Amber Schultz Updated June 19, 2026 â 8:23am, first published 6:59am
8.23am Liberal senator says two-party system has ânot deliveredâ
By Nick Newling
Opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said the two-party system has failed Australians in recent years, leading to a fall in the Coalition and Laborâs vote share and the rise of parties such as One Nation.
Senator Andrew Bragg. Dominic Lorrimer âI do think the two-party system, although it has been in the main very good for Australia, has in the last decade or so really not delivered all that well for the country, and I think the Australian people want to, in some quarters, want to break the system because they feel like itâs not working for them any more,â Bragg told the ABC this morning.
âI understand that. I donât think thereâs been enough policy competition on budget management, debt management, tax policy, superannuation, industrial relations. I just think we havenât been bold enough, we havenât had enough difference [in] market competition amongst the major parties, and I think thatâs really led the country down a bad ravine,â the Liberal senator said.
âI mean, the fact that we havenât had a serious debate about structural tax stuff or structural industrial relations stuff for 20 years shows you how bad the countryâs public debate is.â
In the most recent Resolve Political Monitor published by this masthead, the Coalition fell to a record low of 20 per cent of the primary vote, behind Labor on 28 per cent and One Nation on 29 per cent.
8.08am Decision on whether to extend fuel excise cut still under review
By Jack Gramenz
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government is close to a decision on whether to extend a cut to fuel excise beyond the end of the month.
The cut came after oil prices surged following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, but prices have fallen in recent days as an end to the conflict looms.
The excise cut is worth about 26 cents per litre of petrol, rising to about 32 cents when GST is factored in.
âWe have been able to get some of the edge off these petrol prices that spiked in March because of the war in the Middle East,â Chalmers told ABC News Breakfast this morning.
âWe are reviewing that on a week-to-week basis.
âWeâll need to make a decision between now and the end of the month. When we come to a final view, a concluded view, weâll make that view known.â
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor told the same program that the Coalition was watching global oil prices closely, but inflation remained an issue.
7.59am One Nation âa big fraudâ tied to Rinehartâs wishes, says Chalmers
By Nick Newling
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described One Nationâs appeal as âa big fraudâ following Pauline Hansonâs address to the National Press Club this week .
âWhat we saw once again is One Nation desperate to prey on the legitimate concerns that people have, but they donât want to do anything to actually address them,â Chalmers told ABC radio this morning.
Pauline Hanson holds fort at the National Press Club on Wednesday. Getty Images âWe know that because every time theyâre asked to vote for tax cuts for workers or decent-paying conditions or our cost-of-living help, they vote directly against the interests of people who struggle and people who work in our country, and thatâs the big fraud at the core of One Nationâs appeal,â he said.
Chalmers said One Nation was uninterested in doing âanythingâ to fix votersâ concerns about the country, saying there was an âabsurd ironyâ of the party wanting to be in government âin order to leave everything the sameâ.
â[One Nation] will always do what Gina Rinehart tells them to do, but never do what the workers and battlers of this country need them to do,â Chalmers said.
7.43am Butler says leadership speculation is âtotal rubbishâ
By Nick Newling
Health Minister Mark Butler has described a claim that he is set to be the next prime minister as âtotal rubbishâ after shadow treasurer Tim Wilson speculated that the budget would bring about the end of Prime Minister Anthony Albaneseâs tenure.
The altercation took place during a panel appearance on Sevenâs Sunrise this morning, in which Wilson and Butler sparred over concessions that were announced yesterday to budgetary tax measures.
Health Minister Mark Butler. Alex Ellinghausen Host Natalie Barr asked Butler whether Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers were âgetting along this weekâ, to which Butler responded: âYes, of course, they are. They work, they work closely. They have, theyâve had a productive relationship for the four years weâve been in government ... this is an enormously productive relationship, which I watch up close.â
Barr attempted to end the interview, but was interrupted by Wilson, who said: âHe does watch it up close because I suspect this is the treasurerâs last budget, and the prime minister is probably going to fall with him, and the person whoâs going to win out of that is going to be prime minister Mark Butlerâ.
7.33am Man arrested after child ends upâŠ
Read the full article at The Sydney Morning Herald âđSource document: Resolve Political Monitorâ9 reports
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter2 days agoLiberal Senator Andrew Bragg criticized the two-party system in Australia, stating it has not delivered well for the country in recent years. He argued that the lack of policy competition between major parties on issues such as budget management, debt management, tax policy, superannuation, and industrial relations has led to a decline in the Coalition and Labor's vote shares and the rise of smaller parties like One Nation. Bragg suggested that the absence of significant debates on structural tax and industrial relations reforms over the past 20 years reflects poorly on Australia's public and,
Bias read (Center): The article presents Senator Andrew Bragg's views without overtly favoring one side. It includes direct quotes from Bragg expressing his criticisms of the two-party system and the lack of policy competition. There is no evident editorializing or biased language that would indicate a clear leaning to
Official sources cited
- press release Resolve Political Monitor
The AgeParty-alignedCenter2 days agoLiberal Senator Andrew Bragg criticized the two-party system in Australia, stating it has failed to deliver for the country in recent years. He argued that the lack of policy competition between major parties on issues such as budget management, tax policy, and industrial relations has led to a decline in their vote shares and the rise of smaller parties like One Nation. Bragg expressed frustration with the absence of significant debates on structural reforms over the past two decades.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Senator Andrew Bragg's critique of the two-party system without overtly favoring one side. It includes direct quotes from Bragg expressing his views, but does not incorporate counterpoints or alternative perspectives. However, the framing remains neutral, focusing on the content
The Conversation (AU)IndependentCenter4 days agoRecent polling data indicates that while One Nation remains leading in primary votes according to YouGov and Morgan surveys, their gains have slowed compared to previous measurements. Labor's support has shown mixed results, remaining stable in some polls and increasing slightly in others. The article references multiple polls including Resolve and DemosAU, highlighting regional variations in voter trends.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual polling data without overtly favoring any political group. It reports numerical changes in support across parties and regions neutrally, using standard journalistic conventions. There is no evident editorializing, loaded language, or one-sided sourcing.
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedLeft6 days ago One Nation isnât just eating the Coalitionâs lunch, theyâve taken over the tuckshopA recent Resolve Political Monitor poll indicates declining support for all major political parties in Victoria ahead of the November state election. Labor faces challenges in maintaining its majority, while the Coalition sees its support eroded by the rise of One Nation. The article discusses internal dynamics within Labor and the shifting political landscape.
Bias read (Left): The article frames the situation with strong negative language toward the current government ('ragged, third-term government'), highlights growing dissatisfaction among Labor voters, and emphasizes the threat posed by One Nation to the Coalition without providing balanced counterpoints or positiveçćŸ
The AgeParty-alignedLeft6 days ago One Nation isnât just eating the Coalitionâs lunch, theyâve taken over the tuckshopA recent Resolve Political Monitor poll indicates declining support for all major political parties in Victoria ahead of the November state election. Labor faces challenges in maintaining its majority, while the Coalition sees its support eroded by the rise of One Nation. The article discusses internal dynamics within Labor and the shifting political landscape.
Bias read (Left): The article frames One Nation's growing influence as a threat to both Labor and the Coalition, using metaphorical language ('eating the Coalitionâs lunch, theyâve taken over the tuckshop') that implies criticism of the Coalition's performance. The tone suggests skepticism toward the Coalition's grip
Official sources cited
- press release Resolve Political Monitor Poll
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter9 days ago Hanson pledges to work with Coalition in Victoria as protesters target moved fundraiserA planned One Nation fundraiser has been moved to a new, secret location after protesters vowed to demonstrate outside the original venue.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a logistical change to a political event due to protests without taking a stance on the political group, the protests, or their motivations. It presents the facts neutrally, without editorializing or biased language.
The AgeParty-alignedCenter9 days ago Hanson pledges to work with Coalition in Victoria as protesters target moved fundraiserA planned One Nation fundraiser has been moved to a new, secret location after protesters vowed to demonstrate outside the original venue.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a logistical change to a fundraiser due to protests without taking a stance on the political group, the protests, or their motivations. It provides no commentary, framing, or emphasis that suggests a particular ideological leaning.
CrikeyIndependentCenter9 days agoIndependent MPs, including Allegra Spender, criticized Labor's tax reform bill but ultimately voted against it, aligning with the Coalition and One Nation. Most independents opposed the bill, while a few supported it.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts about voting patterns without overtly favoring any side. It reports on the actions of independent MPs and their stated reasons for opposing the bill, providing a balanced account of the situation.
Official sources cited
- government House of Representatives voting records
The Conversation (AU)IndependentCenter12 days ago One Nation takes primary vote lead in Newspoll as Albaneseâs ratings slump to record lowNewspoll data indicates One Nation has taken a primary vote lead, with 31% support compared to Labor's 30%. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's approval rating has dropped to a record low of -24. The article also mentions other elections, including the US California jungle primary and the UK Makerfield byelection, along with a Queensland state poll showing the LNP leading.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual polling data without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on multiple polls and provides numerical comparisons between political parties without apparent ideological framing. The content remains neutral in tone and does not favor any particular side.
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