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Paul Fletcher

September

Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar from Atlassian.

Big business called an emergency. The hotel obliged.

No sooner had Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black declared a national emergency than loud sirens began ringing 

  • Myriam Robin

August

Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says Australia said the investment in PsiQuantum would “ensure our nation’s national security.”

Coalition claims ‘$1 billion captain’s pick’ as PsiQuantum answers emerge

New information reveals the Commonwealth engaged in a lengthy due diligence process before making a $1 billion bet on PsiQuantum.

  • Tess Bennett

June

Liberal candidate for Bennelong Scott Yung.

Push to dump Liberal’s Chinese candidate in Bennelong

After boundary changes made the seat more winnable, rivals begun lobbying factional leaders to hold a vote to replace Scott Yung, party sources say.

  • Aaron Patrick

May

PsiQuantum’s co-founders Jeremy O’Brien and Terry Rudolph are confident they will win bipartisan support in Australia.

PsiQuantum in talks for bipartisan support but Coalition not swayed

PsiQuantum is confident of winning over sceptical politicians by highlighting its backing from both major parties in the US, where it has defence contracts.

  • Tess Bennett

April

Senior Liberal Paul Fletcher.

Legitimate to question Higgins’ $2.4m compo: Liberals

The opposition says it is legitimate to question Brittany Higgins’ payout given Justice Michael Lee found there was no political cover-up of her rape.

  • Phillip Coorey
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Simon Holmes-a-Court.

Climate 200 targets 20 more seats including Dutton’s

Bradfield in northern Sydney, held by Liberal shadow minister Paul Fletcher, tops the teal movement’s list. It is also eyeing Peter Dutton’s seat, Dickson.

  • Phillip Coorey

March

Banks, credit card operators and Australia Post will likely be the first businesses to offer identity and verification services after the government fast tracked their participation in its digital identity verification scheme, to secure support for it in the Senate.

In future, banks won’t need to see your licence to give you a loan

Laws allowing people to verify their identity online, rather than handing over documents, are set to win Senate support after Labor agreed to amendments.

  • Tom Burton
There has been no shortage of turmoil at Optus over the past 20 years.

‘Floptus’, hacks and outages: Optus show eyes next chapter

There has rarely been a dull moment at Optus. Now, a buyout offers a chance to reset.

  • Updated
  • Paul Smith

February

Brisbane tradie Henry Ladd drives a VW diesel ute, while his partner, Sophie Varnier, uses an EV made by Chinese manufacturer BYD through a novated lease.

Tradies lament dearth of hybrids with grunt in ‘grim’ EV market

Queensland tradie Henry Ladd would love to stop paying $220 to fill up his ute, but there’s no electric vehicle on the market with the towing capacity he needs.

  • Updated
  • Gus McCubbing
Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Transport Minister Catherine King announcing the new emissions standards.

The fight over car emissions is only just starting

Chris Bowen says the new fuel emissions standards will make driving cheaper and give consumers more choice. Car companies disagree.

  • Jennifer Hewett
Friendly fire: senior Liberal MP and former communications minister Paul Fletcher.

Paul Fletcher faces unfriendly fire at NSW Liberals meet-up

The Liberal Party state council meeting on February 24 will consider a proposal to expel powerbroker Alex Hawke and a push to unseat former minister Paul Fletcher.

  • Samantha Hutchinson

October 2023

The longer Chalmers leaves it, the harder EV charging will be to fix

What are the Greens going to demand be spent when the fuel excise runs out? And do they not realise that just because a car is battery powered, it will still need a road?

  • Phillip Coorey

September 2023

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese departs at the end of question time at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday.

Albanese cancels parliament to coincide with Washington trip

The opposition accused the prime minister of running scared after he quietly cancelled a week of parliament in October.

  • Phillip Coorey

July 2023

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher wants the first phase of the new identity system up and running in a year.

Identity reforms open new era of personalised government

The ambitious aim to have a working digital identity system up and running by the middle of next year paves the way for a raft of personalised government services.

  • Tom Burton

April 2023

Julian Leeser and Peter Dutton.

Julian Leeser’s defection is good for the Voice, bad for Liberal unity

The shadow attorney-general and Indigenous affairs minister’s resignation from the frontbench hurts the one last thing the federal Liberals had going.

  • Phillip Coorey
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Ken Wyatt has quit the Liberal Party after Peter Dutton said he would lobby for the No campaign.

Former minister Ken Wyatt quits Liberals over Voice stance

Former minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, has resigned from the Liberal Party after it announced it would formally oppose the Voice to parliament.

  • Updated
  • Georgie Moore

March 2023

Manager of opposition business Paul Fletcher says the Liberals have a duty to uphold the two-party system of government.

Two-party state under threat if Libs don’t recover: Fletcher

Opposition frontbencher Paul Fletcher says the Liberal Party has a duty to rebuild its fortunes and prevent Australia becoming a multi-party state.

  • Phillip Coorey

December 2022

MPs will be called back to Parliament House on Thursday for an unusual one-day sitting, with speedy consideration of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s energy deal expected.

Labor under fire over ‘$1m-a-day’ recall of parliament

The Coalition has criticised the government’s decision to recall parliament to pass its energy intervention plan, saying the move is a waste of taxpayers’ money.

  • Tom McIlroy

November 2022

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announce plans to censure Scott Morrison.

Morrison to be censured, but Coalition won’t join in

Former prime minister Scott Morrison will be censured by parliament this week, but his Coalition colleagues believe the move is gratuitous.

  • Phillip Coorey

September 2022

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland spoke directly with the AFL about its broadcast rights.

Key streaming loophole extended for another five years

The Albanese government’s move points to wholesale changes to Australian media laws.

  • Mark Di Stefano

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/paul-william-fletcher-jn8