Politics news

• Labor's migration target comes with a political catch

  18-09-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  While Labor may want the argument to be about how migration is managed, in fixing on a target it has given greater legitimacy to the numbers contest.
  
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• Mixed feelings over Coalition's $100 million Albury hospital pledge

  22-09-2026 06:27 via abc.net.au
  
  The investment pledge would provide 50 more beds, a multistorey car park and a full fit-out of the clinical services building including a helipad, paediatric ward and operating theatres.
  
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• Opposition's super housing idea

  22-09-2026 05:25 via smh.com.au
  
  As part of its policy development process, the opposition's housing spokesperson has flagged an idea to use superannuation as collateral for a mortgage.
  
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• Australia confirms jet parts went missing in Hong Kong, sparking China security fears

  22-09-2026 04:46 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia is helping the US investigate how F-35 jet fighter parts were mistakenly diverted to Hong Kong, but that no technologically "sensitive" components have been lost.
  
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• Funding Putin: ‘Blood oil’ imports from major Asian supplier surge

  22-09-2026 03:15 via smh.com.au
  
  The majority of fuel arriving in Australia from a key Asian refinery originated in Russia, an alarming new analysis has found.
  
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• Coalition weighing options to use super to boost home ownership

  22-09-2026 02:45 via abc.net.au
  
  A push to allow Australians to use their super to make it easier to buy their first home is being floated by Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg, as the Coalition works through its policy on how to help people enter the housing market.
  
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• The mill 200 farmers can't afford to lose

  22-09-2026 01:59 via abc.net.au
  
  Australia's only remaining grower-owned sugar mill needs a multi-million-dollar loan to survive.
  
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• One Nation wants environmental water 'unlocked' for agriculture this season

  22-09-2026 01:31 via abc.net.au
  
  Irrigators and One Nation are calling for environmental water in the Murray-Darling Basin to be made available for agricultural production this season.
  
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• Live: F-35 parts mistakenly diverted to Hong Kong not 'sensitive', Marles says

  21-09-2026 23:11 via abc.net.au
  
  Richard Marles told journalists in Adelaide that Australia has been "made aware" of the development, and was helping the US investigate what happened. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: Defence quietly doubles post-service call-back for new recruits to 10 years

  21-09-2026 23:11 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence has quietly doubled the post-service commitment for new recruits, meaning they can be called back to serve for 10 years after leaving the ADF. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: Bragg to reignite super fight with housing plan

  21-09-2026 23:11 via abc.net.au
  
  A plan for Australians to use their superannuation to make it easier to secure a home loan is set to be floated by Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg. Follow live. 
  
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• Defence quietly doubles post-service call-back for new recruits to 10 years — as it happened

  21-09-2026 23:11 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence has quietly doubled the post-service commitment for new recruits, meaning they can be called back to serve for 10 years after leaving the ADF. 
  
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• Albanese signs AI declaration with world leaders calling for international safeguards

  21-09-2026 22:58 via smh.com.au
  
  At the United Nations in New York, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that “AI must remain under human direction, oversight and control”.
  
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• Dating app safety shouldn't be left to women, researchers say

  21-09-2026 21:05 via abc.net.au
  
  Women report screening profiles, withholding personal information and managing interactions to protect themselves as researchers push for stronger obligations on dating platforms.
  
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• Super wars escalate as Coalition leans in to mortgage plan

  21-09-2026 21:04 via smh.com.au
  
  There are growing calls to consider whether the pool of retirement savings can help address contemporary economic problems.
  
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• Why this new Ukraine pact is a war game changer for Australia

  21-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Ukraine is now training NATO forces in drone and electronic warfare. Under a new security agreement, Australia will also benefit from Kyiv’s expertise.
  
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• Why this new Ukraine pact is a war-game changer for Australia

  21-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Ukraine is now training NATO forces in drone and electronic warfare. Under a new security agreement, Australia will also benefit from Kyiv’s expertise.
  
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• ‘More power to redheads’: Brethren leader backs Hanson, building nuclear bombs

  21-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  In a speech praising Hanson, the Exclusive Brethren leader also told his flock Australia should use its uranium to “build a few bombs”.
  
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• What everyday Australians want political leaders to hear

  21-09-2026 20:47 via abc.net.au
  
  For the past eight weeks, ABC teams have been talking to thousands of people across the country about what matters to them, and there is a consistent message.
  
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• Bye bye, babies: A nation living into its 90s is ageing faster than expected

  21-09-2026 20:25 via smh.com.au
  
  Australia’s population is ageing quickly, driven by a rapid decline in the number of births per woman.
  
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• Australia joins call for AI safeguards amid warnings of out-of-control risks

  21-09-2026 18:46 via smh.com.au
  
  At the United Nations in New York, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined more than 20 world leaders and senior officials in calling for mandatory pre-deployment testing of frontier AI models.
  
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• Albanese signs declaration with world leaders calling for international AI safeguards

  21-09-2026 18:46 via smh.com.au
  
  At the United Nations in New York, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that “AI must remain under human direction, oversight and control”.
  
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• Albanese takes climate warning to New York, but fossil fuel experts test credibility

  21-09-2026 14:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Opening Climate Week with a stark warning on extreme summer heat, the prime minister faces international scrutiny over Australia’s status as a major energy exporter while spearheading global climate talks.
  
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• Best of cartoons, September 22, 2026

  21-09-2026 13:08 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• From ABC talking head to activist campaigner: Dan Ilic to become GetUp’s next boss

  21-09-2026 12:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The progressive campaign group has announced a new chief executive just months after targeting One Nation leader Pauline Hanson with a secret banner.
  
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• Rising tax burden or rosy prospects? Australia faces a test of its economic model

  21-09-2026 09:59 via smh.com.au
  
  The government’s latest Intergenerational Report projects a slowing population propped up by migration in a century that offers both daunting economic challenges and rare financial opportunities.
  
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• Chalmers can try to predict 40 years into the future, but he’s really talking 2028

  21-09-2026 08:11 via smh.com.au
  
  There is a notable focus on what Labor has done in five years and how the government’s most recent budget tackles issues like housing affordability and the NDIS.
  
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• Statistic in Intergenerational Report spells challenge for Australia as it ages

  21-09-2026 07:29 via abc.net.au
  
  Australia is getting much older, and it is getting older faster than previously thought. But the major political parties are currently in a race to cut the greatest source of resilience against that trend: migration.
  
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• Australia to join Japan, Italy in deaths outpacing births

  21-09-2026 07:29 via abc.net.au
  
  Australia is getting much older, and it is getting older faster than previously thought. But the major political parties are currently in a race to cut the greatest source of resilience against that trend: migration.
  
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• Telstra not to be trusted with Triple Zero, says Senate inquiry

  21-09-2026 06:20 via smh.com.au
  
  A cross-party inquiry into catastrophic Triple Zero failures has handed down it’s recommendations just a year after Optus’ 13-hour outage.
  
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