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

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) reported that over one-quarter of large companies operating in Australia paid zero income tax in 2024-25, citing accounting losses as the primary reason. A total of 4,299 entities earning at least $100 million paid a combined $87.5 billion in taxes for the year, with the mining sector leading contributors. The ATO's acting deputy commissioner, Michelle Sams, emphasized increased scrutiny on digital businesses and supply chains to ensure they pay their fair share of tax.

Written by AI on 2026-09-30, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

As of October 1, Telstra, Optus, and TPG in Australia will activate a system called temporary disaster roaming (TDR) to provide mobile services when severe weather disrupts one network. This means that customers can continue making phone calls, sending text messages, and accessing limited data services via a rival network if their primary service is unavailable due to natural disasters like cyclones or bushfires. However, the roaming will only be available in areas outside major cities where an alternative network exists, leaving large parts of regional Australia serviced by single providers without this backup option. The decision on when to activate TDR and manage its operation lies with the telcos themselves, but specific accountability measures remain undefined both within the industry and government frameworks.

Written for “Telcos Mobile Roaming Trust Issues” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Telcos Mobile Roaming Trust Issues

Technology · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

This article reads unscored and hedges 5% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Telcos seek to 'rebuild trust' with mobile roaming during disasters Same event

ABC News (AU)

Hedges 2 of 26 claims Outlet record 67/100

When a bushfire comes, what happens if the phones go dead? Different event

ABC News (AU)

Hedges 15 of 143 claims Outlet record 67/100

“The articles describe different events; Article A covers disaster roaming capabilities for mobile networks during natural disasters, while Article B focuses on warnings and evacuation plans during a bushfire.”

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Martin Farrer

13 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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🔮 TraceeHutchison will not run in Victoria’s state election in November, despite winning almost a quarter of first preferences at the by-election in May, citing rising violence towards women.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Helen Haines live updates: Alleged attacker Brendan Nugent to face court in Wangaratta this morning

🔮 He says he will be briefed by police on the investigation into the alleged attack on Helen Haines later this morning, alongside Victorian premier Ben Carroll.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Helen Haines: independent MP in critical condition in Melbourne’s Alfred hospital after being struck by car in Wangaratta – follow updates

🔮 The communications minister Anika Wells is doing the media rounds this morning, ahead of a press club address to sell the government’s digital duty of care bill. She’s also facing questions on how the government will try and stop or Australians being able to see a live stream of a firing squad execution in the US in December.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Australian politics live: Victoria Labor promises free abortion care if re-elected; Albanese criticises Hanson’s ‘monoculture’

🔮 Telstra, 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.

2026-09-30 · assertive framing · Australia news live: ATO finds one-quarter of big firms pay zero tax; NDIS alternative Thriving Kids program begins

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🔮 “Leading scientists and executives are warning that the pace of development could outpace our ability to manage emerging risks.”

2026-09-21 · assertive framing · Australia news live: Chalmers says migration needed for falling birth rate; city of Sydney bans smart glasses

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2026-09-17 · assertive framing · Australia news live: Albanese to meet Apple boss in US after social media reform; Burke defends immigration policy

🔮 Furhtermore, she said, she would forfeit the points from winning the event.

2026-09-17 · assertive framing · ‘I’m genuinely sorry’: Australian Hyrox athlete who soiled herself apologises to China and rivals

Also by Martin Farrer

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2026-10-28 · The Guardian

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2026-10-27 · The Guardian

Helen Haines live updates: Alleged attacker Brendan Nugent to face court in Wangaratta this morning

2026-10-20 · The Guardian

Helen Haines: independent MP in critical condition in Melbourne’s Alfred hospital after being struck by car in Wangaratta – follow updates

2026-10-19 · The Guardian

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 13 articles by Martin Farrer →

From 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.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-30

2026-09-30 · The Guardian

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

Telstra, 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. asserted

coverage → move → cyclones

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. asserted

network → mean → 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. asserted

call → exist → networks

The industry has flagged there will be some scenarios - such as power outages – when switching will not be possible. asserted

switching → flag → outages

The switch-on for temporary roaming will be managed by the three carriers, and will happen automatically for customers when activated. asserted

on → manage → customers

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. asserted

sites → activate → time

Metropolitan areas are excluded from the roaming arrangement. asserted

areas → exclude → arrangement

which → access → governments

The change was announced by the Albanese government in August 2025 and will slowly move children off the National Disability Insurance Scheme. asserted

change → announce → Scheme

It will fully replace the NDIS for these children by 2028. asserted

It → replace → 2028

Unlike the NDIS, participation in Thriving Kids won’t require a formal diagnosis, potentially speeding up services and saving families money. asserted

participation → require → money

The health minister, Mark Butler, recently told parents there would be no gap in government support for their children. asserted

minister → tell → children

More 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. uncertain

quarter → operate → report

The report says companies mostly cited an accounting loss – when expenses outstrip revenue. asserted

expenses → say → 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 . asserted

multinationals → report → investments

About 27% of entities in the report reported zero tax, which was a similar figure to the year before. asserted

which → report → year

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. asserted

entities → earn → 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. asserted

paid → act → tax

We 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. asserted

that → look → Australia

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

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