Federal Politics

ExclusiveAlbo slams Hastie’s anti-China political donation pitch

WA MP Andrew Hastie has been accused of treating foreign policy “inappropriately” by Anthony Albanese after an online petition calling for a China “push back” was used to solicit political donations.

Annabel Hennessy and Lanai Scarr

ExclusiveIndigenous recognition falls victim to COVID-19

Ken Wyatt says a referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition will “probably not” happen this term of parliament due to COVID-19 but has vowed not to let it be “consigned to the history books”.

Annabel Hennessy

Mark RileyHow ScoMo’s union peace plan could be a master stroke

The people of Australia want things done in their interests, not in the interests of political parties. And if Scott Morrison can pull it off, the JobMaker process could be a huge electoral boost.

Mark RileySeven News Political Editor

BreakingScoMo strong in WA despite Labor’s Newspoll boost

Support for the Coalition has slipped with the Morrison Government now 50-50 with Labor on two-party preferred basis, according to the latest Newspoll.

High Court battleClive Palmer: WA’s border closure an ‘over response’

The High Court battle waged by Clive Palmer against the WA state government has kicked off with his lawyers claiming Mark McGowan’s restriction on interstate visitors was an ‘over response’.

Tim Clarke

Gemma TogniniThe type of people we need as MPs right now

The JobKeeper ‘bungle’ has me thinking more broadly though about the kind of people we need in Parliament, but very possibly don’t deserve. More life experience, less party apparatchiks.

Gemma Tognini

Verdict at lastDecision soon on class action on 2011 live export ban

The northern pastoral industry will hear the verdict of a class action on Tuesday on the 2011 ban on live exports, which brought the cattle industry to its knees.

Jenne Brammer

Price gougingPrice gouge win in sight for ripped-off remote families

Indigenous Australians hit with unfair food prices in remote communities could claim compensation following the launch of a parliamentary inquiry sparked by an investigation by The West Australian.

Lanai Scarr & Annabel Hennessy

ExclusiveTwiggy wants JobKeeper ‘savings’ for free child care

An education initiative spearheaded by Andrew Forrest has called on the Federal Government to use the overestimated $60 billion in the JobKeeper package to fund free child care ‘indefinitely’.

Lanai Scarr

Ship storm‘Don’t want a Ruby Princess’: New ship protocols eyed

Maritime workers have called on State and Federal Governments to stop the political blame game and overhaul ship reporting processes after six crew on the Al Kuwait tested positive to COVID-19.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Blame gameABF backtracks on what it knew about Freo virus ship

The Australian Border Force has withdrawn claims it did not know there were sick crew aboard the Al Kuwait livestock ship before it docked in Fremantle.

Peter Law

Trade tensionsThe sectors ‘most exposed’ to Chinese trade tensions

Three of Australia’s major industries are among those “most exposed” to a potential escalation in trade tensions with China, according to fresh analysis from a leading credit agency.

Danielle Le Messurier

Strengthening tiesMake India, Indonesia a China-like trade partner: King

Opposition trade spokeswoman Madeleine King says Australia needs to lock down serious trade relations with India and Indonesia beyond lip service to them through "cricket and curry and trips to Bali”.

Caitlyn Rintoul

READ THE EMAILFed Govt’s warning to WA about COVID-19 ship

An email has revealed exactly when WA health authorities were informed about the possibility crew members on a live-export ship berthed in Fremantle could be carrying the deadly coronavirus.

Winter boostTwo million extra flu vaccinations heading to Australia

More than two million extra influenza vaccines will be rolled out in coming weeks to cater for “unprecedented demand” during COVID-19.

Sarah Ison

Paul MurrayJobKeeper ‘gaffe’ sees Canberra battles back on track

There was no sense of relief that the price of protecting the nation from COVID-19 had just been significantly discounted ... Just the Left castigating the Morrison Government for mismanagement.

Paul MurrayColumnist

Ship sandwichUp ship creek: McGowan backtracks after sick crew claim

The WA Premier has been forced into an embarrassing backdown after wrongly claiming WA received no warning there were sick crew on a livestock ship later found to be infected with COVID-19.

Peter Law, Lanai Scarr & Jenne Brammer

Trade war‘Gossip’: Wine exporter’s China trade fears hosed down

The Federal Government was tonight dismissing speculation Australian wine was the latest product caught in the crossfire of the trade war with China after a Perth based exporter raised the alarm.

Ray Jordan

Freedom fighterWest journo in running for prestigious Walkley awards

The West Australian’s Federal political reporter Annabel Hennessy has been nominated for two prestigious Walkley Awards for her exclusive investigation into the wrongful incarceration of Jody Gore.

People's CongressChina ‘doesn’t want a fight’, says foreign minister

China has sought to defend its approach on the COVID-19 crisis saying it is not picking a fight with other nations, including Australia, but merely standing its ground.

Lanai Scarr

‘Extreme neglect’Former top judge to probe ‘shocking’ NDIS death

A former federal court judge has been appointed to lead an independent inquiry into the NDIS support services provided to a woman who died in hospital after allegedly being “extremely neglected”.

Annabel Hennessy

Royal CommissionSummer bushfire’s death toll triples

The Black Summer bushfires were responsible for almost three times the fatalities recorded in the official death toll.

Sarah Ison

FLASHPOINTRudd sounds warning on US-China conflict over Taiwan

Kevin Rudd says the possibility of “future armed conflict” in East Asia and the West Pacific is “increasing” because of the growing chasm between US and Chinese policies on Taiwan.

Annabel Hennessy

READ THE EXCLUSIVE FIGURESWA rich kids sign up for JobSeeker in droves

EXCLUSIVE: The number of adult children living with their parents in Perth’s ritziest suburbs signing up to the dole has surged in recent months, The West Australian can reveal.

Josh Zimmerman