Home
Search
thewest.com.au
PoliticsChevron Right Icon

Federal Politics

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is heading for another meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (AP PHOTO)

Federal PoliticsCommentsQuad partnership ‘never more important’: Wong

The US Secretary of State has ‘expressed regret’ that President Donald Trump had to cancel a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday. 

Nicola Smith

In response to serious child abuse allegations, Victoria has announced an urgent review into childcare safety. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

live
live
Federal PoliticsComments
live
Victoria launches urgent childcare review, bans devices

LIVE UPDATES: In response to serious child abuse allegations, Victoria has announced an urgent review into childcare safety and fast-tracked a ban on personal devices in all childcare centres.

Kimberley Braddish and Peta Rasdien

The Prime Minister is unlikely to get the chance to meet Donald Trump for at least another two months — and then it’ll probably be on the sidelines of a summit rather than at the White House.

Federal PoliticsCommentsWhy Albo thinks summit season best chance at talk with Trump

Anthony Albanese is looking towards a meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of a major summit and has raised the prospect of multiple conversations with the President.

Katina Curtis

Anthony Albanese needs to meet with Donald Trump whether he likes it or not.

opinion
opinion
PoliticsComments
opinion
Albo needs to rip off Band-Aid and meet with Trump

EDITORIAL: It's a fact of life that some world leaders are people you’d prefer not to invite round for a cuppa. But it’s time for Anthony Albanese to get over that and meet with Donald Trump.

Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash has urged the Albanese Government to maintain Australia’s ‘vitally important’ Pacific relations after Vanuatu dumped a key strategic pact. 

Federal PoliticsCommentsPacific relations questioned after Vanuatu dumps key pact

Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash has urged the Albanese Government to maintain Australia’s ‘vitally important’ Pacific relations after Vanuatu dumped a key strategic pact.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Anthony Albanese has dismissed suggestions he’s prioritising Australia’s relationship with China over the United States.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAlbanese denies he’s prioritising Beijing over Washington

Albo says he’s not “embarrassed” about not yet meeting Donald Trump, and thinks he could score multiple meetings with the US President in the second half of the year on the sidelines of multilateral summits. 

Ellen Ransley

Bans on phones and faster reporting rules are just the start, with Jason Clare promising new laws within months.

Federal PoliticsCommentsMinister prepared to crack down on unsafe childcare centres

LIVE UPDATES: Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has vowed swift action after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of offences, calling the case ‘extremely serious’ and flagging major reforms.

Madeline Cove and Peta Rasdien

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks during a press conference regarding the latest inflation figures.

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsComments
analysis
Thickets of red tape holding back Abundance

The ‘abundance agenda’ is colouring the government’s thinking as it approaches its second-term agenda but the hot new book from the US isn’t the only influence on the thinking of ministers.

Katina Curtis

NACC commissioner Paul Brereton. NewsWire / Martin Ollman

FEDERAL POLITICSCorruption watchdog finds Home Affairs exec misused title

The public sector corruption watchdog has found a Home Affairs senior executive misused her position to benefit her sister and her sister’s fiancé. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

The Prime Minister says his government is engaging ‘with everyone in the United States’ in its bid to keep the AUKUS defence pact on track amid a snap review by the Pentagon.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAlbanese pushing case for AUKUS with ‘everyone’ in US

The Prime Minister says his government is engaging ‘with everyone in the United States’ in its bid to keep the AUKUS defence pact on track amid a snap review by the Pentagon.

Katina Curtis

They're yet to meet but Anthony Albanese can't seem to escape Donald Trump's presence. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Federal PoliticsCommentsRescheduled? Albo hints at Trump meeting

LIVE UPDATES: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he would be ‘prepared’ to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Quad leaders meeting as he waits to be rescheduled.

Amy Lee, Madeline Cove and Peta Rasdien

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian.

Federal PoliticsCommentsChina warns against Australia increasing defence spend

China has warned Australia against folding to US demands to increase defence spending, with its top diplomat flagging it as a ‘heavy fiscal burden’.

Peta Rasdien

Ellie Whiteaker (WA Senator Elect) and husband David Scaife (WA Labor Member for Cockburn) are pictured in Beeliar with their 2 year old son William this morning. Michael Wilson

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
New WA senator wants to be in the room where change happens

Ellie Whiteaker was drawn to the Labor Party as the home of aspiration. The kind of place where a girl from Kalgoorlie, the first in her family to go to uni, could find a way to change the world for everyone.

Katina Curtis

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will meet her US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington this week amid ongoing global instability and domestic pressure for Australia to increase its defence spending.

Federal PoliticsCommentsWong heads to Washington for meetings with Quad, Marco Rubio

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will meet her US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington this week amid ongoing global instability and domestic pressure for Australia to increase its defence spending.

Katina Curtis

Anthony Albanese hosts a Federal Cabinet meeting in Perth with Premier Roger Cook as guest.

Federal PoliticsCommentsWA voices left out of crucial cabinet committees

West Australians have been left off two of Anthony Albanese’s most important cabinet committees on the economy and national security, despite the State’s key role in both areas.

Katina Curtis

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has conceded the incredibly high threshold on a preventative detention regime for criminal former immigration detainees means it’s possible none will ever be locked up under it.

Federal PoliticsCommentsMigrant detention law failed, ‘thresholds too high’: Burke

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has conceded the incredibly high threshold on a preventative detention regime for criminal former immigration detainees means it’s possible none will ever be locked up under it.

Katina Curtis

A senior minister says Australia will base its defence spending around capability and giving the armed forces what they need to protect the country. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsCommentsDefence hike tied to military capability, not just cash

A senior minister says Australia will base its defence spending around capability and giving the armed forces what they need to protect the country.

Andrew Brown

A trial program that has helped more than 100,000 people leave violent partners will become a permanent fixture from Tuesday.

Federal PoliticsProgram to stay after trial helps thousands flee violence

A trial program that helped more than 100,000 people leave violent partners will become a permanent fixture from Tuesday. WARNING: This story contains details some may find distressing.

Hannah Cross

The Liberal Party's Sussan Ley and Michaelia Cash with Curtin candidate Tom White in Scarborough today.

Federal PoliticsCommentsWA Liberals reluctant on idea of gender quotas

The WA Liberal Party is resisting implementing quotas for recruiting more women, as insiders insist the approach it took over the past three years worked at recent elections.

Katina Curtis

Education Minister Jason Clare.

FEDERAL POLITICSCommentsCall for States to crack down on deepfakes nudifying pupils

Education Minister Jason Clare wants to crack down on deepfakes nudifying students and has urged his State counterparts to step up in tackling the disturbing issue. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Australian retirees saved as US drops Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill change which would have slugged their superfunds, potentially for billions of dollars.

BusinessCommentsAussie investors spared as US drops ‘revenge tax’

Australian retirees saved as US drops Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill change which would have slugged their superfunds, potentially for billions of dollars.

Jackson Hewett

Donal Trump and Anthony Albanese.

FEDERAL POLITICSAlbanese says not shaken by US threats to Spain on defence

Anthony Albanese has held firm that Australia will set its own agenda on defence spending and refused to be drawn on the US placing tariffs pressure on Spain. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is bringing together a working group for economic reform.

PoliticsCommentsChalmers reveals first group economic roundtable reformists

RECAP: Treasurer Jim Chalmers has sent out his first batch of invitations to the August economic reform roundtable, with the promise of more waves to come as he finalises the agenda.

Matt Shrivell and Kimberley Braddish

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

MiningPremiumChalmers sues Northern Minerals investor over sale order

The Treasurer is suing China-linked Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company in the Federal Court, alleging it had defied orders to sell shares in the WA rare earths play.

Sean Smith