Politics news

• Live: Tax office boss concedes consultation failures on credit card ban

  28-10-2026 21:29 via ABC News
  
  The head of the tax office says he would have consulted more closely with small businesses if he had his time again, conceding the ATO should have had a more open conversation before rolling out the credit card ban. Follow live.  
  
  Read more

• Live: PM says police called to the Lodge over security concern

  28-10-2026 21:29 via ABC News
  
  Anthony Albanese reiterates his call to "turn down the heat" on political issues as he reveals there was a security concern at his Canberra home last night. Follow live.
  
  Read more

• Live: PM says police called to his Canberra home over security concern

  28-10-2026 21:29 via ABC News
  
  Anthony Albanese reiterates his call to "turn down the heat" on political issues as he reveals there was a security concern at his Canberra home last night. Follow live.
  
  Read more

• Live: Albanese warns inflation challenges 'won't be solved overnight'

  28-10-2026 21:29 via ABC News
  
  Anthony Albanese says Australia faces domestic and global pressures and is not immune to their impact. Follow live.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Federal politics: PM says police called to his Canberra home over security concern — as it happened

  28-10-2026 21:29 via ABC News
  
  Anthony Albanese reiterates his call to "turn down the heat" on political issues as he reveals there was a security concern at his Canberra home last night. 
  
  Read more

• Trump's immigration policies helped him win but now threaten to backfire

  28-10-2026 19:46 via ABC News
  
  The Trump administration's immigration crackdown was a vote winner in the 2024 presidential election, but is proving more divisive ahead of the midterms.
  
  Read more

• Mass deportation plan helped Trump win, but now threatens to backfire

  28-10-2026 19:46 via ABC News
  
  The Trump administration's immigration crackdown was a vote winner in the 2024 presidential election, but is proving more divisive ahead of the midterms.
  
  Read more

• The 'inexplicable' order that put two trains on a collision course in Spain

  28-10-2026 19:12 via ABC News
  
  At least 68 people are dead after one high-speed train was ordered to proceed past a red signal at full speed, putting it on a collision course with another stopped train.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Who would want to be Jim Chalmers right now?

  28-10-2026 19:00 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  Halfway through the government’s second term, how many ordinary Australians could identify what its big defining goals are?
  
  Read more

• ‘Dangerously unprepared’: Union and Viva Energy issue fuel security warning to Albanese

  28-10-2026 19:00 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  Decades of industrial decline and reliance on volatile overseas shipping routes have left essential services, freight and farming exposed to international conflict if domestic refining collapses.
  
  Read more

• Bureaucrats rubber-stamp 98 per cent of Labor’s invite-only grants

  28-10-2026 19:00 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  Departmental scrutiny of hundreds of millions of dollars in politically handpicked community grants has been called into question after research revealed bureaucrats almost never reject an invited bid on merit.
  
  Read more

• Cracks emerge in reunited Coalition over trade deal and AI

  28-10-2026 18:41 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The disruptive sway of One Nation on Coalition policy came to a head behind closed doors in Canberra this week.
  
  Read more

• Best of cartoons, October 29, 2026

  28-10-2026 16:12 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
  Read more

• Defence official sought approval from minister to block evidence appearing on social media

  28-10-2026 11:33 via ABC News
  
  The senior Defence official said she sought advice from a government minister over concerns about "vile" social media comments and their impact on the health of officials.
  
  Read more

• Defence official flagged plans for social media ban request

  28-10-2026 11:33 via ABC News
  
  The senior Defence official said she sought advice from a government minister over concerns about "vile" social media comments and their impact on the health of officials.
  
  Read more

• Defence official claimed she flagged plans for social media ban request

  28-10-2026 11:33 via ABC News
  
  The senior Defence official said she sought advice from a government minister over concerns about "vile" social media comments and their impact on the health of officials.
  
  Read more

• Defence official asked minister for support to keep evidence off social media

  28-10-2026 11:33 via ABC News
  
  The senior Defence official said she sought advice from a government minister over concerns about "vile" social media comments and their impact on the health of officials.
  
  Read more

• Homelessness crisis hits breaking point as services turn away desperate Australians

  28-10-2026 09:45 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  A damning new report reveals almost two-thirds of sector providers are rejecting clients as soaring rents and chronic shortages push frontline services to the brink of collapse.
  
  Read more

• ‘Not invited, not welcome’: Russian ambassador attends Greens leader’s speech denying Ukraine military aid

  28-10-2026 08:40 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  David Shoebridge said he did not know Mikhail Petrakov was listening to his speech.
  
  Read more

• Chalmers weighs infrastructure cuts as inflation locks in Cup Day rate hike

  28-10-2026 08:06 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The highest monthly jump since March puts intense pressure on the Reserve Bank to deliver another interest rate increase when it meets next Tuesday.
  
  Read more

• Grant Theft warning: Chalmers faces new inflation nightmare before Christmas

  28-10-2026 07:08 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  Chalmers, Gallagher and Albanese have to play a larger role in easing demand in the Australian economy to deal with global inflationary pressures.
  
  Read more

• SA MP recounts 'non-stop' messages and being followed to her car

  28-10-2026 06:53 via ABC News
  
  Two female South Australian politicians have revealed their separate experiences with a man who has been cautioned by police for stalking — including an incident where one of them was followed back to her car.
  
  Read more

• Shoebridge says Steele-John’s social media posts ‘obviously not the way to resolve’ issue

  28-10-2026 06:27 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  David Shoebridge declared all women should feel safe and called for an end to Russian “blood money” during his first National Press Club appearance.
  
  Read more

• Chalmers lowers hopes for fuel discounts after high inflation result

  28-10-2026 06:12 via ABC News
  
  Faced with another high inflation result and the likelihood of a rate hike next Tuesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers calls for "perspective" and points to external factors.
  
  Read more

• Chalmers lowers expectations for fuel discounts after high inflation result

  28-10-2026 06:12 via ABC News
  
  Faced with another high inflation result and the likelihood of a rate hike next Tuesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers calls for "perspective" and points to external factors.
  
  Read more

• Forget the mortgage belt: Gamers are getting smashed and Chalmers should worry

  28-10-2026 05:51 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  Chalmers, Gallagher and Albanese have to play a larger role in easing demand in the Australian economy to deal with global inflationary pressures.
  
  Read more

• Australia providing 'extraordinary' support to ICC staff amid Trump sanctions

  28-10-2026 04:10 via ABC News
  
  A senior official tells the ABC that Australia and other countries have provided public support and help through "quiet diplomacy" as the Trump administration forges ahead with sanctions against the International Criminal Court.
  
  Read more

• Payman apologises to Haines over attack comments, doubles down on staffing demand

  28-10-2026 03:25 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The senator reached out directly to independent MP Helen Haines, but has slammed the government for its staffing provisions.
  
  Read more

• ABC tells One Nation to remove cartoon with violent depiction of Bluey

  28-10-2026 02:58 via ABC News
  
  In an episode of Pauline Hanson's Please Explain series released in 2024, Bluey and former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews were depicted running over each other.
  
  Read more

• Inflation jumps to 4.3 per cent, fuelling prospect of Cup Day rate rise

  28-10-2026 02:10 via Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federal
  
  The highest monthly jump since March puts intense pressure on the Reserve Bank to deliver another interest rate increase when it meets next Tuesday.
  
  Read more

Follow @Politics_NewsAU on Twitter!