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Simon Benson is the Political Editor at The Australian, an award winning journalist and a former President of the NSW Press Gallery. He has covered federal and state politics for more than 20 years, authoring two political bestselling books, Betrayal and Plagued. Prior to joining the Australian, Benson was the Political Editor at the Daily Telegraph and a former environment and science editor which earned him the Australian Museum Eureka Prize in 2001. His career in journalism began in the early 90s when he started out in London working on the foreign desk at BSkyB.

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EXCLUSIVEPolitics

Negative gearing overhaul ‘to cost renters $5000’

Anthony Albanese will face a renewed push from teal independents to review negative gearing and capital gains tax in a hung parliament.

Simon Benson and Sarah Ison

COMMENTARYPolitics

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton debate at the ABCâ€™s Parramatta studio in Western Sydney, moderated by David Speers. April 16, 2025, day 19 of the 2025 federal election campaign. Picture: Matt Roberts/ Pool/ ABC.

Albanese fumbles as Dutton applies the pressure

The Liberal leader wanted his rival to reveal a side of his character that has been kept under wraps for long enough for voters to forget. A propensity to get cranky. He came close to succeeding on several occasions.

Simon Benson

exclusivePolitics

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese at their respective campaign launches on Sunday.

Newspoll: Voters expect Labor in minority rule

A majority of voters now expect a Labor minority government, as the Coalition’s primary vote falls to below levels recorded at the last election amid a boost in personal approval for Anthony Albanese.

Simon Benson

AnalysisPolitics

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 08: Australian Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese debates Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton on April 08, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton faced off in the first leaders' debate of the 2025 federal election campaign, held at the Sky News/Daily Telegraph People's Forum in Western Sydney. The debate, featuring questions from 100 undecided voters, was expected to be a pivotal moment as both leaders outlined their visions for Australia. (Photo by Jason Edwards-Pool/Getty Images)

Shock and awe on the way to new hung parliament

Both leaders claim to deliver the dream of home ownership and both have rewritten the fiscal rule books in their tax relief offerings, as voters expect a hung parliament is now the most likely election outcome.

Simon Benson

ELECTION 2025Politics

US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on April 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Leaders will resist any Trump call on China

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are promising big business they will rebuff any push for nations to take a tougher economic approach to Beijing.

Matthew Cranston, Ben Packham, Will Glasgow and Simon Benson

Politics NowPolitics

Minister’s EU trade talks flag possible breach of caretaker provisions

The Coalition has confirmed Labor had not consulted it about the re-opening of trade talks between Don Farrell and the EU, raising questions about whether the government had breached caretaker arrangements.

Simon Benson and Noah Yim

COMMENTARYNation

NCA 2025 Federal Election Liberal Bus 09/04/2025Sydney AustraliaLeader of the Australian Liberal party Peter Dutton attends Blue Scope Steel in St Clair in Sydneys west to discuss cost of materials on the campaign trail for the 2025 federal election.Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

Peter Dutton’s strategy to put integrity at heart of budget process

Peter Dutton demonstrated in the debate that he has started to find his line and length on the economic narrative. He now wants to steer the election contest back to safe ground for the Coalition.

Simon Benson

commentaryPolitics

NCA 2025 FEDERAL ELECTION Labor BUS. DAY 11 08/04/2025 Australian Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese debates Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton at the Sky News / Daily Telegraph Peoples Forum.Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire .

Finally, Dutton finds his mojo

Finally, there is a contest. After a shaky first week, Peter Dutton needed to lift. And tonight he did.

Simon Benson

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL 07:Treasurer Jim Chalmers addresses the media in a press conference in Sydney. Photo by Gaye Gerard / NewsWire

Labor lifts spending higher than Covid years

Labor’s spending trajectory will reach more than $30,000 per person within the next four years, eclipse government expenditure during the Covid-19 pandemic, and reach the highest levels per capita on record.

Simon Benson, Jack Quail and Perry Williams

COMMENTARYPolitics

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters while in flight on Air Force One, en route to Joint Base Andrews on April 6, 2025. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)

Deep uncertainty: Trump has turned the federal election on its head

Labor’s model now has an electoral trigger in common with John Howard’s Tampa election of 2001. Like Howard, fear is what Anthony Albanese is seeking to exploit.

Simon Benson

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/simon-benson/page/5