Labor has been left scrambling, after the Greens snuck through criminal penalties that mean bosses who fail to comply with the “right to disconnect” could face jail time. The government’s Closing Loopholes No 2 Bill passed the Senate late on Thursday, after Labor clinched a deal with the minor partyContinue Reading
Former Liberal member for Wentworth Dave Sharma has won preselection for the New South Wales Liberal Senate spot made vacant by the resignation of former foreign affairs minister Marise Payne. Mr Sharma defeated former Morrison government minister Zed Seselja who lost his ACT Senate seat at the 2022 federal electionContinue Reading
With a historic referendum next month, many questions have been raised over what would happen should a Yes or No vote prevail. Millions of Australians will cast their ballot on whether to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution on October 14. If passed, the referendumContinue Reading
A final vote will set the clock ticking on the referendum for a Voice to parliament as the government touts its confidence Australians will back the constitutional change despite lagging polls. Senators will rubber stamp the legislation that finalise the wording of the question that will be put to theContinue Reading
Labor will make last minute changes to its centrepiece housing policy in a bid to end its standoff with the Greens and get the legislation through parliament. Housing Minister Julie Collins wrote to the Greens and other members of the Senate crossbench on Monday to let them know the governmentContinue Reading
Jim Chalmers has accused the Greens of playing political games as he publicly calls on the minor party to pass the government’s $10bn investment vehicle for social and affordable housing. The government will reintroduce the Housing Australia Future Fund legislation to parliament during the upcoming sitting fortnight even though itContinue Reading
The Church of England is considering scrapping centuries of religious teaching to give God gender-neutral pronouns. The church, which is headed by King Charles III, confirmed that its Liturgical Commission has launched a special project to examine updating future teachings. Some priests have already made such changes, trading references toContinue Reading
Labor’s wide-ranging industrial relations reforms are on the brink of becoming a reality as a Senate showdown over the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill nears its end. The government believes it will be able to pass the omnibus legislation, which will introduce the most significant changes to Australia’s workplace lawsContinue Reading
A Coalition senator has branded a landmark bill to lift the ban on the ACT and NT from legislating on controversial issues including euthanasia, as “state sanctioned killing”. The private members bill, introduced by Canberra MP Alicia Payne and Solomon MP Luke Gosling, will repeal legislation brought on by KevinContinue Reading