August
‘Everything up in the air’: Higgins won’t front Reynolds defamation trial
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins won’t take the witness stand in a high-profile defamation trial in Perth amid new concerns about her health.
- Tom Rabe
May
Wong warns on foreign interference after Indian spies expelled
Revelations Indian spies were asked to leave Australia in 2020 suggest Western intelligence agencies are unhappy about New Delhi’s espionage tactics.
- Andrew Tillett and Emma Connors
April
Joe Hockey must be minting money
The former treasurer’s shop has added ex-defence minister Marise Payne and a Japanese diplomat to its roster.
- Mark Di Stefano
November 2023
BCA boss backs rival to Dutton’s pick for Liberal Senate spot
Bran Black, the former chief of staff to NSW ex-premier Dominic Perrottet, said his onetime colleague has an “inexhaustible work ethic”.
- Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- The AFR View
‘New starting point’ depends on China’s actions
Australia is more relieved than jubilant that the trade war era has been called off. And Beijing is still ramping up pressure in the South China Sea.
- The AFR View
October 2023
Calls for Voice audit may put Mundine-linked firms in spotlight
Advocates for Indigenous constitutional recognition say contracts linked to the leading No campaigner should be included in any probe of government spending.
- Tom McIlroy
Former Wentworth MP Dave Sharma chases Senate spot
Zed Seselja, who lost his Senate spot to independent David Pocock, has also nominated in a field of 10 candidates.
- Tom McIlroy
September 2023
- Opinion
- The AFR View
G20’s lack of cohesion complicates Australia’s China challenge
The tectonic global forces encouraging deglobalisation and decoupling, this is complicating the challenges for an Albanese government that rightly seeks in the overall national interest to manage China back behind a rules-based international system
- The AFR View
Mundine, Constance in the Senate mix as Payne retires
Former foreign minister and Australia’s first female defence minister Senator Marise Payne announced on Friday she would leave parliament at the end of the month, after 26 years in federal politics.
- Tom McIlroy
Hong Kong’s heaviest rain in at least 140 years floods city streets
Torrential rain deluged Hong Kong on Friday leading to widespread flooding; Anthony Albanese backs Philippines in South China Sea dispute; Marise Payne will retire from politics. How the day unfolded.
- Updated
- Campbell Kwan
July 2023
Former ministers and officials brace for robo-debt judgment day
Ex-ministers and senior officials involved with the failed robo-debt scheme face a raft of possible adverse findings when the royal commission reports on Friday.
- Tom Burton and Tom McIlroy
May 2023
Andrew Constance leads NSW Senate race to be Jim Molan’s successor
The preselection battle has drawn six candidates in a wide open contest, with the moderate faction split.
- Updated
- Samantha Hutchinson
December 2022
Morrison faces robo-debt cabinet allegations
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison appears before the robo-debt commission Wednesday amid claims he misled cabinet over the legality of the scheme.
- Tom Burton
Morrison seeks cabinet privilege waiver ahead of robodebt appearance
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seeking to waive cabinet confidentiality ahead of appearance before the robodebt royal commission next week.
- Tom Burton
November 2022
- Opinion
- Border security
Labor leverages international momentum to domestic effect
Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen return to Australia confident of the government’s momentum. Now for the harder part: dealing with domestic energy prices.
- Jennifer Hewett
September 2022
‘It’s winner takes all’: Geelong president Drummond eyes a win
Geelong president and corporate leader Craig Drummond says that the commercial spoils of the AFL grand final are the same as the silverware - it’s winner takes all.
- Gus McCubbing
July 2022
- Opinion
- Australia's China challenge
China offers a first step, but hostilities remain on both sides
Despite the meeting between China and Australia’s foreign ministers in Bali, the Labor government will largely continue the approach of the Morrison government towards China - minus the more excitable rhetoric.
- Jennifer Hewett
Foreign policy team is literally front and centre of this government
Scott Morrison shone the spotlight on China’s bullying. But Albanese, Wong and Marles have the temperament to build the response to it.
- Andrew Tillett
June 2022
- Analysis
- Inside Government
‘Jobs for the boys’ is no longer acceptable
The uproar over the appointment of John Barilaro to a plum New York trade job reveals a higher standard is now being imposed on public-sector integrity.
- Tom Burton
May 2022
Coalition sisterhood kicks back at Queenies
Spotted in a private dining room at Queenies on Sunday evening: almost every single female member of Scott Morrison’s now-dissolved cabinet.
- Myriam Robin