Live: Education ministers consider screen time and generative AI limits in schools

Education ministers have agreed to consider imposing screen time limits and restrictions on kids using generative AI at schools across the country.

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Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:11amThu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:11am

Aged care rebate savings 'very minor piecemeal change', Bragg says

By Joshua Boscaini

Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg has returned serve at the Labor for accusing the Coalition of blocking savings measures in parliament.

The Reserve Bank hiked interest rates by 0.25 percentage points to 4.85 per cent on Tuesday, its highest level since 2008.

Labor has been under pressure to find savings to help ease inflation, but the government has accused the Coalition of standing in the way of some savings.

The Coalition has opposed the winding back of the private health insurance rebate for over 65s to bring it in line with other age groups, and which would bank $3 billion over four years.

Speaking to Channel Nine, Bragg says those type of savings won't help reduce inflation.

"That is a very minor piecemeal change in the scheme of spending at 40 year highs in terms of a budget that is out of control and the waste of spending is massive," Bragg says.

Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:07amThu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:07am

Leaders to reach ‘unanimous’ position on slavery, as Commonwealth talks wrap up

By Sara Tomevska

As the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) wraps up in Antigua and Barbuda, leaders are headed to the private Jumby Bay Island for "informal talks" before a final leader's statement is released later today.

Preempting one detail of that document, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney have separately told the media that a consensus position on the issue of slavery has been reached.

"The unanimous agreement in the communique… is for respectful dialogue to continue on those issues," Albanese says.

"We understand slavery was a practice that is bad. What is happening now in 2026 is an appropriate response, which is to have that respectful dialogue,"

"At the last CHOGM meeting that was held two years ago, there was not a consensus [on slavery]. It's good that a consensus has been reached."

The extent to which Caribbean and African countries, some of whom have been calling for financial compensation from Britain, will be satisfied with that outcome is unclear.

Carney said Canada was a voice for "justice" both "in the room and in private" when asked if he supported calls for reparations, something UK PM Andy Burnham has ruled out.

"You will see a reflection of the consensus in the communique, and the process we've put in place to move forward," he says.

Leaders are also expected to commit to joint action on climate change and boosting trade and investment in the Commonwealth's developing nations.

Key Event

Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:01amThu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:01am

Education ministers agree to look at school screen-time limits

By Nicole Asher

Screen-time limits and limits on kids using generative AI will be considered in schools across the country as part of a push to improve education outcomes.

The move follows international testing which, earlier this year, revealed Australian students' reading and maths performance had been declining over the past 20 years.

The same tests, conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment, found Australian school kids spend more time using devices than kids in other OECD countries.

At a meeting of the nation's education ministers earlier this week, they agreed to set, or at least consider, screen-time limits.

Under the plan, a digital detox taskforce will be established to lead the charge on cutting down on the use of devices in schools.

"We're announcing the next stage of reforms to help our kids learn and to support our teachers," Federal Education Minister Jason Clare says.

The education ministers also agreed to change the maths curriculum for primary school students and improve the way kids learn about antisemitism.

"Schools don't just teach numeracy, literacy and critical thinking skills. They also build character," Clare says.

Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 6:54amThu 5 Nov 2026 at 6:54am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us here this Thursday morning.

I'm Josh Boscaini, joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.

There might be a lot happening in US politics, but things are still ticking along here too!

Education ministers have agreed to consider imposing screen-time limits and restrictions on the use of generative AI by students in schools across the country.

Let's get right into the day and see where it leads us!