Australia: New Bail Laws, Assisted Dying, and Development Powers

In Australia in late August 2026, the Queensland government introduced a major overhaul of bail laws, and the Northern Territory parliament passed voluntary assisted dying laws, making the practice legal nationwide. Federal parliament also passed a bill granting what the headlines call "extraordinary powers" to speed up development.

Nationals deputy Chester said the departure of Joyce was "sad for him, sad for party." The mayor of Townsville was fined after an altercation with an LNP staffer on a pub crawl. The new head of ASIC pushed back on the description of rules as red tape, and China's new representative in Australia drew attention.