Politics news

• Live: Hanson 'lucky' to have former Scott Morrison staffer as chief of staff, Hume says

  02-08-2026 23:10 via abc.net.au
  
  Acting Opposition Leader Jane Hume says Pauline Hanson is "lucky" to have Chris Taylor, one of Scott Morrison's former senior staffers, on her team. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Big tech faces higher tax if it does not reach deals with local publishers

  02-08-2026 23:10 via abc.net.au
  
  Tech companies will be forced to pay a 2.5 per cent tax on digital advertising revenue if they do not reach deals with media companies. Follow live. 
  
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• Hanson 'lucky' to have former Scott Morrison staffer as chief of staff, Hume says — as it happened

  02-08-2026 23:10 via abc.net.au
  
  Acting Opposition Leader Jane Hume says Pauline Hanson is "lucky" to have Chris Taylor, one of Scott Morrison's former senior staffers, on her team.
  
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• New premier cuts size of ministry ahead of Victorian election

  02-08-2026 22:28 via abc.net.au
  
  Victoria's new premier has filled one of the three vacancies in cabinet left by the departure of Jacinta Allan and two of her allies. 
  
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• Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson promoted to Victorian cabinet

  02-08-2026 22:28 via abc.net.au
  
  Victoria's new premier has filled one of the three vacancies in cabinet left by the departure of Jacinta Allan and two of her allies. 
  
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• Ben Carroll to fill one of three vacancies in Victorian cabinet, ABC understands

  02-08-2026 22:28 via abc.net.au
  
  MPs tell the ABC Victoria's new premier is only expected to fill one of the three vacancies in cabinet. 
  
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• ‘No corruption’: Abbott says ICAC a factional hit job as Taylor faces questions

  02-08-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Tony Abbott, the federal Liberal president, said the religious-right Reformers group was “largely a group of enthusiastic young Christians with a strong sense of mission”.
  
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• Sliding housing prices gave the Reserve Bank a surprise helping hand

  02-08-2026 16:01 via smh.com.au
  
  The RBA’s three rate rises were always going to slow inflation. But it’s got an unexpected assist from the government’s budget measures.
  
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• House price fall accelerates as rate rises and budget policies hit

  02-08-2026 16:01 via smh.com.au
  
  Property values have racked up their biggest fall since Anthony Albanese took office as rates, cost of living and tax changes collide.
  
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• Big carrot, more stick under news bargaining plan

  02-08-2026 16:01 via smh.com.au
  
  Large tech companies have won some concessions, but face larger penalties, under a revamped plan aimed at helping local news publishers.
  
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• Motorists opt to avoid the fuel spike by buying an EV

  02-08-2026 14:30 via smh.com.au
  
  Petrol prices are about to climb well above $2 a litre this week. But a growing number of motorists won’t care – they have just bought an electric car.
  
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• Best of cartoons, August 3, 2026

  02-08-2026 13:44 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• ‘How can it be?’ Church leader turns Albanese’s words against him

  02-08-2026 09:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Sydney Dean Sandy Grant and child safety advocates have joined forces to demand a total ban on betting ads, accusing Labor of caving to commercial interests.
  
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• Drivers brace for petrol price hikes as fuel excise cut comes to end

  02-08-2026 07:21 via abc.net.au
  
  Prices are forecast to increase to about $2.20 a litre for unleaded and $2.60 a litre for diesel when the fuel excise returns to its normal rate.
  
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• Australia records biggest-ever surge in EV sales

  02-08-2026 03:43 via abc.net.au
  
  Nearly one in every two new vehicles sold was either electric or hybrid across April, May and June. 
  
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• Australia records biggest-ever quarterly surge in EV sales

  02-08-2026 03:43 via abc.net.au
  
  Nearly one in every two new vehicles sold was either electric or hybrid across April, May and June. 
  
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• Labor's Secret Harbour by-election campaign walks fine line on pork barrelling

  02-08-2026 02:16 via abc.net.au
  
  Labor's funding announcements in the electorate of Secret Harbour ahead of its by-election prompt the question: where does pork barrelling begin and genuine campaigning end? 
  
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• Government's Secret Harbour funding announcements fuel pork barrelling scrutiny

  02-08-2026 02:16 via abc.net.au
  
  Labor's funding announcements in the electorate of Secret Harbour ahead of its by-election prompt the question: where does pork barrelling begin and genuine campaigning end? 
  
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• Parliament and pineapple on pizza: Milton Dick’s plan to future-proof democracy

  02-08-2026 01:41 via smh.com.au
  
  From remote Indigenous schools to outback classrooms with two students, the House Speaker is on a national crusade to rebuild faith in Australia’s institutions – putting pineapple in place of politics.
  
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