Rhiannon Down

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

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EXCLUSIVEPolitics

Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton has visited Cairns to announce the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility will become permanent under an LNP government. Picture: Brendan Radke

Coalition’s migration cuts ‘are unreachable’

Immigration expert Abul Rizvi says Peter Dutton’s election pledge to slash the permanent migration program may limit the skilled worker intake and damage the budget bottom line.

Rhiannon Down and Greg Brown

EXCLUSIVENation

Portrait of Likud parliament member Sharren Haskel. September 25, 2015. Photo by Miriam Alster/FLASH90

Labor is playing into Iran’s hands, says Israel

Israel’s Deputy PM calls on Labor to back the only democracy in the Middle East, as Anthony Albanese defends sending a critic of Israeli foreign policy to the year’s most important Holocaust memorial.

Rhiannon Down

Politics LatestNation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos OCTOBER 7, 2023: PM Anthony Albanese cast his vote for The Voice at Marrackville Town Hall with his son Nathan.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Albanese refuses to admit Indigenous voice mistakes

Anthony Albanese has rejected criticism and refused to admit he made mistakes in proceeding with the Indigenous voice referendum, saying he had fronted the media and the public frequently over his decisions.

Rhiannon Down

EXCLUSIVENation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWirePhotos -Thursday, 12 September2024:Jennifer Westacott poses for a photo in the Chancellery building at Parrramatta South campus of Western Sydney University. Picture:NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Case for civility, unity and Aussie humour: Westacott intervention

Western Sydney University chancellor Jennifer Westacott says the nation is losing its ability to engage in a contest of ideas.

Rhiannon Down and Mohammad Alfares

EXCLUSIVENation

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 21: Adam Bandt, Greens Federal Member for Melbourne along with his wife Claudia Bandt and daughter Wren Bandt on May 21, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Australians head to the polls today to elect the 47th Parliament of Australia, with a tight battle between incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison of the Coalition party and Labor Leader, Anthony Albanese. The Coalition party has led government since 2013. (Photo by Naomi Rahim/Getty Images)

Independent schools call out Bandt’s ‘class war’

Independent schools will target Adam Bandt’s seat and three other electorates held by the Greens in retaliation for the ‘divisive rhetoric’ its MPs have directed at private schools.

Rhiannon Down

exclusivePolitics

Islamophobia envoy Aftab Malik. Picture: Supplied.

Don’t ignore threat to Muslims just because mosques haven’t burned: envoy

The political furore over social cohesion has escalated, with Anthony Albanese’s hand-picked Islamophobia envoy weighing in.

Greg Brown, Rhiannon Down and Simon Benson

ELECTION 2025Politics

Adam Bandt and the Greens are taking a $10bn policy to the election to make public schools completely free.

Greens’ $10bn push for ‘free’ public school

The Greens will use a $10bn cash splash to help parents with children in public schools to win over working voters, with the policy forming part of the minor party’s demands to Labor in a hung parliament.

Rhiannon Down

commemorationNation

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - November 19, 2024: Senator Sue Lines officially launches Fit for Office, a three week fitness challenge for 40 plus MPs and senators at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Auschwitz event the centre of new row

Penny Wong and Mark Dreyfus will represent Australia at an event commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz, amid confusion over previous signals the government was sending Labor Senate president Sue Lines.

Rhiannon Down

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

Daily Telegraph. 03, May, 2023.Independent MP, Sophie Scamps, at Northern Beaches Hospital, Emergency, today. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Teal MP rejects ‘untrue’ tax attacks by A4P group

Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps has ruled out supporting an increase to the GST, accusing the coal lobby of orchestrating a campaign of political attack ads.

Rhiannon Down

ELECTION 2025Politics

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA : NewsWire Photos - JANUARY 20 2025; The Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton seen with Rabbi Levi Wolfe at the Central Synagogue in Bondi Junction, Sydney. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Dutton pledges mandatory sentences for terror

Peter Dutton has pledged to impose minimum mandatory sentences for terror offences and displaying Nazi or terrorist symbols.

Rhiannon Down and Ellie Dudley

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