In the kind of move that Labor once derided in their opponents, the government used the cover of the federal budget – while most journalists were literally locked up – to deliver its response to the late Peta Murphy's report into online gambling, 'You Win Some, You Lose More'.

The bookies were right, unfortunately. For the first time since 1996, Pauline Hanson has captured a seat in the House of Representatives via the democratic process, and this time it wasn't in Queensland.

The unceremonious dumping of Sussan Ley as leader of the Liberal Party is about to lead to an interesting by-election in her old seat of Farrer. As Sussan leaves politics to enjoy her parliamentary pension, what happens in this traditionally stodgy seat is likely to provide some real-time pointers on where conservative Australia is heading.

As the Liberal and National parties slide deeper into irrelevance, and further from power, leadership challenges continue to occupy the minds of members, rather than policy, or the needs of their constituents.

The first appearance of a federal opposition leader at the National Press Club in three years saw Sussan Ley showing her personal side and eating humble pie, as she tries to find a way to bring a fractured and bruised Coalition back from electoral disaster.

Sussan Ley, the new Liberal leader, has been quick to condemn Anthony Albanese for his inadequate support of the Israeli military attacks on Hamas. According to Ley, the prime minister is seriously damaging Australia’s strong record of ‘social cohesion.’

Will the Libs and Nats kiss and make up? Yes of course they will, because they both need the Coalition to have any sort of political future, but the fact that it's purely a marriage of convenience is clearer than ever.

Sussan Ley has been elected as the leader of the Liberal Party – the first woman to have led the party since it was founded in 1944. 

Eight high school students who took the Federal Environment Minister to court claiming she has a duty to avoid causing harm from climate change have promised to keep fighting for stronger climate action in Australia.

Environmental activists say a 48-year-old Lismore nurse will face court on Wednesday in Canberra over protest stunts at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association's headquarters.