Australia news LIVE: Wells says gender ‘debates’ would not be policed in reforms; Trump administration will not livestream firing squad execution

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By Emily Kaine

Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of national news for this Friday, October 16. Here’s what is making headlines today.

In case you missed it, yesterday was a packed day in Canberra.

Communications Minister Anika Wells introduced the government’s Digital Duty of Care bill to parliament. She revealed the reforms would capture US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform and unveiled a list of online harms proscribed under the legislation.
Health Minister Mark Butler brought the Albanese government’s private health insurance rebate bill back to the Senate after the Coalition and Greens joined forces on Wednesday to block the legislation. Labor could lose up to $1.6 billion in budget spending to secure a deal with the Greens after the party doubled down on its rejection of the bill.
Greens leader David Shoebridge addressed the media to respond to allegations published in this masthead against Senator Jordon Steele-John. Shoebridge said Steele-John would take leave from the party, while the WA Greens conduct an independent inquiry. Steele-John has rejected all the allegations.
Overseas, the Vatican says Pope Leo has resumed work from the hospital as doctors said his lung recovered well from surgery. The pontiff’s lung cancer was revealed earlier this week.
And the Trump administration has abandoned its plan to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan following extensive backlash.