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    Tom McIlroy

    Political correspondent

    Tom McIlroy is the Financial Review's political correspondent, reporting from the federal press gallery at Parliament House. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at thomas.mcilroy@afr.com

    Tom McIlroy

    Yesterday

    Anthony Albanese tried to channel Australia’s gold medal performance.

    The next election is sucking the life out of politics

    Back in Canberra after a six-week break, Labor and the Coalition appeared dejected and snarky.

    The Greens’ housing spokesman, Max Chandler-Mather, says Housing Minister Clare O’Neil now oversees one of the most expensive and overheated housing and rental markets in the world.

    No end in sight on housing impasse as O’Neil takes fight to Greens

    Greens spokesman Max Chandler-Mather savages housing minister’s claim that Treasury modelling shows 160,000 new rental properties would be built in a decade. 

    This Month

    ‘Deja vu’: Pat Anderson, co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue.

    Voice architect fears Indigenous policy ‘deja vu’ trap

    Uluru Dialogue co-chairwoman Pat Anderson warned Labor not to throw its promise of a Makarrata commission “out with the referendum bathwater”.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and RBA governor Michele Bullock.

    Labor working ‘arm-in-arm’ with RBA on inflation, Albanese insists

    The prime minister has pushed back on claims that federal government spending is making it harder for the Reserve Bank to tame inflation.

    Strata title reform is on the agenda for WA.

    Build-to-rent plan risks ‘repelling investors’

    Labor has been warned to redesign key elements of its plan to boost affordable rental stock around Australia.

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    Authorities say a cyber incident happens once every six minutes in Australia.

    Companies to face fines for failing to disclose cyber ransom payments

    Legislation due to be introduced to federal parliament within weeks will require businesses with a turnover of $3 million or more to report payments to hackers.

    Sean Gordon, managing director of the Gidgee Group, says the Indigenous economic plan has potential.

    PM’s Indigenous economic plan ‘not enough’

    Businessman and Voice advocate Sean Gordon says many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are not well placed to benefit from renewables development.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land on Friday: “You have kept the faith, and my government will keep faith with you.”

    PM promises major Indigenous economic plan

    Anthony Albanese will attend the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land on Saturday, saying his determination to close the disadvantage gap has not wavered.

    New Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has been clear about his ambitions.

    Tony Burke has his eyes on the job that comes after Home Affairs

    A successful stint in his new portfolio would boost Burke’s leadership chances – but the opposition won’t let up on what it sees as a Labor weak spot.

    Noel Pearson.

    Noel Pearson appointed to Fortescue board

    This is the Indigenous leader’s first public move following his keeping a low profile since the defeat of the Voice to parliament referendum in October.

    Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones confirmed the backdown.

    Accountants escape Labor’s onerous new rules, for now

    Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has delayed new requirements for tax professionals, amid a growing backlash about the risk of compliance failures.

    July

    Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil is leading the government’s cybersecurity efforts in cabinet.

    Cyber is our fastest growing national security threat: O’Neil

    The Home Affairs Minister says Labor’s plans to boost Australia’s defences against increasing online risks are already delivering results.

    Nobody will even look at staying anywhere with a rating below four stars.

    Surge in expats coming home could thwart migration targets

    Strong labour conditions are attracting Australian citizens back from overseas. It could be a political problem for Labor.

    Productivity Commission boss Danielle Wood says the care economy is a challenge for governments.

    ‘Care economy’ won’t boost productivity: Wood

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described spending on aged care and the NDIS as “investments”, but Danielle Wood is far less optimistic on the sector’s productivity outlook.

    Australia could impose the broadest country-by-country tax reporting rules for multinationals anywhere in the world.

    Labor urged to include tax havens in profit shifting crackdown

    About 50 per cent of large US companies and multinationals from China, Japan, and Germany will be covered by the rules.

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    Energy Minister Chris Bowen, left, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

    Don’t restart energy wars, business and green groups warn

    A coalition of business and environment groups has urged governments to provide credible and consistent energy policy.

    Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones.

    ‘Another bombshell on tax practitioners’: new rules anger accountants

    Labor is being urged to delay implementing the new standards and obligations for accountants and tax agents, who accuse the government of significant overreach.

    Clare O’Neil said some of the activity on social media stems from opposition to COVID lockdowns.

    COVID-19 lockdown anger a turning point in political discourse

    Dangerous and undemocratic social media activity started during Victoria’s pandemic lockdowns is persisting, the Home Affairs Minister has warned.

    Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil says Australia can strengthen other countries.

    The democratic project is backsliding, warns O’Neil

    Many countries are becoming less democratic as new strains of nationalism emerge around the world, the Home Affairs Minister said.

    Labor warned against union-friendly donations laws

    Amid intense scrutiny of the CFMEU, key crossbenchers have hit out at a possible stitch-up between the major parties on new political donation rules.