December 2024
- Opinion
- Early childhood
Childcare package an early Christmas present to parents and children
For government to seek to save pennies by withholding access to early education for the children who will benefit from it the most is not just Scrooge-like behaviour, it’s a false economy.
- Aruna Sathanapally and Jessica Geraghty
Former adviser and trade boffin a frontrunner for Fletcher’s seat
Gisele Kapterian will seek to run in Bradfield, the seat of retiring MP Paul Fletcher. The challenger in the once-safe Liberal seat will be teal Nicolette Boele.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
November 2024
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Report card on 47th parliament: Could do better
Two retiring politicians offered some pointed advice for their colleagues in parliament’s last session for the year.
- The AFR View
The full list of bills to be passed tonight
The Senate has begun voting on a series of bills being rushed through in the final hours of parliamentary sittings for 2024. Follow live updates.
- Updated
- Timothy Moore and Lucy Slade
Birmingham warns Liberals against ideological extremes as he departs
Announcing his exit from politics, Liberal Senate leader Simon Birmingham also slammed China for abusing its power when it blocked Australian trade.
- Andrew Tillett
Albanese hopes to persuade China, US against a trade war
Ahead of world leaders’ meetings in South America, the PM says Australia’s middle-power status gives it influence with the two superpowers.
- Phillip Coorey, Andrew Tillett and Tom Rabe
Kevin Rudd deletes anti-Trump social media posts
Past criticism of the incoming president continues to dog Australia’s envoy to Washington.
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- US Votes 2024
‘Don’t hit the panic button on Rudd’ if Trump wins
Recalling Kevin Rudd from Washington because of his past criticism of Donald Trump would be rash, said Dennis Richardson, Australia’s former ambassador to the US.
- James Curran
October 2024
‘She likes the attention’: Growing anger over Thorpe protest
The Coalition is seeking legal advice on whether the Victorian independent senator was rightfully sworn into parliament.
- Tom McIlroy
Labor has trashed backing for Israel: Birmingham
The Coalition has weighed in on the call by Palestine’s envoy for Islamic voters not to hurt Labor, as a new Muslim-backed candidate emerges to take on minister Jason Clare.
- Andrew Tillett
September 2024
Australia set to break with US on West Bank vote
The Albanese government is disappointed Palestinians have not made more concessions on a UN resolution demanding an end to Israel’s occupation but won’t vote no.
- Andrew Tillett
Australia joins push to water down anti-Israel UN vote
A fresh vote at the United Nations on Thursday will revive the damaging domestic debate for Labor over Palestinian policy.
- Andrew Tillett
August 2024
PM not tough enough on Iranian envoy: Libs
Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi has hit out a “Zionist plague”, describing Hamas’ commitment to the “wiping out” of Israel by 2027 as a “heavenly and divine promise”.
- Phillip Coorey
July 2024
Voters will ‘resist the poison from Canberra’: WA premier
Roger Cook says WA voters will resist the introduction of sectarian politics to Australia, warning against “poison” from Canberra coming into his state.
- Tom Rabe and Tom McIlroy
Lebanon evacuation plans under way as Hezbollah menaces Israeli border
A stern warning to Israel’s ambassador not to escalate the war was delivered with the safety of up to 20,000 Australians in Lebanon in mind.
- Andrew Tillett
June 2024
Political row erupts over ‘hero’s welcome’ for Assange
The opposition says it is inappropriate for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to have spoken to Julian Assange after Assange’s arrival in Canberra on Wednesday.
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- China relations
Why Dutton is flying in the face of the China hawks
As the opposition leader’s rhetoric softens dramatically, the days of turning China into an election wedge appear to be over.
- James Laurenceson
Labor senator Fatima Payman crosses the floor over Palestine
The first-term Labor senator has avoided expulsion from the ALP after voting with the Greens to recognise Palestinian statehood.
- Tom McIlroy
Australia urged to list Iran’s enforcers as terror group
Canada’s designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp as a terrorist group has put pressure on the Albanese government to follow suit.
- Andrew Tillett
Climate wars to escalate with Dutton to unveil nuclear sites
Peter Dutton will escalate the climate wars on Wednesday by announcing site plans for nuclear power plants.
- Phillip Coorey