• 21 mins ago

An emotional Tim Wilson has called on conservatives to abandon nostalgia and lamented the ongoing inability of same-sex couples to marry during his maiden speech in Parliament.

• 1 hr ago

 They don't often sing songs from the public gallery in the nation's parliament, and speakers don't usually wear kangaroo skin cloaks, and politicians from opposing sides don't normally hug, shed a tear and pledge to work together.

The Turnbull Government faces what could be its first defeat in the Senate over a motion calling for a banking royal commission.

Julie Bishop has rejected Paul Keating's assessment that Australia has "no foreign policy", insisting our diplomatic sway in the Asia-Pacific has "never been greater".

Coalition MPs have questioned whether influential Labor senator Sam Dastyari should resign from Parliament following the revelation that he asked a communist-linked Australian-Chinese donor to foot an expenses bill after he exceded publicly funded travel entitlements.

Ambassador says Australians are "some of the most rational people on the planet" and the US could be stronger by adopting some Australian electoral practices.

• COMMENT

Why was Christopher Pyne waving a piece of paper over his head while calling his opposite number 'scum'? Tradition.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen says that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull lacks moral authority and economic leadership following revelations in a new book that he and Treasurer Scott Morrison supported a crackdown on negative gearing but were rolled by cabinet.

The invitation suggests that the US considers that Australia has already indicated a willingness to do more.

A delegation of Danish politicians has cancelled a planned visit to Nauru after the island's government barred two MPs who had criticised Australia's immigration regime and one MP who was born in Syria.

A senior NSW union official has called on Labor to support a plebiscite on same-sex marriage as the fastest way to achieve equality for gay and lesbian Australians.

The university admissions system needs to be overhauled so high-achieving students do not feel they are "wasting their potential", the University of Sydney argues.

Paul Keating has accused Australia of lacking a foreign policy capable of negotiating the rise of China and the diminishing influence of the United States.

A royal commission into Australia's major banks has been killed off after a Labor move to establish the inquiry was defeated in parliament.

Eric Abetz has suggested journalists interrupting politicians in interviews could be considered offensive and insulting amid a push to change controversial provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act.

A long and distinguished line of politicians have been snapped taking a snooze.

• EXCLUSIVE

Sam Dastyari had a Chinese donor with deep connections to the communist government pay his bill after he exceeded taxpayer-funded travel entitlements.

Senator is snapped falling asleep on his first day, but still supports liberalising the restrictions on Senate photography.

It is Kevin Rudd's manifesto to cure the world's ills - how he might have reunited nations if only Malcolm Turnbull had not blocked his attempt to lead the UN.

Omnibus savings bill contains lethal threat to Australia's clean energy innovation effort, say researchers.

Liberal backbench senators led by firebrand South Australian Cory Bernardi are mounting a push to force changes to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act back on to the Turnbull government's political agenda.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has been confronted by an Anglican priest over comments linking opponents of same-sex marriage to bigoted views and homophobia.

Tina Brown has always been a bridge.

Huang Xiangmo, a highly-influential figure in Australian-Chinese business circles, has attracted widespread media scrutiny after donating more than $1 million to both sides of politics.

Labor frontbencher Tony Burke has rebuked the government's approach to budget repair, accusing them of lying about the detail of the centrepiece omnibus savings bill that they have challenged the opposition to support.

Treasurer Scott Morrison and broadcaster Ray Hadley have unloaded on each other over the workload of politicians, with the outspoken host alleging federal politics is populated by "bludgers and leaners".

Labor leader Bill Shorten has put Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the spot over Australia's immigration policy, racial tolerance and reconciliation with indigenous Australians on the first sitting day of the new parliament.

The architect of Labor's stronger than expected 2016 election campaign, George Wright, has quit his post as ALP secretary.

Senior ministers have defended Malcolm Turnbull's government in the face of new poor polling results.