Today
- Live
- Need to Know
Personnel increase, but no ship to Red Sea: Marles
Marles reiterates Australia’s Pacific focus; Talks continue for fresh ceasefire in Israel Gaza war; Cape York braces for flooding. Follow updates here.
- 26 mins ago
- Maxim Shanahan
Yesterday
myGov to be single entry portal after agencies told to get on board
All major federal services will be able to be accessed through a single portal after it was agreed to mandate the consolidation of services onto the myGov platform.
- Tom Burton
ACCC rejects Treasury’s attempts to copy US, NZ merger laws
The competition watchdog has warned Treasury that two of the government’s three proposals for merger reforms would fail to fix systemic problems, leaving consumers, small businesses and farmers worse off.
- Hannah Wootton
- Exclusive
- Big four consultants
Spending on consultants at 10-year low: Gallagher
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says spending with the big four consulting firms along with Accenture and Scyne is down $240 million so far in 2023-24.
- Ronald Mizen
Red Sea call ‘risks telegraphing capability concerns to adversaries’
The government’s reluctance to send a warship to the Red Sea has the potential to flag internal concerns to adversaries over Australia’s naval capability, a former naval warfare officer warns.
- Tom Rabe
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
The super variant of bracket creep
Readers’ letters on super contributions tax; net zero and offshore wind; NT chief minister, Gina Rinehart; Rex ownership; Labor performance; dividend payouts.
![“We think it is important that navigation and freedom of movement be allowed [in the Red Sea],” said Anthony Albanese.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.1895%2C$multiply_4%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_465%2C$y_86/t_crop_custom/c_scale%2Cw_140%2Cq_88%2Cf_auto/1ed50171f5859af9ed0f2eed1039be29d58d71c6)
PM offers diplomats against Red Sea attacks, no ships
The stance was immediately slammed by the Coalition as weak, out of step with allies, and deaf to the broader inflationary threat posed by the Houthi attacks.
- Jacob Greber and Matthew Cranston
Diplomatic efforts, not ships, best way to support US: Albanese
State court rules Trump ineligible for presidency; Albanese, NZ prime minister meet; UN vote on Gaza delayed as states seek US support. Here’s how the day unfolded.
- Updated
- Timothy Moore and Maxim Shanahan
- Opinion
- Leadership lessons
Albanese is running Australia like a low-energy state premier
Labor would be foolish to blame their poll slide solely on interest rates. Their problem is their model of governance belongs in the cheap-money era.
- Tim Wilson and Jason Falinski
This Month
Convicted terrorist released from jail after 20 years
Abdul Nacer Benbrika had been convicted of plotting terrorist attacks in 2005.
- Michael Pelly
Albanese condemns antisemitism amid protests outside Lowy event
The prime minister reiterated his firm opposition to antisemitism in a speech to the Lowy Institute on Tuesday night, as Pro-Palestine demonstrators rallied outside.
- Jacob Greber and Emma Connors
Surging WA government costs eat into $3b iron ore windfall
Surging iron ore prices have delivered the West Australian government an extra $3 billion in royalties, but two-thirds will go on increased state expenses.
- Tom Rabe
NT chief minister resigns after shares scandal
Natasha Fyles has quit eight months out from an election after failing to declare a parcel of South32 shares.
- Neve Brissenden
Wong rated best minister for second year: AFR readers
The Foreign Affairs Minister beat a strong showing from Jim Chalmers as Linda Burney was named the worst performer.
- Tom Rabe
Voters feel everything is getting worse except China relationship
Cranky voters believe everything from wages to the economy, energy bills and the behaviour of politicians has deteriorated.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
Corporate Australia needs to clean up and restore trust
Readers’ letters on what CEOs think and what they do; Dutton’s prospects; science curriculum; regulation; ABC’s falling ratings; PM’s poor polling; Gaza conflict.
Climate body targets cattle barons on methane emissions
Some of the nation’s biggest pastoral companies generate enough greenhouse gas emissions to be counted as major polluters, says the Climate Change Authority.
- Jacob Greber
Support for wind farms declines but solar still king: poll
The popularity of wind-generated energy has taken a hit in the latest Financial Review/Freshwater Strategy poll, while support for nuclear has lifted a little.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Dutton’s political tactics are no governing agenda
The problem for the country with the Coalition’s approach of opposing much and proposing little is that the political heat is not being put on Labor to genuinely revamp its policy approach in the new year.
- The AFR View
