News and politics live updates: Richard Marles rejects Cabinet split over Tony Burke migration speech delay

Coles is set to shift hundreds of jobs offshore after partnering with a consulting and digital management firm to ensure it can “meet customers’ growing expectations” amid ongoing store wars with its rival grocers.

The supermarket giant reportedly started informing staff of its tie-up with Accenture on Friday morning, which could see up to 1000 back-office roles moved to India.

The bombshell revelation comes just days after Qantas also announced it was in talks with Accenture to offshore hundreds of finance, marketing, human resources and other administrative roles, also to India.

Similar roles at Coles will be affected.

“The retail sector is becoming increasingly competitive as new global players entering the market and technology reshapes how customers shop and what they expect from retailers,” a Coles spokesman told media.

“To meet our customers’ growing expectations for seamless, personalised, digital experiences, Coles needs access to the global skills and resources essential to delivering those experiences.

“This partnership (with Accenture) will give Coles access to that capability at a greater scale and pace, allowing us to better support our teams, move faster, and deliver for our customers.

“The partnership will also help reduce costs in order to continue delivering value for our customers at the checkout.”

The spokesman said the decision was “not taken lightly” and it would offer redeployment or upskilling opportunities where possible.

Coles is the latest of Australia’s big corporate giants to look at offshoring jobs to beat rising wage costs.

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Pauline Hanson has come under fire after reports she used One Nation donations to fund a luxury stay at a five-star London hotel during a recent trip to Europe.

The report alleges the One Nation leader left the premium hotel room vacant for several nights while travelling to Sicily to meet mining billionaire and party donor Gina Rinehart.

Asked about the claims, Opposition Treasury spokesman Tim Wilson accused Senator Hanson of betraying her supporters.

“Well, we have people who donate to her party from their limited savings, they’re struggling to get ahead, and now we find it’s going towards luxury hotel rooms in London, Dolce and Gabbana fashion shows, luxury hotel stays in London,” he said.

“I’m starting to see images of global elite, and this seems like a pretty clear betrayal of the people she claims to represent.”

A worsening bird flu outbreak has sparked debate over whether vaccination is the key to protect Australian wildlife from the deadly strain.

While the Australian government is conducting pilot studies in non-poultry birds, New Zealand has already begun vaccinating some of its rarest birds after completing a world-first research trial last year.

About 300 breeding birds were targeted from five species: kakapo, takahe, black stilt, orange-fronted parakeet and shore plover.

But questions have been raised over whether a similar approach would be viable with Australian birds and other animals as the deadly strain’s national toll soars past 100.

​Read the full story here.​

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has flagged that a Pacific-wide security pact is likely to be a key topic of discussion as regional leaders prepare to meet later this year, following Australia’s recent defence agreement with Fiji.

Speaking ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers’ meeting in Fiji, Senator Wong said Australia was continuing to strengthen security ties across the region and remained focused on expanding partnerships.

“We’ve announced that we do want to engage with and negotiate with both Tonga and Solomon Islands. Obviously, there’ll be a lot of work there that we want to do with them in partnership,” she said.

Senator Wong added that discussions around a broader regional security arrangement were likely to feature as Pacific nations continue to deepen cooperation.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles was forced to defend Labor’s proposed gambling advertising reforms, insisting the Government’s legislation strikes the right balance despite growing calls from within its own ranks for tougher restrictions.

Labor MP Alicia Payne has urged the Government to strengthen the bill, calling for “tweaks” to inducement rules and an “opt-in” approach to gambling advertising.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Mr Marles said the Government would continue negotiating with crossbenchers and other parties to secure the legislation’s passage.

“We have a proposition that we think strikes the right balance. We always speak to parties across the parliament in order to have legislation passed,” he said.

“But we have a proposition in front of the parliament that is a very strong proposition, which we believe does strike the right balance and that’s the proposition that we are talking to other parties about.”

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has dismissed reports of a cabinet split over Tony Burke’s proposed migration crackdown, insisting suggestions of internal division are “not right”.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke postponed a National Press Club address this week where he was expected to unveil sweeping migration reforms, including tougher family visa rules, limits on backpackers and tighter restrictions on asylum seekers.

Speaking to Channel Nine, Mr Marles denied reports the measures had caused tension within cabinet and said the speech would be delivered soon.

“I’ve seen those reports. I don’t know where they come from but they’re not right. I’m not going to go into cabinet discussions,” he said.

“Tony will be speaking to the National Press Club at the earliest opportunity. It’s not unusual for dates to be moved around.”

The Coalition has accused Labor of failing to protect the integrity of its 5 per cent deposit scheme, claiming potential loopholes are allowing people who own property overseas or investment properties to benefit from taxpayer-funded support.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume said the scheme had become “a balls up from go to whoa” under Labor, arguing it should prioritise Australian citizens.

But Health Minister Mark Butler pushed back, saying applicants are required to declare all assets held in Australia and overseas, and anyone with sufficient wealth to fund a standard 20 per cent deposit is not eligible.

“Applicants for this scheme have to declare all of their assets, whether they’re held in Australia or held overseas,” he said, adding he was unaware of any examples that breached the program’s rules.

The Federal Government was foreced to defend cooling house prices, arguing the shift is finally helping first-home buyers compete against investors after years of being locked out of the market.

Speaking on Sunrise, Health Minister Mark Butler said Labor’s housing policies were deliberately designed to give aspiring homeowners a better shot at auctions.

“First home buyers are now taking centre stage in auctions on Saturday afternoons, rather than having to compete time and time again with investors who have the benefit of a tax break,” he said.

Mr Butler acknowledged buying a home remained difficult, but said Labor’s 5 per cent deposit scheme and broader housing reforms were aimed at giving young Australians “a fair crack” at home ownership.

Coalition deputy leader Jane Hume rejected the Government’s approach, accusing Labor of “cheering” falling house prices while making Australians poorer through higher taxes and interest rates.