Politics

Politics · 30 September 2026

eSafety Commissioner bows out, citing David‑vs‑Goliath tech tussle

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The eSafety chief announced departure, warning that the regulator is still out‑gunned by the tech giants despite a fresh digital duty of care. A new era is promised, but the baton may be handed to someone with a strong…

Politics · 30 September 2026

Greens Face Three‑Way Tug‑of‑War as Shoebridge, Faruqi and Hanson‑Young Eye Top Spot

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Nearly half the Greens partyroom has put forward three contenders – David Shoebridge, Mehreen Faruqi and Sarah Hanson‑Young – for the leadership vote due this week.

Politics · 30 September 2026

RBA's Rate Hike: The Great Unemployment and House‑Price Squeeze

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

In a move that would make a clown look sober, the RBA hiked rates, promising to curb inflation while inadvertently turning the job market into a treadmill and the housing market into a sinking ship.

Politics · 30 September 2026

Ink and Irony: September’s Cartoon Round‑up Exposes More Council Chaos Than a Summer Heatwave

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

A collection of September’s editorial cartoons highlights the city’s endless queues, fickle weather, and the perpetual drama of local government, proving that a single sketch can say more than a council report.

Politics · 30 September 2026

Penny Wong’s UN Gaffe Ignites ‘Pay for Slay’ Row, Israel Declares War on Words

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

A bungled UN speech by Penny Wong has sparked a heated debate over Palestinian statehood, with Israel accusing her of a 'blatant lie' and the world watching as diplomatic tensions simmer like a pot of too‑strong coffee…

Politics · 30 September 2026

Burnham’s Triple Lock Lullaby: Social Care to be Funded by a PR Campaign

Iris Quay, London desk

Labour’s new leader vows to scrap the long‑standing pension guarantee in favour of a new public‑relations‑heavy social care strategy, a move that has already spurred warnings from a major think‑tank.

Politics · 29 September 2026

Professor Dr. Joanna Howe’s ‘Consentless’ Crusade Sparks Debate in Canberra

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Dr. Joanna Howe, a Rhodes scholar and anti‑abortion activist, claims her marriage is a ‘consentless’ experiment, sparking a wave of bemused commentary across the legal and political spectrum.

Politics · 29 September 2026

Rate Hikes Hit Albanese’s Budget Like a Rugby Scrum—No Refunds, No Reset

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

When the Reserve Bank’s latest rate hike rolls in, the Albanese government finds its already‑squeezed budget scrambling to keep up, and every market participant is left wondering whether a fiscal playbook can still w…

Politics · 29 September 2026

OpenAI's Aussie Apology Tour: From Medicare Hack to Chairing the AI Oversight Committee

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

OpenAI sent its chief strategy officer to Sydney with a sack of Tim Tams and a public apology for an AI‑driven Medicare breach, only to be handed the reins of a new joint AI oversight committee, much to the delight of…