KLRD reported fall consensus education estimates showing a small decline in foundation aid in FY26–FY27 driven by lower headcount and stable weightings, while FY28 projections rise under current school‑finance law because weightings are expected to increase.

ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton has strongly rejected claims that he exchanged text messages with a sex worker while sitting in a budget estimates committee hearing last Friday. An anonymous complaint lodged with Speaker Jeremy Hanson alleged that Mr Parton sent messages including one reading “f--- my job is boring. Wanna swap” during the hearing on 31 July. The complaint also pointed to video footage showing him using his phone around the time he asked a question about the future of Telstra Tower. Mr Parton described the allegations as politically motivated, false and malicious, and said he had referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police while seeking legal advice. He confirmed he took a photograph from his seat at the committee table that day and sent it to his wife and two other people via SMS. An image circulating online, which appeared to show the photo alongside the contested message, was later linked by Mr Parton to posts he said he had made on Threads and TikTok Stories on the Friday, though some had been deleted or expired. He also pointed to a Lemon8 post that source-code analysis indicated was published on the Monday after he first learned of the complaint. The Canberra Times has reviewed evidence suggesting the contested image originated on the Friday. Committee chair Chiaka Barry and the Speaker have directed any formal complaint to the Assembly’s independent Commissioner for Standards. Mr Parton continues to insist there is no sex worker involved and that the claims cannot be verified.

During today's Queensland budget estimates hearing, Finance Minister Ros Bates and Under Treasurer Paul Williams faced questions about former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton's appointment to the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) board. Shadow treasurer Shannon Fentiman probed the government on whether QIC provided a 'skills matrix' to assess candidates for the board, which Dutton joined as part of an April overhaul. Bates stated the government followed standard procedures, deferring detailed responses to Williams, who admitted ignorance of any formal skills matrix. The hearing also covered broader budget agenda items, including Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates and her officials, followed by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie. Initial discussions about capping consultant and contractor spending have been abandoned despite rising costs. The session highlighted political scrutiny of the government's $6.8 billion savings plan and its handling of QIC appointments, with critics alleging potential conflicts of interest. The article underscores tensions between state Labor and the government over transparency and accountability in key appointments and budget decisions.

The revenue estimating conference adopted updated human services and Medicaid cost estimates (roughly $1.1B gross change) and child care caseload/cost projections; agencies indicated portions of increased child care costs may require general fund support in FY27.