Yesterday
Chalmers’ taxpayer-funded travel included fundraising event detours
Travel records show the treasurer booked at least 19 flights to and from cities around the time he was scheduled to attend party functions at a cost of $11,414.
This Month
Rowland to repay part of family’s Perth trip charged to taxpayers
Some travel was found to fall outside expenses guidelines for the family reunion entitlement, a finding accepted by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.
Albanese government postponed travel perks review twice
The prime minister says he has no plans to tighten rules that allow MPs to bill taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in family travel allowances.
Taxpayers pay for PM, ministers’ travel to Christmas soiree for donors
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has for the second time in six months hosted a full ministry meeting in Sydney followed by a fundraising event.
Wells refers herself for expenses audit, as calls grow for review
The spending saga threatens to engulf the government, as it widens to trade minister and attorney-general, with calls for a review of the family reunion entitlement.
Pressure mounts on Wells as travel expense revelations roll on
Anika Wells also billed taxpayers $765 on a chauffeur-driven car on the day she attended the Magic Millions Race Day on the Gold Coast.
‘NIMBYism is a cancer’: Bragg outlines Liberal housing policy vision
In a speech highlighting the Coalition’s housing plan, Andrew Bragg repudiates John Howard’s view that he has never met a person angry about their house price going up.
Wells bills taxpayers $1800 to attend Melbourne F1 Grand Prix with husband
Anthony Albanese insists his rising star sports and communications minister followed taxpayer-funded travel rules, but integrity experts say the rules need to change.
Airservices Australia eyes $2b privatisation plan
Under the proposal, which the government has yet to approve, the agency responsible for air traffic control and airline safety would lease-back rescue assets.
CEOs navigate Senate minefield with expert help
A conga line of bosses from Australia’s biggest companies are increasingly asking former political staffers to help them prepare for Senate committee appearances.
Wells billed taxpayers $3681 for trip that included friend’s birthday
Records show taxpayers footed the bill for a trip by Communications Minister Anika Wells from Brisbane to Adelaide which included a birthday party.
Anika Wells defends speech that cost taxpayers $14,500 a minute
Wells spent $34,426 on business-class flights for a three-day official trip in September to promote Australia’s under-16 social media age ban at the UN.
‘Patronage, nepotism’: Labor releases damning jobs-for-mates report
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher commissioned the review in early 2023 after the Coalition was accused of stacking dozens of plum positions.
Labor gives business the green light on AI
A newly released blueprint for artificial intelligence in Australia will take a light-touch approach to regulating the technology’s use and development.
Labor to let $15b National Reconstruction Fund make riskier plays
None of the projects the NRF has invested in have been in low-emissions technologies, one of seven priority areas for the fund.
TikTok’s big Australian data centre dream hits Chalmers stonewall
The Chinese-owned social media giant has asked Australian operators for proposals to build capacity here but is struggling for foreign investment approvals.
November
How Labor’s environment law deal was done
Anthony Albanese wanted a breakthrough in securing much-overdue environmental reform – and that moment arrived on Wednesday afternoon.
Business left disappointed by Labor’s environment deal with Greens
New coal and gas projects, farmers and forestry were the big losers from Labor’s overhaul of federal laws that passed with the support of the minor party.
Labor strikes deal with Greens to overhaul environment laws
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese brokered an eleventh-hour agreement with the minor party to pass the bill in the Senate.
Prime minister steps in to hash out environment law deal
Anthony Albanese is in negotiations with the Greens and a deal is expected by the end of the day, but sources say negotiations continue with the Coalition too.