Labor and the Coalition are level at 50-50 on a two-party-preferred basis, the latest polling shows, as parliament resumes following the winter break. Support for the Albanese government has slipped amid the cost-of-living crisis, with the Coalition gaining ground on primary votes according to a poll conducted for The Australian and published in the paper on Monday. The poll shows Labor’s primary …

A newly renovated two-bedroom home in a trendy inner west Sydney suburb was recently put on the market with a buyer’s guide of $1.5 million. The modest price estimate lured in many hopeful buyers with a budget south of $1.7 million. But they never had a chance. At the auction weeks later, the bidding started at $1.8 million and concluded …

Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds’s partner has testified her cardiologist thought she could die after she collapsed in the senate following intense pressure over her handling of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation. Robert Reid gave evidence in the Western Australian Supreme Court on Monday during the defamation trial brought by the Senator against her former staffer Ms Higgins over a series of …

The federal government has renewed calls for Australians to leave Lebanon as soon as possible after an Israeli strike killed Hezbollah’s top commander Fuad Shukr. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned on Thursday that conflict in the Middle East could escalate after the death of Shakur and the  reported assassination of Ismail Haniyeh — the political leader of Palestinian militant group …

Independent senator David Pocock has called for the new immigration minister to announce an allocation of humanitarian visas for people fleeing Gaza as “an act of real leadership”. More than 7000 humanitarian visas were offered to people fleeing Afghanistan when the Taliban took over and evacuations were organised within a month, the ACT senator said. There was no cap for …

Australia’s annual rate of inflation has risen to 3.8 per cent, up from 3.6 per cent at the start of the year. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), prices rose by 1 per cent in the June quarter, which followed the 1 per cent increase in prices in the March quarter. That has pushed the pace of headline …

The second Albanese ministry has been sworn in following a slew of new ministers promoted in a cabinet reshuffle. The home affairs and immigration ministers were moved from their portfolios after a political firestorm, while Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Pat Conroy have ascended into the cabinet. McCarthy has taken over the Indigenous Australians portfolio while Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil …

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared at the Labor Party’s NSW conference  to rally support for an election campaign. While his message to the party faithful was mostly well received, some members of the Electrical Trade Union walked out during Albanese’s speech in Sydney’s Town Hall in protest of the exclusion of the CFMEU’s construction division from the Labor party. Outside, protesters filled the …

Alex de Minaur could not be deflected by either rain showers or a determined compatriot as he began his assault on Wimbledon’s grass citadel with a straight sets victory. James Duckworth provided obdurate opposition, but despite forcing a trio of tie-breaks, Australia’s No.8 could not take a set off the national No.1. With his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt watching …

Major supermarkets would be broken up if found to be repeatedly price-gouging consumers, under a coalition proposal. Divestiture powers would be introduced as a method of last resort to address anti-competitive behaviour in the sector, according to plans laid out by the opposition should they win the next election. It comes after growing calls to break up the supermarket duopoly …