Yesterday
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
- Analysis
- Middle East tensions
National security wolves howl at moon over Red Sea warship
Cries of outrage over the decision not to deploy to the Middle East are obscuring questions about Australia’s basic defence capabilities.
- James Curran
MPs drop $30m on expenses in three months
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the pack, spending $684,665 between July and September 2022, newly released data show.
- Michael Read
![“We think it is important that navigation and freedom of movement be allowed [in the Red Sea],” said Anthony Albanese.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$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
- 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
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
- Analysis
- International affairs
Albanese reaches for Keating’s Asian mantle
In a speech that canvassed all the issues on his foreign policy plate, there was one section that stood out.
- James Curran
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
- 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
‘Our region is first priority’: still no answer on ships to Red Sea
The longer the delay, the more likely the answer to a US request for navy assistance in the Red Sea will be “thanks, but no thanks”, a top defence analyst says.
- Updated
- Jacob Greber
- Opinion
- Federal election
Labor is polls apart from Christmas last year
The government has lost every significant advantage it held this time last year.
- Phillip Coorey
Labor takes a hit on immigration, cost of living
November’s High Court ruling on the permanent detention of non-citizens appears to have cost Labor politically.
- Phillip Coorey
Labor loses lead, PM’s ratings slump: poll
Labor has lost its lead and would be pushed into minority government if an election were held today, according to The Australian Financial Review/Freshwater Strategy poll.
- Phillip Coorey
Queensland a fight on two fronts for Labor: Chalmers
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the most senior federal MP from Queensland, says the Albanese government will need to win over Greens voters and fight “the old enemy” at the next federal election.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Federal budget
The stage three tax cuts exist in a different world from 2019
As bracket creep starts to bite harder, the Albanese government might want to start rethinking where its tax cut focus should be.
- Laura Tingle
Labor luminaries farewell ‘cherished’ MP Peta Murphy
Anthony Albanese and Julia Gillard were among mourners at a funeral service for MP Peta Murphy, who died of cancer.
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Why interest rate cuts are in sight
History shows that central banks often begin cutting rates before annual inflation falls back to target. Markets are now pricing in two cuts before the end of 2024.
- John Kehoe
We’ll be back in election mode on the other side of Christmas
Three-year terms mean that the government, after just 20 months in power, will start pulling down the new policy shutters, with the opposition dialling everything up to 11.
- Phillip Coorey
Stage three tax cuts will help make ends meet: Chalmers
Jim Chalmers says the stage three tax cuts will help with the cost of living as well as pare back bracket creep.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- Property development
Victoria failing its housing target, property groups warn
Property groups will warn a Victorian housing summit on Thursday that the state government’s ambitious plan to build 80,000 new homes a year is not on track.
- Patrick Durkin
