Our Team

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.

@rhi_down

Latest

CORONAVIRUSPolitics

Taronga Western Plains Zoo director Steve Hinks has joined the chorus of calls for the support to extend to the bush. Picture: Supplied

What about us? Fury in towns that missed out

Tourist operators say federal government scheme to subsidise airfares to blue chip tourist destinations leaves NSW behind.

Rhiannon Down

Budget EstimatesNation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NCA NewsWire Photos OCTOBER, 29, 2020: General view of the Warragamba Dam, in Warragamba NSW. The Warragamba Dam is close to full after Sydney's recent rain. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Warragamba Dam project costs spiral to $1.6bn

The NSW Minister for Western Sydney has defended a controversial proposal to raise Sydney’s Warragamba Dam wall by 14m, and refused to name the full cost of the project.

Rhiannon Down

Anzac DayNation

09/03/2021 96-year-old WW2 veteran Nevin Phillips with his grand daughter Lauren at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbounre. Aaron Francis/The Australian

This year, we’ll march to remember them: Morrison

Anzac Day marches will be held in every capital after PM said if people were free to ‘protest’ then they should be free to honour veterans.

Greg Brown and Rhiannon Down

LIVE: POLITICS NOWPolitics

Liberal senator Linda Reynolds is questioned about Brittany Higgins during Senate Question Time on February 23, 2021 at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: APH via NCA NewsWire

Reynolds extends leave, will miss Senate estimates

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has a new doctor’s certificate that will allow her to avoid the next sitting fortnight of parliament, including Senate estimates.

Ben Packham, Adeshola Ore and Rhiannon Down

CORONAVIRUSNation

5/3/21: Learner driver, Adrian Masiello and driving instructor Henry Naser. Adrian Masiello, 35, is one of a rising number of mature learner drivers who has taken up driving lessons recently to increase his independence as a new father and to stop relying on rideshares during the pandemic. Across the board there has been an increase of new drivers enrolling in lessons of about 20 per cent after the pandemic resulted in an increased interest in driving. John Feder/The Australian.

Mature-age learners driven back to school

Driving schools are experiencing a post-lockdown boom, with new students enrolling at higher numbers across the country.

Rhiannon Down

HORSE RACINGNation

Julie Danet and Lot 17 Snitzel x Politeness filly at Arrowfield Stud in Scone. Picture: Joan Faras

Bold locals take inside running at sales

There will be plenty of eyes on the paddock as the Autumn Racing Carnival arrives this month, but some of the biggest records will be set away from the track.

Rhiannon Down

HATE SPEECHNation

Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING

Race-hate cases bungled by police

NSW’s hate speech laws have been slammed for failing to produce a single conviction in the three years.

Rhiannon Down

Nation

Jo and her husband Mike and kids Sam (16) and Jude (13) are relieved to have sold their Glebe home last weekend at a price they're happy with. They're now looking to rent while they look for a new house further out with more space, but are concerned about the market heating up and what they will be able to afford. Jane Dempster/The Australian.

Nine in 10 sold as property tipped to run hot

National prices predicted to surge with almost 90 per cent of properties auctioned in Sydney selling on the weekend.

Rhiannon Down and Nicholas Jensen

WEATHERNation

28/02/2021: Latasha Lewis with Jack 4, husband James behind with Ryan 8 and Zoe 5, enjoy the water at Somerset Dam, just south of Kilcoy QLD. Higher than average rainfall across the eastern seaboard powered by the La Nina weather system, has bolstered the nationÃ¢â¬â¢s water supply with some dams spilling over, but southeast Queensland has recorded some of the lowest combined water levels in a decade - with storage currently at 56.9 per cent. The region's most important dam Wivenhoe, which is also fed by Somerset dam, is very low at 36 per cent full. Lyndon Mechielsen/ The Australian

Wet summer bolsters water reserves

Higher than average rainfalls have bolstered water supplies across the country, but much of southeast Queensland remains in drought.

Rhiannon Down

regionsPolitics

A vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is seen ahead of the first rollout of vaccinations at the Castle Hill Medical Centre in Sydney on February 21, 2021. (Photo by STEVEN SAPHORE / AFP)

Satellite sites ready for vaccine rollout

NSW Health will open five major vaccine hubs and almost a hundred regional satellite sites from next month, to support the rollout of the COVID-19 jab across the state.

Rhiannon Down

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/rhiannon-down/page/141