The Editorial Team

Samantha MaidenNational political editor

Samantha Maiden is the political editor for news.com.au. She has also won three Walkleys for her coverage of federal politics including the Gold Walkley in 2021. She was also previously awarded the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year, Kennedy Awards Journalist of the Year and Press Gallery Journalist of the Year. A press gallery veteran, she has covered federal politics for more than 20 years.

@samanthamaiden

Samantha Maiden

Latest

National

Labor has been forced to concede that their flagship Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) has not built a single new home in the nearly two years since it was announced but has instead

‘Nobody has failed as catastrophically’

The PM first announced a $10 billion move to fix the housing crisis in June of 2023 — the reality is disappointing to say the least.

Leaders

The long list of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s family’s $30 million in property transactions has surfaced just in time for the election.

Dutton’s furious reply to investment furore

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s investments are in the spotlight and he has come out swinging in his defence.

Politics

Sunrise host Nat Barr has probed a Liberal Senator over whether Peter Dutton’s historical share-dealing deals was 'suss'. Picture: Sunrise/Channel 7

‘You’re disgusting’: Absolute chaos on Sunrise

An extraordinary slanging match has erupted on live television, after a probing question was asked about Peter Dutton.

Politics

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos FEBRUARY 24, 2025: The Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton is at the Medical centre in Annerley. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

‘Grubby’: Parliament erupts over Dutton story

Liberal politicians have slammed Labor’s pursuit against Peter Dutton as a “grubby” hit job targeting the man who could be Australia’s next Prime Minister.

Leaders

Anthony Albanese has hinted he used negative gearing before he became Prime Minister to reduce his income tax but ruled out using it for his $4m holiday home.

PM’s big personal negative gearing admission

It’s something most Aussie property investors love, now Anthony Albanese has come clean on whether he’s used negative gearing.

EXCLUSIVENational

Dutton slammed over ‘unusual’ GFC trading

‘Unusual’: Dutton’s share trading exposed

The opposition leader’s personal trades during the global financial crisis have raised eyebrows after he bought lucrative bank shares at rock-bottom prices.

Current Affairs

Channel Ten has agreed to pay Lisa Wilkinson $1.1 million to cover her legal costs for the Bruce Lehrmann trial after years of legal arguments.

Wilkinson ‘celebrates’ after $1m payout

Lisa Wilkinson has taken to Instagram to celebrate a milestone, but has stayed tight-lipped about Ten being forced to cover her legal costs for the Bruce Lehrmann trial.

Politics