Copyright 2026 Nine Entertainment Co. Pty LimitedThe top News headlines from The Sydney Morning Herald. For all the news, visit https://www.smh.com.auhttps://www.smh.com.au/rss/politics/federal.xmlSydney Morning Herald - Politics / Federalhttps://www.smh.com.au/assets/icons/rss/smh.pngen-AUTue, 16 Jun 2026 04:34:44 +1000https://www.smh.com.au/rss/politics/federal.xmlTue, 16 Jun 2026 04:34:44 +1000Sydney Morning Herald - Politics / FederalPolitics / FederalThe news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.3dc98c4a-71f0-420e-a903-551e45a13263https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-cartoons-june-16-2026-20260615-p60724.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalMon, 15 Jun 2026 21:17:10 +1000Best of cartoons, June 16, 2026Politics / FederalMatthew KnottForeign Minister Penny Wong met with four Global Sumud flotilla participants in Canberra alongside senior AFP officers to hear their allegations.066ae678-b046-4550-af8d-b6f7d11f0673https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/afp-launches-investigation-into-flotilla-activists-rape-abuse-claims-against-israel-20260615-p606xf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalMon, 15 Jun 2026 19:17:13 +1000AFP launches investigation into flotilla activists’ rape, abuse claims against IsraelPolitics / FederalBrittany BuschThe prime minister has commented after this masthead’s Resolve Political Monitor showed Pauline Hanson ahead of him as preferred PM.c36400ae-dfcf-404b-845d-f1e90afcd881https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hanson-says-coalition-out-of-touch-as-taylor-ducks-dire-polling-20260615-p606sf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalMon, 15 Jun 2026 16:12:37 +1000Albanese takes swipe at One Nation’s foreign policy credentialsPolitics / FederalJames MassolaAccording to the latest Resolve Political Monitor, that’s exactly what they are asking for.eb220d6c-1b80-4485-afbe-06fcec980daahttps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/voters-prefer-hanson-as-pm-are-they-prepared-for-her-to-run-the-country-20260614-p606ll.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalMon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000Voters prefer Hanson as PM. Are they prepared for her to run the country?Politics / FederalThe Herald's ViewVoters are not just backing One Nation as the top party in Australia, but for the first time are also backing Pauline Hanson as preferred prime minister.e9f2cdcf-dc80-4634-9d97-a3d418d3088dhttps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/urgent-wake-up-call-for-political-mainstream-don-t-ignore-or-dismiss-angry-voters-20260614-p606nk.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalMon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000Urgent wake-up call for political mainstream: Don’t ignore or dismiss angry votersPolitics / FederalSean KellyAustralia’s political landscape is shifting fundamentally. Voters are yet to define how they want it to shape up.2f6fb062-0987-4515-a3d1-f3d9d0859938https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/one-nation-express-v-albanese-s-stable-revolution-it-will-be-a-head-on-crash-20260614-p606nm.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalMon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000One Nation Express v Albanese’s ‘stable’ revolution: It will be a head-on crashPolitics / FederalMatthew KnottThe rapid expansion of China’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet and long-range missile stockpile is fuelling its growing ability to hit targets in Australia, a new report warns.ad81a8b6-fb3c-42e1-a9a3-d4b058e9eeb6https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/china-s-ability-to-strike-targets-in-australia-is-real-and-growing-20260612-p606br.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 22:30:00 +1000China’s ability to strike targets in Australia is ‘real and growing’Politics / FederalThe news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.39805bc1-ee13-4c70-9502-9a9063773134https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-cartoons-june-15-2026-20260614-p606ps.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 20:43:51 +1000Best of cartoons, June 15, 2026Politics / FederalJames MassolaOne Nation is also now Australia’s preferred party by primary vote, overtaking Labor for the first time.5518a1e9-fc59-42b4-a9e8-c9c82a57dfbfhttps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hanson-overtakes-albanese-as-preferred-pm-coalition-crashes-to-record-low-20260614-p606lg.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +1000Hanson overtakes Albanese as preferred PM, Coalition crashes to record lowPolitics / FederalBrittany BuschThe Tasmanian senator gave a parting warning to his colleagues, as he announced his plan to step away from politics to spend more time with his family.7f613cc1-2500-487c-a302-d0e8bb6b41dbhttps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberal-heavyweight-jonno-duniam-to-retire-before-the-next-election-20260614-p606ky.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 14:43:01 +1000‘I’ve had enough’: Duniam shares the moment he knew his political career was overPolitics / FederalRob HarrisElizabeth Watt spent years fighting the federal agency after being denied her pre-parental leave role. Her case exposes a loophole that experts say leaves mothers lagging the rest of the world.88539e8f-e8b6-4e42-bbc5-7ad6a73378d0https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/elizabeth-worked-at-australia-s-top-women-s-safety-body-until-she-went-on-mat-leave-20260605-p604bk.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000Elizabeth worked at Australia’s top women’s safety body - until she went on mat leavePolitics / FederalMichael BachelardAs the secretive sect insists it had no role in campaigning for the Coalition, leaked recordings of a recent crackdown point to strict top-down control.7bf769cb-9828-4f26-8dcb-cf3c7a3cbc1fhttps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-devil-is-trying-to-deceive-leaked-recordings-show-brethren-boss-behaviour-crackdown-20260611-p605ub.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000‘The devil is trying to deceive’: Leaked recordings show Brethren boss’s behaviour crackdownPolitics / FederalMike Foley, Nick ToscanoFuel suppliers and the federal government are preparing for another surge in petrol demand before a popular tax break is wound up at the end of the month.55c24863-94a2-4e5e-80ea-a9d91c7b772ahttps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/warning-over-petrol-panic-buying-as-fuel-excise-discount-expires-20260612-p6068w.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000Warning over petrol panic-buying as fuel excise discount expiresPolitics / FederalJacqueline MaleyThe actor has fronted an ad campaign for Israeli real estate and declared herself an “independent”. People are outraged.493dd46e-d4ac-471c-b0ee-d3ff32749b35https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/when-gwyneth-gave-off-melania-vibes-the-backlash-was-relentless-but-was-it-fair-20260612-p606a5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000When Gwyneth gave off Melania vibes, the backlash was relentless. But was it fair?Politics / FederalParnell Palme McGuinnessAllegations of sexism no longer spark political movements. Voters’ focus is on something else.e942d41e-094e-433a-8f30-85031a9b2a90https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-misogyny-coin-buys-less-than-it-used-to-20260612-p606b9.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSun, 14 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000The misogyny coin buys less than it used toPolitics / FederalCarmen LawrenceSecrecy in policy development is rarely justified – and it certainly isn’t for AUKUS, our eye-wateringly expensive defence deal with the US and UK.a48aceea-434f-4640-a7da-00c1e55f0c83https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/truth-submerged-aukus-will-cost-us-368-billion-so-this-is-no-time-for-secrecy-20260612-p6068f.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSat, 13 Jun 2026 09:30:00 +1000Truth submerged? AUKUS will cost us $368 billion, so this is no time for secrecyPolitics / FederalPeter HartcherShe plays the suffering outsider, yet she’s an insider now, and says she could be prime minister.552334f1-4b3d-4aee-b014-dd2c0b3b4f82https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/like-trump-hanson-s-rise-is-beyond-politics-that-s-why-she-ll-be-hard-to-stop-20260612-p606cj.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSat, 13 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000Like Trump, Hanson’s rise is beyond politics. That’s why she’ll be hard to stopPolitics / FederalMatthew KnottAustralia’s ability to tap Ukraine’s expertise in drones and other advanced technologies is being hampered by delays in striking a security pact.0e28f362-0d5a-4844-96be-8a0227c31dd5https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/stalled-ukraine-security-pact-could-leave-australia-fighting-with-one-hand-behind-its-back-20260610-p605ew.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSat, 13 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +1000Stalled Ukraine security pact could leave Australia ‘fighting with one hand behind its back’Politics / FederalJames MassolaThe One Nation leader’s suggestion that her daughter could succeed her has prompted Coalition MPs to warn her about Barnaby Joyce’s leadership plans.e8cdbc03-b64e-47a8-ab63-9ca69d7516edhttps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/watch-your-back-hanson-s-family-succession-plan-leaves-barnaby-as-a-spare-heir-20260612-p606cp.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalSat, 13 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +1000‘Watch your back’: Hanson’s family succession plan leaves Barnaby as a spare heirPolitics / FederalBrittany Busch, Emily Kaine, James MassolaThe One Nation leader posted a report about its fundraising campaign on social media after Albanese questioned its veracity, Hanson saying it proved the money was “ridgy-didge”.e1e8388d-6ed0-40c7-be85-544c16e55791https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hanson-scoffs-at-albanese-s-scepticism-of-one-nation-fundraising-releases-audit-20260612-p6066k.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalFri, 12 Jun 2026 18:09:14 +1000Senior Liberal warns party to stop talking about One Nation as Hanson hits back at PM