Finn McHugh

1 week ago | capitalbrief.com | Finn McHugh

Disgruntled MPs are inevitable after major reshuffles, but rarely is their disappointment so public or laced with political threats as we've seen this week. Within hours of Liberal leader Sussan Ley and her Nationals counterpart David Littleproud unveiling their new frontbench on Wednesday, MPs now sitting on the backbench launched a not-so-subtle revolt. Get Political Capital in your inboxSigned up to Political CapitalA twice-weekly newsletter that takes you inside the corridors of power.

1 week ago | capitalbrief.com | Finn McHugh

Immediately after the Coalition’s election wipeout, Liberal MPs pinned much of the blame on two of the party’s most senior economic figures: treasury spokesman Angus Taylor and finance spokeswoman Jane Hume. Today, new leader Sussan Ley wielded the axe, shifting Taylor into a less prestigious portfolio, defence, and banishing Hume to the backbench. Get The Edition in your inboxSigned up to The EditionA must-read afternoon newsletter.

1 week ago | capitalbrief.com | Finn McHugh

The demands were: maintaining a nuclear energy policy; a fund for regional Australia; guarantees of mobile phone coverage in the bush; and forced divestiture powers to break up the big supermarkets. Both parties shelved plans to unveil their own plans on Thursday, when the Liberals agreed to expedite discussions over those four policies. Ley will address reporters later today.

1 week ago | capitalbrief.com | Finn McHugh

In an exclusive interview, the successor to Adam Bandt said she will not rubber stamp Labor policies, but will support a progressive agenda. New Greens leader Larissa Waters has committed to supporting the Albanese government if it chooses to pursue progressive reforms, declaring that this Parliament will demonstrate whether Labor remains “the party of Whitlam”.

1 week ago | capitalbrief.com | Finn McHugh |Anthony Galloway

With the Greens now holding the balance of power in the upper house, new leader Larissa Waters could force Treasurer Jim Chalmers into more sweeping taxes on unrealised capital gains — but with safeguards against bracket creep. Chalmers’ plan, which would tax unrealised gains on super accounts with more than $3 million, is shaping up as the first test of the new Senate — where Labor will now only need the Greens to pass legislation.