Politics news

• The 19 questions asked in Australia's first complete census

  08-08-2026 20:42 via abc.net.au
  
  When you sit down to fill in the census, you will be taking part in an ancient human tradition.
  
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• Labor prepared to fast-track fix to negative gearing 'widow tax'

  18-08-2026 02:07 via abc.net.au
  
  Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government is prepared to fast-track a fix to the unintended "widow tax" created by its changes to negative gearing if it will win the Coalition's support to save $37 billion in NDIS spending.
  
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• Pauline Hanson vows to slash cigarette prices by nearly $30 a pack

  18-08-2026 01:08 via abc.net.au
  
  One Nation says high taxes on tobacco have pushed Australians into the black market, and the only way to undo that is by cutting the price of cigarettes in half.
  
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• Hanson vows to slash cigarette prices by nearly $30 a pack

  18-08-2026 01:08 via abc.net.au
  
  One Nation says high taxes on tobacco have pushed Australians into the black market, and the only way to undo that is by cutting the price of cigarettes in half.
  
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• WA judges told to stop giving reduced sentences due to prison overcrowding

  17-08-2026 23:41 via abc.net.au
  
  The practice of giving criminals lighter sentences because of poor conditions in Western Australia's jails should stop in most cases, the state's Court of Appeal rules.
  
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• No more discounted sentences for WA criminals due to overcrowded jails

  17-08-2026 23:41 via abc.net.au
  
  Despite some of Western Australia's prisons being "overstretched and under-resourced", judges can no longer give criminals reduced sentences because of these conditions, the state's Court of Appeal rules.
  
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• Live: 'Widow tax' fix expected to be fast-tracked after Taylor ultimatum

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  A fix to the so-called widow tax is expected to be fast-tracked after Treasurer Jim Chalmers signalled he was open to addressing it sooner rather than later. Follow live.
  
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• Live: 'Widow tax' fix expected to be fast tracked after Taylor ultimatum

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  A fix to the so-called widow tax is expected to be fast-tracked after Treasurer Jim Chalmers signalled he was open to addressing it sooner rather than later. Follow live.
  
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• Live: Taylor issues ultimatum to PM over NDIS and widows' tax

  17-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  Angus Taylor has issued an ultimatum to the prime minister, declaring the opposition's support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme hinges on the government scrapping the so-called widows' tax. Follow live.
  
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• Women question political careers over death, rape and violence threats

  17-08-2026 21:57 via abc.net.au
  
  A new survey shows half of female politicians are questioning their ongoing careers while three-quarters believe online abuse has increased in the past two years.
  
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• ‘Total disregard’: Top officials warned Labor on NZ rules before Kiwi migrants surged

  17-08-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The burst in New Zealanders coming to Australia has been one of the biggest blowouts in the net overseas migration rate since the pandemic.
  
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• ‘Total disregard’: Top officials warned Labor of NZ rules before Kiwi migrants surged

  17-08-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  The burst in New Zealanders coming to Australia has been one of the biggest blowouts in the net overseas migration rate since the pandemic.
  
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• Josh Burns on the personal cost of being Jewish in parliament

  17-08-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal MP considers himself a "normal Australian" but since the events of October 7 and the Bondi terror attack he's been forced to navigate what he says is a difficult time. 
  
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• Josh Burns on his relationship with fellow MP Georgie Purcell

  17-08-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal MP considers himself a "normal Australian" but since the events of October 7 and the Bondi terror attack he's been forced to navigate what he says is a difficult time. 
  
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• Pauline Hanson shifts to pro-WA position on GST

  17-08-2026 20:39 via abc.net.au
  
  Three years after calling out WA's "huge benefit" from the GST carve-up, the One Nation leader shifts her position.
  
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• Pauline Hanson is backing WA on the GST, but she hasn't always

  17-08-2026 20:39 via abc.net.au
  
  Three years after calling out WA's "huge benefit" from the GST carve-up, the One Nation leader shifts her position.
  
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• Kushner talks with Hamas and Israel end without Gaza deal

  17-08-2026 18:35 via abc.net.au
  
  Jared Kushner and Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed putting a US general in charge of verifying Hamas's disarmaments, with Israel's military to remain place until that happens.
  
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• One Nation flip-flops on migration policy, announces tobacco excise cut

  17-08-2026 16:06 via smh.com.au
  
  Policy experts and political opponents have questioned One Nation’s vision for lowering migrant numbers or months, while the party pushed a tobacco excise cut on Tuesday.
  
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• Best of cartoons, August 18, 2026

  17-08-2026 13:46 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Fauci could face prison if convicted of contempt, former prosecutor says

  17-08-2026 12:28 via abc.net.au
  
  As the US Department of Justice weighs whether to prosecute Anthony Fauci, medical experts say his persecution is weakening America's health system.
  
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• 'A lot of damage': Why the persecution of Fauci has far-reaching consequences

  17-08-2026 12:28 via abc.net.au
  
  As the US Department of Justice weighs whether to prosecute Anthony Fauci, medical experts say his persecution is weakening America's health system.
  
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• ‘I can’t stop to save my own life’: Parents read son’s final plea on gambling addiction

  17-08-2026 10:46 via smh.com.au
  
  The family of a young gambling addict who died by suicide pleaded for a ban on betting inducements as the government introduced changes to its legislation on Monday.
  
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• One Nation flip-flops on migration policy after visa numbers question

  17-08-2026 08:15 via smh.com.au
  
  Policy experts and political opponents have questioned One Nation’s vision for lowering migrant numbers. The party seems to have changed tack from what its own website says.
  
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• Key Pacific leader pushes for ‘united front’ against China’s missile tests

  17-08-2026 07:45 via smh.com.au
  
  The incoming chair of the Pacific Islands Forum says China has sent a warning that it can “take islands out”.
  
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• Key Pacific leader pushes for ‘united front’ against China missile tests

  17-08-2026 07:45 via smh.com.au
  
  The incoming chair of the Pacific Islands Forum says China has sent a warning that it can “take islands out”.
  
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• How much longer should Australia wait for the social media ban to work?

  17-08-2026 05:49 via abc.net.au
  
  If the prime minister is right and there's no time to waste, how much more of it can we spend just waiting for the teen social media ban to work?
  
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• Anthony Albanese's teen social media ban has a shark problem

  17-08-2026 05:49 via abc.net.au
  
  If the prime minister is right and there's no time to waste, how much more of it can we spend just waiting for the teen social media ban to work?
  
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• Bigger, heavier electric trucks driving the streets at all hours – the plan to revolutionise our roads

  17-08-2026 03:46 via smh.com.au
  
  Trucks carry almost every good that Australian businesses and consumers buy. But there’s been no improvement to how they operate – until now.
  
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• Chalmers warns of Hanson threat to super after One Nation leader calls system ‘broken’

  17-08-2026 03:19 via smh.com.au
  
  The treasurer has accused the Coalition and One Nation of wanting to destroy Australia’s compulsory superannuation system.
  
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• Opposition MP kicked out of chamber for swearing — as it happened

  16-08-2026 22:57 via abc.net.au
  
  During Question Time, Dan Tehan is removed from the chamber for defying the speaker's ruling over colourful language.
  
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