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Rhiannon Down is a political reporter in The Australian’s Canberra bureau. She began her career at the paper in the Sydney bureau, where she covered mostly courts and crime, after joining the newspaper as a cadet.

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ExclusivePolitics

Dumped labor senator Linda Kirk says she is the first political victim of the stem cell debate.

Former senator’s tribunal pay loss

Former Labor senator Linda Kirk has lost her legal bid to claw back six months’ pay from the appeals tribunal.

Rhiannon Down

‘No disrespect’Politics

FEDERAL ELECTION TEAM 2022. LABOR BUS TOUR 5/5/2022. Former PM Paul Keating, Labor leader Anthony Albanese addresses the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry lunch, Doltone House Darling Island, Sydney. Picture: Liam Kidston.

We disagree on super tax: Keating ‘admirer’ Chalmers

Jim Chalmers says it is possible to ‘admire’ predecessor Paul Keating while disagreeing with him on Labor’s plan to raise tax on superannuation balances over $3m.

Rhiannon Down

ISRAELPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - July 31, 2025: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

‘Practical’ concerns of statehood

Jewish leaders have raised concerns about the practical implications of Palestinian statehood, as legal experts argue there is ‘flexibility’ under international law to pave the way to recognition.

Rhiannon Down

POLITICSPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - July 24, 2025: Shadow Minister for Small Business, Tim Wilson holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Wilson urges Liberals to kickstart ‘revival’

Liberal MP Tim Wilson has urged his party to embrace its election defeat as an opportunity for revival, drawing on lessons from his own political comeback.

Rhiannon Down

HIGHER EDUCATIONHigher Education

5/4/24: Chinese student (not to be identified) studying at the University of Western Sydney as an international student. On top of $30,000 a year in tuition fees he struggles to find anywhere to live and is currently paying $300 a week for a room in a share house. John. Feder/The Australian.

Calls for Labor to cut world’s highest student visa fee

The international education sector is urging Labor to lower the application fee for student visas, warning the $2000 price tag was leading to a widespread collapse among the vocational providers.

Rhiannon Down

TRADENation

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - July 24, 2025: Minister for Trade and Tourism of Australia, Don Farrell holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

PM defends Farrell over his tariff gaffe

The Coalition has ramped up its attacks on Don Farrell after he wrongly claimed that Donald Trump had raised the ban on US beef imports with Anthony Albanese.

Rhiannon Down

EXCLUSIVENation

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - March 27, 2025: Leader of the House, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Labor criticised for ‘radio silence’ on skilled migration

Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke is under mounting pressure to release the numbers allocated for the permanent migration program, amid warnings the delay has stalled a critical skilled visa program.

Rhiannon Down

TRADEPolitics

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order regarding permitting for AI infrastructure after speaking during an AI summit at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump dines out on beef ‘victory’

Donald Trump’s administration has declared a major win over Australia with the removal of decades-old biosecurity rules stopping US beef from entering the nation, despite Labor denials the move had anything to do with the trade war.

Rhiannon Down, Sarah Ison and Matthew Cranston

SpenderPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - November 27, 2024: Chair of the Community Council of Australia and an Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Tim Costello is joined by Allegra Spender and other MPÃ¢â¬â¢s and Senators for a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Super tax focus at mini roundtable

Allegra Spender’s own economic reform roundtable on Friday with pitches to made on tax incentives for business investment and for halting Labor’s controversial unrealised capital gains tax.

Matthew Cranston and Rhiannon Down

Politics NowNation

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - July 24, 2025: Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley and Party leader of the National Party of Australia David Littleproud during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Coalition calls for US beef import review as Labor insists ‘usual processes’ were followed

Calling for an independent scientific review, David Littleproud says he received a briefing which raised ‘more questions than answers’, as Agriculture Minister Julie Collins defends the decision.

Noah Yim, Joe Kelly and Rhiannon Down

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/rhiannon-down