Latest
Public support for migration has ‘snapped’: Coalition
The cost-of-living crisis and the post-pandemic surge in arrivals has broken the social compact on migration, says Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie.
- Phillip Coorey and Rohan Sullivan
- Analysis
- Peter Dutton
Why we may not see another budget before the election
The government might not deliver another budget before the election, even though it says it will. The reason? Deficits as far as the eye can see.
- Phillip Coorey
- Analysis
- US Votes 2024
The lessons in Trump’s victory for Albanese
Despite many indicators pointing to a period of economic strength, America’s working class did not feel well served by the Democrats and voted for change.
- Ronald Mizen
Changing CGT, negative gearing won’t help housing supply: Treasury
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy says curbing the capital gains tax deduction would have more impact on lowering house prices than changes to negative gearing, but neither would help boost supply.
- Phillip Coorey and Hannah Wootton
Markets push rate cut bets beyond the next election
Investors now expect the RBA to leave the cash rate on hold until July 2025, raising the possibility Labor could fight an entire campaign without a rate cut.
- Michael Read
This Month
- Analysis
- US Votes 2024
Two drivers of Trump’s popularity may haunt Albanese
Demographic groups, united by grievances about economic opportunity, may not be enough to get Donald Trump elected, but their shift to the right is remarkable.
- Updated
- Jessica Gardner
- Opinion
- Australian economy
The silly season for bad policy has started
Previous governments went for hard and unpopular reforms. Anthony Albanese chooses the easy and populist.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Anthony Albanese
Unlike Albanese, RBA not declaring mission accomplished on inflation
When it comes to inflation, we are at the point where spin is clashing with substance.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Higher interest rates are partly Labor’s doing
The unfortunate truth for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is that the elevated interest rates will play a big part in next year’s election.
- The AFR View
Steer clear of abortion debate, Dutton warns colleagues
The Queensland LNP’s dalliance with abortion cost it significant support in the state election campaign and the opposition leader wants to avoid that happening federally.
- Phillip Coorey
Cheaper arts degrees after Labor ‘unscrambles’ uni fees
The Albanese government is poised to unveil permanent measures to lower student debt, on top of the one-off $16 billion reduction.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- HECS
PM’s plan to spend Labor’s way out of trouble
Over the weekend we saw the emergence of a plan, or at least the latest plan, to try to shift the government out of its torpor.
- Phillip Coorey
The four seats that matter most out of the Queensland election
Queensland was said to be critical for Labor to avoid minority government but the election crystallised a concerning dip in support. Here are four seats to watch.
- James Hall and Tom McIlroy
PM chases young voters with pledge to wipe $16b from student debt
Every student will have their debt cut by 20 per cent at a cost to the budget of $16 billion, as Labor escalates its pitch to young voters.
- Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- Roger Cook
How the WA premier became Labor’s top influencer
Roger Cook is not the same grenade thrower as his predecessor, but the WA premier is quietly going about getting his state exactly what it wants.
- Tom Rabe
- Exclusive
- Anthony Albanese
PM’s $5b ‘cheaper childcare’ subsidy gobbled up by fee hikes
The government’s $4.7 billion childcare subsidy has been all but eaten up by fee increases in just over a year
- Phillip Coorey
October
- Opinion
- Opinion
The teals are strangely silent on Albanese’s flights
Maybe these independents don’t want to disrupt the system which may, one day, yield them a nice little upgrade on their way to Italy.
- Updated
- Nick Hossack
Albanese faces calls for probe into flight upgrades
David Pocock and Peter Dutton have both called for a probe into whether Anthony Albanese breached the ministerial code of conduct while he was transport minister.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Anthony Albanese
Albanese did not declare Qantas flight upgrades given to his ex-wife
The prime minister did not declare upgrades gifted to his former wife on flights they took for personal travel to Europe, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Opinion
Labor can take no comfort from Queensland election
ALP candidates won over many traditional Green voters on Saturday, but there is little sign of the party picking up federal seats in early 2025.
- John Black
- Opinion
- Queensland votes
Claims Labor did well in Qld is like Poms saying they won the Ashes
Labor spent much of the night believing it did better than it ultimately did. Still, there are a few green shoots for Anthony Albanese in the most crucial of states.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Opinion
Queensland vote a pivotal moment for Greens
Unlike in the 2022 federal election, the Coalition is preferencing Labor ahead of the Greens for this weekend’s state election.
- John Black
Has Australia reached peak Greens?
After a sobering result in the ACT, the question for the Greens in Queensland will be whether their strident and noisy politics is working - or starting to turn voters away.
- Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Opinion
Politically speaking, it’s not so easy being Green any more
Holding Labor to impossible progressive standards without having to be accountable for outcomes is no longer working for the Greens.
- Lidija Ivanovski
‘She likes the attention’: Growing anger over Thorpe protest
The Coalition is seeking legal advice on whether the Victorian independent senator was rightfully sworn into parliament.
- Tom McIlroy
