The Latest Breaking News from Coalition

Rural Australia holds the balance of power – if it wants to exercise it – in pretty much every parliament

Remember that cliche about the Nationals tail wagging the Liberal dog? That tail wagged very vigorously this week, and smashed a lot of crockery, as it sought to bring Liberal leader Sussan Ley to heel.

Suspect in custody after being apprehended by security staff while entering a Washington DC Jewish museum

Crime and public safety are usually the domain of state politics. But the Coalition tried to elevate them as key issues for voters in the recent federal election.

Fears split with Coalition will diminish party’s relevance and ability to advocate for rural communities

The Victorian and NSW Nationals senators due to face the voters at the 2028 election will struggle to hold their seats if the former partners do not re-form the Coalition before then.

Counting in several extremely close seats continues, but some results have become clearer. In Liberal-held Bradfield, Teal candidate Nicolette Boele has taken the lead, while the Calwell distribution of preferences indicates an independent is on track to pass the Liberals and benefit from their preferences against Labor. Meanwhile, Jacqui Lambie…

The Nationals say they’re doing this ‘for the right reasons’, and part of you has to respect that – provided it’s the part incapable of adding up numbers

The four policy sticking points that broke up the Nationals and Liberals highlight their vastly different stances on privatisation

Some senior Liberal figures think the party could be freed up to chase more urban voters; Britain halts trade talks and calls Gaza policy ‘repellent’

All the day’s news as it unfolded