• The Economy

GDP contracted 0.5 per cent in the September quarter. The Treasurer points the finger at weak business investment.

• Carbon

Speculation the government might adopt a carbon intensity trading scheme leads to a clarification from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Courtesy ABC News 24.

• Interest Rates

The Reserve Bank has left rates on hold until at least February. Peter Martin explains why.

• Climate Change

Cory Bernardi gives voice to government divisions over a proposed carbon intensity trading scheme in the electricity sector. Courtesy ABC News 24

• One Nation

Pauline Hanson pays out on her One Nation senate colleague Rod Culleton, saying he's not a team player and the attention has gone to his head.

• Climate Change

A wide-ranging review is to examine how Australia can achieve its 2030 carbon reduction targets. Courtesy ABC News 24.

• Green Army

The Greens are celebrating reports that Tony Abbott's 'Green Army' is to be axed, but Malcolm Turnbull is declining to confirm its demise. Courtesy ABC News 24.

• 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.