Government and Politics

It was a direction meant to bring a "common sense" approach to appeals by non-citizen criminals who have their visas cancelled. Instead, "direction 99" caused a furore after it was used to reinstate the visa of a man who now stands accused of murder. Here's what it's about.

The head of Australia's geology agency is "jumping out of his skin" at the massive investment to map out the nation's critical minerals and water supplies.

A senior Australian official has travelled to Taiwan for high-level talks on countering Chinese cyber threats, amid growing pushback from Beijing against any diplomatic contact with the democratic island.

Advocates and MPs say the government must stand up to the alcohol lobby if it's serious about stopping violence against women and children.

The ABC's managing director David Anderson has defended high-profile journalist Laura Tingle over comments she made about Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, telling a parliamentary committee though her remarks lacked context, her reporting for the public broadcaster "stands the test of scrutiny".

Sunlight is literally permeating the home of Australia's democracy like never before. Figuratively, though, the government is as opaque as ever — especially the department tasked with running Parliament House.

A Labor senator who accused Israel of carrying out genocide on the Palestinian people has resigned from her position on two parliamentary foreign affairs committees.

Senators express disbelief that a $6.5 million pilot to test blocking some online content from children will not actually require any testing of technologies by the social media giants.

The WA government will push ahead with the planned demolition of storm-damaged public housing in the Goldfields, despite objections from the local council and residents calling it "ridiculous" and a "travesty". 

Jurors in Mr Trump's hush money trial finished their first day of closed-door deliberations on Wednesday without reaching a verdict, extending a trial that will decide the fate of the only US president in history to be charged with a crime.

Translink has confirmed it still plans to "combat" fare evasion on the state's network of buses, trains, and ferries in the midst of an upcoming trial of 50 cent fares. 

The Victorian government has announced measures to increase the duration of family violence intervention orders and strengthen anti-stalking laws. It's also providing more resources to tackle toxic masculinity in schools.

Two weeks on from the Budget and what’s everyone talking about? Insiders host David Speers chats with pollsters and political strategists Tony Barry and Kos Samaras about the mood of the nation a year out from when the next election must be held.

The Australian Public Service Commission announced the breach of four public servants in February and another three today. The seven have now been issued a final determination that they have breached one or more elements of the code.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has re-cancelled seven visas of people with criminal histories as he scrambles to rewrite a directive which allowed them to remain in Australia.

The federal government is planning to pour billions of dollars into critical minerals in an effort to build up local production of batteries, solar panels and wind turbines.

Jabs about ageism during an election have now made their way across the pond, with the Conservatives taking a page out of Donald Trump's playbook just one week into the campaign.

The deadline for Coles and Woolworths to deal with thousands of tonnes of soft plastic waste left in the collapse of REDcycle has again been extended, in hopes it can be spared from landfill.

Andrew Giles is facing immense pressure over the decision known as Direction 99, but he shows no signs of going anywhere. This mess can be traced back to a meeting of two prime ministers looking to repair a broken relationship.

The Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Dan Tehan, speaks to Sarah Ferguson about the latest controversy regarding visa directives.

The Immigration Minister Andrew Giles is under pressure because of a ministerial direction he wrote in 2023 - which has been used as justification for foreign nationals to remain in the country, rather than being deported.

ABC News director Justin Stevens says comments made by political journalist Laura Tingle at Sydney Writers' Festival did not meet the organisation's editorial standards.

Andrew Giles is refusing to step aside as immigration minister, despite agreeing to tear up a contentious direction to his department and Commonwealth tribunals that has led to convicted criminals being allowed to remain in the country.

NSW Premier Chris Minns says the new housing targets for 43 local government areas were designed to help the state meet its commitment under the National Housing Accord to build 377,000 new well-located homes by 2029.

Queensland's premier says he stands behind Catherine Holmes's review into the CCC.