• Parliament

The spirit of Christmas doesn't last long in parliament, as party leaders exchange best wishes...then insults.

• Housing

House renters, not buyers, were the focus as state and federal treasurers met in Canberra. Courtesy ABC News 24.

Ministers would kill to have the public profile this controversial Queensland backbencher enjoys.

• Great Barrier Reef

Action has been taken to control land clearing and sediment run-off, says Environment Minister Josh Freudenberg. Courtesy ABC News 24.

Final words in the Senate were complimentary and exhausted as parliament wraps up for the year. (Vision courtesy ABC News 24)

• Backpackers

The Greens have come to the government's rescue, supporting a 15 per cent backpacker tax. But it doesn't come cheap. Courtesy ABC News 24.

Even though few MPs relish restricting public access to parliament, the debate raged on in the Senate chamber.

• Industrial relations

The WA senator wins praise from the Prime Minister for securing the passage of industrial reforms through the senate.

Malcolm Turnbull attacks Bill Shorten for favoring "rich kids from Europe" over young Australians and poor Pacific Islanders in the backpacker tax debate.

Dropping red dye in the fountain and a banner on the front of Parliament House, the protesters weren't finished sharing their message.

With Labor and the Greens not budging on the backpacker tax, the government will again need to rely on the crossbench to get it through.

• Government leaks

The government has called in the federal police to investigate the leaking of a document on visa policy to Fairfax journalist James Massola.

In the basement of Parliament House, Greens Leader Richard Di Natale expressed his support for protesters arrested at Parliament House.

Christopher Pyne and Bill Shorten attempt to score political points as parliament resumes following a noisy protest has forced a lengthy adjournment.

• Protest

Anti-asylum policy protesters force question time to be adjourned for more than half an hour.

The Turnbull government suffers a surprise defeat as the Senate snubs the government's deal on the backpacker tax.

The federal government is going to make sure energy giants pay their share of tax with Treasurer Scott Morrison announcing a Parliamentary inquiry. (Vision courtesy ABC News 24)

Independent Senator Derryn Hinch may have sealed the fate of the ABCC construction watchdog under pressure from the government and crossbenchers alike.

A slip in international student rankings should serve as a wake up call to Australian educators, says Education Minster Simon Birmingham. (Video courtesy ABC News 24)

A slip of the tongue left One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts red faced as the ABCC legislative debate dragged on in the senate. (Vision courtesy ABC News 24)