Politics news

• Government says it preferred second-hand submarines

  02-06-2026 08:12 via abc.net.au
  
  Australia and the United States' initial positions about delivering a new submarine under AUKUS differed, Senate estimates has revealed.
  
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• Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton to admit retaining classified documents, US media reports

  04-06-2026 18:18 via abc.net.au
  
  The former national security adviser, who served in Donald Trump's first administration, is now a prominent critic of the president.
  
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• Best of cartoons, June 5, 2026

  04-06-2026 13:42 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Barnaby Joyce clarifies comments on housing

  04-06-2026 13:29 via smh.com.au
  
  Barnaby Joyce returns to Sky News to correct previous comments made about One Nation's housing policy.
  
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• Barnaby Joyce discusses One Nation's housing policy

  04-06-2026 13:27 via smh.com.au
  
  Barnaby Joyce tells Sky News that under One Nation, permanent Australian residents would not be able to buy a house. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has said that under One Nation, foreign owners would be forced to sell.
  
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• Wong says she believes activists who say they were sexually assaulted in Israeli custody

  04-06-2026 13:25 via abc.net.au
  
  Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told a parliamentary hearing she believes the allegations of Australian activists, who say they were sexually assaulted while detained by Israeli forces.
  
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• Coalition and Greens put Labor’s major budget bills in limbo

  04-06-2026 10:14 via smh.com.au
  
  The Senate could team up to derail Labor’s agenda, with the Coalition seeking a longer tax inquiry while the Greens want more time to investigate sweeping changes to the NDIS.
  
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• RBA boss says economy can weather war and avoid recession

  04-06-2026 09:39 via smh.com.au
  
  Analysts have raised concerns the country could face a recession and stagflation due to the Iran war. But Michele Bullock is not one of them.
  
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• Wong says she believes Australian activists were sexually abused by Israeli soldiers

  04-06-2026 08:54 via smh.com.au
  
  The foreign minister defended her feminist credentials in a fiery Senate exchange in which she said she was open to meeting the flotilla activists.
  
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• Hanson says she hasn’t changed – Australia just caught up with her. But she’s not sold on leading it

  04-06-2026 08:05 via smh.com.au
  
  The 72-year-old Pauline Hanson, whose rise in the polls has sent shudders through Canberra, sat down for a wide-ranging interview with this masthead’s Inside Politics podcast.
  
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• 'I'll have an argument with anyone': Hanson on any future relationship with Trump

  04-06-2026 07:30 via smh.com.au
  
  The One Nation leader told the Inside Politics podcast that she would stand up to anyone if she were to lead the country.
  
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• Shadow attorney-general defends decision to allow staffer to write article praising Roberts-Smith

  04-06-2026 07:19 via smh.com.au
  
  Former West Australian editor Brett McCarthy, now an adviser to shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash, praised Roberts-Smith despite his arrest on five counts of the war crime of murder.
  
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• Minister grilled over human involvement in aged care assessments

  04-06-2026 06:07 via abc.net.au
  
  Aged Care Minister Sam Rae has strongly defended an assessment tool for at-home funding support after ordering it's urgent review.
  
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• Aged care assessments under review

  04-06-2026 06:07 via abc.net.au
  
  Aged Care Minister Sam Rae has strongly defended an assessment tool for at-home funding support after ordering it's urgent review.
  
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• ‘Avoiding scrutiny’: Coalition and Greens fight to delay Labor’s major budget bills

  04-06-2026 04:34 via smh.com.au
  
  The Senate could team up to derail Labor’s agenda, with the Coalition seeking a longer tax inquiry while the Greens want more time to investigate sweeping changes to the NDIS.
  
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• Would you buy a used submarine from Pete Hegseth? First, a history lesson

  04-06-2026 03:30 via smh.com.au
  
  Australia’s record of buying used naval boats is chequered, to say the least. Its decision to acquire three second-hand nuclear-powered submarines carries real risks.
  
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• MP uses parliament to reveal threats to NZYQ deportees in Nauru

  04-06-2026 02:54 via abc.net.au
  
  A cohort of refugees deported to Nauru by the federal government have faced threats of violence and verbal abuse, independent MP Andrew Wilkie has revealed under parliamentary privilege.
  
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• PM says Australia has 'ideological disagreement' with US after it reveals anti-slavery tariff

  04-06-2026 01:46 via abc.net.au
  
  The planned new tariff is to be slapped on dozens of countries that have allegedly failing to take action to prevent slavery and forced labour. 
  
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• Trump’s newest tariffs are ‘unjustified’, says Albanese

  03-06-2026 23:59 via smh.com.au
  
  The prime minister defended the government’s anti-slavery response, the justification of the US’s latest tranche of tariffs
  
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• Wong believes Australian activists sexually assaulted by Israeli forces — as it happened

  03-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  The foreign minister tells Senate estimates her position is to believe the women who "come forward with these assertions" after activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla alleged sexual assault by Israeli forces. Look back on today's federal politics blog.
  
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• Wong believes Australian activists sexually assaulted by Israeli forces

  03-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  The foreign minister tells Senate estimates her position is to believe the women who "come forward with these assertions" after activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla alleged sexual assault by Israeli forces. Look back on today's federal politics blog.
  
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• Live: Wong says she believes allegations Australian activists were sexually assaulted by Israeli forces

  03-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  The foreign minister tells Senate estimates her position is to believe the women who "come forward with these assertions" after activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla alleged sexual assault by Israeli forces. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Trade minister meets with US counterpart over proposed 12.5pc tariffs

  03-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Don Farrell has met with his US counterpart after the US proposed imposing a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian exports. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: Lower house passes first tranche of Labor's budget measures

  03-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal government's budget bill passes the House of Representatives without amendment, but it will need the support of the Greens to pass the next step. Follow live.
  
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• Live: 'Ideological disagreement' between Australia and US on tariffs, PM says

  03-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Anthony Albanese says an "ideological disagreement" exists between Australia and the United States on tariffs, after Washington proposed slapping a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian imports. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Greens 'concerned' about Chalmers's tax change powers

  03-06-2026 23:03 via abc.net.au
  
  The Greens have raised concerns about the ministerial discretion contained in the federal government's budget bill before parliament. Follow live.
  
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• 'Infuriating': Aboriginal voters turned away, told to line up again on SA election day

  03-06-2026 22:38 via abc.net.au
  
  South Australia's Electoral Commission was aware that forcing First Nations voters to queue twice for the Voice election would be perceived as "discriminatory behaviour". Despite that, voters say it still happened and, in some cases, they were turned away.
  
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• 'Infuriating': Aboriginal voters turned away, told to line-up again on SA election day

  03-06-2026 22:38 via abc.net.au
  
  South Australia's Electoral Commission was aware that forcing First Nations voters to queue twice for the Voice election would be perceived as "discriminatory behaviour". Despite that, voters say it still happened and, in some cases, they were turned away.
  
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• What's got the pope and most Australians worried? This hyped new technology

  03-06-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  Most Australians appear to distrust and dislike artificial intelligence despite using technology more than people in other countries.
  
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• What's got the Pope and most Australians worried? This hyped new AI technology

  03-06-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  Most Australians appear to distrust and dislike artificial intelligence despite using technology more than people in other countries.
  
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