Politics news

• Stars align for Frydenberg comeback. That could eclipse Taylor

  03-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  While Labor has had a week full of bad economic news, the federal opposition has been unable to capitalise on it. But there is a saviour waiting in the wings.
  
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• Audit office to take a look after Labor accused of ‘sports rorts’ pork-barrelling

  08-09-2026 09:21 via smh.com.au
  
  The auditor-general will consider probing a $560 million Commonwealth grants program after revelations that almost three-quarters of the funding went to Labor-held electorates.
  
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• Penny Wong prepares new sanctions against Israel but no trade ban

  08-09-2026 09:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Former Labor minister Ed Husic hailed the British plan to ban economic activity with Israeli settlements as a “seismic movement by one of our close allies”.
  
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• Australians could get the power to switch off social media algorithms

  08-09-2026 08:16 via abc.net.au
  
  Labor wants to make social media platforms proactively reduce foreseeable harms while giving users control over whether algorithms shape their feeds. 
  
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• Joyce laughs off testy interview on ABC as presenter calls it a missed opportunity

  08-09-2026 08:04 via smh.com.au
  
  Barnaby Joyce regularly squares up to high-profile ABC hosts like Sarah Ferguson. He says he enjoys the “media chin music”.
  
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• What the Digital Duty of Care bill means for you

  08-09-2026 07:59 via smh.com.au
  
  Anthony Albanese says the “my feed, my way” initiative will give Australians control over their social media. How will it work?
  
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• Australia’s home values have taken a $34b tumble - off a stratospheric peak

  08-09-2026 07:55 via smh.com.au
  
  The June decline was the smallest fall in 14 years and followed a $214 billion increase through the first three months of the year.
  
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• Australia to opt out of social media algorithms, Albanese confirms

  08-09-2026 04:50 via smh.com.au
  
  Labor says Australians would be able to choose between existing algorithms or their “following feed” under tough new legislation.
  
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• Why are Bathla and other home builders collapsing?

  08-09-2026 04:08 via abc.net.au
  
  Owing about $3.4 billion to private lenders, Bathla's voluntary administration has thrown the construction of more than 2,000 apartments into limbo, while jeopardising a further pipeline of 14,000 homes.
  
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• Australia has a housing shortage but builders are still collapsing. Why?

  08-09-2026 04:08 via abc.net.au
  
  Owing about $3.4 billion to private lenders, Bathla's voluntary administration has thrown the construction of more than 2,000 apartments into limbo, while jeopardising a further pipeline of 14,000 homes.
  
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• Hastie comes at One Nation for ‘picking a fight with the wrong veteran’

  08-09-2026 04:01 via smh.com.au
  
  The comments come after One Nation seized a safe Labor seat that sits within the Liberal leadership aspirant’s federal electorate.
  
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• Under pressure to explain super policy, Joyce says he is 'not Jesus Christ'

  08-09-2026 02:07 via abc.net.au
  
  The One Nation Treasury spokesperson sidesteps questions about modelling the inflationary impact of the proposal, saying Australians are "not stupid" and can manage their own money.
  
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• Labor accused of ‘sports rorts’ pork-barrelling as $400m flows to party seats

  08-09-2026 00:59 via smh.com.au
  
  Electorates left out of the Commonwealth’s invite-only community grants program claim local groups were denied a fair go as $409 million flowed into Labor territory.
  
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• Live: Super for housing under review: Bragg

  07-09-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Andrew Bragg says the Coalition is continuing to look at ways people could use their superannuation to help them afford a home. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: Lambie fires up, demands a 'leash' be put around big tech

  07-09-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  A fired-up Jacqui Lambie has demanded the government "put a leash around" big tech and legislate an opt-in scheme for social media algorithms. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Joyce says Australians who 'have a brain' won't take from super unless needed

  07-09-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Barnaby Joyce has defended One Nation's superannuation plan, saying "people are not stupid" and won't take money from their funds unless they really need it. Follow live.
  
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• Live: 'Global reckoning for big tech': PM unveils Digital Duty of Care bill

  07-09-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has released draft digital duty of care legislation. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Butler disagrees with Minns's link between illicit tobacco and smoking rates

  07-09-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Mark Butler says he disagrees with NSW Premier Chris Minns's link between illicit tobacco and smoking rates. Follow live.
  
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• The Bank of Pauline Hanson: $400k in unexplained debts to One Nation founder

  07-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The party and its founder have refused to answer questions about the commercial loans, the interest Hanson has earned and One Nation’s opaque business structure.
  
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• Hardline free-speech campaigners demand Coalition block Labor’s latest social media plan

  07-09-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The opposition’s position on Labor’s digital duty of care laws is the latest test of its purity on free speech, as hardline backers switch to One Nation.
  
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• 'Serious pork-barrelling': Fears Labor may have misused millions last election

  07-09-2026 20:52 via abc.net.au
  
  The Centre for Public Integrity warns that the federal government appears to have pork-barrelled a $560 million "invitation-only" fund, directing the vast majority to safe Labor seats and marginal seats it wanted to win.
  
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• 'Misuse of public money': Allegations of pork-barrelling hit government

  07-09-2026 20:52 via abc.net.au
  
  The Centre for Public Integrity warns that the federal government appears to have pork-barrelled a $560 million "invitation-only" fund, directing the vast majority to safe Labor seats and marginal seats it wanted to win.
  
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• Fears Labor may have misused millions last election

  07-09-2026 20:52 via abc.net.au
  
  The Centre for Public Integrity warns that the federal government appears to have pork-barrelled a $560 million "invitation-only" fund, directing the vast majority to safe Labor seats and marginal seats it wanted to win.
  
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• ‘Seize this opportunity’: Leaks reveal $1b pledge to counter Beijing’s Pacific reach

  07-09-2026 14:09 via smh.com.au
  
  Leaked text messages have revealed details of a new $1 billion treaty Anthony Albanese wants to strike with his Solomon Islands counterpart.
  
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• Best of cartoons, September 8, 2026

  07-09-2026 13:27 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Joyce says he’s ‘not Jesus Christ’ when pushed on controversial superannuation policy

  07-09-2026 12:51 via smh.com.au
  
  Joyce was pressed on the modelling behind One Nation’s latest superannuation policy by 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson when he issued the proclamation.
  
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• The political survivor whose next move could decide the Pacific’s security future

  07-09-2026 09:29 via smh.com.au
  
  One of Australia’s key Pacific allies has fended off a no-confidence motion in a blow to Beijing – and a coup for Anthony Albanese. 
  
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• Bringing internet feeds to heel is not suppressing free speech

  07-09-2026 08:20 via smh.com.au
  
  Moves to force social media platforms to remove the algorithms that drive user feeds are facing a rearguard action.
  
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• One Nation’s super raid: inflationary today, impoverishing tomorrow

  07-09-2026 06:42 via smh.com.au
  
  Pauline Hanson’s plan to let Australians dip into retirement savings is the latest example of parties treating superannuation like a magic pudding.
  
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• ‘The people’s money’: Hanson, Joyce defend proposed super shake-up

  07-09-2026 06:23 via smh.com.au
  
  Pauline Hanson wants to allow workers access to 3 per cent of their superannuation contributions – a policy described by the government as “recipe to make Australian workers worse off”.
  
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