2m agoSun 9 Nov 2025 at 8:53pm
Analysis: Replacing Sussan Ley as Liberal leader isn’t an easy fix to the party’s problems
As the federal Liberal Party embarks on more self-harm over climate change policy this week, the idea seems to have set in among some that tearing down its first ever female leader could be a low-consequence affair.
The party that got smashed in Australian cities only six months ago seems to be on the hunt for a new leader, despite the fact they still haven’t diagnosed why they lost in the first place.
The situation is so bad former Liberal party strategist Tony Barry warned “terrorist cells operating inside the Coalition is not a pathway to electoral success”.
Whatever you make of Sussan Ley’s leadership — her flaws, her own goals, her style — there is alarm in some quarters that the party will dispose of Ley for doing exactly what she said she would do: follow a process to determine contentious policy.
Read the full analysis from Patricia Karvelas in the link below.
18m agoSun 9 Nov 2025 at 8:37pm
A ‘good thing’ the NACC hasn’t found corruption yet, says Farrell
Special Minister of State Don Farrell says it’s good the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) hasn’t made a major finding of corruption yet.
The NACC was introduced by Labor as part of an election promise at the 2022 federal election, and has been in operation for about two years.
But the commission, which has had about 5,000 referrals, hasn’t made any major findings of corruption.
Farrell says that’s a good thing, and shows the the system is working.
“If no charges have been laid, that’s an indication that the system is working. There is no corruption. And I say that’s a good thing,” Farrell says.
The minister has rejected the suggestion that the major political parties are behind the drop in trust in Australia’s political system.
24m agoSun 9 Nov 2025 at 8:31pm
Special Minister of State Don Farrell defends democracy, political system
Special Minister of State Don Farrell joined the ABC’s AM program, where he was asked about trust in Australia’s political system.
A recent report found that a quarter of Australians think democracy isn’t preferable, and nearly 10 per cent say violence can be justified for a political cause.
The minister says he believes an overwhelming number of Australians believe in democracy.
Farrell says the government is taking steps to increase trust in Australia’s political system by introducing real-time disclosures and transparency in political donations.
“I think a combination of that figure of 76 per cent plus the things that we’re doing before the next election, I think are an indication that we should be reasonably positive about support for democracy in this country,” Farrell says.
34m agoSun 9 Nov 2025 at 8:21pmBarnaby Joyce labels renewable energy a ‘total swindle’
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and former deputy prime minister and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce have popped up on Channel Seven this morning.
Asked whether the federal government would extend energy rebates to keep power prices low, Plibersek said it was a matter for the treasurer and has touted Labor’s cost-of-living measures.
She points out that the Coalition has voted against Labor’s cost of living measures, and that the government last week announced the Solar Sharer scheme to help bring down prices for some households.
But Joyce isn’t a fan of the scheme, which would unlock three hours of free power for homes on the default energy market offer.
The Nationals MP, who is a vocal critical of renewable energy, has called renewables a “swindle” and “intermittent power”.
“It is a total swindle, it’s a Band-Aid on an amputated leg in the paddock. What we see is all of the things that Tanya brought up where the taxpayers’ money is given back to taxpayers or non- taxpayers, it is not about a fundamental change,” Joyce says.
“The intermittent power swindle has brought a structural decline and destruction of our power grid.”
But asked if he would support extending government energy rebates, Joyce says he thinks it would be politically unpopular not to support any extension of rebates.
“Let’s see the detail of it,” Joyce says.
42m agoSun 9 Nov 2025 at 8:13pm
Good morning 👋
Happy Monday and welcome to another edition of our federal politics live blog!
I’m Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra here and ready to bring you all of today’s federal politics news!
Well, we’re exactly one month away from the government’s social media ban for people under 16.
And net zero is high on the agenda this week, with the Liberals set to meet this Wednesday to thrash out a decision on the policy.
I’m not sure what today could bring, so let’s get straight into it!