Australia news LIVE: Lambie demands government abandon cap on allied health spending for veterans; Senior Swan Isaac Heeney revealed as focus of police investigation

Emily KaineUpdated August 20, 2026 — 7:58am,first published 6:45amKey PostsWhat’s making news today By Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Thursday, August 20. Here’s what you need to know today.Labor’s gambling reform package passed the parliament late last night and is expected to pass the Senate with the backing of the Coalition. The news comes amid heavy criticism of the laws. Several vocal MPs, as well as Rod Glover – husband of the late Peta Murphy whose report three years ago triggered a push for gambling ad bans – have said the reforms are nowhere near comprehensive enough.The government’s sweeping cuts to the NDIS passed the Senate last night and are expected to become law as early as this week.The News Media Bargaining Incentive – the government’s plan to force multibillion-dollar tech companies to compensate news outlets for their journalism – will be debated in the Senate today after it passed the lower house yesterday.The opposition has been calling for minister Matt Keogh to be sacked over his reported falling out with certain veterans pleading for healthcare funding. Yesterday, Senator Jacqui Lambie moved an urgent motion in the Senate urging the government to walk away from its plan to cap allied health spending for veterans at $5000.Swans senior player Isaac Heeney has been revealed as the focus of a sexual assault investigation after the AFL club banned five players for the rest of the season for breaching its club standards on a night out in Melbourne on Sunday.And North Korea has denied there has been any direct communication between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, even as the US leader said he was seeking to meet with the North Korean leader this year.Latest Posts7.58amWatch: Jacqui Lambie’s emotional plea to the prime minister By Emily KaineIndependent senator Jacqui Lambie delivered an extraordinary address to parliament yesterday as she demanded the government abandon its cap on allied health spending for veterans.She shared her personal story of vaginal prolapse, which she said was linked to chronic back problems she sustained during her service in the Australian Army, and detailed her difficulty accessing appropriate gynaecological healthcare in her home state of Tasmania.Lambie said she was lucky she had the means to pay for her surgery, but claimed most female veterans were not so fortunate. Her remarks came on the same day the opposition dialled up the pressure on the PM to sack minister for veterans Matt Keogh after his reported falling out with veterans pleading for healthcare funding.Watch what Lambie said here. 7.50amRead Wong’s statement on killing of Zomi Frankcom in GazaBy Emily KaineForeign Minister Penny Wong says she is “outraged” by Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal proceedings against the Israeli soldiers responsible for the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom in Gaza in 2024. Frankcom and six colleagues died on April 1, 2024 when the vehicle they were travelling in was fired upon while delivering aid in Gaza.Australian Zomi Frankcom was one of seven aid workers killed in an Israeli airstrike while helping to deliver food in Gaza.LinkedInWong has vowed to call in Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, to convey Australia’s views on the decision. Read her statement in full: Australia is outraged the Israeli Government has decided not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.The Australian Government learned of Israel’s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day - which is especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.Zomi represented the best of Australia. Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice.This decision falls far short of the accountability we expect.This is despite Israel Defense Forces admissions that the IDF strikes on Zomi and her colleagues’ vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making.This was confirmed by Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report.Democracies seek and accept higher standards. The Australian Government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues.I will call in Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman and have directed Australia’s Ambassador to Israel to convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian Government considers next steps.7.26amSpender: ‘So many of our young people look up to the Swans’ By Emily KaineMember for Wentworth Allegra Spender says there is a huge feeling of disappointment in her electorate following the shock revelations police were investigating an alleged sexual assault that took place during a night out involving five Sydney Swans players in Melbourne.“I think there’s huge disappointment. I know so many families [who support] the Swans … We have so much pride in these suburbs for the Swans. You know, you wander around Paddington before a game, the pubs are covered in red. For the whole community, so many of our young people look up to the Swans, and I think that’s that’s what’s really, hugely upsetting,” Spender told the Today show this morning.Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender.Alex Ellinghausen“Sexual violence is such an issue in this country. And then to see one of our clubs, that we all loved, embroiled in this, is so disappointing.”Appearing alongside Spender was Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, who claimed there was “no other workplace in the country where this type of alleged behaviour would be acceptable”.“Apologies should be sincere. They should be remorseful. They should be heartfelt. Joint statements drafted by the club lawyers ring hollow in this case.”All five players were suspended by the Swans for the remainder of the season, and it was revealed yesterday that Isaac Heeney was the player at the centre of Victoria Police’s investigation into the alleged sexual assault.7.06amUS debt tops $56 trillion after doubling under Trump and BidenBy Washington: Total US debt has topped $US40 trillion ($56 trillion) for the first time, the Treasury Department said, drawing fresh warnings that a fiscal crisis is brewing as ballooning costs far outstrip revenues held back by tax cuts.The federal government’s IOU has now more than doubled in less than a decade, from $US19.95 trillion when US President Donald Trump was sworn in for the first time in January 2017.US President Donald Trump and former president Joe Biden. APAbout a third of that increase occurred during two years of frantic government borrowing to fund the COVID-19 pandemic responses undertaken by Trump and former president Joe Biden, while the fiscal policy choices of both presidents, combined with long-running tax-and-spending imbalances, account for the rest.Budget watchdog groups have issued stark warnings that a full-blown debt crisis could erupt unless lawmakers confront an unsustainable fiscal outlook and raise taxes, cut spending or both.6.46amCarroll to sign off on royal commission into construction sector By Kieran RooneyVictorian Premier Ben Carroll will move today to set up a royal commission into the construction sector immediately after a morning cabinet meeting.Carroll said he would establish the royal commission as his first promise after becoming leader at the end of July.His predecessor, Jacinta Allan, refused to set up the inquiry despite pressure from integrity advocates, the opposition and her own MPs after two years of reporting by The Age on organised crime and corruption in Victoria’s Big Build.Premier Ben Carroll will hold a special cabinet meeting to sign off on the royal commission.AAPThis morning, Carroll will put the terms of reference and his chosen commissioner to lead the inquiry, to cabinet.Immediately after these details are endorsed, the premier will advise the Governor of Victoria to issue letters patent establishing the royal commission.Carroll is also expected to front the media at some point today to talk through the terms of reference.6.41amLambie launches scathing attack on government’s plan to cut veterans’ health spendingBy Rob HarrisIndependent senator Jacqui Lambie has launched a scathing attack on the federal government’s plan to cap allied health spending for veterans at $5000 a year, warning the contentious measure could cost lives.The former Australian Army corporal used a fiery speech to accuse the government of a “callous disregard for veterans’ health and wellbeing” and plead for the cap to be scrapped.The government announced the cap in May as part of a package aimed at reining in rising veterans’ health costs and tackling what ministers say is excessive charging by some providers.Senator Jacqui Lambie has launched a scathing attack on the federal government’s plan to cap allied health spending for veterans at $5000 a year.Alex EllinghausenLambie’s intervention came as veterans’ groups stepped up pressure on Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh over the policy. Advocacy groups have questioned how the change – due to come into effect next July – will work, who will assess claims and what will constitute a “valid clinical need”.“What you need just to ask yourself is how many veterans’ lives will this cost?” Lambie said in the Senate yesterday. “It is not worth a veteran’s life. I am begging you, scrap the cap.”Read the full story here.What’s making news today By Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Thursday, August 20. Here’s what you need to know today.Labor’s gambling reform package passed the parliament late last night and is expected to pass the Senate with the backing of the Coalition. The news comes amid heavy criticism of the laws. Several vocal MPs, as well as Rod Glover – husband of the late Peta Murphy whose report three years ago triggered a push for gambling ad bans – have said the reforms are nowhere near comprehensive enough.The government’s sweeping cuts to the NDIS passed the Senate last night and are expected to become law as early as this week.The News Media Bargaining Incentive – the government’s plan to force multibillion-dollar tech companies to compensate news outlets for their journalism – will be debated in the Senate today after it passed the lower house yesterday.The opposition has been calling for minister Matt Keogh to be sacked over his reported falling out with certain veterans pleading for healthcare funding. Yesterday, Senator Jacqui Lambie moved an urgent motion in the Senate urging the government to walk away from its plan to cap allied health spending for veterans at $5000.Swans senior player Isaac Heeney has been revealed as the focus of a sexual assault investigation after the AFL club banned five players for the rest of the season for breaching its club standards on a night out in Melbourne on Sunday.And North Korea has denied there has been any direct communication between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, even as the US leader said he was seeking to meet with the North Korean leader this year.1 of 1