Politics news

• Australian engineer Robert Pether released from Iraqi prison

  12-10-2026 04:17 via smh.com.au
  
  The Iraqi government had insisted that Pether or the company must pay a $US12 million fine.
  
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• Best of cartoons, October 13, 2026

  12-10-2026 15:40 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• AI boom could widen income inequality, Labor MP warns

  12-10-2026 13:45 via abc.net.au
  
  AI use in the workforce could see the wage gap shrink, while worsening inequality.
  
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• Penny Wong urges Palestinian Authority to hold elections 'without delay'

  12-10-2026 10:41 via abc.net.au
  
  Australia's foreign minister accuses the Palestinian Authority of undermining the prospect of a two-state solution by postponing its first elections in two decades.
  
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• ‘All the emotions are starting to hit’: son says Australian freed from Iraqi prison overwhelmed

  12-10-2026 09:10 via smh.com.au
  
  Australian engineer Robert Pether has left Iraq after more than five years in detention, but his son says the family did not have to pay the $12million fine.
  
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• Penny Wong ‘deeply disappointed’ by Palestinian election delay

  12-10-2026 08:47 via smh.com.au
  
  The Coalition said Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognise Palestine before key conditions had been delivered showed a “dangerous lack of judgement”.
  
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• ‘Roman amphitheatre stuff’: Big tech, media warned over livestreamed US execution

  12-10-2026 06:52 via smh.com.au
  
  Social media platforms and media outlets have been warned to show caution about broadcasting a planned livestreamed execution in the United States.
  
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• ‘Bully boy’ accusations fly over nuclear waste secrecy

  12-10-2026 06:38 via smh.com.au
  
  The Albanese government is fighting to keep these FOI documents hidden. Jacqui Lambie and others on the crossbench aren’t happy.
  
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• ‘Things have to change’: Frydenberg criticises Liberal party under Taylor’s leadership

  12-10-2026 05:39 via smh.com.au
  
  Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the Liberal Party faces an existential threat, while insisting he has time to decide whether he will run again.
  
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• Wife of Australian engineer released from Iraq relieved 'nightmare' is over

  12-10-2026 04:56 via abc.net.au
  
  Robert Pether was arrested in 2021 and served more than four years behind bars over what friends and family called trumped-up fraud charges.
  
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• Australian engineer Robert Pether leaves Iraq five years after arrest

  12-10-2026 04:56 via abc.net.au
  
  Robert Pether was arrested in 2021 and served more than four years behind bars over what friends and family called trumped-up fraud charges.
  
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• ‘Things have to change’: Frydenberg launches attack on Taylor’s time as Liberal leader

  12-10-2026 02:48 via smh.com.au
  
  Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the Liberal Party faces an existential threat, while insisting he has time to decide whether he will run again.
  
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• ‘Things have to change’: Frydenberg criticises Liberals under Taylor’s leadership

  12-10-2026 02:48 via smh.com.au
  
  Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the Liberal Party faces an existential threat, while insisting he has time to decide whether he will run again.
  
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• Minister didn't find out about ATO credit card ban until it was announced — as it happened

  11-10-2026 22:18 via abc.net.au
  
  The small business minister has told Question Time she didn't find out about the tax office's credit card ban until it was announced.
  
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• Live: Ryan prepared to fight as Frydenberg hints at comeback

  11-10-2026 22:18 via abc.net.au
  
  Independent MP Monique Ryan says she's ready to fight after Josh Frydenberg signals he's preparing for a political comeback. Follow live.  
  
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• Live: Minister didn't find out about ATO credit card ban until it was announced

  11-10-2026 22:18 via abc.net.au
  
  The small business minister has told Question Time she didn't find out about the tax office's credit card ban until it was announced. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Labor minister wants RBA to go further on card surcharges ban

  11-10-2026 22:18 via abc.net.au
  
  Labor frontbencher Kristy McBain says the Reserve Bank should remove bank fees for businesses to use point-of-sale machines. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Joyce backs ban on 'Roman amphitheatre' execution live stream

  11-10-2026 22:18 via abc.net.au
  
  Barnaby Joyce says Australians shouldn't be exposed to a live streamed firing squad execution of a US prisoner. Follow live.
  
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• Chalmers can’t shift any blame on to Trump or Bullock – even if they deserve it

  11-10-2026 20:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Support for One Nation may have cooled, but the latest Resolve Poll shows the issue that will decide the election, the cost of living, is not good news for Labor.
  
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• Alan Kohler on the stories he covered — and the ones he missed

  11-10-2026 20:00 via abc.net.au
  
  In his final column before retiring from the ABC, Alan Kohler reflects on the stories that shaped him, plus those that shaped Australia in ways he could not predict.
  
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• Zelenskyy appears surprised as Trump announces 'energy ceasefire'

  11-10-2026 16:21 via abc.net.au
  
  The US president has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for high diesel prices and called for fresh elections to replace Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  
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• 'Up to our people': Zelenskyy responds to Trump's election call

  11-10-2026 16:21 via abc.net.au
  
  The US president has called for Ukraine to pick a new leader as he blames Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for high diesel prices.
  
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• Greens push to let Australians sue Big Tech in digital safety overhaul

  11-10-2026 14:59 via smh.com.au
  
  Inspired by the $25 billion payout extracted from Meta in the US, the Greens say the price for passing Anika Wells’ new digital bill is the private right to sue.
  
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• Best of cartoons, October 12, 2026

  11-10-2026 12:15 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Voters cool on Hanson as Albanese wears the blame for cost of living

  11-10-2026 09:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Support for One Nation and party leader Pauline Hanson is softening, but voters are blaming the government, rather than the Reserve Bank, for cost-of-living pain.
  
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• Ben Roberts-Smith joins politicians, veterans as Albanese marks 25 years since start of Afghanistan war

  11-10-2026 06:32 via smh.com.au
  
  Roberts-Smith said his appearance was “not about my service”, but about the contribution of others to Australia’s longest campaign, as he signed autographs and spoke to families.
  
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• Ben Roberts-Smith joins politicians, veterans as Albanese marks Australia’s 25 years in Afghanistan

  11-10-2026 06:27 via smh.com.au
  
  Roberts-Smith said his appearance was “not about my service”, but about the contribution of others to Australia’s longest campaign, as he signed autographs and spoke to families.
  
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• ‘We are talking billions’: Burke demands costings on Coalition deportation plan

  11-10-2026 03:55 via smh.com.au
  
  As the government launched a new attack on Angus Taylor’s migration plan, Burke would not say whether Labor had made mistakes on migration management.
  
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• Ben Roberts-Smith joins 600 veterans as Albanese marks Australia’s 25 years in Afghanistan

  11-10-2026 03:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The prime minister honoured those who served in Afghanistan, the 47 Australian personnel who died as a result of their service and the families who continue to live with their loss.
  
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• Taylor says he would welcome return of Frydenberg to politics

  11-10-2026 02:28 via abc.net.au
  
  Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg has a "role to play" and should be mobilised at the next election.
  
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