Politics news

• Tony Abbott makes suppository gaffe.

  08-08-2026 21:52 via abc.net.au
  
  The infamous malapropism did little damage to Abbott.
  
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• Live: Coalition demands AFP look into leaked melon gaffe correspondence

  11-08-2026 23:00 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal opposition has written to federal police urging them to investigate an apparent leak of correspondence between Japan and Australia over the prime minister's melon gaffe. Follow live. 
  
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• VIP gambling perks targeted as Labor, Coalition edge toward deal

  11-08-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  Labor and the Coalition have held a second round of "constructive" talks on the federal government's proposal to restrict gambling advertising, making a major party deal likely.
  
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• Coalition pushes VIP gambling crackdown in talks with Labor

  11-08-2026 21:00 via abc.net.au
  
  Labor and the Coalition have held a second round of "constructive" talks on the federal government's proposal to restrict gambling advertising, making a major party deal likely.
  
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• Australia’s voters are now split three ways, but not by party

  11-08-2026 21:00 via smh.com.au
  
  Voters are now aligning themselves with the bloc that reflects their economic experience.
  
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• 'It won't fall apart': Leading Liberal says we don't need 'gold-plated' building code

  11-08-2026 20:55 via abc.net.au
  
  Opposition housing spokesperson Andrew Bragg has promised to slash the National Construction Code from over 2,000 pages to 80 if elected.
  
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• Howard’s advice to Liberals to win back voters flocking to Pauline Hanson

  11-08-2026 20:55 via smh.com.au
  
  The former prime minister’s intervention comes as new One Nation MP failed to echo Pauline Hanson’s key lines on immigration in his first speech.
  
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• From a tome to a pamphlet: Liberal vows to demolish building code

  11-08-2026 20:55 via abc.net.au
  
  Opposition housing spokesperson Andrew Bragg has promised to slash the National Construction Code from over 2,000 pages to 80 if elected.
  
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• Coalition wants to bring migration down to lowest level since Global Financial Crisis

  11-08-2026 16:01 via smh.com.au
  
  The new detail on the heated question of net overseas migration, also known as NOM, will inject fresh energy into the debate over ideal migration levels.
  
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• Best of cartoons, August 12, 2026

  11-08-2026 14:21 via smh.com.au
  
  The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
  
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• Sussan Ley took America's 'road to nowhere', it helped her find herself again

  11-08-2026 12:06 via abc.net.au
  
  Sussan Ley left Australia after being ousted as Coalition leader. Her trip to the US saw her find an enhanced pride in the success of Australian multiculturalism.
  
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• 'Incredible disconnection': What Sussan Ley saw in the US shocked her

  11-08-2026 12:06 via abc.net.au
  
  Sussan Ley left Australia after being ousted as Coalition leader. Her trip to the US saw her find an enhanced pride in the success of Australian multiculturalism.
  
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• Coalition demands AFP probe of diplomatic cables over PM’s melon gaffe

  11-08-2026 10:35 via smh.com.au
  
  The federal opposition is demanding a police investigation into the apparent leaking of a diplomatic note sent by the Japanese government, after details of the note were published.
  
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• Rate rises still on table: Bullock says even 20% house price slump wouldn’t spark crisis

  11-08-2026 09:59 via smh.com.au
  
  RBA governor Michele Bullock has warned the bank is willing to keep raising interest rates to curb inflation while flagging property prices could fall by 20 per cent without seriously risking the nation’s financial stability.
  
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• RBA’s threat of a rate rise rings a bit hollow

  11-08-2026 09:56 via smh.com.au
  
  There’s nothing wrong with RBA governor Michele Bullock using her central bank pulpit to talk up the threat of a rate rise. But the bank’s own forecasts say otherwise.
  
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• Albanese’s attempts to talk to everyone bears bitter fruit when he goes off script

  11-08-2026 08:38 via smh.com.au
  
  It might have been simpler to just own the mistake of hosting a bawdy podcast in The Lodge and move on, but that just isn’t Anthony Albanese’s style.
  
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• Albanese’s attempts to talk to everyone bear bitter fruit when he goes off script

  11-08-2026 08:38 via smh.com.au
  
  It might have been simpler to just own the mistake of hosting a bawdy podcast in The Lodge and move on, but that just isn’t Anthony Albanese’s style.
  
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• PM rejects claim he made 'foul-mouthed, classless comments about women'

  11-08-2026 06:52 via smh.com.au
  
  Anthony Albanese was dismissive after he was asked by an opposition MP to apologise for comments he made on a podcast about the Japanese prime minister's gift of melons.
  
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• RBA keeps rates on hold as major bank warns of 15% property price slump

  11-08-2026 06:40 via smh.com.au
  
  The RBA decision came after ANZ warned that property prices could slump by almost 15 per cent over this year and next, citing interest rates, low affordability and the government’s property tax changes.
  
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• Bird flu vaccine to be rolled out to vulnerable species in captivity

  11-08-2026 05:34 via abc.net.au
  
  A vaccine will be rolled out to protect Australia's native species from the deadly H5N1 bird flu, with a focus on birds in captivity. 
  
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• Australia to give bird flu vaccines to native species most at risk

  11-08-2026 05:33 via smh.com.au
  
  The Albanese government says the first H5N1 vaccines will be administered to native animals in captivity over the coming weeks.
  
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• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez open to presidential run, announces she will freeze eggs

  11-08-2026 04:08 via abc.net.au
  
  The 36-year-old said she felt "empowered" by her decision, while adding that it came with political risk.
  
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• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is freezing her eggs to feel 'in control'. How does it work?

  11-08-2026 04:08 via abc.net.au
  
  The 36-year-old said she felt "empowered" by her decision, while adding that it came with political risk.
  
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• I’m hyper-alert to misogyny and sexism, but even this from the PM had me cackling

  11-08-2026 03:30 via smh.com.au
  
  Lord knows I have wanted to punch my own face many times when Anthony Albanese is on telly. Zero charisma. But Melon-Gate is completely overblown.
  
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• Albo’s melons moment is no outrage. He’s more ‘daggy uncle’ than misogynist

  11-08-2026 03:30 via smh.com.au
  
  Lord knows I have wanted to punch my own face many times when Anthony Albanese is on telly. Zero charisma. But Melon-Gate is completely overblown.
  
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• Australia to roll out bird flu vaccines for wildlife most at risk

  11-08-2026 03:07 via smh.com.au
  
  The Albanese government says the first H5N1 vaccines will be administered to native animals in captivity over the coming weeks.
  
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• Property prices could slump by almost 15 per cent, major bank warns

  11-08-2026 02:52 via smh.com.au
  
  ANZ’s report, released on the morning of the RBA’s August interest rate decision, expects the biggest price hits to be in Sydney and Melbourne.
  
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• PM rejects suggestion melon comment was a 'classless' reference about women — as it happened

  10-08-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Anthony Albanese is resisting opposition calls to apologise to the Japanese PM over hand gestures he made while referring to her gift of crown melons.
  
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• Live: Teal MP urges Albanese to 'pick up phone' and apologise for melon gaffe

  10-08-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Anthony Albanese is again facing calls to personally apologise to his Japanese counterpart over a gesture he made about two melons Sanae Takaichi gifted him. Follow live. 
  
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• Live: PM's melon gaffe has been misinterpreted: Gallagher

  10-08-2026 23:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Anthony Albanese is again facing calls to personally apologise to his Japanese counterpart over a gesture he made about two melons Sanae Takaichi gifted him, but a government frontbencher insists his remarks have been misrepresented. Follow live. 
  
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