Politics news

• Chalmers can't avoid questions on house prices, Marles learns from melon saga

  03-09-2026 09:22 via abc.net.au
  
  This week in Canberra the treasurer was grilled over the economy, the Coalition finally released its tobacco excise plan and Richard Marles gave the Trump administration a very low risk present. 
  
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• Live: Two more more Australians confirmed safe in Nepal-Tibet flood disaster

  03-09-2026 22:59 via abc.net.au
  
  Two more Australians have been confirmed safe after the Nepal-Tibet flood, with the number of unaccounted-for Australians revised down to 36. Follow live. 
  
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• Hanson's field days invite sparks controversy with farmers

  03-09-2026 21:58 via abc.net.au
  
  The organisers of a field days event near the NSW-Victoria border defend inviting Pauline Hanson to open the event.
  
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• Economy won't improve until Australia climbs productivity mountain

  03-09-2026 21:27 via abc.net.au
  
  For the average Australian, just where we are economically is, at best, confusing; at worst, alarming.
  
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• Stars align for Frydenberg comeback. That could eclipse Taylor

  03-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  While Labor has had a week full of bad economic news, the federal opposition has been unable to capitalise on it. But there is a saviour waiting in the wings.
  
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• It will take a generation to fix the housing crisis, says top economist

  03-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  While house values have fallen, affordability is still at record lows. And experts say there is no silver bullet.
  
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• Pub test: Albanese faces dire warnings that migration plan risks shuttering hotels

  03-09-2026 20:50 via smh.com.au
  
  In a fresh move to restore confidence in the nation’s broken migration program, Labor has also killed a dodgy graduate diploma used by international students to stay in Australia.
  
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• Best of cartoons, September 4, 2026

  03-09-2026 14:06 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Labor shuts down course linked to student visa misuse

  03-09-2026 14:00 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal government is preventing new enrolments in a graduate diploma it fears is being used by non-genuine international students to switch courses and prolong their stay in Australia.
  
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• Albanese and Pacific leaders to rebuke China after missile test. All except one

  03-09-2026 14:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The tiny island nation of Nauru was expected to be the only holdout as 17 of the 18 Pacific Island Forum members united to demand more transparency from China.
  
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• Teachers hit back at Nationals claim about 'anti-boy' ideology in schools

  03-09-2026 09:55 via abc.net.au
  
  A teacher's union has fired back, labelling the remarks a "malevolent mischaracterisation" that is "fundamentally incorrect".
  
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• Taylor's claim teachers push 'political agenda' prompts backlash

  03-09-2026 09:55 via abc.net.au
  
  A teacher's union has fired back, labelling the remarks a "malevolent mischaracterisation" that is "fundamentally incorrect".
  
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• ‘Teaching boys to respect girls isn’t woke’: Clare snaps at Taylor over manosphere debate

  03-09-2026 09:38 via smh.com.au
  
  Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said teachers were running their own agendas in classrooms and Australians needed to be vigilant about a politicised curriculum.
  
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• Small business trusts get stamp duty escape hatch in Chalmers’ latest tax tweak

  03-09-2026 09:06 via smh.com.au
  
  This is the third round of changes to the budget tax reforms, following alterations to ensure widows were not left with large capital gains tax bills or denied negative gearing incentives.
  
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• ‘Reckless’: Coalition’s 80% cigarette tax cut slammed by health experts

  03-09-2026 07:23 via smh.com.au
  
  Australia’s leading medical body has labelled the Coalition’s plan to slash tax on cigarettes “reckless”, while the opposition frames the move as an assault on organised crime.
  
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• US declares it will accelerate military presence in Australia

  03-09-2026 06:59 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence Minister Richard Marles has met with his US counterpart in Washington DC and discussed an expansion of US presence on Australian military bases.
  
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• Government offers small businesses a trust tax workaround

  03-09-2026 06:02 via abc.net.au
  
  Those with discretionary trusts can be exempt from the new minimum 30 per cent tax if they agree to hold their trust distributions constant.
  
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• ‘No respect’: Albanese blasts China missile-testing, rejects US comparison

  03-09-2026 05:34 via smh.com.au
  
  The prime minister foreshadowed a “very strong” joint statement against Beijing’s missile test, but he has threatened that since July.
  
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• ‘No respect’: Albanese blasts China missile testing, rejects US comparison

  03-09-2026 05:34 via smh.com.au
  
  The prime minister foreshadowed a “very strong” joint statement against Beijing’s missile test, but he has threatened that since July.
  
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• Theft of sanitary items demonstrates period poverty desperation

  03-09-2026 02:42 via abc.net.au
  
  Using socks as sanitary pads, wearing tampons for more than two days and stealing products from supermarkets are some of the lengths women and girls are going to in order to manage their periods.
  
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• Housing showdown: Chalmers on budget defence as Liberals warn of market crash

  03-09-2026 02:41 via smh.com.au
  
  But former prime minister Paul Keating has backed Labor’s changes, arguing successive governments have been afraid of reform.
  
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• Nationals leader claims 'anti-boy' ideology being taught in schools — as it happened

  02-09-2026 22:48 via abc.net.au
  
  Matt Canavan has doubled down on claims the way children are taught about consent in school is driving young boys to the manosphere. 
  
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• Live: Opposition leader says teachers running 'political agendas' in schools

  02-09-2026 22:48 via abc.net.au
  
  Angus Taylor would not say whether he agreed with comments from Nationals leader Matt Canavan that there needed to be more male teachers in classrooms. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Nationals leader claims 'anti-boy' ideology being taught in schools

  02-09-2026 22:48 via abc.net.au
  
  Matt Canavan has doubled down on claims the way children are taught about consent in school is driving young boys to the manosphere. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Hegseth thanks Australia for 'matched' defence capabilities

  02-09-2026 22:48 via abc.net.au
  
  US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth thanks Australia for its ongoing friendship and the need to "ensure our capabilities match and are complementary". Follow live.
  
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• Live: Coalition unveils plan to slash tobacco tax by 80 per cent

  02-09-2026 22:48 via abc.net.au
  
  The plan would reduce the excise on a standard packet of 20 cigarettes from around $30 to around $6.  Follow live. 
  
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• Hanson risks accusations she's using a security issue for political points

  02-09-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  By speaking publicly about the threats she's facing, the One Nation leader has shone a light on a growing problem facing our democracy but pinning them on routine political rhetoric risks accusations of political point-scoring.
  
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• Hanson risks accusations of political point-scoring

  02-09-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  By speaking publicly about the threats she's facing, the One Nation leader has shone a light on a growing problem facing our democracy but pinning them on routine political rhetoric risks accusations of political point-scoring.
  
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• Earth to Albo: your radar malfunctioned again. The PM can’t afford many more mistakes

  02-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Anthony Albanese is suffering from severe “meloncholia”. His only silver cloud is that One Nation’s rise is doing even more damage to Angus Taylor and the Coalition.
  
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• Australia’s massive data centres to be built away from homes as Trump attacks AI critics

  02-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The US president’s intervention in the data centre debate showed how fierce the US backlash has become. Anthony Albanese, and huge AI companies, want to avoid the same fate in Australia.
  
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