Taxpayers are being charged millions of dollars to fund think tanks closely aligned to the major political parties.

The Turnbull government has picked a fight with one of the country's most feared and powerful lobby groups.

The Turnbull government will review the security clearance of an adviser to crossbench kingmaker Nick Xenophon after revelations he told the media about a massive security breach at the French firm building Australia's new submarines.

It was a stunning disclosure that caused an international furore. And now we know it played out inside a senator's office.

Australia's political campaign laws could be changed to require all election materials carry authorisation statements, including text messages and social media posts.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's disastrous week-long spat over a climate-change policy review has culminated in a showdown with state premiers in Canberra, and criticism from the nation's chief business group.

"The great risk is that law-abiding firearm owners will feel they haven't been consulted. They'll feel policymakers and lawmakers are making decisions in areas they don't fully understand."

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has signalled Australia is prepared to go its own way on foreign policy and will refuse to follow US president-elect Donald Trump's strategic direction on Taiwan or free trade.

A showdown between the Australian Taxation Office and the nation's largest companies including Chevron, Crown and BHP Billiton is looming as the tax man hit seven large companies with tax bills amounting to $2 billion in revenue.

Malcolm Turnbull faces pressure from state and territory leaders for an effective national energy policy on Friday, with South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill raising the prospect of climate change costing the Prime Minister his job for a second time. 

Labor has questioned the bona fides of a report apparently commissioned by the Treasury that plays down the role of big government spending in helping Australia survive global financial crisis.

The union has cried foul over the ballot of nearly 2000 workers in the office of federal politicians, alleging that many were unfairly denied the right to vote.

Just four days into the job, it was clear Michelle Guthrie was in for a bumpy start as managing director of the ABC.

'Barnaby's feathering his own nest.'

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The Turnbull government is sitting on advice that an emissions intensity scheme would make electricity bills cheaper.

The Labor Party has given Australia's authors, booksellers and publishers an early Christmas present, revealing it will oppose any attempt to remove restrictions on parallel imports of books.

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Kristina Photios has quit the Liberal Party after 12 years to speak out against a "vocal minority" of conservatives.

Front-line services offering programs to tackle homelessness will be given a funding reprieve by the Turnbull government.

Treasurer Scott Morrison says Australia is not headed for recession, hitting out at alarmist language after the end to five continuous years of economic growth.

Anger is growing in the United States congress over Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's "secret" deal with the Obama administration.

Tax Office workers prepare to vote in the wake of third Defence no-vote.

• COMMENT

The irony of the hysterical attack by some MPs is that by ensuring the scheme isn't on the table they are likely to further aggravate the problems they describe in doomsday language.

Amid comparisons to Jesus, an interruption from a former dentist turned paint bombing court-denier and allegations the constitution has been "hidden in a drawer since 1975", One Nation Senator Rod Culleton battled for his political life on Wednesday.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has branded the dramatic end to five continuous years of economic growth "not just a reminder, not just a wake-up call, but a demand to support economic policies that drive investment and jobs".

The man who came up with the scheme at the centre of a humiliating government backdown on climate change policy says has  rejection means the government will have be responsible for higher electricity prices and reduced energy reliability.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the world is reacting with resentment to the "manacles of political correctness" in events such as Brexit and the election of Donald Trump.

Former senator Stephen Conroy will head up a new gambling industry lobby group.

Senior US Republicans have set the Obama administration a deadline of December 13 to make public information about its refugee resettlement deal with the Turnbull government, in the latest threat to the plan ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration.

Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo has rejected assertions that the Trans-Pacific Partnership has collapsed, saying the incoming Trump administration needed more time to consider the pros and cons of the giant regional trade deal.