This Month
Labor accused of payback against think tank for its criticism of China
A government review wants to rein in public funding for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which has been highly critical of China and keeps an office in Washington.
- Tom McIlroy and Emma Connors
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Budget update sounds a clear warning
Jim Chalmers is good at relaxed rhetoric about the economy. The mid-year figures are much tougher to explain.
- Updated
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
Nuclear play snares energy industry in political pincers
Peter Dutton is betting big on nuclear power. Labor labels this economic insanity. And the public won’t believe either party’s estimates of what will be cheaper.
- Jennifer Hewett
- 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
- Opinion
- AFR Freshwater poll
Dutton risks losing underdog status
The weight of expectation is shifting behind the opposition leader. Which can be a curse.
- Phillip Coorey
Dutton stronger, more decisive than Albanese: poll
Peter Dutton leads Anthony Albanese on 10 of the 12 leadership attributes tested in the latest AFR/Freshwater Strategy poll.
- Phillip Coorey
Voters bracing for minority government – and Dutton to lead: poll
The latest poll shows a Labor-led minority is the most likely outcome from the next election. But more voters believe Peter Dutton will be the next prime minister.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Labor marked down again for no growth agenda
The fading prospect of an interest rate cut ahead of the polls combined with serious failures of economic management, both count against Labor’s re-election chances.
- The AFR View
Former Liberal MP returns to reclaim crucial Brisbane seat from Greens
Trevor Evans has ended months of speculation in a coup for the Coalition’s bid to reclaim an important inner-city electorate.
- James Hall
- Opinion
- Middle East conflict
Right’s cancel culture distorts diplomacy
The government is under fierce attack for its UN voting patterns on Gaza, but it is voting in keeping with global norms.
- James Curran
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Labor cuts with one hand, hands out with other
Targeting childcare spending at those who need it most would avoid another overly generous entitlement that becomes a financial problem down the track like the NDIS.
- The AFR View
Liberals dismiss CSIRO’s latest nuclear costings as ‘political’
The CSIRO’s latest appraisal of the Coalition’s nuclear power plans fails to detail the comparative cost of Labor’s renewable rollout, the Liberals say.
- Phillip Coorey
Netanyahu blames Albanese for Melbourne synagogue attack
The Israeli prime minister said that “it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government”.
- Phillip Coorey and Andrew Tillett
Push for McDonald’s pay rise shows danger of Labor’s laws, says BCA
Multi-employer bargaining has extended far beyond original intentions, according to the business lobby, including east coast miners and the fast food sector.
- David Marin-Guzman
Stephen Conroy goes spluttering and unhinged against the BCA
The former Labor senator went troppo at the Business Council, whose members include his own lobby clients.
- Mark Di Stefano
November
Labor plans to kick with the wind for a second time
The dynamic could not be more different to this time last year when parliament wound up with the government blowing smoke and the PM resembling a shot duck.
- Phillip Coorey
Virgin will partner with Qatar for long-haul flights
ACCC gives interim approval for Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways’ agreement; the 11 Treasury bills that passed the Senate; Peter Dutton hugs Bill Shorten. How the day unfolded.
- Updated
- Lucy Slade
Swan apologises for Cbus; Chalmers’ RBA odds; Praise for stock pickers
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
What Labor achieved in the past three years
Parliament may return for two final weeks in February or maybe not at all before the next federal election. What has Anthony Albanese achieved so far in his first term?
- Tom McIlroy
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