appearance alongside several dictators, particularly as he is reportedly working as a consultant to Chinese companies.
Richard Marles and Penny Wong travelled to Japan for the 12th Australian-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting. The meeting focused on shared geostrategic priorities and increasing collaboration across critical areas.
The Federal Government accepted all 23 recommendations of the independent review of the Foreign Arrangements Scheme, led by Rosemary Huxtable. The Scheme aims to raise foreign policy awareness with all layers of Government and Australian Universities.
Net Zero, Emission Reduction Targets and Container Deposit Scheme Changes
Australia and New Zealand will work together to reduce barriers to achieving net zero following the release of the Best-Practice Regulatory Principles for the Adoption of Standards report, commissioned to identify regulatory obstacles. This report builds on jointly commissioned work from the 2024 Australia-New Zealand Climate and Finance 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
Chris Bowen conceded that the political environment may prevent the legislation of 2035 emissions reduction targets, indicating that Cabinet will discuss whether legislating emissions targets remains feasible.
Stage 1 of the Marinus Link project reached financial close with $3.8 billion in funding from the CEFC together with equity contributions from the Federal, Tasmanian, and Victorian Governments. The project will deliver 750 MW of capacity and drive $2.4 billion in investment.
The New South Wales and South Australian Governments jointly announced changes to both states’ container deposit schemes. By late 2027, the changes will include wine and spirits bottles, cordial, and juice concentrate containers.
WSI Reappointment, AI moves, and Fishermans Bend setback
Paul O’Sullivan has been appointed Chair of the Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Board for two years. The WSI is aiming to commence operations in 2026.
The New South Wales Government has opened a tender for an artificial intelligence system to assist in the assessment of State Significant Development applications. The Government will require a system that can conduct an intelligent review of documentation before lodgement, assess applications against key criteria, reduce assessment timeframes, and complete post-submission checks to accelerate finalisation.
The University of Melbourne has paused its Fishermans Bend Campus project and will reassess the project in its next 10-year strategy. The Victorian Government aspired for the precinct to be used for advanced manufacturing, design, engineering, and technology excellence.
Child Care Transparency Moves and Health Policy Updates
Following recent tragedies in the child care sector, the Starting Blocks website will now include information on when a regulator last visited a service provider, conditions placed on them by a regulator, and information on the links between services and the providers that run them.
The Albanese Government has fulfilled a key election promise to reduce Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payments from $31.60 to $25 from 1 January 2026, while also expanding the range of medicines covered. Additionally, an independent Australian Centre for Disease Control will be established to improve public health outcomes.
The New South Wales Government’s ADHD GP reforms came into effect this week, with trained GPs now able to prescribe ongoing medicines to patients previously diagnosed with ADHD.