Politics
Federal
Best of cartoons, February 21, 2025
The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
Latest
Dutton wrongly says Labor is fast-tracking citizenship for Gazans to win votes
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton made a series of unfounded claims in an interview on Thursday. Home Affairs says nobody who has fled the war-torn strip since 2023 is eligible for citizenship.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Hopes fade for another rate cut as jobs growth strengthens
A record participation rate and an extra 54,000 full-time jobs in January suggest little steam is coming out of the labour market.
- by Shane Wright and Millie Muroi
Opinion
Crime
When a murky caravan becomes a toxic bandwagon, it’s time for restraint
With the caravan, there was a race to assume the worst. Australia has too many panic merchants when the country needs to keep its cool.
- by David Crowe
Albanese seizes ‘extraordinary opportunity’ in Whyalla steel $2.4b bailout
The faltering mill was plunged into administration on Wednesday and state and federal governments have pledged billions of taxpayer dollars if a new buyer can be found.
- by Mike Foley
‘Provocative’: Australians warned to get used to Chinese ships off the coast
Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie labelled the flotilla’s behaviour “provocative”, asking: “What is the government doing about these warships?”
- by Matthew Knott
‘Just wrong’: Dutton hits out at Trump over Ukraine
Labor MPs privately said the government was extremely wary of directly criticising Trump as it seeks to negotiate tariff exemptions.
- by Matthew Knott
What went wrong in Whyalla? And why is the government getting involved?
Governments have promised a $2.4 billion taxpayer bailout, if a new buyer can be found for the beleaguered mill.
- by Mike Foley
‘Wilful act of bastardry’: Henry condemns tax system for crushing young Australians
Former Treasury boss Ken Henry says a succession of governments have used the tax system to deliberately hurt young people, propping up the old and vested interests like mining.
- by Shane Wright
Federal election campaigns
Australia votes
‘You ignorant bastards!’ Perils of the election campaign trail
Very rarely, everything goes smoothly on the election campaign trail. Often, things go very, very wrong.
- by Tony Wright
Updated
Defence
‘Watch every move’: Chinese warships spotted 150 nautical miles from Sydney
Three Chinese military ships are moving steadily down the east coast of Australia, the furthest they have gone in the waters without being on an official visit.
- by Matthew Knott
Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal