Taylor Blasts PM Over Silence on Services Australia AI Hack

Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor has demanded the government explain why Australians are only now learning of a security breach affecting Services Australia, after revelations emerged that artificial intelligence systems linked to the agency were compromised as far back as June. The disclosure broke on Thursday morning while the Prime Minister was in New York attending United Nations meetings, prompting Taylor to question both the timing of the announcement and the months-long delay in informing the public.

Speaking to 4BC Brisbane, Taylor said the government owed Australians a full account of when officials first became aware of the breach, what personal information may have been accessed, which vulnerability was exploited, and what steps are being taken to close the gap. He pointed to a recent speech in which the Prime Minister spoke at length about artificial intelligence without addressing the security of government systems, arguing it reflected a broader disconnect from the risks posed by emerging technology. Taylor also renewed criticism of the government's former cyber security minister, describing the portfolio as poorly across the detail of AI-era threats.

The interview also turned to the coalition's proposal to ease cost-of-living pressure at the bowser, with diesel prices in Brisbane nearing $3 a litre and unleaded sitting around 235 cents. Under the plan, the fuel excise would be cut in half whenever international oil prices climb above US$100 a barrel and stay there for more than two weeks, reverting once prices ease. Taylor said the measure was fully costed and could be implemented immediately if the government agreed to it, rather than remaining a talking point.

The coalition says the cut would be funded by cracking down on the illegal tobacco trade, a move it estimates would push roughly $8 billion in excise revenue back into the legitimate market. Taylor argued that because the relief is fully funded and only applies during genuine price spikes, it would not add to inflationary pressure. He put the saving at about $15 a tank for a typical motorist, made up of a 26 cent reduction on fuel excise and a further 32 cents off the heavy vehicle road user charge, which he said would also ease pressure on freight and grocery costs. The government has rejected the idea outright, arguing a temporary excise cut is too costly and risks pushing inflation higher.

The discussion also touched on this week's Newspoll, which showed One Nation drawing around 30 per cent support, Labor on 27 per cent, and the coalition trailing in third place in the high teens. Taylor was asked about comments from Barnaby Joyce setting out conditions under which he would offer a hung parliament coalition his support, including pro-mining policies, scrapping the climate change department, cutting tobacco excise, building new dams and reviving the $45 billion inland rail project. Asked about reports that a deal could see him installed as prime minister, Taylor said the suggestion did not have his backing, while confirming he had held discussions with senior Liberal figures as recently as that morning.