Politics news

• ‘I don’t write the rules’: Wells defends claiming expenses to take family to ski resort

  07-12-2025 00:10 via smh.com.au
  
  Labor is defending the sport and communications minister’s family reunion on the slopes after earlier revelations of six-figure claims for international travel.
  
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• Renewables delays drive electricity cost blow out

  09-12-2025 14:01 via smh.com.au
  
  The energy market operator warns that slow project development could keep coal in the grid longer and add billions of dollars to energy costs.
  
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• Best of cartoons, December 10, 2025

  09-12-2025 13:12 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• 'Until the bitter end': Reynolds will never give up fight against Commonwealth

  09-12-2025 11:27 via abc.net.au
  
  Former defence minister Linda Reynolds says former colleagues failed her and that she won't stop fighting to clear her name against "lies" no matter the cost.
  
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• 'Despicable and cruel': Reynolds launches scathing attack on government

  09-12-2025 11:27 via abc.net.au
  
  Former defence minister Linda Reynolds says former colleagues failed her and that she won't stop fighting to clear her name against "lies" no matter the cost.
  
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• The real reason Anika Wells is bound to survive this scandal

  09-12-2025 09:30 via smh.com.au
  
  Ministerial survival depends on a single, unwavering principle: the prime minister refuses to give ground to his enemies. He’d sooner sandpaper his own shins.
  
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• Wells refers expenses to watchdog as flights to Labor event emerge

  09-12-2025 08:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Wells charged taxpayers more than $2000 for flights to Sydney to attend a Labor Party fundraiser in August, while the minister referred her own use of entitlements to the independent watchdog on Tuesday.
  
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• They came to mourn Richo, but three of his ‘mates’ were missing

  09-12-2025 07:27 via smh.com.au
  
  They came to mourn and farewell Graham Richardson. Some, you might venture, came to be sure he was finally gone.
  
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• Wells initiates audit of expenses as Shorten defends her against 'pile-on'

  09-12-2025 07:12 via abc.net.au
  
  The sports minister maintains all her taxpayer-funded expenses have been within the guidelines.
  
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• Wells refers her expenses to independent watchdog for audit

  09-12-2025 06:24 via smh.com.au
  
  The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority will now examine Wells’ use of family reunion entitlements, Comcars and flights.
  
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• Online privacy concerns as under-16 social media ban comes into effect

  09-12-2025 05:26 via abc.net.au
  
  As the social media ban for under 16s comes into effect, the tech company that is verifying ages for popular messaging app Snapchat says its methods are safe, but cybersecurity experts say any time data is transmitted there's a risk of privacy breaches. 
  
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• Age verification for socials raises data and privacy breach concerns

  09-12-2025 05:26 via abc.net.au
  
  As the social media ban for under 16s comes into effect, the tech company that is verifying ages for popular messaging app Snapchat says its methods are safe, but cybersecurity experts say any time data is transmitted there's a risk of privacy breaches. 
  
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• Rates on hold as RBA grows wary about inflation pressures

  09-12-2025 04:42 via smh.com.au
  
  The Reserve Bank has finished the year with official interest rates at 3.6 per cent. But the next move may be up.
  
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• Wells left car waiting for hours at NRL grand finals, costing more than $1200

  09-12-2025 02:44 via smh.com.au
  
  Sport Minister Anika Wells hired a Comcar limousine for nearly 10 hours while she attended the 2022 NRL and NRLW grand finals, with the hourly rate more than $100.
  
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• Wells left car waiting for hours at NRL grand final, costing more than $1200

  09-12-2025 02:44 via smh.com.au
  
  Sports Minister Anika Wells hired a Comcar limousine for nearly 10 hours while she attended the 2022 NRL and NRLW grand finals, with the hourly rate more than $100.
  
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• Why inquest into WA's first youth detention death was coroner's 'saddest' case

  08-12-2025 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  The inquest findings into WA's first recorded death in youth detention, that of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd, are a stark warning for the government — and vulnerable lives remain at stake. WARNING: This story contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died.
  
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• What is being done about WA's '19th century' youth justice conditions?

  08-12-2025 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  The inquest findings into WA's first recorded death in youth detention, that of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd, are a stark warning for the government — and vulnerable lives remain at stake. WARNING: This story contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died.
  
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• Telcos call for national register of mobile phones — as it happened

  08-12-2025 21:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Telcos and government staffers have been questioned about who knew what and when, after a second Triple Zero failure was linked to a possible death.
  
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• Live: Telcos call for national register of mobile phones after Triple Zero outages

  08-12-2025 21:03 via abc.net.au
  
  The industry body representing telecommunications companies has called for a national register of mobile phones following the Triple Zero outage. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Joyce 'throwing the toys out of the cot' in move to One Nation, Canavan says

  08-12-2025 21:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Nationals senator Matt Canavan says he thinks Barnaby Joyce's decision to join One Nation is a "dummy spit". Follow live.
  
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• Live: Australia to host 'significant' US military assets at bases after AUSMIN talks

  08-12-2025 21:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence Minister Richard Marles says the US will pre-position "significant" American assets at several Australian bases, including Osprey aircraft. Follow live.
  
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• Live: AUKUS is 'full steam ahead', Marles says

  08-12-2025 21:03 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence Minister Richard Marles says AUKUS is "full steam ahead" following a meeting with his US counterpart in Washington. Follow live.
  
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• Wells spent thousands on Comcars for grand finals

  08-12-2025 19:50 via abc.net.au
  
  The sports minister has endured scrutiny over her use of parliamentary expenses, but is one of dozens of MPs to have accumulated large Comcar bills.
  
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• Pub test differs for Barnaby Joyce and Anika Wells

  08-12-2025 19:30 via abc.net.au
  
  The "pub test" tends to be applied when we've run out of avenues to pursue a public figure, but are still super annoyed.
  
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• One Nation part of global populist movement in politics, Barnaby Joyce says

  08-12-2025 13:07 via abc.net.au
  
  In his first interview since formally joining One Nation, Barnaby Joyce says he sees comparisons between his new party and Britain's far-right Reform UK party under populist leader Nigel Farage.
  
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• Ghost Bat drones take flight in $1 billion bid to modernise military

  08-12-2025 12:30 via smh.com.au
  
  The successful firing of an air-to-air missile on an aerial target in test exercises has paved the way for a major investment in the Ghost Bat program.
  
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• Best of cartoons, December 9, 2025

  08-12-2025 11:21 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Wells charged taxpayers $1000 for car to wait while she watched tennis – for seven hours

  08-12-2025 08:31 via smh.com.au
  
  Daily revelations about Wells’ use of travel entitlements have dogged the minister since last Wednesday, eclipsing Labor’s agenda.
  
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• Albanese’s words from 2015 that reveal tension at the heart of Wells scandal

  08-12-2025 08:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Parliamentary entitlement scandals exploded 10 years ago, leading to a change in the rules. What Anthony Albanese said then is instructive.
  
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• Wells spent nearly $9000 of taxpayer money to bring husband to three AFL grand finals

  08-12-2025 06:27 via smh.com.au
  
  Sports Minister Anika Wells spent close to $9000 on family reunion flights and travel entitlements so her husband could attend three AFL grand finals with her.
  
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