• EXCLUSIVE

An explosive tape recording shows for the first time that Senator Sam Dastyari delivered a scripted, deliberate and detailed defence of the Chinese government's aggressive land grab in the South China Sea, despite the senator's repeated attempts to deny it.

"It says to so many Australians: this Parliament, this country, accept you for who you are. Your love is not lesser and nor are you."

Treasurer Scott Morrison has launched an extraordinary attack on the economic credentials of Labor candidate Kristina Keneally in front of 300 business leaders, while trashing the economic legacy of the Labor government's handling of the global financial crisis.

Conservative Liberal Zed Seselja has defended his absence from a historic vote on same-sex marriage.

Bill Shorten has put Sam Dastyari on notice following revelations the Labor senator told a Chinese benefactor his phone was likely being tapped by intelligence agencies, but the Turnbull government says he has undermined national security and his position is "untenable".

The bill's passage through the Senate sets up a final vote in the House of Representatives next week.

The Greens have thrown their weight behind a commission of inquiry into the baking and financials services sector after securing last minute amendments from Nationals Senator Barry O'Sullivan.

Hello and welcome to the day in politics.

Check how senators voted as same-sex marriage legislation passed the Senate.

• EXCLUSIVE

Labor senator Sam Dastyari warned Chinese Communist Party-linked political donor Huang Xiangmo last year that his phone was likely tapped by government agencies, including the US government.

New revelations about Labor's Sam Dastyari make his position in the Senate "untenable", the Turnbull government says.

The 10th annual Scanlon survey finds social cohesion continues to decline, but Australia still fares well compared to others.

Nationals backbencher Andrew Broad has accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of a failure of leadership, in another sign of growing tensions inside the federal Coalition.

Official figures released on Tuesday show Australians marrying less than at any time since Federation.

"My partner hasn't built up the courage to ask me," the Qantas chief executive and prominent gay marriage campaigner said. Asked if he might do the proposing, Alan Joyce responded: "No, no, why would that happen?"

Hate speech and counter-terrorism measures may be fuelling a general rise in racism, xenophobia and discrimination in Australia, a UN committee says.

Despite earlier suggestions of a protracted debate about religious freedom, the bill has progressed quickly through the Senate.

The former head of the government's 2014 Financial System Inquiry, David Murray, rounded on the suggestion of a royal commission or inquiry.

"The way to run a country is not to hand down stone tablets from on high, saying the mighty one has spoken."

At least three Labor senators linked to the conservative "shoppies" union indicated they would vote against same-sex marriage this week.

Hello and welcome to the day in politics.

Barnaby Joyce claims he is being stalked but won't deny flicking a man's hat off during a heated encounter in a New England pub.

• EXCLUSIVE

The federal government fought to have the stomach-churning footage kept secret, arguing that it would harm relations with Japan.

Mr Fifield has told the public broadcaster to steer clear of political decisions.

The Chinese businessman's payment of a bill for Labor Senator Sam Dastyari attracted media attention.

In a rare display of unity, the panel agreed on Monday night's program that a change of diet might be needed to clear a bad case of political blockage.

• ANALYSIS

Among all the predictions from the Queensland state election, a key outcome escaped much consideration.

A sweeping inquiry into Australia's banking and financial system appears inevitable, with a second Nationals MP confirming he is ready to cross the floor and deliver the final vote needed to establish the probe.

A plan to give seriously ill Australians faster access to potentially life-saving drugs could be delayed because of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's decision to cancel a week of lower house sittings.