Cheaper power bills pledge as Dutton spurs gas supply
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's budget reply has outlined an alternative vision to drive down energy costs and ease pressure on household budgets.
political campaigns
Independent makes minority government ‘safeguard’ pitch
A senator vying for re-election has positioned himself as a safeguard in a minority government as his campaign kicks off.
Vote to bypass court to strip citizenship ‘last resort’
A referendum asking Australians whether a minister should have the power to strip a dual national of citizenship has been floated by the coalition.
Leading economists call out coalition’s inflation claim
As the economy looks set to be front and centre in the election campaign, one of the coalition's leading inflation claims has been called "a joke" by experts.
Climate 200-backed candidates edging out incumbents
Momentum is building for Climate 200-backed independents as they claw away at major party margins and have a strong chance of being elected at the federal poll.
Deepfakes harder to detect spurring election concerns
Hyper-realistic digitally altered or created images are becoming harder to detect and platforms designed to detect them are failing to do so, research shows.
Palmer pledges big biscuits for Patriots election blitz
Billionaire Clive Palmer has munched on a favourite Australian snack while expounding on his new party's Trump-style policies and promising to spend big on ads.
Poll party on hold as triumphant premier waits on count
The final makeup of state parliament is still taking shape after Labor's barnstorming third-term victory, delaying the returning premier's official victory lap.
PM downplays personal poll lift as Labor maintains lead
Anthony Albanese has improved his standing among voters, drawing level with Peter Dutton for satisfaction in polling for the first time in a year.
Libs refuse to back Australia-Pacific climate forum bid
The Liberal Party it's more concerned about household costs than hosting climate talks with Pacific nations, ahead of the federal election.
‘Rock bottom’: Nats leader despairs at state poll loss
The Liberals and Nationals should view an election wipe out like a drug addict hitting rock bottom and realise they need to change, a party leader says.
Voters despair as economic hurdles cloud future
Australians' confidence in the government is at its lowest point since the Black Summer bushfires as their hope for the future wanes.
Western Australian ALP eyes win, but may shed 11 seats
Despite two polls predicting WA Labor will win a third term in office, Premier Roger Cook says he's not taking victory for granted and the party remains humble.
Federal Labor scores first poll win in eight months
Labor's popularity has finally rebounded, albeit narrowly, as the government pulled ahead of the coalition weeks ahead of the election, YouGov polling shows.
Political truth laws get tick, AI threat to poll pruned
Labor is being criticised for being hypocritical over truth in political advertising laws, after supporting the action despite icing progress on the reform.
Labor gain third term as Libs fall flat at poll
Premier Roger Cook will govern in his own right after leading Labor to a third term, with the Liberals failing to make a significant dent in its vote.
Duty of care floated for betting ads accountability
A draft proposal to make gambling companies more accountable for harm through a duty of care is being considered by a federal minister.
Industry bailout steels Labor but poll pain persists
Labor still trails the coalition in exclusive latest YouGov polling as a federal election draws closer, despite voters backing a huge industry rescue package.
Medicare the winner as parties match funding pledges
Healthcare funding is to receive a certain boost with both major parties pledging to spend billions of dollars as they prepare for the federal election.
Labor ‘waited too long’ to announce big election pledge
With a federal election looming, an expert warns it will take more than a rate cut and a health promise to turn the political tides in Labor's favour.
Warnings consultants would replace axed public servants
Australians could wait in longer lines and pay more for government services under an opposition plan to cut thousands of public servants, a Labor minister says.
Independents seize on ‘unfair’ deal to boost campaign
David Pocock is going on tour to visit other independent candidates challenging major party MPs after electoral changes he brands as unfair were rammed through.
Labor admits trust damaged after surviving voter revolt
The Liberals have fallen short of a by-election upset in a traditional Labor stronghold after voters took a sledgehammer to the 10-year-old state government.
Caution urged over polls as Labor bleeds support
A warning has been issued over election polling as tightly clustered results in a close race may not reflect Australians' votes.
Controversial electoral reforms cap donations, spending
Crossbenchers and independents are up in arms over reforms they argue stack the playing field towards the major parties by limiting their campaign resources.
Anger in halls of power over ‘unfair’ electoral reforms
Federal MPs have clashed in a Parliament House corridor over political donation laws which loom as a sticking point in minority government negotiations.
Greens concede Prahran as Werribee hangs in the balance
A Liberal candidate has wrested an inner-city seat from the Greens in one of two state by-elections, as the other political contest remains too close to call.
Invincible no more: by-election puts Labor on notice
With a state by-election result hanging on a knife edge, voters have fired a "warning shot" at Labor ahead of the upcoming federal election.
‘Hold the line’: politicians say goodbye ahead of poll
Retiring politicians have issued rallying calls to the nation to remain optimistic about the future as they bid farewell ahead of a federal election.
Draft electoral donations cap to be raised after talks
Draft caps and thresholds for federal election spending will increase as Labor negotiates with the Liberals to pass electoral reform before parliament rises.
Teals bet on hung parliament to force gambling ad ban
Independent crossbenchers will leverage their votes in a minority government to force action on banning betting advertising after Labor failed to act.