Federal Politics

The eight-year hitch: Shenhua Watermark coal mine to pass kill date

The proposed site for the coal mine.

It has been 2916 days since controversial former state Labor minister Ian Macdonald issued China's state-owned Shenhua a licence to explore for coal in Australia's richest farming region, the Liverpool Plains, in return for a $300 million cash payment to the NSW government.

Turnbull on the backfoot over guns

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during question time at Parliament on Tuesday.

The Federal Government's attempts to pass a pair of union-busting industrial laws has been sidetracked by claims it was prepared to horse-trade over Australia's strict gun laws, prompting a fierce political attack from Labor and criticism from former prime minister Tony Abbott.

One Nation gears up to take seats at state elections

Pauline Hanson says One Nation is surging because she has been 'listening to people for a long time'.

Pauline Hanson says she is emboldened by the growing support for One Nation as it prepares to field candidates at the Western Australia and Queensland elections, arguing the party continues to confront issues the major parties won't touch.

Labor senator declares war on frontbench colleagues

Gavin Marshall

Victorian Labor senator Gavin Marshall has declared war on frontbench colleague Andrew Giles, revealing he plans to back a preselection challenge to the Scullin MP and accusing him of lying over a plot to remove his ally Kim Carr.

Turnbull drawn into row over Solicitor-General

Malcolm Turnbull is building momemtum for "vital economic reforms".

Malcolm Turnbull has been drawn into a deepening row between the country's two most senior lawyers after he was asked to confirm the Solicitor-General ticked off on a controversial terror bill.