Even the Super-Rich Say They Should Pay More Tax
Australia's billionaire count has doubled since 2015. Some of the super-rich argue the tax system should reflect that concentration of wealth.
Fatima Al-Rashid Politics
Federal and state politics, policy, and governance
Fatima Al-Rashid 
Ryde Council flags probity concerns over civic centre site talks with developers
Ryde Council has raised serious probity concerns about the civic centre redevelopment project, asking all councillors to report private discussions they may have had with developers.
Bruce Mackinnon 
Australia's 36-Day Fuel Supply Triggers Urgent Government Action
Australia faces a precarious fuel situation with only 36 days of petrol supply remaining as conflict in the Middle East disrupts global markets. The government is releasing emergency reserves while facing hard questions about long-term resilience.
Aisha Khoury 
Council votes to remove Palestinian flag after months of fierce debate
A northern Victorian council has voted to lower a Palestinian flag that has flown above its civic centre, ending over two years of political controversy and passionate community division.
Patrick Donnelly 
Australia's AI Welcome Ignores the Grok Lesson Baltimore Just Learned
Australia's government announced strict requirements for AI data centre development on March 23, requiring renewable energy and local employment, but conspicuously absent was any mention of child safety safeguards—the same day Baltimore sued for Grok generating 23,000 sexualised images of children.
Yuki Tamura 
Journalist Hamish Macdonald targets Australia's 'post-truth' crisis
ABC journalist Hamish Macdonald's new documentary series explores the erosion of shared facts in democracies, using a local dispute to reveal how disinformation divides communities and threatens democratic resilience.
James Callahan Australia's AI Infrastructure Gamble Outpaces Its Safety Framework
Australia is welcoming $7 billion in AI infrastructure from OpenAI while its online safety regulator battles deepfake child exploitation through existing laws. The collision of competing priorities reveals a nation betting growth on tools it cannot yet manage.
Aisha Khoury 
Pentagon's Anthropic Blacklist Looks Like 'Crippling' Move, Judge Says
A San Francisco judge said the Pentagon's decision to blacklist Anthropic looks like an attempt to cripple the company, questioning whether it crosses the line from national security policy into unlawful retaliation.
James Callahan 
Fuel Crisis Plan Escalates From Carpools to Pump Limits as Shortage Deepens
A secret government document reveals Australia's fuel crisis contingencies range from carpooling to $40 petrol caps, as Middle East conflict forces Jetstar flight cuts and hundreds of stations run dry.
Samantha Blake 
Why US Airports Are Deploying Immigration Agents to Security Checkpoints
A partial US government shutdown has left airport security workers unpaid for weeks, prompting authorities to deploy immigration enforcement agents to assist with crowd control—a move raising serious questions about training and capability.
Aisha Khoury 
Brisbane's Olympic Stadium Deal Exposes the Cost of Democratic Compromise
Brisbane's new Olympic stadium location was officially unveiled on March 25, yet the decision to build near Gilchrist Avenue in Victoria Park leaves the government defending a project it previously opposed.
Daniel Kovac 
Australia's Critical Infrastructure Law Lacks Real Bite, Review Warns
An independent review has found Australia's critical infrastructure security law is perceived as toothless, with operators treating penalties as a routine cost rather than taking real action.
James Callahan 
Welfare System Frays as Fuel Crisis Squeezes Australia's Poorest
Australians receiving welfare payments are bearing the brunt of Australia's fuel crisis, with advocacy groups urging the government to suspend compulsory appointments and boost remote area support.
Marcus Ashbrook 
NSW Claws Back Gaming Exemptions for 670 Pubs and Clubs
From March 2026, NSW will enforce uniform gaming shutdown hours across all pubs and clubs, ending exemptions that allowed 670+ venues to operate pokies outside mandated times.
Rachel Thornbury 
Linux Now Has Your Birthdate Field. Who Pushed It There?
The Linux community is grappling with the implications of age verification code embedded in systemd, and evidence points to a coordinated campaign driven by corporate interests.
Daniel Kovac 
Taylor ditches Dutton playbook with pro-business pivot as Coalition splinters over trade
Angus Taylor is repositioning the Coalition as business-friendly after Peter Dutton's interventionist era, but his pro-market stance clashes with Matt Canavan's new push for protectionist tariffs.
Samantha Blake 
Trapped Inside: Chicago Families in Hiding from Immigration Agents
In Chicago neighbourhoods, families are staying indoors for days at a time, afraid to leave their apartments. The fear is paralyzing the city's immigrant communities.
Andrew Marsh 
Queensland Locks in Stadium Timeline as Victoria Park Construction Begins
Queensland has confirmed a June construction start date for the new 63,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park, after architects released fresh renders of the venue's three-tier seating bowl.
Tanya Birch 
ABC strike set to disrupt news and radio as talks collapse
Thousands of ABC staff are set to strike on Wednesday after rejecting management's pay offer. The broadcaster has warned of significant programming disruptions, including the axing of flagship shows.
Riley Fitzgerald 
Mayor's Trump Estate Visit Raises Questions About Disclosure
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate's register of interests shows Trump's business covered costs of his Mar-a-Lago visit shortly before plans for a A$1.5 billion tower on the Gold Coast were announced.
Priya Narayanan