February
The 12 teal battlegrounds to watch out for this election
Climate 200 is backing 35 community independents this federal election – here are the dozen who are likely to retain or gain a seat in federal parliament.
I offered to work with Dutton, he wasn’t interested: Monique Ryan
The teal MP says what she is looking for from the major parties is “well-developed, mature, coherent policy”, but so far, the Coalition has only a “poverty of policy”.
Three generations of Holmes a Courts are helping Kate Chaney
The family may provide art, campaign financing and unpaid admin assistance to the Perth MP, but the teals are still independent.
January
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.
November 2024
Josh Frydenberg still a rainmaker in Kooyong
The former treasurer was a guest speaker at a recent dinner event that seems to have inspired some $300,000 in donations in the days after.
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.
Knight’s Choice wins Melbourne Cup in photo finish
It was a photo finish for all places and an upset victory; Coalition calls for Alan Joyce to lose Order of Australia. How the day unfolded.
October 2024
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.
August 2024
Aviation white paper arrives late, and lacks action on competition
More delayed than a flight from Sydney to Melbourne, the white paper lets the airlines off the hook.
July 2024
Labor strife exposes risk to our cohesion
Readers’ letters on Fatima Payman’s exit from the Labor Party; Monique Ryan’s call for an early election; handouts for Baby Boomers; the changing face of pharmacies.
June 2024
Teals are ‘paying the piper’ while Dutton plays Russian roulette
Peter Dutton reckons the cost of living doesn’t discriminate between the teal seats and the rest.
Dutton warns of recession as PM sidesteps over 2035 target
Anthony Albanese did not guarantee unveiling the 2035 emissions reduction target before the next election.
Dutton escalates climate war with ‘out of touch’ teals
The Coalition will not release its 2030 emissions reduction target until after the next election. It says the teals are closet Greens who are out of touch with their voters.
Josh Frydenberg, media addict, scores another hit
A few days in the national conversation would have been like a puff of pure oxygen to his brain, awakening urges and impulses recently set aside.
Frydenberg rules out a return to politics – for now
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has ended a brief flirtation with a return to politics, saying he will not seek preselection for his old seat of Kooyong.
The Liberals need Frydenberg, but at what cost?
The optics of a bloke pushing aside a woman, especially in a teal seat, just because it’s suddenly become winnable, will be poor.
April 2024
Average HECS debts to rise by $2350 on June 1
There may be relief for student-debt holders in the upcoming budget, but it won’t come soon enough to prevent a 4.7 per cent increase.
Relief in sight as anger over student debt escalates
Rising student debt is crippling a generation of recent graduates, but the Prime Minister has indicated help is on the way.
March 2024
Teals back cutting HECS indexation
Independent MPs are pushing for reform of the student loans system ahead of the May budget.
University reforms get thumbs up from teals, Nationals
The ambitious 25-year plan to double the number of people with a degree has found many fans in Canberra.