Politics news

• Taylor ramps up criticism of energy minister over Snowy 2.0 cost blowout — as it happened

  22-10-2026 22:09 via ABC News
  
  Opposition Leader Angus Taylor calls for Chris Bowen to resign over the latest Snowy 2.0 cost blowout, while denying he underestimated how much it would cost when he green-lit the project in 2019. 
  
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• Live: Taylor ramps up criticism of energy minister over Snowy 2.0 cost blowout

  22-10-2026 22:09 via ABC News
  
  Opposition Leader Angus Taylor calls for Chris Bowen to resign over the latest Snowy 2.0 cost blowout, while denying he underestimated how much it would cost when he green-lit the project in 2019. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: More than $600k donated to Save the Children in Haines's honour

  22-10-2026 22:09 via ABC News
  
  Australians have donated more than $600,000 to a fundraiser in Helen Haines's honour after she was attacked on Monday afternoon. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: Labor will not say if Snowy 2.0 is value for money after cost blowout

  22-10-2026 22:09 via ABC News
  
  Labor frontbencher Kristy McBain declines to answer questions about whether Snowy 2.0 project is good value for money after confirmation of another cost blowout. Follow live. 
  
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• Promised a better life, New Zealand voters are asking what went wrong

  22-10-2026 20:37 via ABC News
  
  Families living in campervans, workers losing their house deposits and communities watching loved ones leave in the thousands for Australia. These are the everyday stakes of New Zealand’s election.
  
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• Frustrated Kiwi voters head to polls as others leave NZ in droves

  22-10-2026 20:37 via ABC News
  
  Families living in campervans, workers losing their house deposits and communities watching loved ones leave in the thousands for Australia. These are the everyday stakes of New Zealand’s election.
  
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• In this age of shouting, I’ve noticed a startling new kind of complaint

  22-10-2026 20:00 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  Once you introduce violence into a political ecosystem, you make it a feasible way of doing politics.
  
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• Helen Haines pressed PM on regional health days before car attack

  22-10-2026 20:00 via ABC News
  
  Independent MP Helen Haines met with Anthony Albanese to lobby for regional health funding just five days before being critically injured in a targeted car attack.
  
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• Bolstered police and home security upgrades on table for MPs after Haines attack

  22-10-2026 20:00 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The four-wheel-drive attack on the independent MP has exposed long-running tensions between parliamentarians and the authorities responsible for protecting them.
  
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• Trump ordered to sit for deposition in his $14bn BBC lawsuit

  22-10-2026 19:14 via ABC News
  
  The US president is suing the British broadcaster, alleging it defamed him by splicing together two pieces of his speech made to supporters before they stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
  
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• Trump ordered to sit for deposition in his $14b BBC lawsuit

  22-10-2026 19:14 via ABC News
  
  The US president is suing the British broadcaster, alleging it defamed him by splicing together two pieces of his speech made to supporters before they stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
  
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• Best of cartoons, October 23, 2026

  22-10-2026 13:33 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Chalmers says investors feel good about Australia despite gloom at home

  22-10-2026 13:30 via ABC News
  
  Treasurer Jim Chalmers hails positive news for business investment, despite domestic gloom over inflation and productivity.
  
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• Nationals leader set to attempt switch to lower house

  22-10-2026 13:20 via ABC News
  
  Nationals MP Michelle Landry is expected to announce on Friday that she will retire from federal politics at the next election.
  
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• Helen Haines remains critical, three days after car attack

  22-10-2026 08:22 via ABC News
  
  Floral tributes have continued to be added outside Ms Haines's Wangaratta office, with grief still raw among local and interstate visitors alike.
  
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• Helen Haines remains critical, four days after car attack

  22-10-2026 08:22 via ABC News
  
  Floral tributes have continued to be added outside Ms Haines's Wangaratta office, with grief still raw among local and interstate visitors alike.
  
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• Corruption watchdog’s interest ‘piqued’ by Labor’s invite-only grants

  22-10-2026 07:55 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  A Senate inquiry into the controversial program comes as Anthony Albanese was forced to defend a “dirt file” his office sent out about independent MP Helen Haines.
  
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• Time for the truth about Jordon Steele-John, rather than conspiracy theories

  22-10-2026 06:54 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  David Shoebridge is genuine in wanting an independent inquiry into Jordon Steele-John. Some of his party’s supporters, not so much.
  
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• Hypervigilant and isolated, rural female MPs exhausted from fear

  22-10-2026 05:58 via ABC News
  
  Regional female MPs are reviewing their safety measures and changing how they move around in public spaces, which are often far from emergency services.
  
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• Who is Phil Haines, the soulmate who convinced Helen to run for politics?

  22-10-2026 02:52 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The MP’s husband, who stunned the PM and the nation with his warmth and grace, was quietly influential in the community independent movement.
  
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• Helen Haines attack as it happened: Indi MP loses both legs, husband confirms; vigil held in Wodonga; more details emerge about alleged attacker Brendan Nugent’s past

  22-10-2026 00:57 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  Follow along as we bring you rolling updates on this evolving story.
  
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