Politics
Federal
Australia politics as it happened: Treasurer Jim Chalmers responds to latest inflation figures; question time returns to parliament
Monthly inflation figures softened to 3.7 per cent, as question time returned to the House of Representatives.
- by Brittany Busch and Nick Newling
Latest
Australia’s emergency plan starts with carpooling, escalates to fuel caps
Environment Minister Murray Watt on Wednesday dismissed the prospect of a cap at $40, as that figure was used as a hypothetical example seven years ago.
- by Brittany Busch
‘Rules are in flux’: $2b bailout for Rio Tinto as Labor cites national sovereignty
The Albanese government is doubling down on its strategy to prop up the nation’s ailing manufacturing sector.
- by Mike Foley
Editorial
Petrol prices
Cheer up, Australia, we will turn the corner and get to better days
Australians’ confidence in the value of their own finances has hit rock bottom.
- The Herald's View
Opinion
GST
The GST is broken, and hurting NSW and Victoria badly
A deal to quell anger from West Australians is now a $60 billion drain on the budget and generating anger across the federation.
- by Shane Wright
Best of cartoons, March 25, 2026
The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.
The big slow build: Labor’s 1.2 million-home plan already a year behind schedule
The Albanese government wanted 1.2 million new homes built by mid-2029. All states and territories are behind schedule, with NSW especially dragging the chain.
- by Shane Wright
Taylor drops Dutton-era hostility to business, as Canavan calls for tariffs
An average Australian will be $35,000 worse off over the next decade under Labor, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will warn in his first major economic speech since becoming opposition leader.
- by Paul Sakkal
Rate rises and war push consumer confidence into death spiral
Happy consumers normally mean a strong economy. But consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level on record.
- by Shane Wright
Europe, Australia compromise on cheese and wine names in $10b trade deal
Angry farmers have accused the Albanese government of failing to drive a hard enough bargain to secure expanded access to Europe’s 450 million consumers.
- by Matthew Knott
Fuel supply heads for cliff at end of April as petrol prices in Australia hit record highs
Asian fuel refineries are running down their inventories, raising unanswerable questions about Australia’s fuel security.
- by Mike Foley and Nick Toscano