Shadow housing minister Andrew Bragg says he hasn't heard reports a Liberal senator colleague is pushing for a One Nation merger in South Australia.
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Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 8:32am
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 8:32am
Pat Conroy says he's pleased new UK PM has backed AUKUS
By Joshua Boscaini
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says it was good to hear the incoming UK prime minister has backed AUKUS upon coming to office.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham gave his clearest signal yet that he does not plan to alter the AUKUS defence partnership.
Burnham said in his inaugural speech as PM on Monday that Britain would honour its "defence commitments to international partners".
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Conroy says the government wasn't worried about the future of AUKUS.
"AUKUS is in the national interest of all three countries involved," Conroy says.
"It's great that the UK is recommitted, but to be honest I didn't doubt that because it's also in the UK's interest as well to continue with AUKUS."
Key Event
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 8:10am
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 8:10am
Bragg says he hasn't heard reports of Liberal-One Nation merger in South Australia
By Joshua Boscaini
The shadow housing minister says he's unaware Liberal senator Alex Antic is angling for a merger between the Liberals and One Nation in his home state of South Australia.
Liberal senator Alex Antic defended One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts in a social media post last week, saying he's always found the Queenslander to be a "clear thinker and a very decent bloke".
Roberts has previously labelled American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones a "beacon of hope around the world" and said Russian President Vladimir Putin had "earned his respect" for invading Ukraine.
Reports in the Nine Newspapers say Antic is angling for a merger or alliance between the Liberal and One Nation parties in SA.
The report says some Liberals in South Australia will push for a federal intervention of the SA Liberal Party if Antic seeks a merger.
Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Andrew Bragg says Antic can "praise who he wants", and says he hasn't heard reports about a merger in SA.
"I'm not a spokesman for Alex. He can praise who he wants. I'm not getting into praising or not praising other colleagues. My views on public policy are there to be pulled apart, but I'm not a spokesperson for the others," Bragg says.
"I've made my position clear on One Nation in other forums. I don't think that having a government with One Nation would be good for Australia."
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:48am
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:48am
Rishworth brushes aside concerns from Israeli embassy ahead of Labor conference
By Joshua Boscaini
Amanda Rishworth has brushed aside concerns raised by the Israeli embassy in Canberra over Labor's position on Israel on Palestine ahead of the party's national conference this week.
Israel's embassy has released a lengthy complaint ahead of Labor's national conference on the party's proposed position on Israel and Palestine.
Labor is looking to introduce a more detailed position on Israel and Palestine, including opposition to Israeli "illegal settlement activity" and settler violence.
The draft platform condemns Hamas but doesn't call for the terrorist group's disarmament.
Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, the employment minister says the platform will be debated and is a matter for the national conference.
"That's entirely a matter for the Israeli embassy about what they will and won't comment on," Rishworth says.
"I can tell you that the national conference process is a very dynamic and exciting conference and our focus will be really on those key issues and putting a position and a platform that puts the Labor Party in a very good position."
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:27am
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:27am
Barnaby Joyce barks at dog live on 7.30
By Paul Johnson
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce had a live television moment to remember … or forget on Monday night on 7.30 as his dog interrupted a serious interview with Sarah Ferguson.
The offending canine was offering up its own hot take as it let out a few barks, only to be yelled at by a clearly frustrated Joyce.
"Sit down!" commanded Joyce, emphasising just who the master in this situation was.
"Sorry, it's a dog," he offered before answering Ferguson's question about whether he was OK with the direction Hanson's politics are taking him after her UK meeting with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Pressed on Hanson's other meeting with mass immigration advocate Rupert Lowe, Joyce had regained his composure before again offering up his apologies for the cantankerous canine.
"I have to apologise for this dog, which has decided to bail up," Joyce said.
"Don't worry about the dog, just answer the question," Ferguson returned before Joyce's frustrations came to the fore.
"Don't be rude, don't be rude," he said.
"Otherwise, this interview will come to a grinding halt, Sarah … what was the question actually?"
The pair then had a back and forth about Gina Rinehart's role with One Nation, before Ferguson brought up the dog one last time to the veteran politician.
"On that point, we'll say thank you very much indeed for joining us Barnaby Joyce. The dog was no problem. Thank you," Ferguson said.
"It was to me," Joyce retorted.
Somewhere, we think Pistol and Boo may have really enjoyed that.
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:15am
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:15am
Joyce won’t confirm who paid for Hanson’s Sicily trip
By Paul Johnson
Barnaby Joyce has denied knowing whether or not One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's trip to Sicily was paid for by mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
Joyce was speaking to 7.30 live from Tamworth during an interview that was interrupted by his dog's barking.
After having denied knowledge, he said he also did not want to know the answer.
"I don't know whether that's the case," Joyce told 7.30.
"I suggested that it probably is, but I don't know, Sarah. So I haven't confirmed it. Maybe she paid for it all herself. I don't occupy my day worrying about what Pauline has paid for or hasn't paid for.
"If she hasn't paid for it, you'll be able to see it, Sarah. It'll be on the declaration of interest like everything else is."
Asked what Rinehart gets out of her relationship with One Nation, Joyce also said the answer was nothing.
"She doesn't get anything," he said.
"She's never asked me for anything. I've never offered her anything."
Key Event
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:10am
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:10am
Pacific minister defends reservation of $4.2m in hotel rooms for pre-COP conference
By Joshua Boscaini
Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy has defended the government's reservation of hotel rooms for a meeting in Fiji ahead of a climate change conference.
The Australian reports the government has reserved $4.2 million worth of luxury hotel rooms in Denarau for the pre-Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting in October.
Australia struck a deal with Türkiye to cede hosting rights for COP31 in exchange for Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen leading negotiations.
But speaking to Channel Nine, Conroy described The Australian's story a "beat-up" because he says the money will be recovered from foreign governments.
He says the pre-COP Fiji meeting will shine a light on the Pacific climate change experience.
"Most of the costs will be recovered from foreign leaders and their delegations coming to those hotels and paying for their rooms. We've just reserved as you do when you organise these conferences," Conroy says.
"Other countries like China are trying to become good friends with the Pacific. If we're not seen to be taking strong action on climate change, we cede ground to other countries, we cede influence and that makes Australia less safe."
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:04am
Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 7:04am
Good morning 👋
By Joshua Boscaini
Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us here early this Tuesday morning.
I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.
I've got my eyes on all the TV networks and I'm not sure what today could bring us, so let's get into it and see what happens!
