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Anthony Albanese is set to visit China amid a cloud of controversy over Chinese ownership and Australia’s defence ties with the US.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAlbanese touts tourism ahead of tricky China talks

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will opt for a soft launch on his six-day official trip to China, promoting Australia to Chinese tourism groups ahead of tough talks with the country’s leaders.

Nicola Smith

The World Heritage Committee in France has added the Murujuga Cultural Landscape to its global list. (HANDOUT/CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA)

environmental issueCommentsAncient rock art near gas hub gets World Heritage listing

An ancient Indigenous rock art collection close to Woodside’s Burrup gas hub been recognised as a World Heritage-listed site.

Staff Writers

Fortescue executive chairman Andrew Forrest said the Prime Minister’s visit could not come at a more critical time for Australia’s future. 

Federal PoliticsCommentsPM’s China visit crucial to tackle global steel: Forrest

Anthony Albanese is spruiking his six-day visit to China as important for Australia’s economy and national security as concerns grow over his lack of direct engagement with the US on defence and trade.

Caitlyn Rintoul

WA Senator Michaelia Cash.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Cash leads push to strip Albo’s staffing numbers power

The Liberals appear to have have won crossbench support to strip Anthony Albanese’s ‘vindictive’ power to cut the staffing numbers for non-Labor politicians.

Katina Curtis

Murujuga woman Raelene Cooper stands with other aboriginal climate advocates.

Federal PoliticsCommentsPremiumTraditional owners cautiously optimistic on rock art call

Traditional owners are feeling ‘cautiously optimistic’ that a UNESCO bid to have ancient rock art in WA’s north added to the World Heritage list will be approved in Paris on Friday night.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Kevin Rudd met Donald Trump just over a week before the US president was sworn in, but there is scant detail about the interaction.

Federal PoliticsCommentsMystery surrounds what happened when Kevin met Donald

Mystery still surrounds a meeting between Kevin Rudd and Donald Trump earlier this year as the Prime Minister refuses to go into detail about the golf course encounter

Katina Curtis

Anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal (inset) and a protestor being led away by Police outside an Israeli restaurant

anti-SemitismWA govt condemns racism but ‘values artistic freedom’

The WA Government is mulling over recommendations for a new plan to combat anti-Semitism, saying while it ‘values artistic freedom’ it takes ’a very strong stance’ in condemning it.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has played down Opposition claims that Kevin Rudd’s January meeting with Donald Trump was secret.

CommentsAlbanese says Rudd-Trump meet is old news: ‘Pay attention’

LIVE UPDATES: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has played down Opposition claims that Kevin Rudd’s January meeting with Donald Trump was secret.

Madeline Cove and Kimberley Braddish

Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke watches on as Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism Jillian Segal discussees the action plan.

Federal PoliticsCommentsThe key points in Australia’s anti-Semitism action plan

The special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, has released a 49-point action plan to stamp out the hatred across Australia, the culmination of a year’s work. Here’s everything you need to know.

Katina Curtis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says university funding will be at risk if anti-Semitism isn’t stamped out.

FEDERAL POLITICSCommentsUni funding at risk if anti-Semitism isn’t stamped out

Australia’s hand-picked envoy announces new sweeping plan to address anti-Semitism after a series of attacks across Australia.

Caitlyn Rintoul and Katina Curtis

Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon has congratulated Australia on the new strategy.

PoliticsCommentsIsrael responds to Albanese’s ‘important’ anti-Semitism plan

LIVE UPDATES: Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has praised the Albanese goverment’s new strategy to combat anti-Semitism calling it an ‘important and timely initiative’.

Madeline Cove and Kimberley Braddish

US President Donald Trump, Treasurer Jim Chalmers

Federal PoliticsCommentsPremiumScramble for more details on Trump’s ‘200pc’ drug tariff

The Federal Government is chasing details from the US about the President’s tariff threat on pharmaceutical imports, which Jim Chalmers says injects unnecessary uncertainty into the economy.

Katina Curtis

Australia will again push for ancient rock art sites to be placed on a World Heritage list.

Federal PoliticsPremiumAustralia mounts full-court press for UNESCO rock art bid

Federal and State Environment ministers, traditional owners, scientists and department officials rally together in Paris as part of Australian full-court press for UNESCO to list rock art in WA’s north. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Trumps tariffs could deal a heavy blow to Australian exports and hit mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto.

PoliticsComments‘Unwelcome’: Chalmers responds to Trump’s latest tariffs

LIVE UPDATES: Treasurer Jim Chalmers has responded to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping copper and pharma tariffs, saying they inject unnecessary ‘uncertainty and volatility’ in the global economy.

Kimberley Braddish

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media in Sydney, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AAP Image/Steven Markham) NO ARCHIVING

opinion
opinion
EDITORIALComments
opinion
Now PM must salvage US relationship

That Anthony Albanese has managed to reset Australia’s relationship with China is perhaps the great achievement of his prime ministership to date. 

Murray Watt has pushed back against a draft UNESCO recommendation which would require the ‘decommissioning of all industrial activity’ in the Burrup Peninsula.

Federal PoliticsComments‘Incredible ask’: Watt pushes back on decommissioning call

Murray Watt has taken a swipe at ‘politically driven’ groups seeking to impact the Government’s bid for the World Heritage Committee to recognise rock art near the North West Shelf gas project. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock explains the decision to keep rates on hold.

live
live
RBAVideoComments
live
RBA Governor explains why interest rates were kept on hold

Michele Bullock is speaking out after the Reserve Bank shocked economists and homeowners by keeping interest rates on hold. Follow it live here.

David Johns

Susan Ley with members of the East Melbourne Synagogue community and Jewish leaders at East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation.

FEDERAL POLITICSCommentsOpposition demands action on anti-Semitism ‘rising tide’

Sussan Ley has called for Anthony Albanese to adopt an action plan put forward by the country’s peak Jewish body to combat the ‘rising tide of anti-Semitism’ in Australia.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Anthony Albanese has confirmed he is travelling to China where he is expected to meet President Xi Jinping.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAlbanese set to travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed his visit to China from Saturday, when he is heading to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.

Katina Curtis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

live
live
PoliticsComments
live
Albo snaps back after anti-Semitism question

LIVE UPDATES: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was forced to defend his decision not to call a national cabinet meeting to address anti-Semitic hate, saying people want action, not meetings.

Kimberley Braddish

Children aren’t ‘for profit’ or ‘stable investments’ but that’s how they are viewed by an increasing majority of childcare providers, writes Katina Curtis.

analysis
analysis
Katina CurtisComments
analysis
Centres tagged as ‘great profits’ show childcare problems

Children aren’t ‘for profit’ or ‘stable investments’ but that’s how they are viewed by an increasing majority of childcare providers.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

Police escort Anti-Israeli protesters outside an Israeli restaurant Miznon on Hardware Lane in Melbourne, Friday, July 4, 2025.

Federal PoliticsCommentsFederal silence slammed after synagogue attack

Public concern about antisemitism is highest in WA, where residents are more likely to be aware of negative perceptions toward Jewish people, according to a new Combat Antisemitism survey. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Donald Trump.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAustralia warned not to retaliate on Trump’s tariff regime

The assessment in the Productivity Commission’s review of trade and industry assistance comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to head to China for talks expected to include President Xi Jinping.

Katina Curtis

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with China’s President Xi Jinping in 2023.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAlbanese bound for Beijing to smooth talk superpower

Anthony Albanese is expected to receive a red carpet reception when he travels to China this weekend to meet President Xi Jinping. 

Caitlyn Rintoul