News and politics live: Barnaby Joyce makes embarrassing on-air backflip on One Nation migration policy

Anthony Albanese has expressed concern over “populism and opportunism without answers” during a live Q&A at the annual Australia’s Economic Outlook forum.

It comes just hours after One Nation’s housing policy positions have begun to unravel during “train-wreck” interviews by Senator Sean Bell and Barnaby Joyce overnight.

Senator Bell had insisted permanent residents would have to divest properties but couldn’t answer what would happen if they didn’t.

“I tell you, what’s not ideal, it’s to see the rise of populism, whether of the right or the left, populism and opportunism without answers,” Mr Albanese said.

“Whether it be One Nation and the increasing blurring of the lines between the Liberal Party and One Nation.”

Anthony Albanese has declared Australians deserve “practical solutions, not slogans” in a thinly veiled reference to One Nation’s popularity surge as his government continues to defend last month’s controversial Budget of broken promises.

Delivering a keynote address at an economic forum, the Prime Minister says his government has “no intention of standing around and wringing our hands about the consequences of a system that isn’t working for people.”

“If you look around the world, you can see what happens to countries and economies when people make up their minds that the system is broken beyond repair,” Mr Albanese told the audience in Sydney.

“The decision for Australia is clear. We can choose whether the social and economic dislocation we see overseas is a warning that we act on or a preview of what is to come. Our government has no intention of standing around and wringing our hands about the consequences of a system that isn’t working for people. Instead, we are acting to fix it.”

The Prime Minsiter has begun an economic speech in Sydney by declaring “hard decisions cannot be put on hold for easier times”.

In an address to the summit, Mr Albanese was forced to defend last month’s Budget of broken promises on taxation.

“The challenges confronting Australia are too urgent to hang back, and the opportunities ahead of us are all too important to miss,” Mr Albanese said.

He also noted the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history.

The Nightly’s Stephen Johnson writes that Labor’s tax changes will cause rents to surge without actually helping first homebuyers into the market:

Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson claimed the Budget changes would see more property newcomers enter in the housing market as they faced less competition from prospective investor landlords, under friendly questioning from 22-year-old Labor senator Charlotte Walker.

But Cameron Kusher, the chief economist with property valuer Herron Todd White, said it was misleading to claim first homebuyers would simply just enter the market as fewer investors took an interest in existing properties, which won’t be able to be negatively geared from July 2027 if they weren’t purchased before Budget night.

“I think that we will see more first homebuyers but it’s not going to be a one-for-one substitute between an investor sells, there’s necessarily going to be a first homebuyer replacing that,” he told The Nightly.

Read the full article here.

A One Nation senator has been kicked off live radio and told to sort out his policy position after failing to answer simple questions around the minor party’s views on foreign ownership of residential property.

Senator Sean Bell was labelled a “train wreck” after back to back interviews on Sky News and radio station 2GB on Friday.

The first-term senator and party whip had claimed it was “perfectly reasonable” for Australian homes to be quarantined for Aussie citizens only but wouldn’t explain what One Nation proposed if people permanent residents refused to give up their properties.

“What we’re saying… is… it’s perfectly reasonable to expect that homes in Australia go to Australian citizens,” Senator Bell told 2GB host Mark Levy.

“We believe that people need to be given the opportunity to divest. And here’s the thing, Mark, temporary residents are not here to reside permanently in Australia.

“It’s very simple.”

Senator Bell, however, stumbled when pressed by Levy on what that policy would mean for people who are already residing in homes.

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Jane Hume has accused One Nation of creating confusion over its housing policy, claiming the party appears to be advocating for people to be removed from homes they already own.

The Deputy Liberal Leader’s criticism comes hot on the heels of Banaby Joyce’s embarassing backflip on live TV on Thursday night, where he suggested the paty’s proposed housing restrictions could require permanent residents to sell their properties, before later retracting those remarks.

More questions emerged when NSW Senator Sean Bell said on Friday the policy would instead apply to temporary visa holders who own property.

Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Ms Hume said the conflicting explanations raised serious concerns about what One Nation was actually proposing.

“I’m not entirely sure even One Nation knows their policy here, but if their policy is to kick people out of their homes, I think that that should set off alarm bells for millions of Australians, because that is a very new development,” she said.

“Even Barnaby Joyce said, well, this policy is formative. What does that mean? It’s a slogan, it’s not a policy, it’s got no substance behind it.”

Donald Trump has ripped into what he labelled a ‘meaningless’ vote by the US Congress after it passed a motion attempting to restrict the US President from further strikes in Iran.

The Republican-led House of Representatives overnight passed the motion 215 votes to 208, with four Republicans siding with democrats on the vote.

The legislation directed Mr Trump to halt attacks on Iran unless Congress approved further action.

The President took to his social media platform Truth Social to unleash on those who voted for the bill.

“Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Who would do such an unpatriotic thing,” he said.

“They know where the negotiations stand. The Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome. They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories.”

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One Nation Senator Sean Bell has moved to clarify the party’s housing policy after confusion erupted over comments made by recruit Barnaby Joyce about whether permanent residents could be forced to give up their homes.

Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Mr Bell insisted the policy would not affect permanent residents and praised Mr Joyce for quickly correcting his earlier remarks.

“What I think is really impressive from Barnaby there is that he immediately fronted up, and he showed integrity, and he went, and he corrected the record,” Senator Bell told the program.

The debate follows an awkward TV appearance in which Mr Joyce initially indicated One Nation’s proposal could impact permanent residents before later retracting the claim after seeking clarification from party officials.

Asked to explain the policy, Senator Bell said the restrictions were aimed at temporary visa holders rather than people with permanent residency.

“If you are on a temporary visa, you’re not permanently residing in Australia, then One Nation will make sure that there is a process in which those homes become available for Australians,” he said.

Bondi terror attack hero Ahmed Al Ahmed has broken down in an emotional interview on breakfast radio, saying he is an “honest guy” who “never hurt anyone”.

The man who single-handedly saved countless lives during the anti-Semitic terrorist attack on Bondi beach in December 2025 — after he wrestled a rifle off gunman Sajid Akram — was this week charged with common assault.

The accusation relates to an alleged domestic dispute involving his father. Mr Al Ahmed was also charged with stalking.

7NEWS also revealed last night that Mr Al Ahmed’s father had also taken out an apprehended violence order against the 44-year-old.

Speaking with 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Friday morning, the Bondi hero became emotional when asked about the charges.

“Honestly, I’m disappointed and (I have) anxiety and this situation is causing me distress. I’m very upset (about) what’s happening,” he said.

“I’m an honest, innocent, honourable guy. I never hurt anyone and I’ve never been violent.”

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South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas denies he was taking a swipe at the Albanese government after boasting his State’s Budget this week did not contain any surprise tax hikes.

“We are not increasing taxes in a way that’s unexpected by anybody,” the Labor leader said in Adelaide on Thursday.

“It’s an important principle. Not politically but as a matter of policy.”

Asked about the comments on Friday Mr Malinauskas said it was “a bit unfair” to suggest they were a slap down of his federal colleagues, who are under fire for breaking election promises tax hikes.

“Anyone that looks at everything that I have said at every Budget that … my government has handed down has largely adopted that position and used the exact language that you quote there … so it’s not particularly new or surprising to anyone,” he told the ABC.

“Look, it is true that we’ve been very deliberate and focused on making sure that any changes to tax policy we make aren’t causing any sort of friction or shock waves — We do want to create a stable investment environment for capital flowing into our State.”