ALP

In what's expected to be a close race across the country, every vote in the Federal Election will count — and a handful of Western Australian seats could decide who forms the nation's next government.

The Queensland capital is home to a trio of three-cornered contests, putting the prospect of a hung parliament firmly in view.

All eyes will be on whether the Liberals can flip Lyons on election night, but could there be other surprising contests in Tasmania? Labor is hoping for a Braddon surge, while one of its ministers could be looking over her shoulder.

The regional seats of Albany, Warren-Blackwood and Pilbara have been finalised as counting continues two weeks after the state election.

Ousted CFMEU officials are targeting Labor MPs in marginal electorates with social media attack ads that political analysts say could help the Coalition pick up seats in this year's federal election.

The health minister says a historical quirk is behind why two-thirds of existing and promised Medicare urgent care clinics are in Labor-held seats, and they are committed based on need.

WA Premier Roger Cook wasn't expecting Mark McGowan to step down — but he was ready to step up. The ABC spends a day on the campaign trail with the Labor leader, talking about his ascension to the top job and what he's got planned next for the state.

The people of the Queensland seat of Hinkler will elect their first new MP in 13 years following the exit of Nationals veteran Keith Pitt.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Donald Trump is "supportive" of the AUKUS alliance, after Australia sent a $US500 million ($798 million) payment to Washington as part of it.

Peter Dutton held a rare press conference, as did Pauline Hanson, who left 28 long awkward seconds of silence after announcing her new policy. 

Labor will "fully fund" hospitals in a one-year deal, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committing to an additional $1.7 billion to cut wait times and ease pressure on emergency departments.

The seat of Werribee is shaping up to be an interesting contest as party leaders eye the outer suburbs for key federal electoral success. 

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten will end 17 years in politics on Monday, sparking a cabinet reshuffle in which three ministers are set to gain.

High-profile Australians have backed a letter by young climate warrior Anjali Sharma calling on the government to protect the health and wellbeing of future generations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ordered Victorian Labor to remove a meme from its social media accounts that mocked Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his wife.

Northern Victoria MP Jaclyn Symes, who has served as the state's attorney-general, becomes Victoria's first female treasurer, as part of a refreshed cabinet in Premier Jacinta Allan's Labor government. 

Details of the coming promise to voters, which follows months of consultation with the gas industry, are being calibrated to counter Labor's likely strategy of ongoing direct-to-households energy bill relief.

Tasmania has a way of wedging politicians between industry and the environment, between jobs and endangered species — with Labor and Liberal strategists well aware of the votes which are at stake.

Australia's latest national accounts show why we probably would have had to be in recession to have seen an interest rate cut this year.

Two ministers invoke the name of their late colleague Peta Murphy to offer contradictory views on why the government's gambling advertising restrictions have been delayed.