Australia news live: ATO finds one-quarter of big firms pay zero tax; NDIS alternative Thriving Kids program begins

Key events13m agoTelcos ready temporary disaster roaming before summer34m agoATO finds one-quarter of big firms pay zero taxTelcos ready temporary disaster roaming before summerJosh TaylorTelstra, Optus and Vodafone will from today be able to move users over to one of their rivals’ networks in areas where coverage has dropped out due to natural disasters such as cyclones, bushfires or floods. The capability will mean users in those areas will still be able to call, message, and get basic access to the internet if the other network is up at no additional cost. This is beyond the existing capability for networks to hand over emergency triple zero calls to other networks when the call can’t get through. The industry has flagged there will be some scenarios - such as power outages – when switching will not be possible. The switch-on for temporary roaming will be managed by the three carriers, and will happen automatically for customers when activated. The temporary disaster roaming can be activated in up to three affected areas at the same time, with up to 15 mobile sites included per area, and activated for 24 hours at a time. The disaster areas must be at least 400km 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 BelotFrom today, children under nine years old with mild developmental delays and autism can access early intervention services through a program called Thriving Kids, which is administered by state and territory governments. The change was announced by the Albanese government in August 2025 and will slowly move children off the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It will fully replace the NDIS for these children by 2028. Unlike the NDIS, participation in Thriving Kids won’t require a formal diagnosis, potentially speeding up services and saving families money. The health minister, Mark Butler, recently told parents there would be no gap in government support for their children. Queensland is the sole Australian state refusing to sign on to the Thriving Kids program, leaving families in limbo as the first phase of the NDIS replacement scheme launches. You can read more details about the change here:ATO finds one-quarter of big firms pay zero taxJonathan BarrettMore than one-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 says companies mostly cited an accounting loss – when expenses outstrip revenue. Guardian Australia has previously reported how some multinationals, including the Singtel-owned Optus and coal miner Adani, regularly pay no tax, citing infrastructure investments and operating expenses . About 27% of entities in the report reported zero tax, which was a similar figure to the year before. In total, 4,299 entities earning at least $100m in total income paid a combined $87.5bn in tax in 2024–25, led by Australia’s large mining sector. The ATO acting deputy commissioner, Michelle Sams, says the agency is “increasingly focused” on making sure digital businesses and supply chains, including data centres, paid their share of tax. double quotation markWe look very closely if there’s no tax being paid in significant industries, including things like data centres, to make sure that the level of tax being paid reflects the economic activity that’s happening 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.