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Allegra Spender

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Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender and member for Warringah Zali Steggall.

Teal or no teal? Why these independents might stay solo

A teal political party could give the crossbench more power and influence. But it comes with big risks too.

  • James Massola

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Teal MPs are in advanced discussions about forming a new party.

Teals in advanced talks to form new political party

Secret deliberations to launch the party within weeks have come to light after Senator David Pocock shared his involvement in discussions on Sunday.

  • Nick Newling and Paul Sakkal
Dionne Gain

The budget fallout has Angus Taylor back in contention. But there’s something askew about this battle

Labor has delivered the most disruptive, controversial budget since at least Abbott’s 2014 offering. Labor is under siege, and yet the situation is deceptively complex.

  • Waleed Aly
Older and wealthier Australians have increased their ownership of rental properties by up to 1500 per cent over the past two decades, while young people have been priced out of the investment market.

The Boomer landlords: the charts that show how the over-60s control the rental market

The government is about to change capital gains tax and negative gearing. These are the numbers that show why.

  • Shane Wright
More than any other factor, Australians blame the government for rising costs.

A now-or-never moment for the Albanese government

Jim Chalmers was already being pressured to unveil meaningful reforms in the May budget. Turmoil in the Middle East has made that even more pressing.

  • The Herald's View
Independent MP Allegra Spender has outlined a plan to slash personal income tax rates, paid for by higher taxes on assets.

Slash income tax, lift it on assets: Spender’s plan for tax reform

The first plan for a broad-based overhaul of the tax system in 16 years has been put forward by teal independent, Allegra Spender.

  • Shane Wright
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The Iran conflict could see drive gas price spikes that may eclipse those seen when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Push for gas tax as LNG exports reap huge profits after one week of war

Gas prices tripled in 2022, which was the last time an international conflict hit energy markets. Experts say it may happen again due to the Iran war.

  • Mike Foley and Nick Toscano
Sydney Summit 2026 l

No bulldozers and towers: Defence sites dominate talk of Sydney’s housing future

The state government says it is investigating potential options for the inner-city Victoria Barracks, but ruled out “huge apartment towers”.

  • Megan Gorrey and David Barwell

Too fast, too slow, too broad, too narrow ... Albanese’s hate speech critics agree on one thing

Legislation is not a press conference. It has to anticipate future situations and be coherent 20 years hence.

  • Waleed Aly
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recalled parliament for an urgent debate on hate speech laws.

What is in the government’s new hate speech laws?

Labor’s hate speech crackdown has experienced immediate pushback.

  • Brittany Busch and Nick Newling