This Month
‘Dark forces’ at work: Lowy; How to make Australia great again; The sexy new arena sport
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Meet the McKinsey analyst turned teal powerbroker
Allegra Spender, who could hold the balance of power after the next federal election, grew up in privilege but prides herself on being able to talk to anyone.
- Tom McIlroy
Teals to demand truth in advertising laws in hung parliament
The teals, who could prove decisive in a hung parliament, say a right-wing campaign group is spreading misinformation about their views on tax hikes in billboards and other advertising.
- Michael Read
Why Spender is right on the tax debate
Readers’ letters on Allegra Spender’s push for reform, why think tanks are doing their jobs properly, Meta’s decision to kill fact-checking and Anthony Albanese’s misplaced priorities.
- Exclusive
- Federal election
‘Smears and lies’: Spender blasts claim she wants to raise taxes
The teal MP has called for truth in political advertising laws after a new right-wing campaign group, Australians for Prosperity, paid for ads saying she wants to lift taxes.
- Michael Read
December 2024
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Teals aren’t letting the Liberals whitewash them as Greens
Allegra Spender’s push to change the definition of small business complicates the Coalition’s attempts to pigeonhole the independents as lefties.
- Phillip Coorey
- 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.
- Tom McIlroy and Michael Read
Liberals hold Christmas party in Allegra Spender’s seat
The Liberals were at the last election defeated in their ancestral homelands. But they’re still there, fundraising and planning a resurgence.
- Myriam Robin
November 2024
This will be Allegra Spender’s top demand in a hung parliament
A minority Labor or Coalition government should implement serious and lasting changes to the taxation system to help workers get ahead and families own a home, the teal independent says.
- Tom McIlroy
Election donation rules target Palmer and Climate 200
New rules due to come into force in 2026 will cap spending in federal elections and dramatically speed up public disclosure rules.
- Tom McIlroy
Independents’ move to quit Chairman’s Lounge sparks backlash
Independent MPs Allegra Spender and Helen Haines said they would quit the invite-only club, calling for an end to upgrades on taxpayer-funded flights.
- Tom McIlroy
October 2024
- Opinion
- Federal election
The teals are strangely silent on Albanese’s flights
Maybe these independents don’t want to disrupt the system which may, one day, yield them a nice little upgrade on their way to Italy.
- Updated
- Nick Hossack
Teals warn: Don’t assume we won’t back Dutton in a hung parliament
Teal MP Allegra Spender is challenging Labor and the Coalition to end political fighting and reform the tax system, releasing her own wide-ranging plan.
- Tom McIlroy
September 2024
The forces that shaped 2024’s list of Australia’s most powerful people
Someone wasn’t happy to be on this year’s Power list. But even Power listers have no say in the process.
- Phillip Coorey
No policy and ‘extreme right’ views will cost Dutton: Labor
Government MPs believe the opinion polls will tighten as voters focus on Peter Dutton’s lack of policy and his “extreme right” views.
- Phillip Coorey
August 2024
Albanese backflips on sexuality census question
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has agreed to reinstate a census question on sexual orientation, but remains under pressure to survey all gender identities.
- Tom Burton and Phillip Coorey
Labor, teals turn on Greens over CFMEU embrace
Zoe Daniel and Allegra Spender have joined the Albanese government in castigating the Greens for cosying up to the CFMEU.
- Phillip Coorey
How this former McKinsey consultant finds jobs she loves
Allegra Spender’s route to becoming an independent MP was a roundabout one and taught her about the power of putting yourself forward and following your passions.
- Sally Patten and Lap Phan
Independents tell Greens to get out of the way on housing bill
Allegra Spender and David Pocock say Labor’s stalled housing bills should urgently pass the Senate, provided the government agrees to a series of amendments.
- Tom McIlroy
Independents team up to oppose tax rise on superannuation
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is struggling to win political support for the biggest revenue-raising measure in his budget.
- John Kehoe