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The exorbitant cost of airfares for a work trip has stirred up a hornets' nest for Anika Wells. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

opinion
opinion
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
opinion
Wells’ travel: Pub test, kitchen test or just entitled?

The sports portfolio is coveted but it comes with political dangers, as demonstrated through scrutiny over minister Anika Wells’ expenses claims for attending sporting events with family.

Katina Curtis

Jim Chalmers’ latest take on the budget update shows a Treasurer rapidly running out of options - and money.

opinion
opinion
AARON PATRICKComments
opinion
Don’t buy Chalmers’ responsible-guy act. He’s lost control

Even though the Treasurer has decided to end electricity rebates, he is overseeing a widening budget deficit that is putting upward pressure on interest rates.

Aaron Patrick

Aaron Patrick

The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat represents Australia’s first fully homegrown aircraft design and build in more than 50 years.

DefenceCommentsExtra billions pumped into AI-powered drone development

An Australian-made, AI-powered lethal drone could soon become a ‘fully operational war fighting’ asset for the Australian military, with the govt to pump a further billion dollars into the Ghost Bat program. 

Andrew Greene

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers at a press conference in Brisbane.

Federal PoliticsCommentsConsumers exposed after Labor dumps electricity rebates

Australians will lose electricity subsidies at the end of the year, an Albanese Government decision that leaves consumers even more exposed to an inflation outbreak.

Aaron Patrick

Bankruptcy proceedings against Brittany Higgins have been delayed again by a technicality in the Federal Court.

Court & JusticePremiumUpdate on Reynolds bankruptcy bid against Higgins

Former defence minister Linda Reynolds has been stymied in her defamation lawsuit against Brittany Higgins, with a judge reserving his decision on whether to find Ms Reynold’s former staffer bankrupt.

Sarah Crawford

Austal Henderson Shipyard pictured on Sunday.

Mergers and AcquisitionsCommentsPremiumChalmers promises Austal stake call ‘by Christmas’

Having made an unsuccessful takeover tilt at Austal last year, South Korean conglomerate Hanwha has applied to double its holding in the WA naval shipbuilder to 19.9 per cent.

Sean Smith and Andrew Greene

Barnaby Joyce has officially joined Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.

Federal PoliticsCommentsBarnaby Joyce joins Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has officially secured a new member, with former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce joining her party.

Andrew Greene

Former NSW Premier Mike Baird with Jeff Li, general manager of Pioneer Computers.

TechnologyCommentsPremiumADF and WA Police split with China linked drone supplier

Australia’s Defence Department and the WA Police Force has confirmed they are no longer using products supplied by a Sydney IT business following revelations of its alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party.

Andrew Greene

Health Minister Mark Butler has asked his department to explore ways to crackdown on rising out-of-pocket fees for medical specialists.

Federal PoliticsCommentsButler wages war on ‘out of control’ medical specialist fees

Health Minister Mark Butler has asked his department to explores ways to crackdown on rising out-of-pocket fees for medical specialists, admitting it was ‘getting out of control’. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

The Opposition has accused Communications Minister Anika Wells of “taking the cake” again after another travel expenses scandal.

Federal PoliticsComments‘Air-Miles’ Anika Wells in hot water again over travel costs

The Opposition has accused Communications Minister Anika Wells of ‘taking the cake’ again after another travel expenses scandal in the wake of her $120k trip to New York.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Australia is ‘working through’ the US review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine package which the Pentagon suggests is on the ‘strongest possible footing’.

PoliticsCommentsUS finally hands Australia review of nuclear-powered submarine deal

Australia is ‘working through’ the US review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine package which the Pentagon suggests is on the ‘strongest possible footing’.

Staff Writers

Former NSW Premier Mike Baird with Jeff Li, general manager of Pioneer Computers.

Federal PoliticsCompany selling drones to WA Police accused of Beijing links

A Sydney company that supplies drone technology to WA Police has been managed for decades by a businessman with alleged links to Beijing’s United Front organisation.

Andrew Greene

The Coalition has demanded that Tony Burke explain if he made “secret deals” to assist ISIS brides to return to Australia.

Federal PoliticsCommentsBurke under fire after US ‘secret’ offer to help ISIS brides

Tony Burke is under fire over claims he made ‘secret deals’ to help ISIS brides return to Australia after the revelations the Home Affairs Minister sent bureaucrats out of the room during a meeting.

Katina Curtis

Chinese naval vessels in the Phillipine Sea.

Federal PoliticsCommentsNew images give clear view of Chinese warships north of Aus

Fresh satellite images show two destroyers amongst other Chinese ships operating north of Australia in the Philippine Sea.

Andrew Greene

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has accused Anika Wells of not focusing on her day job

Federal PoliticsCommentsLey rips into off high-flying minister after $190k NY trip

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has accused Anika Wells of not focusing on her day job after revelations the minister’s visit to New York to spruik Australia’s social media ban for children cost almost $190,000.

Katina Curtis

Treasury Secretary Jenny Wilkinson conceded she wasn’t told about her department illegally paying $2.3 billion to the states to provide electricity rebates.

Federal PoliticsCommentsTreasury chief blindsided by unconstitutional $2.3b spend

Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson has admitted she wasn’t initially told about $2.3 billion of taxpayer money being illegally paid to the states to fund electricity rebates.

Stephen Johnson

The mediating body has asked the Federal Government to expand its powers to help Australians with disputes.

federal politicsCommentsTelco asks govt for more powers as digital disputes soar

The nation’s peak telecommunications mediator wants the Federal Government to expand its powers to help Australians with all digital and social media disputes ahead of the social media ban.

Jessica Evensen

Australia will give Ukraine another $95 million worth of military equipment including drones, defence radars and munitions to help its ongoing fight against the Russian invasion. A final tranche of gifted Abrams tanks are also expected to be delivered in coming weeks.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAustralia sends $95m to Ukraine for military equipment

Australia will give Ukraine another $95 million worth of military equipment including drones, defence radars and munitions to help its ongoing fight against Russia.

Katina Curtis

Senator Anne Ruston during at the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Supplementary Budget Estimates 2025-26 at Parliament House in Canberra.

Federal PoliticsComments‘Interim’ aged care packages prompt accusation of rationing

The Opposition has accused the Government of ‘secretly rationing’ aged care after officials revealed some people waiting on funding only receive an interim package worth less than two-thirds of what they need.

Katina Curtis

Under AUKUS, the US will sell three Virginia-class submarines to Australia from the early 2030s.

DefenceCommentsPremiumSubmarines deployed to WA could carry nuclear weapons

US Virginia-class submarines that will operate out of WA could carry nuclear weapons in the future, with Defence conceding the Australian government would not object to the move.

Andrew Greene

Communications minister Anika Wells has defended spending nearly $100k on flights for herself and two staffers, saying they weren’t first-class tickets. We take a look at what a spontaneous trip to New York really costs Aussies.

Federal PoliticsCommentsWhat a spontaneous trip to New York really costs Aussies

Communications minister Anika Wells has defended spending nearly $100,000 on flights for herself and two staffers, saying they weren’t first-class tickets.

Caitlin Vinci

An Australian surveillance plane is monitoring four Chinese warships that could ‘possibly’ be making their way close to Australia.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAustralian surveillance plane tracking Chinese warships

Defence has confirmed that one of its surveillance planes is monitoring four Chinese warships operating in the Philippine Sea, which could ‘possibly’ make their way closer towards Australia.

Andrew Greene

Deciding debt is the path to power, Jim Chalmers has set a terrible example for future political leaders, writes Aaron Patrick.

EconomyCommentsChalmers’ debt bill sets terrible example for future leaders

AARON PATRICK: Deciding debt is the path to power, Jim Chalmers has set a terrible example for future political leaders.

Aaron Patrick

Communications Minister Anika Wells has used nearly $100k in taxpayer funds for flights to New York to spruik Australia’s incoming social media ban.

updated
updated
Federal PoliticsComments
updated
Minister racks up almost $100k in taxpayer-funded flights

Communications Minister Anika Wells has used nearly $100,000 in taxpayer funds for flights to New York to spruik Australia’s incoming social media ban.

Caitlyn Rintoul