Today
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Why did Labor drop a big policy change at 6pm last Friday?
While the media scrambled to get across a housing announcement late Friday, the government quietly dropped long-awaited changes to foreign student numbers.
Budget to provide billions for wages, super blowout
Tuesday’s federal budget will include a massive provision for pay rises in aged care and childcare as well as the recent decision to apply compulsory superannuation to parental leave.
This Month
Labor to spend $11.3b on social housing
The new package to be detailed in the budget aims to enable states and territories to combat homelessness and repair social housing.
- Updated
Trade partners applaud gas certainty; trouble brews for Labor at home
Gas, not wishful thinking, is needed to get to net zero, says Anthony Albanese.
- Updated
- Analysis
- Federal budget
The budget that could be make or break for Labor
Jim Chalmers is gearing up for his third and most important budget. If he spends too much and stokes inflation, he knows he’ll own the next rate increase.
- Updated
New gas projects receive support amid Labor unease
Resources Minister Madeleine King has backed the development of the Narrabri gas field in NSW, and the Queensland Labor government has given the green light to four new projects in the Bowen Basin.
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Budget week is time for Dutton to roll a few Jaffas down the aisle
In the same week Peter Dutton went in to bat for the koalas, Labor flew the flag for gas.
Labor backs gas ‘to 2050 and beyond’
The government has shed its ambivalence towards gas and adopted a strategy that locks in its use for several more decades along with measures to promote carbon capture.
Chalmers locks in business tax breaks to help Made in Australia
The budget will contain tax breaks for investors to turbocharge the government’s Future Made in Australia Act, Jim Chalmers has confirmed.
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Labor’s plan to ‘restore faith’ in Qld
Anthony Albanese said Labor’s Future Made in Australia Act was key to “restore faith” with blue-collar Queenslanders, who deserted the party in 2019 over the confused position on the Adani coal mine.
- Analysis
- Political leadership
All hat, no bull: PM’s tough task disarming farmers in Qld
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are in Rockhampton for Beef 2024. One suspects Labor will need to look elsewhere in Queensland to win seats at the next election.
Albanese pledges $500m for drought relief as Queensland fight heats up
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are squaring off at Beef Week in Rockhampton as the political fight in central Queensland gathers pace.
PM blames DPP, bureaucrats for Perth couple bashing, detainee debacle
The Coalition has accused the government of duck-shoving accountability for its pledge to keep the community safe.
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Labor election plans start blowing smoke
Labor is banking on at least one rate cut before calling an election. That scenario is no longer guaranteed.
PM, Chalmers mull go-it-alone power price discounts
The Albanese government is considering a second round of power bill discounts, on top of $1000-per-household credits promised by the Queensland government.
Chalmers flags budget tax breaks
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has kept open the prospect of tax incentives in the budget as business warned that changes to foreign investment rules were not enough to attract needed capital.
Sims, Harris soften stance on Made in Australia Act
Two critics of the government’s Future Made In Australia Act have softened their views after Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlined five criteria for support.
Global crises making it hard for ethical investors: Gareth Evans
The former foreign minister nominated Israel’s “disproportionate” response to the Hamas attacks and Narendra Modi’s leadership of India as challenges for investors.
April
Labor’s plan to unlock the right foreign investment
While some investors will get a fast track, extra safeguards will be set up for high-risk proposals, like China entities investing in critical infrastructure.
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Chalmers takes aim at his ‘nostalgic’ critics
A risk of drip-feeding the policy is that everyone and their aunty piles on before it is detailed and contextualised.