Latest
‘Ancient history’: Dutton strongly denies insider trading claims
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he has only ever acted with integrity and received no information before share purchases; Victorian MP says she hasn’t asked for rail loop funds. Follow live updates.
Coalition will put domestic students first: Henderson
Education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said a Coalition government would impose tougher caps on international and hold a zero tolerance approach to antisemitism.
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.
Albanese accused of soft-pedalling on Chinese navy drills
Australian air traffic controllers only learnt of Chinese navy live-firing exercise thanks to a Virgin Australia pilot flying over the Tasman Sea.
Albanese to pledge billions to sandbag votes in Melbourne’s west
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will spend Wednesday campaigning in Melbourne where polls show Labor is under threat from the Coalition in several key electorates.
Rudd, Chalmers, Farrell lock in US talks in race for tariff carve-out
The Albanese government is mounting a full court press in Washington to spare Australian exports from tariffs before the election is called.
Opinion & Analysis
Fatima Payman’s backflip on Iranian women’s rights is a betrayal
I spent 804 days imprisoned in Iran. The senator’s surname means “alliance”, but to those of us who care about human rights in the Islamic Republic, she is not.
Political scientist
In politics, never give a mug an even break, unless you have to
Speculation within government is now firmly centred on an April 12 election, and Labor is escalating its carpet bombing of Peter Dutton.
Political editor
Beijing’s message rings alarm bell about dreamworld election
Australia needs to urgently invest more in naval capability. But this defence imperative clashes with fiscal challenges neither side of federal politics wants to seriously engage with.
Editor-at-large
Suckers like you will pay more tax to fund election bribes
The Canberra cash splash just delayed the timing of the next income tax cut by another five or six years.
Economist
More From Today
Fatima Payman’s backflip on Iranian women’s rights is a betrayal
I spent 804 days imprisoned in Iran. The senator’s surname means “alliance”, but to those of us who care about human rights in the Islamic Republic, she is not.
Yesterday
In politics, never give a mug an even break, unless you have to
Speculation within government is now firmly centred on an April 12 election, and Labor is escalating its carpet bombing of Peter Dutton.
Why antisemitism has become spy chief’s No. 1 worry
ASIO boss Mike Burgess fears anti-Jewish hatred has become normalised.
David Rowe cartoons for February 2025
David Rowe is a multiple Walkley award-winning cartoonist. He draws a daily political cartoon and one for the Chanticleer column.
Dutton must explain GFC share trades: PM
The opposition leader has denied misusing market sensitive information about the Rudd government’s stimulus plans to manage the global financial crisis.
Erin Williams works alone, but she’s being stung by payroll tax
The solo broker is among thousands soon to be slugged, as a tax on employment becomes a tax on some small businesses.
ABC has spent $1.1m on Lattouf matter
The broadcaster has revealed its legal bill in estimates; Linda Reynolds uses Senate estimates to demand an apology over the Brittany Higgins case. How the day unfolded.
Beijing’s message rings alarm bell about dreamworld election
Australia needs to urgently invest more in naval capability. But this defence imperative clashes with fiscal challenges neither side of federal politics wants to seriously engage with.
Suckers like you will pay more tax to fund election bribes
The Canberra cash splash just delayed the timing of the next income tax cut by another five or six years.
Milton Friedman warned about budget problems such as Musk and DOGE
Special interest groups have always been a headache for government deficits and efficiency. Now they are running Washington.
This Month
Election spending splurge to push up taxes
Labor’s $130 billion of spending decisions is the biggest first-term increase since the 1970s, prompting experts to warn workers face a rising tax burden.
Libs agreed to back $8.5b Medicare package before it was announced
The opposition concluded it had no choice but to quickly match Labor’s pitch, or risk a repeat of Mediscare.
Clare to return as Labor’s campaign voice
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Education Minister Jason Clare have been tapped to sell Labor’s message when Anthony Albanese is unavailable or unwilling to front the media.
Chinese flotilla exposes navy in ‘chronic decline’
The navy has retired a third of its warships since Labor came to power three years ago, underlining its lack of capacity to respond the Chinese flotilla in the Tasman Sea.
An audit found Colin didn’t owe a cent. Then he was charged $1m in tax
Businessman Colin Walker says he is among a rising number of companies being aggressively pursued for payroll tax by the NSW government, which may be setting an example for other states.
Victoria must give up ‘ideological attachment’ to apartments: Metricon
Victoria will continue to miss housing targets until it realises Millennials and migrants want detached homes, not inner-city apartments, Metricon chief executive Brad Duggan says.
Mortgage-free homeowners don’t like rate cuts: poll
Last week’s interest rate cut has exposed a divide between the asset class and the rest of the population.
NSW land values just hit $3trn. Why the record high is ‘not healthy’
Valuer general Sally Dale is not cheering the ‘unprecedented’ surge, acknowledging the added strain on home buyers.
Meet the men behind ‘the worst policy decision of the 21st century’
The GST deal, criticised as the worst public policy decision since Federation, is again under scrutiny as Premier Roger Cook promises hundreds of millions in handouts ahead of the state election.
Lehrmann charged with stealing a Toyota Prado in Tasmania
Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann appeared by phone in a Hobart magistrate’s court and did not enter a plea to a charge of stealing a vehicle.