This Month
East Timor bugging ‘in national interest’: Howard
The former prime minister has reflected on controversy and success at an event marking the release of cabinet documents from 2004.
December 2024
Climate 200’s plan for a second teal wave
The nonprofit political campaign group is targeting up to 30 seats at the 2025 election, trying to level the playing field against the major parties.
Long dead, Jackson Pollock finally makes it to Paris
We all know about Blue Poles but a new retrospective at the Musée Picasso shows the troubled path the great abstract expressionist took to painting it.
Hate laws ‘patchwork’ needs urgent reform: antisemitism envoy
Jillian Segal, Australia’s first envoy to combat antisemitism, says better consistency is needed between federal, state and territory laws, pledging to push for changes in 2025.
Australia spends $190m on Solomons policing
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele announced the agreement on Friday.
The podcast all of federal parliament is obsessed with
Australia’s political leaders have ambitious reading and streaming plans for the summer break, but one audio program is winning bipartisan support.
Racism and antisemitism ‘pervasive’ at universities: report
The Australian Human Rights Commission says Jewish students believe universities are incapable or unwilling to address their safety concerns.
Labor accused of payback against think tank for its criticism of China
A government review wants to rein in public funding for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which has been highly critical of China and keeps an office in Washington.
- Updated
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Wong in ‘heated verbal argument’ with Israeli counterpart
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has been accused of abandoning Israel in the wake of the October 7 Hamas terror attack, clashing with a minister in a tense phone call.
Cruises diverted as aid is rushed to quake-struck Vanuatu
At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured in two earthquakes in the South Pacific nation, and Australian rescue crews and medical teams are being urgently deployed.
- Updated
Labor lifts M&A fees and bolsters phoenixing crackdown
Jim Chalmers’ mid-year budget update has increased fees for company takeovers and provided funding to boost penalties for dodgy behaviour.
Labor lashes Dutton over nuclear savings ‘gaffe’
The opposition leader has appeared to confuse key figures from costings of his signature nuclear plan, prompting criticism from Labor.
Chief scientist Cathy Foley despairs for an impatient society
The federal government’s top scientific adviser, whose term finishes at Christmas, says Australia needs to rethink its approach to research and innovation.
- Updated
- World politics
Trump welcomed by Macron, joined by Zelensky for talks
On a day that mixed pageantry with attention to pressing global problems, the once and future American president was warmly embraced by the French president.
- Updated
- Exclusive
- Public service
How many can you name? The 30 public servants earning more than $1m
Executives from NBN Co, Australia Post and Snowy Hydro topped the latest leaderboard for public service and government-owned business pay packets.
Game changer or sellout? The election fight over the future of housing
Labor says build-to-rent changes will turbocharge apartment construction. The Coalition says it just kicks the problem along. Get ready for one of the big election battles.
Bunnings hits back over market share claims
The Wesfarmers-owned retailer says assertions that it controls 70 per cent of plant sales in Australia are wrong.
- Exclusive
- Skills shortage
Tradies to join yoga instructors on core migration skills list
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the federal government was moving to address critical shortages, including in new home construction.
Supermarket giants use the $5 Oreo to argue their discounts are real
The ACCC has accused Woolworths and Coles of misleading shoppers. The retailers say the regulator doesn’t understand how pricing works.
Labor targets Meta, Apple, Amazon and Google with tough new rules
Global tech giants face tough new rules and hefty fines as the government moves to stop digital giants unfairly pushing their own products onto consumers.