Politics news

• Former principal raises concerns with special school teacher training

  18-06-2026 21:33 via abc.net.au
  
  Data shows special schools across Queensland are operating with fewer than the number of allocated teachers. 
  
  Read more

• Suspected case of bird flu detected in Australia

  19-06-2026 07:35 via smh.com.au
  
  Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced on Friday a bird has died and the initial test was positive for H5N1. Further tests will be performed for confirmation.
  
  Read more

• Can Hanson’s war on climate change ‘hoax’ survive the summer?

  19-06-2026 06:56 via smh.com.au
  
  One Nation’s rise is not just a threat to the Coalition. It is redrawing the battle lines of Australia’s long-running climate wars.
  
  Read more

• Pauline Hanson says businesses 'can't sack' lazy workers. What's the reality?

  19-06-2026 06:29 via abc.net.au
  
  Pauline Hanson's claims that Australian businesses are "tied" to lazy workers they "can't sack", are labelled inaccurate by some employment law experts and small business advocates, while one HR representative says businesses are "terrified to terminate".
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• North Queensland reacts to Rinehart's idea of giving islands to Musk

  19-06-2026 03:39 via abc.net.au
  
  The Townsville Enterprise chief executive says "all ideas are welcome" after mining magnate Gina Rinehart suggested islands off north Queensland's coast should be offered to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for satellite launches. 
  
  Read more

• NT's deputy opposition leader dumped for new recruit

  19-06-2026 01:35 via abc.net.au
  
  The Northern Territory Labor party has replaced their deputy opposition leader with a newcomer to parliament, in a move they say will win back the trust and confidence of the people of Darwin.
  
  Read more

• Live: Treasurer says Labor has lost 'political paint' from budget as he defends backdown

  18-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal government has lost "political paint" from May's budget while defending a backdown on key budget measures. Follow live.
  
  Read more

• Live: Treasurer labels reports he has frosty relationship with PM as 'trash'

  18-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Treasurer Jim Chalmers pushes back on reports of a rift, saying they've talked almost every day since the budget was handed down.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Live: Treasurer defends budget backdown despite Labor losing 'political paint'

  18-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal government has lost "political paint" from May's budget while defending a backdown on key budget measures. Follow live.
  
  Read more

• Concerns raised about special education training as schools operate below allocation

  18-06-2026 21:33 via abc.net.au
  
  Data shows special schools across Queensland are operating with fewer than the number of allocated teachers. 
  
  Read more

• Angus Taylor wants to fight Labor. But his nemesis is Pauline Hanson, and she’s winning

  18-06-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Australia has never before had to grapple with the rise of populist right movement quite like One Nation, and that’s a particular and growing problem for the Coalition.
  
  Read more

• The curious case of Dan Sullivan vs Dan Sullivan at the US primaries

  18-06-2026 20:48 via abc.net.au
  
  A Democrat is accused of being a Republican in disguise; a Republican is accused of being a Democrat plant. It's primaries season in the US, and suspicions of dirty pool are rife.
  
  Read more

• Democrats chewing nails as Trump targets controversial Senate pick

  18-06-2026 20:48 via abc.net.au
  
  A Democrat is accused of being a Republican in disguise; a Republican is accused of being a Democrat plant. It's primaries season in the US, and suspicions of dirty pool are rife.
  
  Read more

• Best of cartoons, June 19, 2026

  18-06-2026 14:12 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
  Read more

• Brroooaaawrrr! Gina goes all toy story and gives Pauline a bulldozer

  18-06-2026 10:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Nothing seems too far-fetched as Pauline Hanson rides her new publicity whirl. But a toy bulldozer from her patron Gina Rinehart was, shall we say, a surprise.
  
  Read more

• ‘Disgusted’ Hanson airs her suspicions about GetUp’s press club stunt

  18-06-2026 09:59 via smh.com.au
  
  Activist campaigners GetUp and One Nation’s leader have started a meme war as the prime minister condemned the group’s banner stunt.
  
  Read more

• Gina Rinehart says Qld should give some of its islands to Elon Musk

  18-06-2026 09:39 via abc.net.au
  
  The mining magnate, speaking at the National Bush Summit, also talked about how she believed Townsville could become a base for the Israeli military. 
  
  Read more

• Migration dips as Coalition accuses government of failing to meet targets

  18-06-2026 09:25 via abc.net.au
  
  Net overseas migration remained above 300,000 last year, fuelling opposition claims Labor has locked in an unsustainable new normal despite the number of arrivals continuing to fall.
  
  Read more

• Chalmers winds back ministerial powers in bid to clear CGT Senate hurdle

  18-06-2026 09:20 via smh.com.au
  
  Businesses with turnover of up to $10 million will be able to claim 50 per cent off their capital gains tax.
  
  Read more

• Pensioner living in car has 'lost faith' in system as he waits for house

  18-06-2026 09:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Despite upcoming changes from the WA government to overhaul the housing waitlist, a 68-year-old living in his car says he has lost faith in the system as an advocate calls for faster action.
  
  Read more

• Greens leader quizzed on her comparison of Jeremy Rockliff with Joseph Stalin

  18-06-2026 08:41 via abc.net.au
  
  Tasmania's Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff is quizzed about her comparison of Premier Jeremy Rockliff with Joseph Stalin
  
  Read more

• Gina Rinehart gifts Pauline Hanson a symbolic orange bulldozer

  18-06-2026 08:18 via abc.net.au
  
  Gina Rinehart presented Pauline Hanson with a gift at an event in Townsville, saying, "We need an orange bulldozer.”
  
  Read more

• Pauline Hanson spoke for 90 minutes. We fact-checked her key claims

  18-06-2026 07:47 via smh.com.au
  
  We break down the major talking points from the One Nation leader’s speech and fiery Q&A.
  
  Read more

• ‘Extreme’ risk of yet more cost, construction blowouts at Snowy 2.0

  18-06-2026 07:37 via smh.com.au
  
  The national auditor says the largest renewable energy project in the country is hampered by governance and management failures.
  
  Read more

• ‘Diabolic’: Massive cost pressures on $12 billion Snowy 2.0 revealed

  18-06-2026 07:37 via smh.com.au
  
  The national auditor says the largest renewable energy project in the country is hampered by governance and management failures.
  
  Read more

• Sarah Game won't rule out introducing another bill to restrict late term abortion

  18-06-2026 07:14 via abc.net.au
  
  Family First upper house MLC Sarah Game has not ruled out introducing another bill restricting late-term abortion access, after her proposed legislation to restrict abortion after 25 weeks failed in the lower house last night.
  
  Read more

• Gina Rinehart asks Bush Summit crowd to make bulldozer noises

  18-06-2026 06:53 via smh.com.au
  
  Billionaire Gina Rinehart gives One Nation leader Pauline Hanson a toy bulldozer at News Corp's summit in Townsville.
  
  Read more

• Albanese winds back tax hikes for small businesses, start-ups, testamentary trusts

  18-06-2026 03:58 via smh.com.au
  
  Businesses with turnover of up to $10 million will be able to claim 50 per cent off their capital gains tax.
  
  Read more

• ‘Dystopian’: Hanson’s speech slammed as net migration falls

  18-06-2026 03:55 via smh.com.au
  
  Anti-discrimination advocates say Pauline Hanson’s rhetoric puts migrants, women and other groups in danger.
  
  Read more

• Treasurer denies CGT carve-outs amount to backdown after budget backlash

  18-06-2026 03:03 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal government has consulted with small businesses and startups over contentious elements of its budget tax proposal.
  
  Read more

Follow @Politics_NewsAU on Twitter!