Politics

Politics · 29 October 2026

One Nation’s backstage whisper leaves the reunited Coalition with more cracks than a council’s pothole plan

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

One Nation’s behind‑the‑scenes influence has created fresh divisions within the reunited Coalition over a trade deal and AI policy, with senior figures meeting in secret in Canberra and the outlook now uncertain.

Politics · 29 October 2026

Bureaucrats’ rubber‑stamp habit leaves Labor’s invite‑only grants as inevitable as a Monday morning queue

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

An audit finds that almost every grant handed to Labor’s preferred applicants sails through unchallenged, with bureaucrats applying a rubber‑stamp in roughly 98 per cent of cases, sparking fresh questions about merit…

Politics · 28 October 2026

Russian envoy slips into Greens rally, walks away with a pamphlet on non-aid policy

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Russian ambassador Mikhail Petrakov attended a speech by Greens leader David Shoebridge denying military aid to Ukraine, a presence Shoebridge claimed he was unaware of.

Politics · 28 October 2026

Shoebridge’s First Press‑Club Slam: Calls for Women’s Safety and an End to Russian ‘Blood Money’

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

In his maiden National Press Club appearance, David Shoebridge demanded that every woman feel safe, slammed Steele‑John’s social‑media posts as ‘obviously not the way to resolve’ the issue, and urged an end to…

Politics · 28 October 2026

Bluey cartoon sparks parliamentary squabble as ABC urges One Nation to yank the violent sketch; AFP warns hate may step off screen

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The ABC has asked One Nation to remove a cartoon that pits the beloved Bluey against former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, while the AFP cautions that online vitriol may soon leave the internet. The clash has turned a…

Politics · 28 October 2026

Reserve Bank faces Cup Day rate‑rise pressure as inflation spikes to 4.3%

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Inflation jumped to 4.3% – the biggest monthly rise since March – putting the Reserve Bank under intense pressure to consider another rate increase at its meeting next Tuesday, just as Cup Day approaches.

Politics · 28 October 2026

Opposition's Slim Lead Sends Tel Aviv Into Celebration While Parliament Remains an Unfinished Puzzle

Tariq Bell, World desk

Supporters of the opposition bloc and the Arab‑led Ra’am celebrated narrow exit‑poll leads in Tel Aviv, even as no party secured a clear majority.

Politics · 28 October 2026

Greens unveil $1,000 worker rebate, but leave the resource sector clutching its ledger

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The Greens have pledged a flat $1,000 tax cut for all employees, while explicitly excluding the mining and resource industries from the giveaway. The move mirrors the broader tax‑cut chorus from government and oppositi…

Politics · 28 October 2026

Spender rallies business brigade over Chalmers' CGT tweak

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Federal MP Tim Spender has led a business revolt against Treasury Minister Jim Chalmers’ capital‑gains‑tax tweak, pointing to Israel’s similar inflation‑adjusted model capped at 30%.