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The 2025 federal election campaign is under way. With a fractured electorate, and a real chance of a minority government, SBS brings you everything you need to know before May 3.

21/12/2025

Predictable policies and shock results: looking back at 2025 in politics

For Australian politics in 2025, it was a year of predictable policies - and shock results. That included the May election that saw Labor win back government in a landslide, and two separate party leaders - Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt - lose their seats. We back at the year in Canberra.

15 min
17/12/2025

Government deficit figure has improved, but fiscal restraint important

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has unveiled a mid-year budget update marked by fiscal restraint, highlighting a $5.4 billion improvement to the deficit alongside critical new funding for the CSIRO and community security. However, the outlook remains fraught as rising inflation threatens real wage growth and persistent spending pressures in childcare and the NDIS continue to squeeze the bottom line.

5 min
09/12/2025

AUSMIN talks in Washington confirm AUKUS is progressing

Top security officials from the United States and Australia have met in Washington, confirming that the AUKUS security pact is moving "full steam ahead," despite the Pentagon's five-month review of the deal remaining secret. Both nations emphasised increased defence spending, critical minerals cooperation, and greater burden-sharing from allies to confront growing Indo-Pacific tensions.

6 min
27/11/2025

All about Australia's biggest environmental reforms this century

After five years of review, the government has struck a deal with the Greens to pass the largest reforms to Australia’s environmental laws in 26 years, which includes new environmental standards, protections for native forests, and the effective end of fast-tracked approvals for coal and gas projects. Despite these wins, the deal faces criticism from environmental experts.

6 min
26/11/2025

Senate erupts as Pauline Hanson wears burqa, gets suspended

The Australian Senate descended into chaos as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wore a black burqa into the chamber, prompting immediate condemnation from Muslim Senators and a forceful intervention by Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Following the rejection of her motion to ban the burqa, Ms. Hanson's stunt, which she claimed was about "protecting national security," was decried as racist and disrespectful to people of faith, ultimately leading to her suspension from the Senate.

7 min
25/11/2025

Fair Work shake-up: gig workers secure pay rise and protection

In a landmark agreement hailed as world-leading, the Transport Workers Union, Uber, and DoorDash have put forward a minimum standards deal for Australian gig workers to the Fair Work Commission today. This major reform guarantees food delivery riders a 25% wage increase, injury insurance, and protection from unfair algorithmic dismissal, fundamentally changing a commission-based system that workers say left them making virtually no money.

6 min
24/11/2025

Bureau of Meteorology weathers website storm

The Bureau of Meteorology's controversial website redesign carries a staggering 96 million dollar price tag. The cost blowout has drawn sharp criticism from both government ministers and the opposition. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has expressed deep concern over the massive expenditure, while Nationals Leader David Littleproud warns the public that the exorbitant cost will further erode trust in the agency.

4 min
21/11/2025

Leadership spills and policy reversals: How healthy is our democracy?

With the abandonment of its net-zero policies, and leadership spills in two of Australia's largest states, the Coalition is undergoing a period of major upheaval. So what does that mean for a Westminster democracy which analysts say depends on two different political positions to succeed.

6 min

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The 2025 federal election campaign is under way. With a fractured electorate, and a real chance of a minority government, SBS brings you everything you need to know before May 3.