Today
PM tops up hospital funding, but states still lag on NDIS reform
The states will receive an extra $1.7 billion in hospital funding next year under a deal that is supposed to relieve the financial burden of the NDIS.
Revolt over Labor bid to stem ATO tax break for small businesses
A fresh row has erupted over small business following attempts by the government to ram through new legislation that affects firms with tax debts.
Yesterday
- Updated
- Superannuation
‘My position is unchanged’: Senator rejects Chalmers’ super tax offer
The treasurer will have to drop plans to tax unrealised gains to secure support for his superannuation tax hike.
Richardson slams Treasury misuse over lunch deduction costings
The department secretary has become embroiled in a row after Jim Chalmers asked Treasury to cost the Coalition’s tax break for small business lunches.
This Month
Treasury claims Liberals’ ‘long lunch’ tax break will cost billions
Labor claims Peter Dutton’s long lunch tax deduction could cost between $1.6 billion and $10 billion a year. The PBO says otherwise.
- Exclusive
- Trump's America
Marles off to D.C. to bolster relations as US launches trade war
Richard Marles will visit the US this week and meet his new counterpart, Pete Hegseth, as Australia seeks to build relations with the Trump administration.
PM’s plan to wedge Libs on childcare, production tax credits
The government has fast-tracked legislation for its signature childcare policy to try and expose the Coalition on the cusp the federal election.
Spending cut details after the election, says Dutton
The opposition leader says the Coalition will work out its belt-tightening once in government.
- Updated
- Trade wars
Minister seeks talks with US after Trump launches trade war
The White House slapped 25 per cent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico and 10 per cent on imports from China. Rio Tinto’s Canadian exports could be hit.
- Updated
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Voters will be better off under Labor, PM promises – again
Anthony Albanese concedes he hasn’t been able to keep the same pledge he made three years ago, but insists this time will be different.
January
WA Labor premier calls on Dutton to find way forward on nature laws
Roger Cook says the Albanese government must ramp up engagement with the state’s mining giants over a set of divisive environmental reforms.
Albanese making the same mistake as Keating: Dutton
Peter Dutton has likened the Albanese government’s priorities to “the failed social experiment” that drove Paul Keating’s ejection from office.
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Peter Dutton is not Donald Trump. He can’t afford to be
The opposition leader’s role in delivering marriage equality should be a reminder that he is not an unyielding arch-conservative, as a growing narrative by his detractors suggests.
WA premier lobbies federal Labor to kill EPA, miners cry foul
Roger Cook is pushing his federal counterparts to scrap a renewed move for a federal Environment Protection Agency – ‘If it’s not good for WA, I’m against it’.
- Exclusive
- Environmental protection
WA premier warns east coast latte sippers over ‘nature positive’ laws
Tanya Plibersek’s renewed attempt to create a federal Environment Protection Agency inflames tensions in WA, a state that will be critical at the election.
- Opinion
- Federal election
Labor ready for a rate cut to break poll deadlock
A February rate cut could mean an April election. Otherwise, it’s the Hail Mary option of another budget and a May poll.
February rate cut and April election in play after inflation drops
Bond market investors now ascribe a 95 per cent chance to a rate cut when the Reserve Bank of Australia meets on February 18, breathing life into Labor’s fortunes.
- Updated
Get moving on charging EV drivers for road use, politicians urged
Having helped kill a Victorian scheme in the High Court, the Commonwealth must step in with a solution for dwindling road-user revenue, says the nation’s peak motoring group.
Offer to exempt judges from super tax hike not enough for Senate
The chances of the government passing its tax hike on $3 million-plus super accounts before the election remains slim at best.
Super funds face full force of new customer service standards
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones says superannuation funds should be held to the same standards as banks and other financial services companies.