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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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EXCLUSIVENation

Picture of a cross taken in Punta de Tralca, west of Santiago, on July 30, 2018 as Chile's Episcopal Conference holds an extraordinary meeting to analyze the roots of the current crisis that the Catholic Church is experiencing in the country, burdened by the scandals of sexual abuse and cover-up, and how to overcome it. Chile is investigating more than 150 members of the country's embattled Catholic Church -- both clergymen and lay people -- for perpetrating or concealing the sexual abuse of children and adults, prosecutors said last week. / AFP PHOTO / CLAUDIO REYES

Hate-crimes bill’s ‘chilling effect’ on free speech

Christian schools have warned that Labor’s hate-speech laws could be ‘weaponised’ against religious teachings, as a push to introduce a serious vilification offence failed in parliament.

Rhiannon Down

Politics NowPolitics

Ministers briefed on threats on ‘case-by-case basis’: AFP

Commissioner Reece Kershaw and senior AFP staff are speaking at a joint parliamentary hearing in Canberra following Anthony Albanese allegedly being left in the dark about the caravan terror plot.

Rhiannon Down

Climate changePolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - February 5, 2025: Greens Leader Adam Bandt and Senator David Shoebridge hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Renewables-only sceptics putting lives at risk: Bandt

Adam Bandt has lashed the food distributors of Australia for questioning Labor’s renewables-only strategy and claimed they are ‘putting Australian lives at threat’.

Sarah Ison and Rhiannon Down

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - February 4, 2025: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Plot thickens on why PM won’t just say when he first learned of van bomb

Anthony Albanese’s refusal to reveal when he was told about the planned mass casualty terror attack targeting Jewish-Australians in Sydney is undermined by his previous public confirmations regarding terrorism, espionage and defence national security briefings.

Geoff Chambers and Rhiannon Down

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

10/2/22: Anglican Bishop Michael Stead has been a long term supporter of the Religious Discrimination Bill, which was shelved in parliament today and will likely not pass until after the election now. John Feder/The Australian.

Hate crime bill ‘threat to religious freedom’

Faith leaders have warned Labor’s hate crimes legislation will limit religious speech, if provisions outlawing the incitement of ‘force or violence’ against protected groups are interpreted to include psychological harm

Rhiannon Down and Dennis Shanahan

employmentNation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. NewsWire Photos.December 10, 2024.RBA Governor, Michele Bullock holds a media conference discussing the Reserve Bank of AustraliaÃs monetary policy decision.Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Jobs market too tight for rate cut, KPMG warns

KPMG has warned Australia’s tight labour market is still placing upwards pressure on inflation and the Reserve Bank cannot risk lowering the interest rate later this month.

Rhiannon Down

POLITICSPolitics

DAILY TELEGRAPH 11TH DECEMBER 2024Pictured in Sydney at the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst is Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender speaking with Minister Tanya Plibersek and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a press conference following their tour of the museum.Picture: Richard Dobson

Teal’s plea over hate crimes bill

Independent MP Allegra Spender will propose an amendment strengthening Labor’s hate crimes legislation.

Rhiannon Down

HEALTHPolitics

MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos FEBRUARY 1, 2025: Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton is in Melbourne at the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse Lunar New Year Festival & Parade. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

State defies Labor pause plea in trans probe

Queensland is set to defy the Albanese government’s request to pause its investigation into gender transition therapies to make way for a federal review.

Rhiannon Down

EXCLUSIVENation

Queensland LNP Senator Susan McDonald in Cairns at the announcement that the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility will become permanent under a coalition government. Picture: Brendan Radke

EDO could be stripped of its charity status

The EDO could be stripped of its charity status if the non-profit commission finds it breached public trust and failed to act responsibly in its legal challenge against Santos.

Rhiannon Down and Geoff Chambers

POLITICSNation

Coal mining union leader Tony Maher, a close ally of Anthony Albanese, has been named the new chair of Safe Work Australia.

Ex-union boss to lead Safe Work

One of Anthony Albanese’s closest union allies, Tony Maher, has been appointed to lead the workplace health and safety watchdog.

Rhiannon Down

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/rhiannon-down/page/4