Emily Barrett

Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus. Angus Taylor secured a strong partyroom vote to depose Liberal leader Sussan Ley, whose departure from politics sets up an early test for her successor.

How Angus Taylor will overcome the party’s ideological divisions is yet to be seen – though he may be less troubled by what one Liberal MP described to @kjbar.bsky.social as "too many men's men in the party room". www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic...

The Otways brace for another gas fight Amid the disastrous Otways fires and flooding, exhausted communities are trying to mount campaigns against new government plans to expand gas exploration in the region.

I've been visiting the front lines of climate change as a reporter for many years. Now I live on one. In the Otways we have fires, floods, coastal erosion- and more gas expansion. How are communities responding? My story for @thesaturdaypaper.com.au today. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environ...

‘Rich dummy’: How the AUKUS deal is set to fail Defence experts say while Australia keeps meeting downpayments on the promised Virginia-class nuclear submarines, it is getting nothing in return for a deal that shows signs of failure on several fron...

In which Hugh White explains how the Aukus submarines deal will fail in stages… www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic...

Watt’s race to environment law reform Environment Minister Murray Watt tells The Saturday Paper he is convinced his reforms will pass before the end of the year, although the Greens and the Coalition are both wary of supporting them in th...

Watt talked to @kjbar.bsky.social about how he plans to get environment law reform across the line this year, despite opposition from the Greens and Coalition. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environ... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

The Burke interview: ‘A tinderbox for the angriest voice’ The home affairs minister says divisive voices are the loudest they have ever been in Australia – but a ‘ballast’ of cohesion remains and economic policies will calm the electorate.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke spoke to @kjbar.bsky.social: “The loudest, the angriest voices have become emboldened”.. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/2025/10... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

How the fossil fuel lobby captured a landmark Labor policy The federal government’s Future Gas Strategy, which backs extending production through to 2050 and beyond, is based on contested EY research commissioned by Australian Energy Producers.

How a consultancy helped the fossil fuel lobby capture a landmark Labor policy — an important story from Mike Seccombe: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environ... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Everything that’s wrong with this immigration debate As anti-immigration sentiment is politicised around the world, new arrivals to Australia are being portrayed as detrimental to the economy – when in fact the opposite is true.

“The people who are most angry about immigration are really angry about globalisation, because they’ve been the losers from it… What they saw was cosmopolitan elites taking all the profits of those efficiency gains.” www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

How robo-debt turned this prize-winning author into a ‘vengeful god’ Rick Morton has won a Prime Minister’s Literary Award for his non-fiction book Mean Streak. He’d trade it all for justice for the victims.

It is an honour to work with this vengeful god, @squigglyrick.bsky.social -- who is, for the record, extremely talented and mostly benign. www.smh.com.au/culture/book...

Labor’s CDC lacks budget and vision Never before has Australia more needed a full-service, independent Centre for Disease Control, able to address the rising challenges of disease, both infectious and non-communicable. Medical experts f...

Monique Ryan writes: Labor is walking back from its vision for the CDC at a time when we need it to be brave and bold. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi... cdc-lacks-budget-and-vision?utm_source=bsky via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

How to achieve the new climate target Picture 2035, a decade hence: 31 million Australians are taking pride in the progress we’ve made to tackle climate change. Our homes and offices have become hyper-efficient and cosy, with many generat...

Climate Change Authority head describes how to achieve Australia’s new emissions reduction target www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

How AUKUS shapes Australia’s Pacific Islands relationship ANALYSIS: The AUKUS submarines project contradicts the logic of the government’s diplomatic efforts across the Pacific Islands to forestall China.

Read Sam Roggeveen on how AUKUS and its associated basing initiatives cut directly against Australia’s Pacific diplomatic push.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Kimmel’s suspension prompts free-speech Republicans to reconsider their boundaries One Republican said she no longer considers the First Amendment to “be sort of the ultimate right,” as she would “in normal circumstances.”

Semafor on Republicans who now think the First Amendment offers too much freedom of speech. Sen. Lummis: "I feel like something’s changed culturally...We just can’t let people call each other those kinds of insane things."

‘I despair for this party’: Inside Jacinta Price’s sacking Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has stood firm against another far-right attack on her leadership, but it has exposed a struggle between the Liberal Party’s powerbrokers.

“It’s not all coming from her. She’s getting bad advice from some actors,” Liberal powerbroker Alex Hawke tells @kjbar.bsky.social www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Excellent interview by @kjbar.bsky.social: Murray Watt has met with the WA premier 4 times since taking on the environment “fixer” role. And just once apiece with his Greens and Coalition counterparts. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

A note on Linda Reynolds A brief list of things that can be said about Linda Reynolds without defaming her…

A note on Linda Reynolds www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/edit... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Insightful analysis from @chriswallace.bsky.social. Albanese wants us to consider the full suite of Labor’s housing policies, but at the core of its agenda is a commitment to keep prices from falling. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Super stoush reveals teals’ leanings The attacks on Labor’s proposed superannuation tax reform have exposed inconsistencies in the progressive agendas of the independents.

Interesting piece from Mike Seccombe on how the attacks on Labor's super tax reform expose holes in the independents' progressive agenda: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Murray Watt’s first task as environment minister Murray Watt, known for his effectiveness, is confident he can deliver long-delayed environmental reform. His first and most consequential task is the ‘carbon bomb’ project awaiting approval.

Murray Watt is known as a fixer. What will he do for the environment? Mike Seccombe spoke to the new minister. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environ... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

“These people are like a cancer in the Liberal Party…if they have their way, they will kill the Liberal Party for good.” @jsocrates.bsky.social reports: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

‘Tail’s wagged the dog’: The Coalition’s implosion The Nationals staked their political future on four policy positions, in what looks increasingly like a messy and misguided coup.

“They are hopelessly internally divided on net zero. You could say we are, but we’re actually not.” Liberal insiders talked to @kjbar.bsky.social … www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Albanese wins second term as Coalition loses leader Anthony Albanese’s Labor government has won the election resoundingly, securing a majority with strong swings around the country, and Peter Dutton has lost his seat of Dickson.

Strong swings to Labor see Albanese win second term as Coalition loses leader www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/2025/05... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Where the election will be won and lost Today’s election will likely prove historic for the Liberal Party’s vote, with seats such as Robertson shaping as new bellwethers.

Happy election day to all who observe (all of us).. Here’s where it will be won and lost: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Exclusive: David Pocock’s demands of a minority government In an interview with The Saturday Paper, the independent ACT senator lays out the two top conditions for his support in the likely scenario of a hung parliament.

Exclusive from @kjbar.bsky.social: David Pocock lays out his two top priorities in talks for a minority government. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

‘We are being tested’: Inside Labor’s trade war strategy The distraction of an erratic US-driven trade war is forcing Labor to pivot on the campaign trail, while offering opportunities to sharpen its pitch as the superior economic manager.

“What I keep seeing in Washington is President Trump and Republican and Democratic lawmakers, all talking about Australia...That’s reassuring, but the flip side is that with visibility comes with risk." www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

The simple path to zero carbon There is a lot of good in Australian climate policy, and some bad. The good news is that energy is on the political agenda this election cycle and finally we are seeing a race to the top. Electrificat...

Saul Griffith on a key Australian election issue: "A lowest-cost energy system that also rapidly addresses climate change. Fortunately, these things are no longer in conflict. Zero-emission, all-electric is also going to be the lowest-cost energy system." www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi...

Inside story: How Albanese’s late election sent the teals broke Independent campaigns were structured around an April 12 election – and the decision to go later has added roughly $250,000 to required spending in each seat.

The timing of this election has tilted the playing field, Mike Seccombe reports.
(And in case you missed it — until midnight, you can get 20% off a subscription…) www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic...

What’s at stake on May 3 The prime minister has kicked off a longawaited official campaign that most believe will deliver a hung parliament, as the independents work to harness growing voter disaffection with the major partie...

It’s finally official! The five-week campaign for the federal election is under way — here’s what’s at stake on May 3: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Federal budget unveils tax cuts and improved forecasts The Albanese government delivers an election-eve budget focused on the priorities of health, education and cost-of-living, sweetened with tax cuts and more positive revisions to the economic outlook —...

In Labor’s re-election pitch, Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ fourth budget sees the nation’s books back in the red, with $17 billion dollars’ worth of tax cuts and efforts to “Trump-proof” the Australian economy.

YouTube video by The Saturday Paper Labor’s surprise tax cut: Paul Bongiorno explains

"He's pulled a startled rabbit out of the hat."

@paulbongiorno.bsky.social explains Labor’s surprise tax cut:

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

Truly stunning piece from Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic. A gift to a journalist and a masterclass on how to deploy it. Perhaps the US administration might learn a thing or too, as well. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...