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‘This Budget will undermine people’s trust in Albanese,” says Michelle Grattan.

Michelle GrattanCommentsPremiumOrange wave of disruption as One Nation in political balloon

One way the Albanese Government has recently tapped into social media audiences for its budgets is by inviting ‘influencers’ to Canberra for the event.

Scott Pendlebury in this year’s Anzac Day match between Collingwood and Essendon. Left: Pendelbury during his first year of AFL in 2006. Right: Justin langer gets a selfie with cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

opinion
opinion
Justin LangerCommentsPremium
opinion
Are players born with talent or is it years of belief?

Talent is one of the most used words in sport, and yet it is one of the least understood.

Justin Langer

Compromise is key for a fitting send-off.

Anxiety Aunt PremiumCompromise is key for a fitting send-off

‘While leaning into the chaos may be a coping mechanism for you by providing the peace of mind that you are following your mother’s requests, the opposite may be true for your sister. ‘

Jay Hanna

Jay Hanna

While Jim Chalmers’ bungled negative gearing changes have probably moved the purchase of a family home even further from the grasp of prospective first buyers, the 30 per cent capital gains tax on discretionary trusts in wills is a death duty in disguise. Pictured: Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers.

opinion
opinion
OpinionVideoCommentsPremium
opinion
Budget incompetence of epic proportions is no surprise

It’s no shock that this generation of Labor MPs stumbled into this Budget mess. They go straight from university into the office of a union or a Labor MP. And they then get a factional ride into the parliament.

Paul Murray

Paul Murray

On Saturday footy lovers can pay tribute to a match-winner with dare, skill and the ability to inspire his teammates. Pictured: Harley Reid and Scott Pendlebury.

EditorialVideoCommentsPremiumBig milestone arrives: Here’s to Harley’s big moment

On Saturday footy lovers can pay tribute to a match-winner with dare, skill and the ability to inspire his teammates.

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas.

opinion
opinion
Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
opinion
Language around WA’s GST share leaves our ‘deal’ in doubt

It was Budget estimates in State Parliament this week. It’s where the Opposition get to ask Government Ministers direct questions. Sometimes we get direct answers. Here’s 10 things we learned. 

Basil Zempilas

On Thursday, SpaceX filed its prospectus ahead of a Wall Street listing on a valuation reportedly up to $US1.75 trillion.

opinion
opinion
Tom RichardsonCommentsPremium
opinion
Musk’s genius and SpaceX’s science meet valuation doubts

The SpaceX IPO will test the ability of Elon Musk to win renewed investor support for his ability to deliver grand visions that advance humanity.

Tom Richardson

Tom Richardson

Anthony Albanese is defending the Budget after Chris Minns demanded more action to combat bracket creep. 

opinion
opinion
EditorialVideoCommentsPremium
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Minns’ tax attack a reminder of the real issues

The tax-and-spend Albanese Government is allowing bracket creep to hurt the very people it says it is helping.

Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers have been unable to combat unfair analysis of their Budget.

opinion
opinion
MARK RILEYCommentsPremium
opinion
Why this Budget isn’t as bad as memes would have you believe

Budgets usually disappear from the public consciousness and the news cycle after a few days. Not this one.

Mark Riley

Mark Riley

Treasurer Rita Saffioti.

opinion
opinion
Rita SaffiotiCommentsPremium
opinion
Tough tobacco laws are helping butt out illegal cigarettes

The tough new laws to crack down on illegal tobacco have only been in effect for a week but already we’ve seized more than 140,000 illegal cigarettes and more than 600 vapes. 

Rita Saffioti

It is already clear that Dr Chalmers’ Budget is deeply flawed. And perhaps unsalvageable.

OpinionVideoCommentsPremiumChalmers’ masterclass on how not to deliver a Budget

It is already clear that Dr Chalmers’ document is deeply flawed. And perhaps unsalvageable.

As Anthony Albanese (right) promotes Budget spending, Tim Wilson is promising to back entrepreneurs, small business people and ‘self starters’.

opinion
opinion
OpinionVideoCommentsPremium
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Wilson backs business as Albanese bumbles Budget breakdown

As the PM promotes Budget spending, Tim Wilson is promising to back entrepreneurs, small business people and ‘self starters’.

Aaron Patrick

Aaron Patrick

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, in Perth.

opinion
opinion
Jessica PageCommentsPremium
opinion
Actions matter more than hollow words

The Premier trusts the Prime Minister’s renewed GST promise, so why is WA gearing up for a fight?

Jessica Page

Trust is in short supply in politics right now, mostly due to the Federal broken-promises Budget. Pictured: Rita Saffioti, Roger Cook, and Anthony Albanese.

opinion
opinion
Editorial VideoCommentsPremium
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Will Albanese use word games to wriggle out of GST pledge?

What is WA’s ‘fair share’? Is that the same as current share? Or is it leaving wriggle room to claim a reduced share is ‘fair’?

It took 17 months for our State Government to realise courthouses need security guards.

opinion
opinion
OPINIONCommentsPremium
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Sitting on their A’s: Months of ‘head-scratch’ closed courts

It took 17 months for our State Government to realise courthouses need security guards.

Charlton Hart

Charlton Hart

Australians are waiting an average of 396 days to get into an ongoing residential aged-care spot, three months after the new system started.

opinion
opinion
Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsPremium
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‘Not good enough’: Aged care waiting times in crisis

While the Government was launching a national argument over what is fair or unfair when it comes to taxing property and trusts, it quietly published a set of numbers that should concern every Australian.

Katina Curtis

In politics there can be a time when everything changes. For the Albanese Government that moment is now.

EditorialVideoCommentsPremiumThe moment everything changed for Albanese and Chalmers

In politics there can be a time when everything changes. For the Albanese Government that moment is now.

It may be the Treasurer who has to pay the price for Anthony Albanese’s lies to the public on property tax reform.

opinion
opinion
Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsPremium
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How the Budget has destroyed Chalmers’ chance to be PM

It may be the Treasurer who has to pay the price for Anthony Albanese’s lies to the public on property tax reform.

Cameron Milner

'Texting has largely replaced ringing,' says Gary Martin.

opinion
opinion
Gary MartinCommentsPremium
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People are talking less which is well worth talking about

There is a certain amount of irony attached to talking less because we have more ways than ever to contact and connect with one another. 

Gary Martin

'The fact that a profoundly slow heart rate can make you feel very bad immediately and pass out soon after tells us just how little oxygen reserve is stored in the brain,' says Andrew Miller.

opinion
opinion
Andrew MillerCommentsPremium
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In all the battles of the heart family the most complex

The heart is a muscle literally and metaphorically, as David Le’aupepe, lead singer of Gang of Youths put it in 2017. 

Andrew Miller

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

opinion
opinion
EditorialCommentsPremium
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Labor losing the very demographic it targeted

Jim Chalmers said he wasn’t expecting a Budget bounce from opinion polls, almost like it was a badge of honour that the public doesn’t like his tax plan. 

Anthony Albanese has been comprehensibly exposed as a Pinocchio politician.

opinion
opinion
Ben HarveyCommentsPremium
opinion
Albanese’s Budget duplicity on tax takes the cake

Anthony Albanese has been comprehensibly exposed as a Pinocchio politician.

Ben Harvey

Ben Harvey

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra.

opinion
opinion
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
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No apology from PM as rivals push tougher policies

A prime minister who refuses to apologise for breaking an election promise, an opposition leader who is now singing from the One Nation play book - and an empowered Pauline Hanson. Let the games begin.

Joe Spagnolo

Nat Locke

opinion
opinion
THAT’S LIFE
opinion
I don’t mean to boast, but, my hometown is a big deal

A document of great importance was released this week. No, not the federal budget, Australian Traveller’s Australia’s 100 Best Towns to Visit in 2026. And Esperance has deservedly made the cut.

Nat Locke