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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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Party shockPolitics

Sussan Ley and Taylor and Hume and Price

Shadow ministry reveal earns Sussan Ley ‘enemies’

Conservatives who voted for the Opposition Leader have expressed disappointment with her decision to demote many of their colleagues.

Sarah Ison

EXCLUSIVEMental Health

ISTOCK GENERIC - Desperate senior crying in a dark room. Perfectly usable for a wide range of topics like depression, loneliness or mental health in general.

Mental health meeting ‘first test’ for PM

A major mental health meeting of state and Commonwealth ministers is being branded as the re-elected Labor government’s test on mental health.

Sarah Ison

Coalition’s new teamPolitics

Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud

Ley’s emissions target: not a lot of (net) zeroes

Sussan Ley has declared she will not pursue a net-zero emissions target at ‘any cost’ as she faces a backbench push to go to the next election with a vow to pull out of the Paris climate agreement.

Greg Brown and Sarah Ison

Politics NowPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - May 28, 2025: Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley and Party leader of the National Party of Australia David Littleproud hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Coalition shadow cabinet revealed as Labor approves NW Shelf life

Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud have announced the new shadow cabinet: O’Brien treasury, Cash foreign affairs, Taylor defence, Paterson finance; Environment Minister Murray Watt has approved a four-decade extension for Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project.

Rhiannon Down, Sarah Ison, Ben Packham, Jack Quail and Paul Garvey

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - MAY 13, 2025.Greens Senator Larissa Waters during a press conference at the Mt Coot-tha lookout, commenting on the election results and the future of the Greens.Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Unrealised gains tax ‘in play’ as Greens unveils policy aims

Labor’s controversial tax on unrealised capital gains is on track to gain the approval of the Greens, setting up a test for Jim Chalmers over whether to run with the left-wing party’s support or listen to those warning him to dump the proposal.

Sarah Ison

‘dead man walking’Politics

7 NOVEMBER 2023 MELBOURNE AUSTRALIAWWW.MATRIXNEWS.COM.AUCREDIT: MATRIXNEWS Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.David Littleproud, Michael McCormack Note: All editorial images subject to the following: For editorial use only. Additional clearance required for commercial, wireless, internet or promotional use.Images may not be altered or modified. Matrix makes no representations or warranties regarding names, trademarks or logos appearing in the images.

Angry Libs spell big ‘trouble’ for Littleproud’s future

A growing number of Liberal MPs hope Michael McCormack challenges for the Nats leadership, arguing that the Coalition can only be united if David Littleproud is replaced.

Greg Brown and Sarah Ison

Middle EastPolitics

Greens senator Larissa Waters talks at a press conference in Brisbane on Tuesday. Picture Lachie Millard

Labor showing ‘encouraging’ signs on Palestine: Waters

Greens leader Larissa Waters says she’s hopeful the PM would follow his recent criticisms of Israel with action like sanctioning Jerusalem and recognising Palestine.

Sarah Ison and Rhiannon Down

Politics NowPolitics

Littleproud ‘confident’ Coalition deal in sight after ‘very encouraging’ talks

Nationals Leader David Littleproud gave his strongest hint yet that a Coalition deal was close, saying ‘I’m confident we’ll get to a position’ after his latest talks with Sussan Ley on Monday.

Rhiannon Down and Sarah Ison

NDIS updatePolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - May 26, 2025: Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Disability and the NDIS, Mark Butler holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Minister backs off ‘supports’ deadline

Labor is unlikely to meet its original time frame of rolling out a new system of services for people with milder disabilities not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Sarah Ison

Coalition negotiationPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. APRIL 24, 2025: David Littleproud MP, Leader of the Nationals addresses the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Littleproud: Partyroom you got to let me know, should I stay, or should I go?

David Littleproud has left the door open to his partyroom rejecting the Liberals’ response to the Nationals’ four policy demands, declaring it is up to his colleagues ‘whether they wish to re-enter the Coalition or not’.

Sarah Ison

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/sarah-ison/page/5