Live: 'I've signed people's body parts': PM declares WA GST deal to stay

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared no changes will be made to GST distribution after a Productivity Commission report raised concerns it unfairly benefits WA.Follow all the updates in our live blog.Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:29pmMon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:29pmFarley comments show Labor has immigration numbers 'about right'We're back on immigration after the PM was asked about One Nation MP David Farley's comments yesterday about immigration, and how it aligns with Labor's policy.Albanese says the government is working toward the 225,000 NOM figure previously forecast by Treasury."What David Farley said on Sunday is that he believed the numbers Labor came up with are about right," he says."The truth is there is only one mainstream party in Australia.... One Nation can't get their act together to have a serious policy on anything, and the Liberal party have just given up."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:20pmMon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:20pmCook 'relieved' GST settings will not changeA no doubt relieved WA premier Roger Cook has been standing behind the PM during the press conference and steps up to the mic.He says every Western Australian is "pleased" to hear the PM confirm the current settings will remain."You don't come to WA on 45 occasions without appreciating that the WA economy is driving the national economy," he says."We are very pleased that the PM has backed WA."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:15pmMon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:15pm'I've signed people's body parts' Albanese defends timeline of committmentAlbanese is being questioned about how long it has taken for him to commit to keep the WA GST distribution the way it is.He claims he's already said it multiple times, referencing an instance in 2024 where he signed a reporter's arm in a pledge not to change the current settings."I've signed people's body parts, for goodness sake," he says."I mean, seriously."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:04pmMon 24 Aug 2026 at 1:04pmAlbanese says no change to WA GST distributionAlbanese is answering questions about the amount of money WA gets as part of the GST distribution.The deal struck by then-treasurer Scott Morrison ensures WA gets a bigger slice of GST revenue every year than it would under the national formula, which is meant to give more money per person to states with the highest need and lowest financial means.Earlier this month, the Productivity Commission published its interim report into the deal, calling it a "costly mistake" and recommending the government scrap it.A number of premiers, including NSW's Chris Minns, are unhappy with the arrangement.So - is the PM considering changing the way the pie is sliced?"There will be no change to WA's GST arrangements while I'm prime minister," Albanese says."I think that WA deserves that, because WA contributes to the national economy and helps to drive that economy."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 12:49pmMon 24 Aug 2026 at 12:49pmThe PM is speaking in WAAlbanese is back in Western Australia today, joined by Defence Minister Richard Marles and WA Premier, Roger Cook. They're at the Henderson shipyard, announcing details of what will be a big defence precinct where thousands of ADF staff will work on the AUKUS submarine project."We're absolutely thrilled to be here to mark this important milestone today," Albanese says."This has been through all of our processes, many meetings and many hours... this is a once in many generations investment."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 11:52amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 11:52amJoyce says One Nation 'sticking' to 130k immigration numberBarnaby Joyce is back, this time on News24 (previously Sky), still holding the proverbial mop to clean up what David Farley said about immigration yesterday.He says people should "ignore" the number of people coming in to the country on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, because they generally stay for under 12 months, which means they are not counted in the NOM."They come, and they go," he says."We've reviewed the numbers, we've got far too many, 130,000 Net Overseas Migration is our number and we're sticking to it."He's pressed on how a significant reduction in migrant workers might mean for productivity, but deflects to talk about energy prices."Go back to coal-fire power, increase productivity as a nation, stop small businesses going out of business," he says.Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 11:26amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 11:26amData centre renewable push 'not that different' from Qld smelter dealIndustry Minister Tim Ayres is in Perth today to announce a $120 million investment for a manufacturing pilot designed to speed up build times for apartments.While we're on the topic of development, Ayres is asked about resistance from some states and territories to sign up to minimum standards for data centres which would require developers to power the sites with renewable energy."I want to be respectful of the National Cabinet process, which is meeting in a couple of days' time," Ayres says."But we have set out our objective here to legislate AI, data centre standards for Australia, and that means not having a race to the bottom on electricity and water."Ayres says the deal would be "not all that different" from the one struck by Queensland premier David Crisafulli to secure the future of the Boyne aluminium smelter.Queensland is one of the jurisdictions holding out on the data centre standards."They're not that different really, large scale industrial electricity users and data centres," he says."It is now thanks to the deal with the Crisafulli government going to be powered by wind and solar."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 10:40amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 10:40amTaylor answers question about Exclusive BrethrenLast week, a parliamentary inquiry into the 2025 election heard from a director of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren. The Church has denied allegations it secretly paid people to disrupt Labor's re-election campaign last year in a coordinated effort involving far-right influencers.Overwhelmingly, members of the church appeared to support the Liberals during the campaign, although at the time both the church and the party denied any official affiliation.Taylor says he's seen the reporting but doesn't answer a question about his level of concern over the allegations.Instead, he talks about volunteers from the Rapid Relief Team, run by the church, who are helping with the Pollie Pedal, a bike ride event which raises money for charity.Taylor is taking part in the ride."We're being supported by the rapid relief team and they are an extraordinary group of people," he says."That is an extraordinary organisation, and I am sure there are many Labor members who have been supported by that organisation because of the great work that they do."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 10:29amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 10:29amEnergy for data centres should be up to the people who build itTaylor says the states and territories should get to decide what energy sources power data centres built in their jurisdictions, not the federal government.On Wednesday, Albanese is expected to push minimum standards through National Cabinet which would require data centres to provide their own renewable energy sources.Queensland and the NT are resisting, in part because they don't agree that renewable power should be the only option."The problem with Chris Bowen and this Prime Minister is that they always have their favourites," he says."We are absolutely neutral to the fuel source... we need to make sure that we have the energy to support Australian households, Australian industry, and any new data centres."But we won't be picking the fuel source, that should be done by people who are actually paying for it and building it."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 10:19amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 10:19amTaylor says Labor, One Nation 'all over the shop' on immigrationOpposition leader Angus Taylor is shining bright in orange high vis today, holding a press conference at a gas-fired generator in Swanbank, Queensland.He claims the opposition has "laid out" how it will bring the "numbers down and standards up" on immigration, despite the fact we're yet to see their policy position on the subject and apparently won't see it before the year is out.Taylor is relying on an earlier announcement from the Coalition that immigration would be tied to housing supply."We'll cap migration based on housing supply, we'll put Australian values at the centre of our immigration policy," he says."Our opponents are all over the shop on this."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 9:59amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 9:59amCould AI be an election sleeper issue?At the last federal election, Tim Wilson won back the seat of Goldstein by 175 votes. The LNP held Longman by 269 votes, and in Bradfield, 26 votes determined who went to Canberra.Tiny margins.We've all heard about the risk of deepfakes, misinformation campaigns and foreign interference meddling in elections and compromising democracy.But what if the more seismic change at the next election isn't just the usual flood of misleading material on social media?Patricia Karvelas digs in to how AI and chatbots might be the next frontier to sway voters.Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 9:20amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 9:20amNew rules coming for data centres even if Qld doesn't like themThe government expects to settle new rules for how data centres use energy in Australia at Wednesday's national cabinet meeting, despite Queensland confirming it will remain opposed to the plan.Read more from my colleague Jake Evans:Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:54amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:54amThe Coalition's immigration policyThere are more questions than answers on immigration this week.Liberal senator Jonno Duniam, who is leading the internal process for the Coalition's immigration policy, does not have an answer for when the public will get to see it."I'm not going to put a date on it," he says."We are in 2026, and the world in 2028, which is the first opportunity the Coalition will have at the election to form government if we win, so we need to make sure we are as relevant to that point in time as possible."Don't expect the policy this year, he says, but maybe a "short time after that".Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:47amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:47amConroy defends lobbying relationshipsWe're back talking about lobbyists at Parliament House.Conroy insists the government has strict codes of conduct that guide its interactions with the lobbying industry, including the defence industry (his portfolio).He says it would be unfair to exclude former defence ministers and Australian Defence Force officers who still want to contribute to policy debate."They obviously want to keep making a contribution to public policy, and that is their right," he says."I don't think people should be excluded from working in the Australian defence industry automatically, just because they happened to be a defence minister."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:23amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:23amWhen will we see the government's immigration numbers?Labor frontbencher Pat Conroy says the federal government is working to find the "right" answer for its migration policy rather than a fast answer.Treasury has forecast a NOM of 225,000 in the financial year after this one, but Conroy won't say if that is in line with the government's own targets.Last month Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke hastily withdrew from a planned speech at the National Press Club in which he was expected to unveil an immigration policy that included moving the families of skilled migrants into offshore processing.We still don't have a new date for the speech, nor do we have an immigration policy, and Conroy says we won't be getting either until Burke is ready."I understand some in the community wanted answers to this yesterday, but it's a complex area, and it's important we get the answer right, rather than get the fast answer," he says."That's why Minister Burke is working through this in a serious, considered way, consulting with all his colleagues in the relevant areas."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:01amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 8:01amGovernment to bail out SunRiceOne Nation MP David Farley covered a lot of ground in his Insiders interview on Sunday, including an interaction he had with the PM after raising the issue of a struggling SunRice manufacturing plant in his electorate of Farrer.And apparently the PM was very wiling to help.This morning, Murray Watt confirms a bail out is being discussed for the factory, which is part of the supply chain for rice cakes."I can confirm that we have advised SunRice that we are prepared to co-invest with them in new investment in a rice processing plant," he says."SunRice has indicated that investment as well as their own would protect their jobs as well as potentially creating more."The cost to taxpayers isn't clear yet, but we know the company has requested $15 million from the government, which it would then match.The government says it's waiting on a formal written proposal from SunRice.Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:55amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:55amWatt defends lobbyist accessWatt is defending the government's rules around lobbyist access to parliament after a Four Corners investigation revealed dozens of former defence officials have jumped into lucrative lobbying roles or the defence sector.Critics say there's a "revolving door" where former officials can use their connections to potentially influence the awarding of multi-million-dollar contracts.It's prompted calls for tighter regulations and greater transparency.But Watt says there are already strict lobbyist rules in place."[They] regulate, for example, the activities of former politicians, former staffers, [and] periods of time that they can't lobby and use information that they have been privy to," he says."And of course, any lobbyist needs to be on the lobbyist register, so there is a high degree of disclosure and transparency."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:45amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:45amExpect more mass bird flu mortalitiesEnvironment Minister Murray Watt is speaking with ABC News Breakfast about the first Australian detection of bird flu in a mammal.Watt says the weekend discovery of the disease in a long-nose fur seal in South Australia is a "very serious development" but "not unexpected"."We are likely to see more mass mortalities, which is obviously a terrible thing for all Australians who love our nature," he says."But we have been preparing this for some time … to make sure our populations are resilient, and we will continue to do everything we can."Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:34amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:34amJoyce says One Nation has been consistent 'all along'Barnaby Joyce is on Sunrise and says One Nation has always said the 130,000 figure is in relation to net migration and has been "all along."So what does he mean by net migration?There are two main migration figures commonly used when we're talking about people in and people out: NOM (net overseas migration) and permanent.Permanent is essentially what it says on the packet, while NOM tracks the arrivals and departures of both foreigners and Australians, excluding short-term visits.Joyce is asked to clarify what he means by net migration."It's 130,000 net, that means if you take the people coming, and the people going away, and the difference is 130,000 on the positive side," he says.As for Farley? Well, Joyce says, who doesn't sometimes make a mistake?"That's not unusual," he says."Show me a political career where people have not made a mistake."When people are new in parliament, they can get things incorrect."Tanya Plibersek, who is also on Sunrise, isn't as forgiving."If there's three One Nation MPs in the room, there is three immigration programs," she says.Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:31amMon 24 Aug 2026 at 7:31amGood morning!Hello! Welcome to our politics live blog. I'm Holly Tregenza from the ABC's Parliament House team, standing in for Courtney Gould.ICYMI: Yesterday, One Nation MP David Farley told Insiders the party's migration cuts put it on a footing "not too different" to the government, at a figure of about 230,000 a year.It forced an intervention from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who said the party's net migration target would be 130,000, "less than half" the government's current migration levels.Party director James Ashby appeared on TV a while later brandishing a literal mop and said he'd spoken to Farley but that it's OK for people to make mistakes, as long as they own up to them.You can expect more about this today.We're also anticipating some chatter about the meeting of national cabinet on Wednesday, where data centres are on the agenda.As my colleague Jake Evans has reported this morning, Queensland and the NT are still holding out on signing up to renewables as a way to power new data centres. Watch this space.Let's get into it!