Home
Search
thewest.com.au

Politics

Magic Round is expected to attract huge interstate crowds, but they will still be able to vote in the federal election. NewsWire / David Swift

NewsPremiumAdvice for Magic Round fans on election day

Two major Aussie events are set to battle it out over the first weekend in May, but fans have been assured they can vote and enjoy the footy.

Holly Truelove

WA Electoral Commissioner Robert Kennedy.

state politicsPremiumElectoral Commissioner goes on leave as count continues

WA’s Electoral Commissioner has gone on leave, as the problem-plagued count continues to drag on almost three weeks after the State election. 

Jessica Page

Masked and plainclothes agents swooped to arrest Rumeysa Ozturk on a city street. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsPremiumUS has revoked more than 300 student visas: Rubio

Hundreds of foreign students have had their visas cancelled, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, as US officials look to kick out "lunatics creating a ruckus".

Humeyra Pamuk

Like many voters, young professional Luke Dugan is concerned about housing and inflation. (Rachael Ward/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumPoll could be personality contest in battleground seats

Australians living in some of the country's most marginal seats know what - and who - will and won't sway their votes.

Rachael Ward

Trish Cook, Kate Hulett and Vince Connelly are running in key battleground seats.

FEDERAL ELECTION 2025PremiumKey WA seats to watch as the Federal election looms

Voters in a handful of WA electorates could decide the fate of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton at the May 3 election.

Katina Curtis and Caitlyn Rintoul

Donald Trump's order takes particular aim at the Museum of African American History and Culture. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsPremiumTrump targets Smithsonian over 'anti-American ideology'

US President Donald Trump aims to reshape the Smithsonian museums and zoo with an order targeting funding to programs with "improper ideology".

James Oliphant and Steve Holland

Greenlanders have made clear what they think of Donald Trump's plans for their island. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsPremiumVance to tour Greenland base after spat over US visit

Vice-President JD Vance will visit Greenland at a time when President Donald Trump is renewing his insistence that the US should take control of the territory.

Kirsten Greishaber

Primary-school age children are being put in danger in adult watch houses, an inquiry's been told. (Aaron Bunch/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumPre-teens locked up in police watch houses

Children aged 10-17 are being detained in police watch houses, exposing them to the risk of abuse and trauma, a corrections officer has warned.

Abe Maddison

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton rejects claims his policy mirrors that of US President Donald Trump. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

ElectionPremiumDutton shrugs off Labor 'sledging', spruiks gas reserve

The opposition leader says attacks by the prime minister are a sign Labor has nothing positive to offer, setting up a campaign on the cost of living and energy.

Andrew Brown

Education while using technology helps children participate in the digital world, experts say. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumNo evidence smartphone bans help children: academics

International academics argue there is a lack of evidence that blanket bans helped children and such approaches are "stop-gap solutions".

Martyn Landi

Early voting opens on April 22 but the main event will be election day on Saturday, May 3. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

ElectionPremiumKey dates for the 2025 federal election campaign

Anthony Albanese has called the federal election for May 3, setting the scene for a five-week campaign.

Andrew Brown

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton has launched his election pitch.

Federal PoliticsCommentsPeter Dutton lays out plan to become next prime minister

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has launched his official election pitch, promising Australians a better future under a Coalition Government and vowing to be the ‘prime minister for home affordability’.

Ellen Ransley

Gerard Depardieu has told a Paris court his reputation has been "dragged through the mud". (EPA PHOTO)

Law and orderProsecutors request suspended sentence for Depardieu

Gerard Depardieu is accused of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during 2021 filming of Les Volets Verts.

Staff Writers

Greens leader Adam Bandt has described the May 3 federal election as a once in a generation chance. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

ElectionPremiumGreens warn major parties as minority government looms

Minority government is coming and the major parties ought to prepare, Greens leader Adam Bandt says as more voters turn to crossbenchers.

Kat Wong

Attorney General Pam Bondi named three US district judges that have blocked Trump policies. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsPremiumMany US judges need to be removed: Attorney General

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has criticised judges who have struck down or paused portions of Donald Trump's agenda.

Jasper Ward

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are in election mode after the PM locked in a poll date. (Mick Tsikas, Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumLeaders on charm offensive but punters aren't buying it

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are on the offensive for the election but punters aren't buying what's on offer.

Dominic Giannini

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Federal election 2025VideoComments‘We will do better’: Dutton drops first election ad

In the minutes after Anthony Albanese announced the May 3 Federal election, the Liberal Party dropped the first election ad, where Peter Dutton called on the nation to ‘get our country back on track’. 

Max Corstorphan

Anthony Albanese says the election will be based on his track record on cost-of-living issues. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

ElectionPremium'Turning the corner': Albanese's on point for campaign

Labor has launched its first campaign advertisement, laying out its bid for a second term in office as it leans on traditional values such as health care.

Andrew Brown and Tess Ikonomou

Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese has called an election for May 3.

updated
updated
Federal election 2025Comments
updated
‘Sledgeathon’: Dutton hits back as PM starts attack campaign

Australians will go to the polls in five weeks but already the barbs are flying thick and fast.

Katina Curtis and Ellen Ransley

eter Dutton has made his case to Australians on why he should be the country’s next Prime Minister.

live
live
AustraliaVideoComments
live
Dutton shrugs off Labor ‘sledging’, spruiks gas reserve

LIVE UPDATES: Peter Dutton has made his case to Australians on why he should be the country’s next Prime Minister, launching a brutal attack on Anthony Albanese and Labor.

Max Corstorphan

Here are the key seats Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will be targeting during the election campaign.

analysis
analysis
Federal election 2025Comments
analysis
The 20 seats to watch that will determine our next PM

The election has been called and the countdown is on. Here are the 20 seats across the country that will be crucial in deciding who will be our next Prime Minister.

Ellen Ransley

The hotly-anticipated election is expected to be dominated by cost of living. NewsWire / Martin Ollman

livePremiumWarning on early voting for May 3 election

The election has been called, politicians have made their opening pitches and the campaign trail has begun. But what happens now?

Ria Pandey and Jessica Wang

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has so far rebuffed US President Donald Trump. (EPA PHOTO)

SecurityIran ready for indirect talks with United States

An adviser to Iran's supreme leader says the Islamic Republic is ready for indirect negotiations with United States.

Staff Writers

Liberal MP Michael Sukkar's Melbourne Deakin seat was the most marginal at the last election. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumMarginal gains: knife-edge seats to decide who governs

Out of the 150 seats in federal parliament, a handful of marginal electorates will control who wins power for the next three years.

Andrew Brown