Latest political news
Labor within striking distance
![Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with his campaign bus. He has made gains but the majority of voters still predict a ...](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/l/r/4/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gplsgi.png/1466208884313.jpg)
Mark Kenny 12:26 AM Bill Shorten has held on to his overall lead during the last fortnight despite a full-throated Coalition attack on economic management, to be within striking distance of an upset win on July 2, according to the latest Fairfax-Ipsos poll.
Shorten steps up Parakeelia attack on Turnbull
![Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says it is inconceivable that Malcolm Turnbull did not know about the Parakeelia ...](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/g/f/y/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gplukd.png/1466172014181.jpg)
David Wroe, James Robertson and Tom McIlroy 12:00 AM Bill Shorten has accused Malcolm Turnbull of "using Senator Sinodinos' defence" over the Parakeelia scandal, claiming it was "inconceivable" that Mr Turnbull as Liberal Party treasurer did not know about profits from the controversial software firm.
AFP report leaves unanswered questions on top secret intelligence leak
![Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie flatly denies leaking the report.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/h/o/a/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpluj6.png/1466156031707.jpg)
Deborah Snow 7:33 PM Andrew Wilkie has strongly rejected what he claims is offensive and unfounded "innuendo" levelled against him in a 12-year-old Australian Federal Police report.
A Current Affair gets rare access to Nauru
![<i>A Current Affair</i>, which will air its report on Nauru on Monday, says the story will "stun Australia".](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/b/q/y/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gplsj9.png/1466181760197.jpg)
Nicole Hasham 5:23 PM A virtual media blackout at the remote republic of Nauru is set to be temporarily broken, after tabloid television program A Current Affair announced it had gained exclusive access to the island's offshore detention centre.
Separatist Exclusive Brethren members are secret Liberal donors
![World leader of the Exclusive Brethren, Sydney-based Bruce Hales](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/l/7/7/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpk0nd.png/1466222021921.jpg)
Michael Bachelard 11:45 PM Members of the extremist religious sect donate to the Liberal Party "under the radar".
Albanese's 'difficult conversation' in battle against Greens
![Anthony Albanese.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/k/k/y/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gplcbu.png/1466144640027.jpg)
Deborah Snow 12:15 AM Used to being feted as a lion of the Left and champion of progressive causes inside the ALP, Anthony Albanese has become infuriated at his portrayal by the Greens as a relative dinosaur.
Singapore to out multinationals shifting profits
![Singapore's government has long maintained that it is not a tax haven, but a value-adding hub.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/v/r/g/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gplfxb.png/1466143363989.jpg)
Nassim Khadem 11:45 PM The low-tax nation has signed up to a global plan to fight tax evasion.
Shorten vows youth jobs plan
![Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Labor's youth jobs plan has been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office and will ...](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/h/z/g/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gplhrc.png/1466134114947.jpg)
David Wroe Bill Shorten has vowed a Labor government would help 20,000 young Australians get into employment through six weeks' training followed by six months work at award wages.
Australian politicians brush off security fears
![Killed: UK Labour member of Parliament Jo Cox.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/l/3/p/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpl9ya.png/1466173397475.jpg)
Michael Koziol Australian politicians have brushed off suggestions that greater personal security might be in order following the daylight murder of British Labour MP Jo Cox.
Australian navy sailor dies in Middle East
![A sailor serving aboard HMAS Darwin has died on shore leave in the Middle East.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/k/2/y/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpk2xq.png/1466055743445.jpg)
An Australian navy sailor serving aboard HMAS Darwin has died while on shore leave in the Middle East.
'It's never been a better time to vote for anyone else': Malcolm Turnbull hit by hoax text campaign
![Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has condemned the preacher's comments on homosexuality.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/j/7/4/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpj8ng.png/1466117270920.jpg)
Katie Burgess This time it's the prime minister telling people to vote for someone other than himself.
Cowboy Katter 'shoots two dead' in campaign video
![Screen grab from Bob Katter's latest campaign ad.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/j/l/9/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpjl7z.png/1466042065056.jpg)
Maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter is well known for his fast-shooting mouth.
Anti-gay Islamic preacher's visa under review
![A video still of Farrokh Sekaleshfar.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/i/y/x/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpix6l.png/1465943819385.jpg)
David Wroe, Adam Gartrell The Turnbull government is urgently reviewing the visa of an anti-gay Islamic preacher who sermonised in Orlando ahead of the Pulse nightclub massacre and is now visiting Australia.
Greens put Nile candidate before gay Lib
![Geoffrey Winters is the Liberals' star candidate for Sydney.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/4/m/y/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpimpw.png/1465968313715.jpg)
Heath Aston Greens give preference to the Christian Democratic Party of Reverend Fred Nile above the Liberal candidate for Sydney, an indigenous gay man who is wants same-sex marriage.
Prioritise Reef over coal: survey
![Hunter Valley open cut coal mine](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/t/d/6/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpim6w.png/1465949478284.jpg)
Nicole Hasham A thumping majority of Australians want the health of the Great Barrier Reef prioritised over coal mining, according to a survey of more than 63,000 Fairfax Media readers.
Greens to preference Labor in every Queensland seat
![The Greens in Queensland attracted 6.22 per cent of the primary vote in lower house contests in 2013.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/e/p/j/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpia1b.png/1465851673414.jpg)
Cameron Atfield ALP election chances in Queensland get significant boost.
PwC advises multinationals 'read the play'
![Nassim Khadem dinkus.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/v/d/8/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gphzha.png/1465850534486.jpg)
Nassim Khadem Multinationals will still strategise how to pay less tax in the new political landscape, just with a new spin.
Public servants to Armidale: the missing evidence
![Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce remains adamant public servants will be on the move .](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/4/a/9/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gphncr.png/1466136510276.jpg)
Noel Towell Business case for forced relocation of public servants should have been done by now: reports.
Health matters 'more than economy': over 50s
![Health trumps the economy for Australians over 50.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/a/u/p/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gphfix.png/1465869429286.jpg)
Peter Martin Health care is by far the most important issue determining the votes of older Australians, eclipsing economic management for the first time.
Shorten slams Trump for 'demonising' Muslims
![Opposition Leader Bill Shorten](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/h/s/0/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gphrf7.png/1465972223239.jpg)
David Wroe Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has taken Donald Trump to task over the presumptive Republican candidate's claims the Orlando shooting shows he was right to call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
Labor's big internet play - faster broadband, same price range
![Labor says it will move away from Malcolm Turnbull's NBN policy.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/u/r/x/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gphcrm.png/1465808110118.jpg)
Mark Kenny, James Massola Twice as many Australians would get faster fibre-to-the-home internet connections under a future Shorten Labor government, but the rollout of the NBN would cost taxpayers at most only $1 billion more and would be completed in the same time, Labor says.
Greens push PM on republic with cake stunt
![Greens leader Senator Richard Di Natale](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/e/g/o/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gph8be.png/1466078731194.jpg)
Michael Koziol The Greens will attempt to put the elusive republic back on the menu today with a cake-based stunt atop Parliament House.
Greens pledge to crack down on 'free-range' eggs
![The Greens say free-range eggs should live up to their name.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/k/2/u/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gph0e1.png/1465969565015.jpg)
Cameron Atfield The federal Greens will push for a national standard for free-range eggs that would slash the number of farm hens per hectare by 85 per cent.
Dissident voice in Parliament still speaking out
![Judith Moylan was never afraid to speak out against her own party's policies. She has been appointed an Officer of the ...](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/f/a/t/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpfe0j.png/1465768014273.jpg)
Nicole Hasham When former rebel MP Judi Moylan departed the party room after railing against Liberal policies, less daring colleagues often approached her in solidarity.
Rudd 'overturned' prize for 'sex lives' book
![Not suitable for a prime ministerial prize in an election year? The Sex Lives of Australians by Frank Bongiorno.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/c/h/b/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpf3x6.png/1465609716854.jpg)
Michael Koziol Judges of the prestigious Prime Minister's Literary Award say then prime minister Kevin Rudd overruled their decision on the 2013 history prize.
Record field for Queensland Senate ballot paper
![Australian Electoral Commission officials conduct the draw for the Queensland Senate ballot paper.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/g/f/8/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpgfgf.png/1465617683743.jpg)
Cameron Atfield Queenslanders will have 40 more Senate candidates to choose from than they did at the 2013 election, after 122 candidates put their names forward for election.
ALP candidate to remove army billboards
![Labor candidate Pat O'Neill's billboard, on St Paul's Terrace, will be removed along by Saturday night.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/g/3/a/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpg104.png/1465904350107.jpg)
Cameron Atfield Pat O'Neill used billboards depicting him in his army uniform.
Penny Wong lavishes praise on Anthony Albanese
![Anthony Albanese launching his campaign with Penny Wong at Vic on the Park Pub in Enmore.](/web/20160618050708im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/f/t/s/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpftry.png/1465488128151.jpg)
Deborah Snow Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese's political love-in points to a strong alliance between the pair after the election