Labor and the coalition are at odds on how best to improve mental health care, with the government pledging $1 billion to increase access to services.
Federal Politics
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025
Last day to enrol to vote
Australian citizens 18 years and older have until 8pm tonight (local time) to enrol or update their details ahead of the 2025 federal election.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025, Energy
Cheap batteries pledge powers Labor re-election push
Labor is promising to lower energy bills by shaving 30 per cent off the cost of installing household batteries if voters re-elect the government on May 3.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025, New England Electorate, Parkes Electorate
Election debates line up and nominations close this week
Both local candidates and the national leaders are readying to face off in debates as the election campaign finds top speed.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025, New England Times Engage Poll
Engage Poll: What cost of living crisis?
In our Engage Poll on Cost of Living the majority of local respondents believed there was a crisis… somewhere else happening to other people.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025, New England Electorate, Parkes Electorate
More local candidates announced for federal election
Candidates are slowly but surely coming forward to fill out the ballots in Parkes and New England.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025, Explainers and backgrounders
Myth buster: Compulsory voting
Australia has an unusual system of compulsory voting which can be confusing, and there’s lots of myths about what you have to do.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025, Muswellbrook, New England Electorate
Meet the candidates in Muswellbrook
The New England’s federal candidates have had a chance to introduce themselves and debate on local issues at a local forum in Muswellbrook.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025, Muswellbrook, New England Electorate
What do Upper Hunter residents think of Our Barnaby?
With a change of electoral boundaries, the Hunter Valley centre of Muswellbrook Shire has now changed from the federal electorate of Hunter to New England.
Posted inAustralia Votes 2025
YouGov Poll points to Labor retaining Government
Labor has had a reversal of fortune in the major polls with the latest YouGov poll showing working voters shifting away from the coalition.