Coalition conservatives furious over climate review
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faces a fresh outbreak of party disunity over climate policy, with backbench MPs questioning the timing and scope of a formal review of the Direct Action plan.
James Massola is chief political reporter in the Canberra bureau. He was a Walkley finalist in 2015 and has worked in the federal press gallery for eight years, including stints for The Australian Financial Review and The Australian before joining the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faces a fresh outbreak of party disunity over climate policy, with backbench MPs questioning the timing and scope of a formal review of the Direct Action plan.
A long-awaited review of Australia's climate policies could recommend a form of carbon pricing for power companies, but will focus on electricity price rises, energy security and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, according to Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg.
Housing supply and more affordable rentals will be top of the agenda when Treasurer Scott Morrison and his state counterparts meet in Canberra on Friday.
They chanted "close the camps" and accused the Coalition and Labor of being world leaders in cruelty.
Documents obtained by Fairfax Media and marked "sensitive" and "protected" reveal details of the proposed overhaul.
A stunning back down by the Nick Xenophon Team senators over water policy has cleared the way for the Turnbull government to claim a year-ending Senate victory that would see the construction watchdog re-instated.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has hosed down - but not ruled out - a reshuffle of his frontbench, amid speculation in Coalition ranks that some personnel changes are in the offing.
The Turnbull Government is confident of striking a final week deal to re-establish the construction industry watch dog, more than three years after Tony Abbott promised to deliver the policy.
The federal government has dumped the proposed 19 per cent backpacker tax rate and will instead do a compromise deal on a 15 per cent rate.
Malcolm Turnbull's political agenda for the final week of parliament could be on hold after a crucial cross bench grouping announced it would not vote for any government bills until a water dispute is resolved.
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