Nationals Leader Calls Power Concerns ‘Disingenuous’ While Grabbing More Power

KEY POINTS

•On September 9, 2026, Anthony Albanese dismissed Nationals leader Matt Canavan’s concerns about the Digital Duty of Care Bill.
•Communications Minister Anika Wells will have significant advisory power alongside the eSafety Commissioner under the new legislation.
•Albanese emphasized that all decisions under the bill will be disallowable by parliament, maintaining existing legislative checks.

In an Olympic-level game of political word gymnastics on September 9, 2026, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured all that Nationals leader Matt Canavan’s worries about Communications Minister Anika Wells wielding too much control in the new Digital Duty of Care Bill were, quote, ‘disingenuous.’ Apparently, Canavan slyly admits he knows this too, because the powers—which include the mystical wisdom of the eSafety Commissioner—are ‘disallowable’ by parliament. That’s right: this superpower won’t run wild alone but will roam freely through what seems like a parliamentary supervised safari, just like every previous law that conveniently juggles authority among politicians who never see eye to eye on anything else. This legislative soap opera is brought to you live by jargon, cautious disclaimers, and the absolute certainty that power is still, as always, just polite jargon away from totally unaccountable.