DARK SECRETS: 3 | Rare Historical Photos

NSW Greens MP pleads with federal colleagues not to back National party motion to block koala park deal

Federal Greens partyroom split over plan for NSW to get millions of dollars’ worth in carbon credits for creating a koala national park

The Guardian - AU · Sep 7

Government must be more transparent about who gets community grants – and why

Australian governments have an unfortunate history with community grants programs. Sports infrastructure programs, car park grants and other schemes have repeatedly raised the same concern: public money intended to serve communities becomes entangled with electoral politics.

The Conversation · Sep 7

Cutting the tobacco excise won’t stop the illegal trade. This is how other countries solved the problem

The Coalition has proposed slashing the tobacco excise, the federal tax on tobacco products, by 80%. It claims cheaper legal cigarettes will draw people who smoke away from the illicit market and deprive organised crime of its profits.

The Conversation · Sep 7

Labor is in damage control over falling house prices. Why not take credit instead?

In the long term Chalmers, O’Neil and Albanese will want to own any improvement in intergenerational equity, so maybe it’s better to start now

The Guardian - AU · Sep 4

View from The Hill: ‘Howard’s battlers’ and ‘Tony’s tradies’ are now responding to the drum beat of One Nation

He is in his late fifties and lives outside a capital city. He owns his home — most often outright — and he still gets up and goes to work. He did a trade or a TAFE diploma rather than a degree, speaks only English at home, and calls his…

The Conversation · Sep 4

Experts weigh in on how to tackle illicit tobacco – and why an 80% excise cut is not on their list

Tougher enforcement and better monitoring products coming into Australia should be considered before lowering taxes, experts say

The Guardian - AU · Sep 4

Pocock says skilled migrants should be top priority as Australia faces shortage of AI workers and tradies – as it happened

This blog is now closed

The Guardian - AU · Sep 3

Cutting tobacco tax to fight crime is a deadly mistake we can't afford to make

Cheaper cigarettes can't be a solution.

The Canberra Times · Sep 3

Afternoon Update: Coalition tobacco plan lambasted, Queensland coal project approved by new EPA, and EVs v holidays

Health experts and Labor reject Angus Taylor’s plan to cut tobacco excise by 80%

The Guardian - AU · Sep 3

Coalition plan to cut tobacco excise by 80% ‘will kill people,’ Labor says amid public health alarm

Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan claim drastic cut to price of cigarettes and moves to legalise vapes will combat illicit tobacco trade

The Guardian - AU · Sep 3