• 1 hr ago

"It feels like someone is stabbing a knife in our chest when we hear different stories every day."

• ANALYSIS

And so, with the advent of Donald Trump's America First presidency, an Australian diplomatic tradition dies.

President Donald Trump has thrown the US-Australia refugee deal into grave doubt with a single post on Twitter.

There were only a handful of witnesses to the conversation Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull. So who leaked it?

"We have never had a president in my memory who has bullied our friends in this way, especially heads of government."

Former Liberal frontbencher says cutting the bureaucracy would show 'leadership'.

It should have been one of the most congenial calls for the new commander in chief — a conversation with the leader of Australia, one of America's staunchest allies, at the end of a triumphant week.

• ANALYSIS

Canberra is on tenterhooks, keenly aware that Donald Trump is volatile, vainglorious, and potentially unreliable.

There was no denial of the story, no accusation of fake news. There was even a wry smile from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when asked to comment on the veracity of an extraordinary story about President Donald Trump's fiery chat with him.

The reporter who broke the explosive account of Donald Trump's combative phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the new president will look to get out of a refugee resettlement deal signed by the Obama administration. 

Explore these tools to reveal the scale and impact of donations on Australia's political system.

• ANALYSIS

Now that we know how much, a reasoned debate can ensue. But don't hold your breath.

An official statement from the White House has confirmed US President Donald Trump is "still considering" whether to honour the refugee resettlement deal with Australia struck under his predecessor Barack Obama.

More than $70 million that flowed to the Liberal and Labor parties ahead of last year's federal election is considered untraceable "dark money".

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed the body established by Tony Abbott to advise on indigenous issues, preparing to appoint new members and replace outspoken chair Warren Mundine.

"No wonder Malcolm Turnbull was so desperate to keep his secret — he basically bought himself an election," said Labor's finance spokesman.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has revealed he donated $1.75 million of his own money to the Liberal Party, ahead of last year's federal election.

The Greens received more than $1 million from two big donors last financial year, helping bankroll the party's campaign for the July 2 federal election.

• UPDATED

Malcolm Turnbull is preparing to ban foreign donations in a bid to restore faltering public trust in the system.

Malcolm Turnbull has opened the possibility of using subsidies earmarked for green energy projects to help build new high-tech clean coal fired power stations as he branded Labor's "mindless rush into renewables", a recipe for more expensive and less reliable electricity.

Banks continued to donate to Labor despite the party's pursuit of a royal commission but the big four continued a tradition of giving more funds to the Coalition.

Queensland's LNP is facing a dilemma over how to handle One Nation preferences, as it attempts to balance contrasting views from its city and country members in the face of a growing threat from the outlier party.

The scale of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's personal donation to the troubled Liberal Party election campaign will be kept secret for another year.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declared he wants to see more transparency in Australia's political donations system - but just moments later refused to talk about his own contribution to the Liberal Party's election campaign.

The Liberal company dubbed a 'washing machine' has made a record contribution.

• EXCLUSIVE

The preferential "exemption" for Australian dual nationals turns out not to be an exemption at all.

• ANALYSIS

Hiding behind arcane reporting rules for years after the fact is not merely untenable, it is next-level hamfisted.

The White House appears to be backing away from a commitment to honour a deal struck by the Obama administration to take more than a thousand refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres.

Soaring electricity prices under Labor's green energy target, a re-commitment to "job creating" company tax cuts, and new savings to fund more affordable childcare are shaping as key battlelines in the political contest this year as Malcolm Turnbull outlines his government's strategy on Wednesday.