Politics news

• Controversial NDIS changes pass after Labor strikes deal with Coalition

  18-08-2026 12:38 via abc.net.au
  
  The controversial changes to the NDIS have passed the Senate after Labor struck a deal with the Coalition, tabling 63 amendments to the reforms.
  
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• Labor floats ‘Thriving Teens’ scheme as laws pass to remove 240,000 from NDIS

  18-08-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Health Minister Mark Butler said new systems for older children and adults would be running by January 2028, despite the tight turnaround time.
  
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• ‘Fake agents’: Migration operators stripped of credentials in crackdown

  18-08-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  A federal crackdown has exposed unregistered individuals lodging hundreds of visa applications under legitimate credentials, leaving vulnerable clients at risk.
  
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• Jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan moved to hospital over health concerns

  18-08-2026 17:04 via abc.net.au
  
  The cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail for three years, convicted in a string of cases he insists are politically motivated.
  
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• Give renters a break: Two-year leases plan to protect from ‘gouging’ landlords

  18-08-2026 16:01 via smh.com.au
  
  The ACTU was a key supporter of the May budget’s property tax changes. Now it’s setting its sights on renters’ rights and public housing.
  
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• Controversial changes to NDIS will pass after Labor strikes deal with Coalition

  18-08-2026 12:38 via abc.net.au
  
  The controversial changes to the NDIS have passed the Senate after Labor struck a deal with the Coalition, tabling 63 amendments to the reforms.
  
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• Labor, Coalition agree gambling can police itself. Good luck with that

  18-08-2026 11:30 via smh.com.au
  
  Liberal Party frontbencher Sarah Henderson spent years attacking the government over gambling. Now she has helped the prime minister neutralise an awkward political problem.
  
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• Minister denies eye roll at veterans pleading for healthcare funding

  18-08-2026 10:33 via smh.com.au
  
  Matt Keogh concedes he made a mistake by initially declining to meet the group of former defence personnel, but denied accusations he refused to shake their hands.
  
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• Labor’s controversial gambling bill will pass – with fresh headaches for the government

  18-08-2026 10:23 via smh.com.au
  
  Liberal MP Andrew Wallace crossed the floor for the first time, as last-minute amendments on online ads and promotions secured Coalition support in the house.
  
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• Labor’s controversial gambling bill will pass - with fresh headaches for the government

  18-08-2026 10:23 via smh.com.au
  
  Liberal MP Andrew Wallace crossed the floor for the first time, as last-minute amendments on online ads and promotions secured Coalition support in the house.
  
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• ‘Let the public be the judge’: Coalition says PM, Wong and others must front royal commission

  18-08-2026 09:37 via smh.com.au
  
  Liberal MP Julian Leeser also said the royal commission had been unable to do its job without questioning the prime minister and key leaders in the arts, university and culture sectors.
  
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• Did melon-gate damage relations with Japan? Today we found out

  18-08-2026 08:39 via smh.com.au
  
  A visit by Japan’s defence minister offered an opportunity to prove the bilateral relationship is too important to be derailed by a dodgy double entendre.
  
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• 'Enormous concern' Qld police breaking the law escaping workplace punishment

  18-08-2026 06:25 via abc.net.au
  
  Queensland corruption watchdog says it is of "enormous concern" police officers who are found guilty of a crime but do not have a conviction recorded cannot be disciplined.
  
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• Corruption watchdog questions loophole in policy disciplining police officers

  18-08-2026 06:25 via abc.net.au
  
  Queensland corruption watchdog says it is of "enormous concern" police officers who are found guilty of a crime but do not have a conviction recorded cannot be disciplined.
  
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• Labor’s gambling ‘AdStop’ regime fails to quell fresh anger of critics

  18-08-2026 06:22 via smh.com.au
  
  A Liberal MP said he would cross the floor for the first time in his 10-year parliamentary career as the government’s gambling laws were introduced into parliament.
  
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• Coalition says antisemitism royal commission should be extended to demand answers from PM, Wong, others

  18-08-2026 04:56 via smh.com.au
  
  Liberal MP Julian Leeser also said the royal commission had been unable to do its job without questioning the prime minister and key leaders in the arts, university and culture sectors.
  
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• ‘They’ll lie again’: Barnaby Joyce takes superannuation fight to Labor

  18-08-2026 03:58 via smh.com.au
  
  One Nation has not backed down after Labor accused it and the Coalition of attacking the compulsory superannuation system.
  
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• ‘They’ll lie again’: Barnaby Joyce hits back in superannuation fight with Labor

  18-08-2026 03:58 via smh.com.au
  
  One Nation has not backed down after Labor accused it and the Coalition of attacking the compulsory superannuation system.
  
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• Labor prepared to fast-track fix to negative gearing 'widow tax'

  18-08-2026 02:07 via abc.net.au
  
  Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government is prepared to fast-track a fix to the unintended "widow tax" created by its changes to negative gearing if it will win the Coalition's support to save $37 billion in NDIS spending.
  
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• Pauline Hanson vows to slash cigarette prices by nearly $30 a pack

  18-08-2026 01:08 via abc.net.au
  
  One Nation says high taxes on tobacco have pushed Australians into the black market, and the only way to undo that is by cutting the price of cigarettes in half.
  
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• Hanson vows to slash cigarette prices by nearly $30 a pack

  18-08-2026 01:08 via abc.net.au
  
  One Nation says high taxes on tobacco have pushed Australians into the black market, and the only way to undo that is by cutting the price of cigarettes in half.
  
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• WA judges told to stop giving reduced sentences due to prison overcrowding

  17-08-2026 23:41 via abc.net.au
  
  The practice of giving criminals lighter sentences because of poor conditions in Western Australia's jails should stop in most cases, the state's Court of Appeal rules.
  
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• No more discounted sentences for WA criminals due to overcrowded jails

  17-08-2026 23:41 via abc.net.au
  
  Despite some of Western Australia's prisons being "overstretched and under-resourced", judges can no longer give criminals reduced sentences because of these conditions, the state's Court of Appeal rules.
  
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• Judges told to stop giving lighter sentences due to 'inhumane' WA jails

  17-08-2026 23:41 via abc.net.au
  
  The practice of giving criminals lighter sentences because of overcrowding and poor conditions in Western Australia's prisons should stop in most cases, the state's Court of Appeal rules.
  
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• Two Coalition MPs cross the floor to vote against gambling ad reform — as it happened

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  Pat Conaghan and Andrew Wallace have crossed the floor to vote against the federal government's gambling reforms. 
  
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• Live: 'Widow tax' fix expected to be fast-tracked after Taylor ultimatum

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  A fix to the so-called widow tax is expected to be fast-tracked after Treasurer Jim Chalmers signalled he was open to addressing it sooner rather than later. Follow live.
  
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• Live: 'Widow tax' fix expected to be fast tracked after Taylor ultimatum

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  A fix to the so-called widow tax is expected to be fast-tracked after Treasurer Jim Chalmers signalled he was open to addressing it sooner rather than later. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Two Coalition MPs cross the floor to vote against gambling ad reform

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  Pat Conaghan and Andrew Wallace have crossed the floor to vote against the federal government's gambling reforms. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Taylor issues ultimatum to PM over NDIS and widows' tax

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  Angus Taylor has issued an ultimatum to the prime minister, declaring the opposition's support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme hinges on the government scrapping the so-called widows' tax. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Labor signs off on gambling reform deal with Coalition

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  The Labor caucus has given the green light to a deal with the Coalition on gambling advertising. Follow live.
  
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