Sydney Morning Herald
Voters are angry. One Nation’s support is real, rising and no longer surprising
Voter frustration is translating into hard numbers for One Nation, as cost-of-living pressures push the electorate toward protest politics. Rising inflation and petrol prices have soured the public mood beyond typical opposition discontent, with the incumbent government now bearing the brunt. One Nation's surge is no longer a fringe curiosity — it reflects a genuine and growing appetite for alternatives to the political mainstream.
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Sydney Morning Herald
Election inquiry into Brethren election involvement calls on Dutton to appear
A parliamentary inquiry into the Exclusive Brethren's involvement in Australian elections has called on Peter Dutton to testify about the Liberal Party's ties to the religious sect. Committee chairman Jeremy Laxale is pressing the former opposition leader to clarify the nature and extent of that relationship. The summons puts Dutton in an uncomfortable spotlight as scrutiny of the Brethren's political influence intensifies.
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Sydney Morning Herald
Trump is rallying nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. Australia is wary
Australia finds itself in a delicate position as the Trump administration assembles a multinational naval coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply flows. Washington has yet to formally approach Canberra, but the question of participation looms large given the alliance relationship between the two countries. Australia's hesitation signals the broader diplomatic friction that comes with building consensus around an operation with significant geopolitical consequences.
Read article →ABC AU
'Almost unhinged': UAE minister tells ABC 'Iran attacks were surprise'
A senior UAE minister has described Iran's recent attacks on neighboring countries as "almost unhinged" and irrational, marking a striking public rebuke from a Gulf state that typically favors quiet diplomacy. The comments signal growing alarm among Arab nations over Tehran's willingness to escalate military action beyond previously accepted limits. The unusually blunt language from Abu Dhabi underscores how Iran's behavior is straining regional tolerance and reshaping diplomatic calculations across the Middle East.
Read article →Guardian AU
News live: Joyce says Australia should assist securing Gulf fuel supplies; NSW to crack down on property underquoting
Barnaby Joyce has broken with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson over her inflammatory comments about Muslims, while warning rival parties that public criticism of Hanson tends to backfire politically. Joyce argues voters see Hanson as principled and resolute, a perception that direct attacks have historically only reinforced. The remarks highlight ongoing tension within Australia's right flank as parties grapple with how to respond to populist rhetoric without amplifying it.
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