‘Increasingly unsafe’: Australia’s in-home childcare program under threat from rising costs, advocate warns

4 May 2026 at 00:00

The little-known publicly funded scheme is used by about 800 families with children who cannot access mainstream care

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Rebecca Mohr Bell, a cattle farmer and business owner, lives 100km south-west of Katherine in the Northern Territory, and with three young children, has relied on in-home childcare since 2018.

The little-known taxpayer supported program is used by about 800 families with children who cannot access mainstream care, including because they live in remote locations, have serious illness or a disability, or because their parents work unusual hours.

The Guardian World news

The ‘Oscars for political nerds’ or a threat to democracy? Grab a ticket, it’s Canberra’s budget fundraiser season

By: Krishani Dhanji and Sarah Basford Canales

3 May 2026 at 15:00

As major parties once again spruik budget night events at thousands of dollars a ticket, some MPs say they resent the ritzy social galas

They’re dismissed as boring, little more than a “selfie” opportunity for economy nerds – or even labelled a threat to democracy.

But as budget week approaches, the major parties are once again spruiking fundraising dinners and drinks for their most loyal followers – and slugging them for thousands of dollars.

The Guardian World news

Anthony Albanese rules out gas export tax on existing contracts and criticises ‘populist’ campaign

By: Dan Jervis-Bardy · Josh Butler · Krishani Dhanji and Lisa Cox

29 April 2026 at 05:48

Prime minister says the middle of a global fuel crisis is ‘the worst possible time to jeopardise’ Australia’s partnerships with Asian trading partners

Anthony Albanese has confirmed next month’s federal budget will not include a new tax on existing gas export contracts as he criticised the “populist” campaign calling for a levy on producers.

As reported last week, the prime minister was poised to reject pressure to introduce a 25% tax on gas exports amid concerns the intervention could alienate the Asian trading partners Australia is relying on for supplies of diesel and petrol.

The Guardian World news

Taylor says higher risk of ‘bad people coming from bad countries’ and that welcome to country ceremonies ‘overused’

By: Krishani Dhanji

26 April 2026 at 03:57

Opposition leader doubles down on immigration policy and defends preferencing One Nation over independent in Farrer in ABC interview

The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, has said “there is a higher risk that some bad people come from those bad countries”, doubling down on his immigration policy and refusing to call out Pauline Hanson’s hardline stance.

Speaking to the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday, Taylor said Indigenous welcome to country ceremonies were overused, after booing incidents at some of Saturday’s Anzac Day dawn services. He also defended preferencing One Nation above the independent community candidate, Michelle Milthorpe, in the upcoming Farrer byelection, arguing the teals “vote with the Greens”.

The Guardian World news

Anthony Albanese accused of ‘caving to gas companies’ as Labor set to reject new export tax

By: Josh Butler and Krishani Dhanji

24 April 2026 at 03:49

David Pocock says prime minister – who is trying to shore up fuel supplies – is parroting industry talking points

Labor is poised to reject a growing push for a new 25% tax on gas exports in next month’s budget, prompting David Pocock to accuse the government of “caving in” to the gas industry.

It’s understood the government has elected not to pursue a new tax on gas exports in the budget, prompted in part by the global oil crisis and Anthony Albanese’s diplomatic efforts in shoring up fuel supply from Asian allies by pledging reliable access to liquefied natural gas.

The Guardian World news

Labor accused of ignoring anti-racism plan as documents reveal repeated pleas to take action

By: Krishani Dhanji

19 April 2026 at 15:00

The government has defended its response, citing the upcoming royal commission and work done by the Islamophobia and antisemitism special envoys

Federal Labor has been accused of dragging its feet on a plan to combat systemic racism in Australia, nearly 18 months after it received recommendations from the human rights commission.

New documents released to the Senate show no progress on the national strategy delivered to the government and published in November 2024 – despite the race discrimination commissioner imploring the government to take action in five letters and at least two meetings.

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