Federal Politics

How Centrelink opening hours, payments and reporting dates will change for the 2024 Anzac Day public holiday

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Payment and reporting dates over the Anzac Day public holiday are set to shift for Centrelink customers. The revised dates accommodate for branch closures affecting processing times and face-to-face appointments. Centrelink branches across Australia will be closing for the Anzac Day public holiday on Thursday, April 25. Newsletters: Breaking news as it happens. Subscribe now … Read more

HECS indexation tipped to hike student loan debt by $1250

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University graduates, already “treading water” amid the cost of living crisis, are set for more financial pain. Student debt is set to increase by thousands of dollars this year after inflation figures came in slightly higher than expected. HECS debt is expected to increase by 4.8 per cent when indexation is applied on June 1, … Read more

Online extremists increasingly using AI, social media platforms to plot attacks: ASIO boss

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Australia’s top security chief has lashed social media companies for not doing enough to curb rising extremism online, warning of an uptick in activity from racists and nationalists using popular digital platforms to share “vile” propaganda and incite real-world acts of violence. ASIO director-general of security Mike Burgess will urge tech giants to work with … Read more

‘Social media has social responsibility’: Anthony Albanese blasts Elon Musk over violent videos

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says social media must recognise it has a social responsibility too and billionaire owner Elon Musk is wrong to argue orders to remove violent videos impinge on freedom of expression. eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant last week ordered a range of social media and messaging platforms to remove videos of the … Read more

Australians plead for Gaza family visas, while federal government faces criticism over ‘unfair’ system

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Just before the beginning of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, Eman and Ahmed Shat were overjoyed to announce they would soon be welcoming their fourth child. Now in her third trimester of pregnancy and living in an overcrowded refugee camp in Rafah without basic essentials such as food and water, Eman, 29, is severely depressed … Read more

Volatile global conditions cast shadow over budget

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Heightened tensions in the Middle East and fears over China’s economic downturn have led Australia to make cuts to its international economic forecasts, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers warning of a “fraught and fragile” global outlook ahead of the May budget. The budget has upgraded forecasts for China’s GDP growth to 4.25 per cent in 2024, … Read more

Peter Dutton under fire for delays on nuclear energy policy

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Peter Dutton has been accused of having a “nuclear meltdown” after he refused to detail when his long-awaited energy policy would be released. After it was widely reported that the Coalition would reveal the full details of its nuclear plans before the May budget, the Opposition leader on Sunday said he would hold off on … Read more