Australia news LIVE: Albanese apologises for crude hot mic moment with Bowen during climate talks; Senate to vote on new domestic gas reservation laws

Emily Kaine

Updated November 16, 2026 — 7:32am,first published 6:45am

What’s making news today

By Emily Kaine

Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of national and world news this Monday, November 16. Here’s what is making news today.

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised for remarks he made about “dicks” and phone radiation during “light-hearted banter” with Energy Minister Chris Bowen, which was captured by a hot mic during climate talks in Turkey last week. Asked whether he regretted the comments, which were picked up by cameras, Albanese said: “Of course I regret that”.
• Australia will ramp up its investment in drones and other defence measures in a pact with the Philippines to protect important trade routes and increase maritime surveillance as Beijing extends its reach over the South China Sea. The agreement comes as the PM visits Manila to co-chair the sixth annual ASEAN-Australia Summit.
• And the Coalition says the outlook for the housing market is so dire the government should immediately repeal its property tax reforms. Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson said it was becoming clear Labor’s budget underestimated the effect of reforms on market sentiment.

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7.32am

Enabling new investment a priority for Coalition: Hume

By Emily Kaine

Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume says the Coalition’s priority for new gas reservation laws is to ensure Australia can still attract fresh investments now and into the future.

Hume said the Coalition would not back any measures that had a “chilling effect on new investment”.

“[That] would be incredibly damaging to our energy market and also make Australians, whether it be businesses or households, pay the price in the future,” she told News24.

The Senate will vote this week on Labor’s gas reservation policy.

7.07am

Australia joins Canada, Italy and UK to demand Israel allow aid into Gaza

By Emily Kaine

Australia, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom have released a joint statement urging the government of Israel to allow “immediate, rapid and unimpeded” aid into Gaza.

The region has been battered by heavy rains that have flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians.

Meanwhile, tents and other vital supplies are being held at the border and prevented from entering Gaza.

The World Health Organisation warned over the weekend that conditions on the ground were worsening. Dr Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, WHO representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, told reporters respiratory illnesses were surging in Gaza, and acute respiratory infections were 33,000 cases higher than at the same time last year.

“We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom, are clear that as winter takes hold in Gaza, the humanitarian situation on the ground is dire,” the joint statement said.

So we today urge the Government of Israel to stop the delays now and allow immediate, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza. The crossings must be opened, and the tents allowed in. Dual-use items necessary for humanitarian operations and early recovery must be granted entry before it is too late.

And all parties must implement the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza, respecting the ceasefire and their obligations under international humanitarian law, and allowing aid to reach the people who need it.

6.45am

UK to consider changing age of consent after Brand case, Walliams claims

By David Crowe

London: The British government will discuss plans for a “staggered” age of consent that would stop men of a certain age from having sex with much younger women after the conviction of celebrity Russell Brand for rape.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and colleagues will consider changing consent laws that allow sex with girls aged over 16, a cabinet minister confirmed, after a judge sentenced Brand to a decade in prison for rape and sexual assault.

The move also follows allegations against Little Britain comedian and children’s book author David Walliams, who is accused of preying on teenagers and young women. He denies the claims and is facing a police investigation.

The cabinet discussion heightens the national debate over predatory conduct after one of Brand’s accusers called for the law to be changed to make it a criminal offence for a man over 30 to have sex with a girl under the age of 18.

Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFadden confirmed that the issue would be discussed in cabinet given the concerns about the treatment of women.

6.35am

Coalition threat to sink gas reform triggers rare industry backlash

By Nick Toscano

A broad alliance of business chiefs and unions has mounted a last-minute push for the Coalition to pass Labor’s domestic gas-reservation laws, warning that scuttling or delaying the scheme will put hundreds of thousands of industrial jobs at risk and inflate household energy bills.

The Senate is due to vote this week on legislation to compel liquefied natural gas shippers to hold back up to 20 per cent of their annual export volumes for the local market from 2028. The Albanese government argues this will head off domestic shortfalls and curb the costs of heating, electricity and manufacturing.

However, the bill faces defeat without major amendments. The Coalition has signalled it would not vote for it in its current form, while the Greens have rejected the legislation, demanding a 25 per cent tax on gas exports instead.

In a major intervention, organisations representing heavy manufacturers, petrochemical firms, aluminium smelters and factory workers have signed a joint letter urging senators to back the bill before federal parliament rises for the year.

Read the full story here.

Pinned post from 6.25am

What’s making news today

By Emily Kaine

Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of national and world news this Monday, November 16. Here’s what is making news today.

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised for remarks he made about “dicks” and phone radiation during “light-hearted banter” with Energy Minister Chris Bowen, which was captured by a hot mic during climate talks in Turkey last week. Asked whether he regretted the comments, which were picked up by cameras, Albanese said: “Of course I regret that”.
• Australia will ramp up its investment in drones and other defence measures in a pact with the Philippines to protect important trade routes and increase maritime surveillance as Beijing extends its reach over the South China Sea. The agreement comes as the PM visits Manila to co-chair the sixth annual ASEAN-Australia Summit.
• And the Coalition says the outlook for the housing market is so dire the government should immediately repeal its property tax reforms. Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson said it was becoming clear Labor’s budget underestimated the effect of reforms on market sentiment.

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