This Month
Dutton targets waste and handouts in middle Australia pitch
The opposition leader pledged to rein in what he says is wasteful spending and said his strong leadership would be an antidote to a “weak” Anthony Albanese.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
Dutton declares Libs ‘back in town’ in Victoria
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has made it clear he believes the Victorian Liberal Party is stronger with Brad Battin, a fellow ex-police offer, in charge.
- Gus McCubbing
Battin vows to scrap electricity commission, names shadow cabinet
Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin has promoted Liberal MPs who supported him to replace John Pesutto and flagged plans to cut taxes and government waste.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Federal election
Heed the election lesson of America and Argentina
This is shaping to be the year of licence and experimentation in politics, where the unthinkable can not just be thought, it can be said and done.
- Michael Shoebridge
December 2024
‘It was stupid’: Labor admits meme with Dutton’s wife was wrong
Education Minister Jason Clare has admitted the Facebook post about Peter Dutton and his wife was “stupid” and “wrong”.
- Lucy Slade
- Opinion
- Federal election
It looks like Albo might need that beach house in 2025
There is a disconnect between the prime minister’s regime and its senior ministers, which is starting to trigger bad memories for me of the Whitlam government.
- John Black
- Updated
- Victorian Parliament
Brad Battin wins Victorian Liberal leadership with all-male team
Jess Wilson and Chris Crewther lost in a vote to replace John Pesutto on Friday morning as the Liberal Party voted in an all-male leadership team while much of Victoria was engulfed in bushfires.
- Updated
- Hannah Wootton
Victoria opposition leader ‘to face leadership spill’ this week
John Pesutto’s bid to head off a challenge by calling a special party room meeting to resolve the Moira Deeming crisis may have backfired.
- Gus McCubbing
Anthony Albanese has a hat but does he have a rabbit?
For a government elected almost three years ago, the decline in Labor’s fortunes has been steep, and proportional to cost-of-living pressures that have driven out incumbents around the globe.
- Phillip Coorey
The podcast all of federal parliament is obsessed with
Australia’s political leaders have ambitious reading and streaming plans for the summer break, but one audio program is winning bipartisan support.
- Tom McIlroy
‘Jacinta’s Christmas present’: Liberal anger as Vic chaos rolls on
The party remains in turmoil after a meeting to reinstate ousted MP Moira Deeming was split 14-all, ensuring the internal row continues into next year.
- Gus McCubbing
‘I like fixing things’: New treasurer raises business hope in Victoria
Premier Jacinta Allan has made her first cabinet reshuffle, with business welcoming “proven performer” Jaclyn Symes as the successor to Tim Pallas.
- Gus McCubbing
Victoria’s attorney-general tapped to replace Pallas as treasurer
Jaclyn Symes, who has served as the state’s top law officer since 2020, emerged as Premier Jacinta Allan’s left-field choice to control the public purse.
- Gus McCubbing
After Pallas blowout, business wants Victoria back on track
Outgoing Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas says his greatest regret is that financial constraints meant his government could not afford to spend even more money.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
- Updated
- Victorian Parliament
Pesutto leadership ‘untenable’ after $300k loss in ‘Nazi’ trial
Opposition MPs say privately that Pesutto will face a rebellion if he does not resign, after former Liberal member Moira Deeming won her defamation case against him.
- Gus McCubbing and James Hall
Dutton blocked show of political unity on antisemitism, says Labor MP
Josh Burns says the Liberal leader stopped shadow minister James Paterson reading a statement on his behalf condemning the Melbourne synagogue attack.
- Andrew Tillett
November 2024
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
Labor wants to ram 36 bills through Senate today. This is the list
The government has dropped plans to rush through its electoral donations changes before the summer break, but could secure other big wins in a day of frenetic votes.
- Tom McIlroy, Michael Read and Jessica Gardner
Lidia Thorpe barred from parliament
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has been suspended from parliament until Thursday after she threw pieces of paper at Pauline Hanson in the upper house.
- Tess Ikonomou
Queensland LNP puts heat on Albanese before federal election
In just three weeks of being in government, the LNP’s first taste of power in the state in nearly a decade has been frenetic, with clear signals to Canberra.
- James Hall