Politics

Politics · 7 October 2026

Builders brag about quarterly uptick while councils stare at the ever‑growing gap to the housing target

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Home construction has nudged higher this quarter, yet it remains far short of government ambitions, as soaring costs and interest‑rate pressure threaten to stall the momentum.

Politics · 7 October 2026

Taylor Dismisses ‘Flat Tyre’ Analogy as Labor Calls Migration Policy AI‑Written

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Angus Taylor brushed off a business group’s description of his migration policy as a ‘flat tyre’, labeling the critique as vested interests, while a Labor spokesperson said the coalition’s new migration policy lo…

Politics · 7 October 2026

Labor’s budget trim leaves Ask Izzy’s crisis directory on the brink of digital extinction

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The federal Labor government withdrew funding for the widely used Ask Izzy crisis directory, prompting 24 charities to mobilise a low‑key campaign to keep the service alive.

Politics · 7 October 2026

EU health ministers convene to debate Siberian 'plague' while Russia plays hide-and-seek with the microbes

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

European health authorities and the European Commission will meet Wednesday morning to discuss a suspected plague outbreak in Siberia after a researcher’s death, despite Moscow’s denial.

Politics · 6 October 2026

Albanese Declares Pacific ‘Unified, Not Uniform’ on Climate, Leaves Tuvalu Leaders Raising Eyebrows

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Pacific region’s response to climate change is “unified, not uniform,” prompting puzzled reactions from leaders on the tiny island of Tuvalu, which has long bee…

Politics · 6 October 2026

Paris protests: 40,000 march, 15‑year‑old loses a hand in clash

Aoife Brennan, Dublin desk

Up to 40,000 students and union members marched in Paris, clashes with police left a 15‑year‑old with a blown‑off hand, and the prime minister called for peaceful demonstrations.

Politics · 6 October 2026

Sydney’s New Immigration Play: Cutting 650,000 Temporary Visas, One Coffee Cup at a Time

Priya Nair, Sydney desk

The coalition, led by Angus Taylor, has unveiled a budget‑neutral plan to slash about 650,000 temporary visa holders over the next four years, sparking debate over its impact on services, diversity and the nation’s…

Politics · 6 October 2026

Sketches Over Statements: Cartoons Take On Sydney’s Week Of Council Quarrels, Weather Whispers And Queueing Drama

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

A fresh batch of cartoons from the city’s illustrators offers a dry, doodled recap of the week’s political squabbles, weather oddities and the ever‑present queue at the council office.

Politics · 6 October 2026

Taylor's Two‑Thirds Migration Cut: A Bureaucratic Bid to Outshine One Nation

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

NSW Minister Taylor has announced a plan to slash migration by two‑thirds in an attempt to rival One Nation. The move would force international students to apply for visas from offshore and could prompt temporary migra…