Politics

Exclusive

Political leadership

Voters want Labor to allow MPs more freedom to break ranks

The exclusive findings highlight public support for politicians to speak out against the party line when they feel strongly on big issues.

by David Crowe

The headrace tunnel that Florence has been excavating.

Energy

Light at the end of the tunnel: After seven weeks wedged in rock, Florence is finally free

by Mike Foley

About 2 per cent of students in the state’s far west studied HSC economics last year, compared with 13 per cent in North Sydney.

Charity

Private school charity status sacrosanct despite calls to scrap it

by Shane Wright and Lucy Carroll

The CFMEU’s NSW branch joined Queensland in opposing government intervention in the scandal.

Exclusive

Building Bad

Labor-linked judge in government sights to take over CFMEU

by Paul Sakkal, Angus Thompson and Ben Schneiders

Penny Wong in the Senate earlier this month.

Exclusive

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Labor works to cool fear of Israel-Lebanon war as Wong lambasts Israel

by Paul Sakkal

Opinion & Perspectives

Chance for a CFMEU clean-out – but the devil will be in the detail

The cronies, the corrupt, the violent and all underworld figures need to be banished from the construction union and a new generation of decent people must take their place.

The Age's View

Editorial

‘For the first time, I feel unsafe.’ Trump attack has fearful Australian MPs on edge

Australia does not have America’s gun culture or record of political violence, but many of our politicians are increasingly concerned about their security.

David Crowe

Chief political correspondent

Jacinta Allan is failing to cut through. The denials are making it worse

The state Labor government has been under weeks of sustained political pressure. But it won’t turn around the slump in support with this defensive manner.

Annika Smethurst

State Political Editor

Federal

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, whose government wants a ‘no disadvantage test’ over international student caps.

International students

Victoria wants special treatment over foreign student caps

The state says it should be treated differently to NSW and others because of the damage done to its economy by the pandemic.

by Angus Thompson

Stamp duty and GST make up a large portion of insurance bills paid by households and businesses.

Exclusive

General insurance

The forgotten tax adding billions to the country’s insurance premiums

State governments have reaped billions from stamp duty on insurance, and the industry’s peak body says it’s time for states to put that money back into mitigating natural disasters.