Today
What Albanese and Dutton did and didn’t say in their launch speeches
Financial Review journalists break down the claims and criticisms from the prime minister and opposition leader’s campaign pitches.
Yesterday
Tax cuts, housing help: parties spend big to grab attention and votes
A federal budget far less healthy than previous ones hasn’t reined in Labor’s willingness to spend and spend more, and the Coalition is ready to counter in kind.
Dutton is pursuing a housing subsidy so bad, even Trump killed it
The policy is highly regressive, and will simply boost house prices and blow a huge hole in the personal income tax base that will never be recovered.
Labor confident of holding the four WA Liberal seats it snatched in 2022
Eighteen months following the Voice referendum loss, this appeared highly unlikely. But there’s a new belief within the party.
Our tax system is a dog’s breakfast. Here’s a 3x3 blueprint to fix it
Three “maxims” to guide the changes. Three “no-regrets” steps either side of politics could institute right away. And three “big-picture” medium-term measures.
This Month
Albanese offers first home buyers 5pc deposits, fuelling demand
The new policy is a dramatic expansion of the government’s first home guarantee scheme as Labor seeks to grab voters’ attention on the issue of housing.
Central Coast could send Albo to the Lodge – or early retirement
Cost of living is king in the lead-up to the election but Trump is also causing trouble for the Liberals as they try to snatch the seats of Dobell and Robertson.
Voters deserve better than empty slugfests dressed up as debates
The closer we get to May 3, substance is being swiftly usurped by banal talking points and shrill attack lines whenever politicians step up to a microphone.
Dutton says Ro Knox will be minister. She needs to win Wentworth first
The Liberals want Wentworth’s rich and powerful to put Knox into government – and a ministry – but independent MP Allegra Spender remains popular there.
How Donald Trump crowded out Angus Taylor’s killer lines
Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor were gearing up for a cost-of-living election but Trump’s ascension to the White House in January has changed everything.
Bandt strikes softer tone in bid to broaden Greens’ appeal
It has been a turbulent year for the party, and Adam Bandt’s appearance at the National Press Club contained less of his characteristic righteous indignation.
Dutton puts campaign back on track, but time is short
Peter Dutton’s debate performance was solid enough to ease internal jitters over the state of the campaign, but the momentum is still with Labor.
The 4 moments that mattered in the first election debate
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton faced off on Tuesday, sparring on economic management, cost-of-living pain and their vision for Australia.
‘Dangerous’ cut to overseas students would trash $51b sector
Peter Dutton has long talked tough on migration. Now he’s revealed a plan that will target our best universities while giving carve-outs for private colleges.
Tony Mokbel walking free caps another bad week for Jacinta Allan
Wearing a big smile and an ankle bracelet, one of Australia’s most notorious gangland figures was granted bail after 18 years in prison.
Why Tim Wilson is risking being rejected (again)
For a politician with mostly centrist policies, the Liberal candidate for Goldstein arouses unusually strong feelings. What lies behind the man whom you can thank for your franking credits?
Dutton rules out axing ‘same job, same pay’ laws
Business groups have condemned Labor’s IR changes but have stopped short of criticising the opposition leader for saying he will not repeal them.
David Rowe draws an election
As we head into the 2025 election season, editorial cartoonist David Rowe explains what he looks for – artistically – in a political leader.
PM makes first Victorian campaign stop, but Allan is nowhere to be seen
There are four Labor premiers in Australia. Albanese is happy to stand alongside three of them.
‘Wheels are falling off’ in Victoria amid police crisis: Dutton
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has sought to link the growing unpopularity of the Victorian Labor government to Anthony Albanese’s federal campaign in the state.