Politics news

• Local government watchdog seeks more permanent fix for Perth council's problems

  20-09-2026 02:41 via abc.net.au
  
  The first inquiry by Western Australia's new Local Government Inspector into the City of Perth may be the last one the problem-plagued council will need to get back on track. 
  
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• 'Terrifies me': Victorian Premier makes One Nation admission

  23-09-2026 10:18 via abc.net.au
  
  Victorian Premier Ben Carroll tells 7.30 "One Nation terrifies me" but beneath the message analysts say it is a "fear campaign" to try and keep Labor voters.
  
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• ‘Happenstance’: Neo-Nazi Sewell says he ‘bumped into Joyce’ at casino, no formal meeting

  23-09-2026 10:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The One Nation MP has described the run-in with some “weird dudes” who “turned out to be” Nazis as accidental.
  
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• No more handouts: stark warning as soaring interest bill revealed

  23-09-2026 08:06 via smh.com.au
  
  Australia’s debt has surged past $1 trillion and rising global interest rates have thrown out forecasts for the fastest growing portion of the federal budget.
  
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• Former treasurer says economic reform in Australia will take 'financial crisis'

  23-09-2026 07:59 via abc.net.au
  
  Former treasurer Joe Hockey says meaningful fiscal reform is not possible in Australia as it often conflicts with voters' economic self-interest. He says it will take a "crisis" for governments to enact significant budget repair.
  
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• Coalition vows to 'take a chainsaw' to climate laws, offshore wind

  23-09-2026 05:25 via abc.net.au
  
  The Coalition has promised a major slowdown of renewables if it wins power, including scrapping most offshore renewables sites, formalising its commitment to unpick Australia's key climate policies.
  
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• City of Perth plunged into more turmoil as CEO sacked

  23-09-2026 04:42 via abc.net.au
  
  The City of Perth sacks its chief executive officer Michelle Reynolds, who had been suspended from her job since May.
  
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• Breaking: City of Perth plunged into more turmoil as CEO sacked

  23-09-2026 04:42 via abc.net.au
  
  The City of Perth sacks its chief executive officer Michelle Reynolds, who had been suspended from her job since May.
  
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• ‘That’s a lie’: Joyce fury over claim he had meeting with neo-Nazis in Canberra

  23-09-2026 02:21 via smh.com.au
  
  The One Nation MP has described the run-in as accidental, in advance of an article set to be released later today.
  
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• Prime Minister defends social media reforms amid US backlash

  23-09-2026 02:16 via abc.net.au
  
  Anthony Albanese has pushed back against the Trump administration's "censorship" criticism of Australia's draft digital duty of care laws, as the US president rejects a push from Australia and other countries to impose AI safeguards.
  
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• Live: PM responds to criticism of algorithm legislation

  22-09-2026 23:06 via abc.net.au
  
  Anthony Albanese responds to criticisms of Australia's plan to allow people to opt out of the social media algorithm. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: Liberals dismiss One Nation deal as 'figment' of Joyce's imagination

  22-09-2026 23:06 via abc.net.au
  
  Barnaby Joyce says talks between One Nation and the Liberals have occurred but Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson dismisses it as a "figment" of Joyce's imagination. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: Albanese calls for leaders to come together to tackle risks of AI

  22-09-2026 23:06 via abc.net.au
  
  No country can manage the risks of artificial intelligence "alone", Anthony Albanese has told world leaders in a call for international cooperation to regulate the technology. Follow live. 
  
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• Liberals dismiss One Nation deal as 'figment' of Joyce's imagination — as it happened

  22-09-2026 23:06 via abc.net.au
  
  Barnaby Joyce says talks between One Nation and the Liberals have occurred but Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson dismisses it as a "figment" of Joyce's imagination. 
  
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• Moree crime rates falling but residents say drone use overreach

  22-09-2026 22:04 via abc.net.au
  
  Crime rates are falling in Moree, but the jury is still out on whether a police drone trial has been a factor. 
  
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• Moree crime rates falling but residents say drone use is overreach

  22-09-2026 22:04 via abc.net.au
  
  Crime rates are falling in Moree, but the jury is still out on whether a police drone trial has been a factor. 
  
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• One Nation got a ‘sexy’ new plane this year. What happened to the old one?

  22-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The $100,000 Jabiru light aircraft was a gift from a wealthy property developer. Now it’s dropped off the radar.
  
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• Do you know how your money is being spent? You might want to pay attention

  22-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The rise of populism on the left and right is being assisted by ignorance. It can’t continue.
  
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• Taylor claims $83 billion budget black hole as Chalmers dangles tax cuts

  22-09-2026 20:40 via smh.com.au
  
  A fresh debate has opened up over income tax cuts and productivity, as the RBA flags more rate hikes and job losses to tame inflation.
  
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• ‘Same sense of urgency’: UN chief compares AI risk to nuclear weapons

  22-09-2026 16:05 via smh.com.au
  
  Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that technology “without accountability” threatens humanity.
  
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• Best of cartoons, September 23, 2026

  22-09-2026 14:04 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Alex Antic, now Liberal state president, says Coalition must work with One Nation

  22-09-2026 11:21 via smh.com.au
  
  His comments came a day before One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said that he had spoken to “very senior Liberals” about providing the Coalition with supply.
  
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• US says Australian digital care bill would 'facilitate censorship'

  22-09-2026 10:47 via abc.net.au
  
  The Trump administration has made an extraordinary public intervention into Australia's debate about its proposed digital duty of care. 
  
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• US attacks Australia's 'opt-out' algorithm law in rare intervention

  22-09-2026 10:47 via abc.net.au
  
  The Trump administration has made an extraordinary public intervention into Australia's debate about its proposed digital duty of care. 
  
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• Triple Zero services need a new overseer

  22-09-2026 10:25 via smh.com.au
  
  A Senate inquiry recommends Telstra be stripped of controlling the emergency services’ hotline.
  
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• Bullock slams sluggish businesses and hidebound bureaucracy for nation’s work woes

  22-09-2026 10:18 via smh.com.au
  
  “Over the last decade or so, Australian businesses just seem to have become less dynamic,” said Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock.
  
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• Former soldiers to face call-up obligations of ten years

  22-09-2026 09:15 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence has quietly doubled its post-service commitment for new recruits in a bid to grow the pool of people it can call in a crisis.
  
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• Former soldiers to face call-up obligations of 10 years

  22-09-2026 09:15 via abc.net.au
  
  Defence has quietly doubled its post-service commitment for new recruits in a bid to grow the pool of people it can call in a crisis.
  
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• Albanese’s staffing double standard props up Lambie defector after joining Labor

  22-09-2026 07:59 via smh.com.au
  
  Senator Tammy Tyrrell said the prime minister’s right to pick staffing levels posed a “corruption risk” three years ago. Now she has more staff than her colleagues.
  
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• Marles wants Defence out of $3 billion sites ‘as soon as possible’

  22-09-2026 07:49 via smh.com.au
  
  The army has admitted it mistakenly said it planned to remove all staff working at one of the nation’s most iconic defence sites by Christmas.
  
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