Victoria Labor pledges free abortion care; Albanese rebukes Hanson; Canavan disputes EU trade walkout

Victoria Labor's promise of free abortion care if re-elected was among the developments reported in the live blog.

Albanese also criticized Hanson's "monoculture" in remarks carried by the live blog.

Canavan disputed claims by Trade Minister Don Farrell that he walked out of a meeting on the EU trade deal. Farrell told the ABC the previous afternoon that Canavan and shadow foreign affairs minister Ted O'Brien had walked out on him while he was explaining the deal. Canavan suggested Farrell might be "under a lot of pressure." He said: "I can understand that Don is under a lot of pressure, because there are barely any friends of his dud European deal. I am happy to meet with Don anytime, but he ended our discussion, not me." Canavan added that he had written to Farrell with practical suggestions about how the deal can be improved and remained open to discuss his concerns at any time.

The live blog also included remarks on the Digital Duty of Care. It said the ministerial rule-making power to define new harms had been removed from the final bill in response to concerns heard during the exposure draft consultation. "We must shift the burden from the shoulders of victims to the companies that are creating the environments where harms occur," the statement said. Under the Digital Duty of Care, Australians would have choice, according to the statement. If someone wants their feed filled with friends and creators they follow, social media platforms must give them that choice. If they are happy to stick with their algorithm, they can do so.