NewsBite

Tom McIlroy

Yesterday

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court rejects claims he controls independent MPs elected with the group’s support.

Donations deal strikes at the heart of Climate 200’s business model

Reforms to political donations laws will make it harder for campaign groups to bankroll candidates, but whether the changes can stop the move away from the major parties is yet to be seen.

Zali Steggall confronted Don Farrell during a press conference on Thursday.

‘I call BS’: Zali Steggall confronts minister in blow-up over donations laws

Labor faces tough negotiations with teal crossbenchers in the event of a hung parliament, after doing a deal with the Coalition on electoral reforms.

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This Month

Special Minister of State Don Farrell engineered the overhaul, which has been a work in progress since 2022.

Crossbench shut out of political donations overhaul

Teal MPs and the Greens have slammed a deal by the major parties to revamp electoral funding laws.

Labor says it will buy the failed airline Rex if no private bidder emerges.

Don’t waste cash on Rex bailout, regional carriers warn Labor

Rival regional carriers say they can service key routes if Rex collapses, as the Coalition slammed Labor’s bailout plan as a concession to unions.

  • Updated
PAG has put new capital into Regional Express.

Labor flags taking control of Rex

Labor says it will buy Rex if no one else does, raising questions around how much capital will need to be sunk into the airline.

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Opposition spokeswoman Jane Hume warned against political activities by bureaucrats.

‘Gross politicisation’: Liberals fire warning shot at public servants

Public service workers must be warned against inappropriate political activities in the lead-up to the election, the Coalition says.

Australia Post will extend its banking services.

Banks strike Australia Post deal to bolster rural branches

Lenders will extend moratoriums on country branch closures and have agreed to lift funding for over-the-counter services provided at post offices.

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Hancock Prospecting executive chairman Gina Rinehart.

Greens target Gina Rinehart with new billionaire’s tax

Some 150 billionaires would pay an annual 10 per cent tax on their wealth, in the minor party’s latest move to target high-income earners and dramatically expand government spending. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Chasing electoral reform deal, Labor offers to increase donation caps

As all sides count down to the start of the election campaign, a possible vote on changes proposed by the government has been scheduled for Thursday. 

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

A $2.50 tin of soup costs $7 in remote areas. Labor wants to fix it

Taxpayers will help cover the cost of freight to grocery stores in Indigenous communities under Labor’s plan to bring down prices.

Former Queensland Nationals MP Keith Pitt.

Former Nats MP to be appointed as Vatican ambassador

Labor is poised to name Keith Pitt to a plum diplomatic post in Rome, in a shock appointment ahead of the federal election.

There are growing calls for better protection against AI deepfakes ahead of this year’s federal election.

Audio deepfakes ‘the most effective we’ve seen so far’, says Microsoft

The technology company and a group of crossbench MPs say Australia needs better protections against AI and interference in election campaigns.

January

The biggest financial backers of Climate 200 revealed

Two investors donated about $1 million each to the teal fundraising vehicle, while a 94-year-old grandfather matched donations up to $1000 for each year of his life.

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  • AI
The DeepSeek app has rocked Silicon Valley and fired up national security concerns.

This ex-spook says DeepSeek security fears are overblown

Former Australian Signals Directorate deputy director-general Simeon Gilding said he was more concerned about Chinese-made EVs than early AI products.

Business Council of Australia boss Bran Black.

BCA calls for apprentices boost to future-proof workforce

Labor and the Coalition have traded blows over incentive payments for employers to take on trainee workers.

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DeepSeek has upended global markets with it’s claim that it’s cheaper and better.

DeepSeek poses security risk like Huawei and TikTok, Labor warned

National security analysts are urging the Albanese government to implement stringent security controls of the use of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence.

Incoming Chief Scientist Tony Haymet says AI should be an export industry of the future.

Move fast on AI boom, new chief scientist tells Labor

Professor Tony Haymet says Australia is perfectly positioned to ride the artificial intelligence boom, pledging to carefully monitory all new sources of energy.

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame wore the t-shirt at The Lodge.

‘I clearly disagree’: Albanese criticises Grace Tame T-shirt

The activist and former Australian of the Year wore a T-shirt with the slogan “F--- Murdoch” at an official reception at The Lodge.

2025 Australian of the Year Neale Daniher.

Diplomats, campaigners and Paralympians honoured

AFL legend Neale Daniher was awarded Australian of the year 2025 on Saturday night after uniting the nation in the fight against motor neurone disease.

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Opposition frontbencher David Coleman with Coalition leader Peter Dutton last year.

Dutton overlooks deputy Sussan Ley in frontbench reshuffle

Sydney Liberal David Coleman has emerged as the winner of Peter Dutton’s new-look team, blocking the deputy Liberal leader’s bid to take on the shadow foreign affairs portfolio. 

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/tom-mcilroy-hverk