Politics / Federal

The Daily Dose: Cartoons as Political Barometers (June 2, 2026) It’s June 2nd, 2026. The news cycle, as always, is a relentless tide. But beyond the headlines, there’s another, often more potent, way to gauge the political climate: the editorial cartoon. After 15 years of covering politics and dissecting policy, I’ve learned to treat these visual commentaries not just as humorous diversions, but as insightful indicators of public sentiment and shrewd political analysis. Today, let’s dive into what our talented artists are telling us. ...

‘Why Such a Rush’: Coalition Questions Ben Roberts-Smith Charging Timeline – A Journalist’s Perspective It’s moments like these that make you pause and reflect on the intricate dance of justice, politics, and public perception. As a journalist who’s spent over 15 years navigating the often turbulent waters of Australian politics, I’ve seen my fair share of high-profile cases and the surrounding political fallout. The recent questioning by the Coalition regarding the timeline of charges laid against Ben Roberts-Smith is a prime example of this intersection, and it’s worth unpacking from multiple political viewpoints. ...

Dutton’s Fury: Leaked Liberal Review Sparks Political Firestorm The political landscape in Australia can be a surprisingly intimate arena, despite the grand pronouncements from Parliament House. I’ve been covering politics for over 15 years, and seen my fair share of internal party strife, but the recent leak of the Liberal Party’s suppressed election review has a particularly sharp edge to it. Peter Dutton’s immediate, fiery reaction – describing the report as a “gratuitously personal hit job” – tells us a great deal about the raw nerves within the Coalition and the ongoing struggle to define their future identity. ...

The Unseen Handshake: When Policy Claims Don’t Match Political Reality It’s a story I’ve seen unfold in various forms across my 15+ years covering the often labyrinthine world of Australian politics. A policy is announced, seemingly with robust backing, only for cracks to appear, revealing a more complex, and sometimes less unified, reality. The latest instance, with Sussan Ley’s proposed hardline migration policy – a ban on migrants from terror-controlled regions – and the subsequent “I never agreed” chorus from senior Liberal MPs, is a prime example of how political messaging and actual consensus can diverge. ...

A Barrister’s Caution: Rethinking a Royal Commission into Antisemitism By Michael Zhang, Political Journalist It’s not every day you see a figure as respected in the legal and political spheres as Robert Richter, KC, publicly push back against a call for a royal commission. But that’s exactly what’s happened here, and as someone who’s spent over 15 years navigating the often-turbulent waters of Australian politics and policy analysis, this development warrants a closer look. The letter signed by senior members of the Australian Bar, advocating for a royal commission into antisemitism, was a significant political statement. Yet, Richter’s refusal to sign, and his articulation of the move as both “premature” and “dangerous,” adds a crucial layer of complexity to the broader discussion on how to best address this sensitive issue. ...

Tax on Truth: An Unlikely Alliance Shapes Australia’s Political Landscape It’s not often you see political adversaries link arms in the Senate, but as someone who’s spent over 15 years in the press gallery, I can tell you that Australian politics is rarely predictable. The news that the Coalition and the Greens are teaming up to block Labor’s latest controversial legislation, framed by some as a “tax on truth,” is a fascinating development that demands a closer look. ...

The Cracks Emerge: An Ally’s Defiance on Net Zero Having spent the better part of fifteen years covering the twists and turns of political journalism, I’ve learned that sometimes, the most telling stories aren’t the grand pronouncements, but the subtle, almost imperceptible shifts within a party’s ranks. This week, we saw one such crack emerge, a significant jolt to the opposition’s precarious unity, as a key ally of Deputy Leader Sussan Ley broke ranks on the net zero target. ...

Albanese’s Call to Arms: Democracy Beyond Rhetoric The political landscape, as I’ve observed it over 15 years covering the twists and turns of global governance, rarely presents moments of such stark clarity. When Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared to UK Labour that “we are fighting for ‘democracy itself’,” it wasn’t just a rallying cry for his ideological kin. It was a potent message, one that cut through the usual political noise, emphasizing that the traditional parties of government bear a profound obligation: to demonstrate they can deliver practical improvements to people’s lives. ...

The Unfiltered Lens: What Cartoons Tell Us About the State of Play, September 29, 2025 It’s Monday, and as is my ritual, I’ve been poring over the day’s political cartoons. They’re often the sharpest, most succinct political commentary you’ll find, cutting through the noise with a clarity that sometimes even policy papers lack. Today, September 29, 2025, they’re not just making me chuckle; they’re painting a vivid picture of a political landscape grappling with digital sovereignty, economic headwinds, and the persistent challenge of governance in a fragmented world. ...

Alright, pull up a chair, grab that second coffee – or maybe something stronger, depending on how your week’s going. We need to talk about Australia. Specifically, about them officially recognizing Palestine, and the interesting timing of it all. Honestly, when the news trickled through my feed, I had to do a double-take. Not because I didn’t think it would happen eventually, but because of when and how. It’s a move that, for anyone who’s spent more than a few election cycles tracking foreign policy – and trust me, I’ve tracked more than I care to admit over these past 15 years – feels both long overdue and, well, a little… audacious, given the current geopolitical landscape. ...