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- Need to Know
Payman quits Labor to sit as independent
Fatima Payman has the backing of Muslim community groups; Marles confident in Parliament House security after roof protest; Lehrmann committed to stand trial. Follow live updates.
- Lucy Slade
Why AUKUS could cost billions and leave us with nothing
This week on The Fin podcast, International Editor James Curran goes inside the AUKUS deal and reveals why a key group of critics believes it could be a financial and strategic disaster.
David Rowe cartoons for July 2024
David Rowe is a multiple Walkley award-winning cartoonist. He draws a daily political cartoon and one for the Chanticleer column.
- Updated
- David Rowe
Rebel senator to quit Labor, backed by ‘Muslim vote’
Fatima Payman is expected to quit Labor on Thursday to join the crossbench, heightening fears about sectarianism creeping into politics.
- Phillip Coorey
Call for ‘toothless tiger’ ASIC to be split in two
A 20-month Senate inquiry found the watchdog should be split into a companies regulator and a separate financial conduct authority.
- Ronald Mizen
Australian Muslim Vote campaign mirrors the US, UK
It has been brewing for months, but the controversy over renegade Labor senator Fatima Payman and her full-throated support for Palestine has spurred it on.
- Andrew Tillett
Opinion & Analysis
Canberra’s $1b digital identity play could be the next white elephant
The failure of open banking and the poor uptake of My Health Record offer a salutary warning for the government’s digital ID system.
Government editor
PM’s NATO knockback comes at perilous time
Turmoil in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and US means Australia needs to work hard on security relationships.
Foreign affairs, defence correspondent
Labor’s identity politics tensions exposed
Senator Fatima Payman is also now part of the Greens’ political weaponisation of the Gaza war to try to win Muslim votes in Labor-held seats.
Editorial
In the end, Payman gave Albanese no choice
For the second time in this sitting session Fatima Payman has stolen the agenda and derailed the government’s attempts to spruik cost-of-living relief.
Political editor
More From Today
- Analysis
- Government Observed
Canberra’s $1b digital identity play could be the next white elephant
The failure of open banking and the poor uptake of My Health Record offer a salutary warning for the government’s digital ID system.
- 1 hr ago
- Tom Burton
Yesterday
‘Not the Coalition I used to support’: Samuel savages Dutton’s break-up plan
Former competition regulator Graeme Samuel and senior Liberal Kate Carnell have savaged Peter Dutton’s plan to break up supermarket giants, warning it could push up grocery prices.
- Tom McIlroy
Small firms fight push to force data-breach reporting
Before critical cabinet considerations of major privacy reforms, small business groups say now is not the right time to add further compliance costs.
- Tom Burton
Aged care insurance fees jump on threat of fines and jail
Premiums have doubled for some aged care providers and directors, due to potential big fines and jail time for breaching proposed tougher laws.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
Levy on coal, gas and iron ore exporters could save AUKUS subs
Readers’ letters on saving submarines; the consumer data right; responsibility for scams; renewables’ potential; opportunities for independents; and the UK election.
- Exclusive
- International students
Visa crackdown halves student numbers from India, Nepal, Philippines
The odds are stacking up against potential students from some major source countries as the number of approved visas slumps.
- Julie Hare
Albanese expects Payman to quit Labor in coming days
Anthony Albanese said the plan had been in place for “for more than a month”; New home builds well below National Cabinet’s goal; China, Taiwan tensions escalate after boat seized. How the day unfolded.
- Updated
- Lucy Slade and Campbell Kwan
This Month
Dutton moves to election footing after budget shift, NATO snub
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has told his party room to “be ready” for an election as early as September.
- Phillip Coorey
- Analysis
- Foreign relations
PM’s NATO knockback comes at perilous time
Turmoil in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and US means Australia needs to work hard on security relationships.
- Andrew Tillett
‘Critical issue’: Queensland business calls for working visa tweak
Queensland will see its state-nominated permanent skilled migration allocation reduced from 900 to 600 spots and temporary visas reduced from 650 to 600.
- James Hall
Greens seek profit from human misery: Labor MP
The Greens say they will keep trying to destabilise the government over the war in Gaza.
- Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- Small business
‘Naughty and nice’ list to be created for small business payments
Late payments by large companies are estimated to cost small and medium business $7 billion a year and contribute to their failures, prompting new rules from the federal parliament.
- Ronald Mizen
- Updated
- Supermarket wars
Dutton’s break-up powers are populist ‘madness’: Kennett
Former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett said the Coalition’s plan to break up Coles and Woolworths was “madness” that demonised employers and would not bring down prices at the checkout.
- Tom McIlroy
Farmers vow to hurt Labor over live sheep export ban
WA farmers will begin doorknocking in marginal Labor-held electorates this week, vowing to make the Albanese government pay for a ban on live sheep exports.
- Tom Rabe and Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
Payman owes her place in the Senate to Labor
Readers’ letters on Senator Fatima Payman’s stance; how the NDIS drains productivity; misguided calls for a rate rise; why renewables add up; and the need to end live sheep exports.
- Exclusive
- AUKUS
Senior WA minister airs doubts on AUKUS submarine schedule
WA Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia believes Australia is likely to receive five US-made nuclear-powered submarines, implying delays in the ones to be built.
- Andrew Tillett
Police worry about online radicalisation after university stabbing
The ideology behind the university stabbing is unclear, the assistant commissioner says; Peter Dutton announces Coalition support for the divestiture of the major supermarkets.
- Updated
- Maxim Shanahan and Lucy Slade
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Albanese quietly frees up funds for election fight
The prime minister has implemented a shift in budget strategy that allows him to free up funds for election priorities, causing some dismay among senior officials.
- Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- Immigration
Queensland to cop skilled migrant cut amid boost to smaller states
Queensland will be the only Australian state to suffer a reduction in the number of skilled migrant allocations this financial year.
- Tom Rabe
Overseas students cap will protect integrity of universities: Varghese
While the university sector reels from a raft of measures designed to limit net migration, there is growing support for caps on overseas student numbers.
- Julie Hare
