Today
PM announces additional $1.7b for health services
WATCH LIVE: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addresses the media. Follow live updates.
- 3 mins ago
- Lucy Slade
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Revolt over Labor bid to stem ATO tax break for small businesses
A fresh row has erupted over small business following attempts by the government to ram through new legislation that affects firms with tax debts.
- 1 hr ago
- Phillip Coorey
The Australian lawyer behind DC’s new MAGA hangout
From Steve Bannon to Sean Spicer, clubhouse Butterworth’s has become the place to be seen for Republican operatives. And a former Liberal staffer is its biggest backer.
- Hannah Wootton
Yesterday
Labor bans DeepSeek from government devices
Australia has banned Chinese artificial intelligence service DeepSeek from government devices over national security concerns.
- Ronald Mizen and Paul Smith
Parliament squabbles, then unites to condemn antisemitism
Anthony Albanese says antisemitism stands in “vile opposition” to Australian values.
- Andrew Tillett
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.
- David Rowe
Albanese’s clifftop house to rent for $1500 a week
An online listing from November 2024 shows the Copacabana home was advertised by McGrath for $1500 a week, netting the prime minister $78,000 a year.
- Ronald Mizen
Coalition and Labor argue over free business lunches
Angus Taylor pushes Jim Chalmers for company tax-free lunches costings; parliament votes to condemn antisemitism. How the day unfolded.
- Lucy Slade
- Updated
- Superannuation
‘My position is unchanged’: Senator rejects Chalmers’ super tax offer
The treasurer will have to drop plans to tax unrealised gains to secure support for his superannuation tax hike.
- Phillip Coorey
Richardson slams Treasury misuse over lunch deduction costings
The department secretary has become embroiled in a row after Jim Chalmers asked Treasury to cost the Coalition’s tax break for small business lunches.
- Phillip Coorey and John Kehoe
This Month
Treasury claims Liberals’ ‘long lunch’ tax break will cost billions
Labor claims Peter Dutton’s long lunch tax deduction could cost between $1.6 billion and $10 billion a year. The PBO says otherwise.
- Phillip Coorey and Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Political donations
Forget donations. This is where the major parties make millions
Both major parties run “forums” that give executives and lobbyists access to ministers and shadow ministers based on the subscription tier they subscribe to.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Trump's America
Marles off to D.C. to bolster relations as US launches trade war
Richard Marles will visit the US this week and meet his new counterpart, Pete Hegseth, as Australia seeks to build relations with the Trump administration.
- Phillip Coorey
Spender push to toughen hate speech laws amid antisemitism crisis
Labor is facing demands for amendments that would criminalise the “F--- the Jews” Sydney Opera House chant.
- Andrew Tillett
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Disability executive frontrunner to replace Stephen Jones
The assistant treasurer announced his surprise departure from politics after 15 years late last week, leaving little time for Labor to choose a fresh candidate.
- Ronald Mizen
Victoria’s byelections pave Dutton’s path to The Lodge
Former Victorian leader Jeff Kennett says if Labor loses the safe seat of Werribee in Melbourne’s west, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s leadership is at risk.
- Patrick Durkin
- Exclusive
- Company tax
Teal MP wants $20k tax-free threshold for small business
Sophie Scamps said she would also push for an extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses, which expires on June 30.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Cost of accessing Dutton doubles as C-suites clamour for access
Business people are paying up to $15,000 to be seated next to Mr Dutton at corporate fundraisers, according to several business sources.
- Ronald Mizen
PM’s plan to wedge Libs on childcare, production tax credits
The government has fast-tracked legislation for its signature childcare policy to try and expose the Coalition on the cusp the federal election.
- Phillip Coorey and Tom Rabe
- Exclusive
- WA election
Why the WA Liberal leader thinks her state prefers Dutton to ScoMo
WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam refuses to concede the looming state election is unwinnable, and say the exit of COVID-era premier Mark McGowan has changed the equation.
- Tom Rabe
Coalition to pressure Labor on antisemitic crackdown in parliament
In the latest of a series of escalating incidents, eggs and verbal abuse have been hurled at five women near Bondi Beach and cars and buildings spray-painted.
- Ronald Mizen
How the French feed 3000 people without a snail in sight
France is engaging in “carrier diplomacy”, sending its biggest warship to Australia as part of a five-month Indo-Pacific deployment amid rising China tensions.
- Andrew Tillett
Spending cut details after the election, says Dutton
The opposition leader says the Coalition will work out its belt-tightening once in government.
- Phillip Coorey
Fentanyl is ‘America’s problem’: China, Canada retaliate
China says it will take the US to the WTO over Donald Trump’s tariffs; Justin Trudeau slaps tariffs on $170 billion of US goods; Mexico readies its “plan B”. How the day unfolded.
- Andrew Hobbs
Audio deepfakes ‘the most effective we’ve seen so far’, says Microsoft
The technology company and a group of crossbench MPs say Australia needs better protections against AI and interference in election campaigns.
- Tom McIlroy