Suspended Labor MP Fatima Payman has enlisted the advice of a minor party political “whisperer” as her party colleagues brace themselves for the possibility she will move to the crossbench. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese handed Senator Payman an indefinite suspension on Sunday after she said she would continue to defy the party’s position on Palestinian recognition in parliamentary votes. On …

Beleaguered United States President Joe Biden has apologised for his lacklustre performance last week debate and said his recent overseas trips were to blame. The 81-year-old’s faltering display against Republican challenger Donald Trump did nothing to quell concerns he has neither the mental or physical capacities for another four years in the White House. Biden acknowledged on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) …

A senior Labor figure has ruled out the expulsion and suspension of first-time West Australian senator Fatima Payman after she voted against the government on a Greens motion recognising the statehood of Palestine. On Tuesday afternoon, the 29-year-old defied her colleagues and became the first Labor member to cross the floor in 18 years. While her move risked expulsion or …

First term senator Fatima Payman has risked expulsion from the ALP after becoming the first Labor politician to cross the floor in more than 18 years when she voted in support of a parliamentary push by the Greens to recognise Palestinian statehood. Defying her party’s official position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Senator Payman’s intervention comes amid reports she has stopped …

Before the June 28 election, Iranian presidential contenders debated internet restrictions and the hijab legislation on state television. Six presidential contenders debated national problems in the third round. The only reformist contender, Masoud Pezeşkiyan, said that internet bans are only justified in emergencies and harmful in regular times. He said “If elected president, I will remove many of the internet …

More gas supply is needed along the east coast, the prime minister says, while hosing down concerns about shortages. The comments came after the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) issued a warning about gas supply levels in eastern states in coming months. “Recent gas supply and demand trends for the southern jurisdictions indicate there is the potential for gas supply …

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has gone off-script with a personal attack on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and set the stage for a nuclear showdown in the lead-up to the next election. Dutton spruiked his uncosted nuclear plan during an address to the party faithful on Saturday and took a personal swipe at Albanese, veering from pre-written speech notes distributed to …

A NSW police constable fired their gun at a car after the driver of the vehicle allegedly sped towards officers in Sydney’s inner west. The incident, which is under investigation, took place in an underground car park of a unit block in St Peters on Sunday morning. Three officers were called to the apartment complex about 1:15am, following reports of …

he father of the 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed an Assyrian Bishop at at Western Sydney church on Monday night was “shocked” and had not noted signs of extremism in his son, a community leader says. Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly lunged at by the 16-year-old boy during a mass service at Assyrian Orthodox Church, Christ The Good Shepherd …

China’s Foreign Ministry has delivered a sharp rebuke of the Australian Government’s increased defence spend. It comes after Defence Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday revealed the government would boost defence spending by $50 billion over the next decade. Mr Marles has confirmed less than six per cent of the new funds will be spent in the next four years. The …