Australia news LIVE: Labor to launch ‘opt-out’ register for gambling ads; Trump threatens to bomb Oman as US-Iran war agreement expires

Emily KaineUpdated August 18, 2026 — 7:32am,first published 6:45amKey PostsWhat’s making news todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Tuesday, August 18. Here’s what is making news today.Labor introduced a new bill yesterday that would allow the government to impose a levy on gambling companies to fund a new “opt-out” regime for ads on all online platforms. The money would be used to fund fresh costs the Australian Communications and Media Authority would incur while administering and enforcing the government’s new advertising rules.One Nation has been forced to clarify that its migration policy would allow tens of thousands more migrants than it first suggested, raising questions about the rigour of its policy manifesto. Meanwhile Pauline Hanson pledged to slash the tobacco excise. The party will today push a plan to lower the tobacco excise by 75 per cent.Key Sydney Swans players are at the centre of a Victoria Police sexual assault investigation as scrutiny over their futures at the club grows. The investigation relates to an allegation of sexual assault at an East Melbourne hotel hours after the team’s victory over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night. Sanctions for the players are expected to be handed down by the club as early as today.And US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb US ally Oman if it “gets in the way” of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while casting doubt on the possibility of reaching a new deal with Iran after their 60-day interim agreement expired.Latest Posts7.32amChalmers: Hanson’s super proposal would ‘decimate’ retirement futuresBy Emily KaineA proposal slated by Pauline Hanson to allow Australians to withdraw more from their superannuation would “decimate” the retirement income of millions of Australians, Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned this morning. “[Superannuation] is a really important part of our economic security and retirement incomes for Australian workers,” Chalmers told Seven’s Sunrise. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.Alex Ellinghausen“That’s at risk now.”The treasurer characterised Pauline Hanson’s suggestion yesterday – that the rules for superannuation withdrawals should be loosened – as an attack on the working class. “One of the most important features of our superannuation system is this idea of preservation. This idea that with compounding investments over time, Australian workers can access the decent retirement incomes that they need and deserve after a lifetime of work … This is another attack on workers, on their incomes.” 7.04amGreens leader responds to One Nation’s plan to cut tobacco exciseBy Emily KaineGreens leader Larissa Waters has accused Pauline Hanson of pandering to big tobacco after the One Nation leader vowed to cut the tobacco excise.“Clearly, Pauline Hanson is doing precisely what big tobacco have been lobbying her to do … I mean, if you want to fight crime, fight crime, but don’t dress up fighting crime as just a premise to boost the profits of big tobacco,” Waters told Nine’s Today.Greens leader Larissa Waters.Alex Ellinghausen“I don’t have a lot of sympathy for tobacco, and I don’t think it should be influencing our politics. Big corporations tend to have an inordinate influence on our politics, and I reckon people are getting shafted here. You’ve got the two big parties backing in weak gambling laws because the gambling lobby’s in charge. Now, big tobacco seems to be running the show. I think it’s time that people ran the show.”One Nation will push a plan today to lower the tobacco excise by 75 per cent.What’s making news todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Tuesday, August 18. Here’s what is making news today.Labor introduced a new bill yesterday that would allow the government to impose a levy on gambling companies to fund a new “opt-out” regime for ads on all online platforms. The money would be used to fund fresh costs the Australian Communications and Media Authority would incur while administering and enforcing the government’s new advertising rules.One Nation has been forced to clarify that its migration policy would allow tens of thousands more migrants than it first suggested, raising questions about the rigour of its policy manifesto. Meanwhile Pauline Hanson pledged to slash the tobacco excise. The party will today push a plan to lower the tobacco excise by 75 per cent.Key Sydney Swans players are at the centre of a Victoria Police sexual assault investigation as scrutiny over their futures at the club grows. The investigation relates to an allegation of sexual assault at an East Melbourne hotel hours after the team’s victory over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night. Sanctions for the players are expected to be handed down by the club as early as today.And US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb US ally Oman if it “gets in the way” of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while casting doubt on the possibility of reaching a new deal with Iran after their 60-day interim agreement expired.6.35amCorporal punishment should be outlawed to help reduce violence against womenBy Wendy TuohyDefences to corporal punishment should be abolished nationwide and adolescent boys who have experienced violence at home should get support to help prevent future family violence, national experts say.Save the Children-funded research to be published today will recommend repealing legislative defences to physical punishment, and the introduction of parenting programs.Domestic violence expert Kate Fitz-Gibbon photographed in 2025. Louise Kennerley“Australia condemns violence against children in almost every setting, yet still permits adults to use physical force against children for the purpose of discipline,” said co-author of the research, Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon.“Corporal punishment is not harmless discipline ... It can reinforce the idea that physical violence is an acceptable way to respond to conflict or unwanted behaviour. We need to stop normalising it in the home.”6.28amUS-Israel meeting produces optimism, but no firm commitment on GazaBy Jerusalem: A meeting between US negotiator Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the fate of the Gaza ceasefire unclear, with officials signalling moderate optimism but offering no concrete commitment by Israel to the latest US-proposed plan.Hamas has already agreed to the proposal. American negotiators appeared to acquiesce to Israeli demands that Hamas disarmament must come before any reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian enclave. They did not publicly signal that Israel had made any commitments to withdraw its troops from the 60 per cent of Gaza they currently occupy.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.APThat’s a major sticking point in the plan and one that Hamas had pressed negotiators to compel Israel to fulfil before the meeting.The talks came days after Netanyahu rejected the 15-point, US-backed road map to move the ceasefire deal forward, saying there would be no withdrawal without disarmament.1 of 1