Greens leader calls for substance as ATO data shows quarter of large firms paid no tax; NDIS replacement Thriving Kids begins for under‑nine children

Key events

Greens leader David Shoebridge says Australians are tired of empty political messaging.

David Shoebridge, the new Greens leader, says Australians are “sick of the messaging without substance”.

Speaking on RN Breakfast, Mr Shoebridge described the Greens as being in a “terrific position” with solid support, while other major parties have seen their voter bases “getting decimated and ripped apart”. He warned that the party would avoid “delivering some message and some pathetic, half‑baked pretend reform” and would focus on substantive action.

He told RN:

People are tired of messaging without substance. What they’re asking for is a political party that will fight for them, take on the 1% and take on the corporations. They want to see us fighting for that.

Mr Shoebridge also noted the rise of One Nation as a challenge across the political spectrum, and said he wants the Greens to grow the party and attract new members amid shifting voter dynamics.

We have an incredibly united membership base. We have an incredibly united party across the country. And I expect that to be how we operate as a party room, how we operate as a leadership team and how we operate as a growing movement.

ATO to discontinue credit‑card payments as surcharge ban takes effect

Catie McLeod

Australians can no longer use credit cards to pay the tax office from today.

The Australian Tax Office announced the move to stop accepting credit cards, aligning with the upcoming end of surcharging on card payments.

Debit and credit card surcharges will be eliminated tomorrow under Reserve Bank reforms that remove extra checkout fees on Visa, Mastercard and Eftpos transactions.

The RBA introduced the changes after reviewing Australia’s card‑payment system, which its governor, Michele Bullock, said was no longer fit for purpose.

Businesses have already adapted to the new rules as they determine how to handle fees they can no longer pass on to customers.

The ATO has followed suit, explaining that as a government agency it was inappropriate to “transfer the cost of credit‑card merchant fees to the community”.

Guardian Australia has asked the ATO to clarify what it means by saying the fees would be transferred to the community.

While most Australians do not pay tax by credit card, the ATO says it understands the change may require adjustments for the small group of individuals and businesses that do.

Taxpayers with a direct‑debit linked to a credit card must update their payment method before the next instalment due after 30 November to stay compliant with their payment plan, the ATO says.

The agency added:

We are committed to helping taxpayers transition to alternative payment methods and will continue to support those experiencing financial hardship or other circumstances that make it difficult to meet their obligations.

Telco networks launch temporary disaster roaming for summer

Josh Taylor

Telstra, Optus and Vodafone will today be able to move customers onto a rival’s network when coverage is lost due to natural disasters such as cyclones, bushfires or floods.

The capability ensures users in affected areas can still call, message and access basic internet if another network is operational, at no extra cost.

This extends beyond the current emergency‑call handover system that only covers triple‑zero calls.

Industry officials have warned that some scenarios—like power outages—will prevent switching.

The temporary roaming will be managed by the three carriers and will activate automatically for customers when triggered.

Up to three disaster zones can be activated simultaneously, each covering up to 15 mobile sites, for 24‑hour periods. Affected areas must be at least 400 km apart.

Metropolitan areas are excluded from the roaming arrangement.

Good morning, Nick Visser here to pick up the blog. Let’s get into Thursday.

Henry Belot

From today, children under nine years old who have mild developmental delays or autism can access early‑intervention services through the Thriving Kids program, administered by state and territory governments.

The Albanese government announced the change in August 2025. It will gradually move children off the National Disability Insurance Scheme, fully replacing it for this age group by 2028.

Unlike the NDIS, participation in Thriving Kids does not require a formal diagnosis, which should speed up service delivery and reduce costs for families.

Health Minister Mark Butler recently assured parents that there would be no gap in government support for their children.

Queensland remains the only state that has not signed on to the Thriving Kids program, leaving families in the state awaiting the rollout of the NDIS replacement.

ATO report shows over a quarter of large firms paid no tax in 2024‑25

Jonathan Barrett

More than a quarter of big companies operating in Australia paid no income tax in 2024‑25, according to the Australian Taxation Office’s latest corporate transparency report.

The report indicates that companies mostly cited accounting losses, where expenses exceeded revenue.

Guardian Australia has previously highlighted how some multinationals, including Singtel‑owned Optus and coal miner Adani, regularly pay no tax, pointing to infrastructure investments and operating expenses.

About 27 % of entities in the report reported zero tax, a figure similar to the previous year.

In total, 4,299 entities earning at least $100 million in total income paid a combined $87.5 billion in tax in 2024‑25, led by Australia’s large mining sector.

The ATO’s acting deputy commissioner, Michelle Sams, says the agency is “increasingly focused” on ensuring digital businesses and supply chains, such as data centres, pay their fair share of tax.

We are looking very closely at cases where significant industries, including data centres, show no tax payments, to ensure the level of tax reflects the economic activity occurring in Australia.

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.

Let’s begin.

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