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Sarah IsonPolitical Reporter

Sarah Ison is a political reporter in The Australian’s Canberra press gallery bureau, where she covers a range of rounds from higher education to social affairs. Sarah was a federal political reporter with The West Australian’s Canberra team between 2019 and 2021, before which she worked in the masthead’s Perth newsroom. Sarah made her start in regional journalism at the Busselton-Dunsborough Times in 2017.

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Sarah Ison

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EXCLUSIVEPolitics

Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Executive Director, Orygen. Picture: Orygen

Poll plea: break ‘deep silence’ on mental health

Mental health expert Patrick McGorry has warned of a ‘deep silence’ on mental health issues ahead of the election.

Sarah Ison

ExclusivePolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - February 4, 2025: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Voters super sceptical on Labor

More than two thirds of Australians expect Labor to introduce more taxes on their superannuation accounts should the party be elected for another term.

Sarah Ison

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

‘Disability reform timeline hasn’t been agreed yet’: states

Foundational supports were meant to start with a phased rollout from July 1, but states are waiting until the federal government ticks off a five-year hospital funding agreement.

Sarah Ison

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

Central Coroner David OâConnell will investigate the death of an elderly widower who took euthanasia drugs prescribed for his terminally ill wife. Photo: Kari Bourne / Sunshine Coast Daily

Aged care visa plan attracts only ‘a handful’ of takers

Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan says figures for special aged care visas are ‘another nail in the coffin’ for Labor’s credibility on migration.

Sarah Ison

Hospital accessPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - January 13, 2025: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service Katy Gallagher, Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland and CEO of the NBN, Ellie Sweeney hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Labor intervenes with states for trans issues, won’t do the same for abortions

It’s claimed Labor will let states decide whether or not public hospitals will provide surgical abortions despite having intervened in Queensland’s review of puberty blockers.

Sarah Ison

EXCLUSIVEBusiness

Rest Super CEO Vicki Doyle and chairman James Merlino.

Arrogant Big Super opts out of decency

Thousands of Rest Super members wrongly slugged for insurance have been told they need to get in contact if they don’t want to keep paying the fees turned on by ‘accident’ months ago.

Cliona O'Dowd and Sarah Ison

emissionsPolitics

MUSWELLBROOK, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 27: Liddell Power Station stands next to Lake Liddell as chimneys at the Bayswater Power Station seen emit water vapour on April 27, 2023 in Muswellbrook, Australia. Liddell Power Station, one of Australia's oldest coal-fired power plants, will shut down on Friday, 28 April, after 52 years in operation. The AGL-owned facility opened in 1971 and was once the most powerful generating station in Australia. With Australia making the transition from coal power to renewables, the site will be transformed into a new low-carbon industrial energy hub. Demolition of the plant will begin next year, with more than 90 per cent of the materials to be recycled, AGL says. The closure of Liddell Power Station will stop 8 million tonnes of Carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere every year, media reported. (Photo by Roni Bintang/Getty Images)

Climate Active exodus lifts fears

Labor to continue with voluntary emission offset scheme despite a spate of companies leaving amid concerns about the validity of some credits.

Colin Packham and Sarah Ison

fundingPolitics

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Alice Springs, NT, on Friday, February 7, 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov

PM makes public safety key priority

Anthony Albanese is seeking to strengthen Labor’s credentials on crime ahead of the next election, announcing millions in prevention and policing measures.

Sarah Ison

parliamentPolitics

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Townsville at Townsville Port. Picture: Evan Morgan

Childcare changes put to sleep, super tax mired

Labor has been unable to pass its latest childcare reforms during the February sitting fortnight.

Sarah Ison

Mandatory sentencesPolitics

Labor Senator Kim Carr speaks at a hearing of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, August 19, 2019. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Political reality ‘pushed ALP to break principle’

Labor Left heavyweights say a groundswell of community fears over crime and the anti-Semitism crisis pushed them to back Anthony Albanese’s decision to break with the party’s decades-long opposition to mandatory minimum sentences.

Sarah Ison and Greg Brown

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/sarah-ison/page/25