Former president Barack Obama joined Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a rally in Detroit, where he joked about the candidate's muscular arms. Obama said the two men share a campaign focus on change and breaking boundaries, and that both have faced racism and questions about their names. Obama also dismissed claims that El-Sayed is radical, asking how wanting universal health care and affordable housing could be considered so. El-Sayed leads recent polls only within the margin of error, and he won just 31 per cent of Black primary voters in Detroit.
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John says he will take leave from parliament while an independent investigation into several allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women proceeds. The allegations span 2017 to 2025. Steele-John denies any wrongdoing and says internal party politics are at play. He said he would have withdrawn immediately had a complaint been made against him. Greens leader David Shoebridge said the leave was appropriate, but Steele-John maintained he was not on self-imposed leave. Seven Greens members had called for an investigation in a letter to Shoebridge.
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has confirmed he will not attend parliament next week and has apologised for publicly releasing a confidential letter containing allegations against him. He denies all the allegations, which relate to his behaviour towards women between 2017 and 2025. The complaints are now subject to an independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens and have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. Steele-John said he had considered attending Senate estimates virtually, but was told that would be unacceptable.
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Greens senator Jordon Steele-John's position in the party remains unresolved more than a week after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women emerged. New Greens leader David Shoebridge announced Steele-John's leave pending an independent probe, but Steele-John denies the allegations and disputes agreeing to leave. Only a two-thirds vote of the party room could force his expulsion, a move that would be a serious step. The matter will test Shoebridge's leadership as Senate estimates approaches and the Greens decide whether Steele-John should continue his disability portfolio duties.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan has not confirmed he will switch from the Senate to contest the lower house seat of Capricornia. Michelle Landry announced on Friday she will not recontest the northern Queensland seat at the 2028 election, citing heavy travel demands and family. Speculation has grown that Senator Canavan could make the move, which would avoid a tough Senate fight with One Nation, whose support is rising in the polls. Canavan said the LNP would take time to work out its position and that membership would decide who represents them.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan could seek a move to the House of Representatives after colleague Michelle Landry announced she will not recontest the Queensland seat of Capricornia. Pollster Kos Samaras said Canavan faces losing his Senate seat in 2028 if the One Nation polling surge continues. Canavan has said he would do whatever it takes to hold a seat, but did not rule out the move when asked. Landry criticised One Nation, saying most of her dealings with the party had not been pleasant. Coalition leader Angus Taylor praised Canavan as an extraordinary colleague.
A path has opened for Nationals leader Matt Canavan to enter the House of Representatives by contesting the Queensland seat of Capricornia at the 2028 election. The move follows Michelle Landry's announcement that she will retire at the next election. Landry and Canavan appeared together at a press conference in Rockhampton, though Canavan has not formally declared his bid. He has previously said he would consider leaving the Senate for a lower house vacancy. Landry, the seat's member since 2013, cited the heavy travel demands of the electorate as a key reason, and denied being pushed out.
Queensland MP Michelle Landry has announced she will retire from federal politics at the 2028 federal election. She has held the central Queensland seat of Capricornia since 2013. Nationals leader Matt Canavan, a senator, attended the announcement in Rockhampton but did not say whether he would seek preselection for the seat. Ms Landry said she would not nominate a successor, leaving that to the party. She also criticised One Nation, which could pose a serious challenge to the LNP in the seat.
ACT senator David Pocock has ruled out a bid for prime minister, though he is thinking about life after politics. Speaking at the National Press Club, he called for a higher standard in parliament after the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines. He proposed a 25% tax on gas exports, a 5% levy on datacentres and lobbying transparency reforms. Pocock also floated a new alliance of independents and community collectives ahead of the next election.
The Albanese government does not yet have the numbers to pass its free trade deal with the European Union. Labor plans to introduce the agreement to parliament early in the new year. Trade Minister Don Farrell has ruled out renegotiating it. Farmers want better beef and lamb access, while vegetable growers and business groups back the deal. Labor needs either the Coalition or the Greens to pass it through the Senate, and the Greens have not yet declared their position.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has apologised for a cartoon posted to her social media channels that mocked Senator Jacqui Lambie over a serious health condition. Hanson had earlier told Lambie to lighten up, but on Tuesday she said the video was not tastefully done as it could have been. She said she had not seen the video before it was published and had asked its creator to change it. Hanson said the cartoon series bore her name and she would take responsibility for it.
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John says he is the victim of a years-long smear campaign from within his party. He is under investigation over accusations about his conduct towards women, which the party's WA branch is now handling. In an open letter, he blamed factionalism and said he was not on leave, disputing a line in a statement by Greens leader David Shoebridge. Senator Steele-John rejects the claims and says the timing of a letter by seven party members was no coincidence, given an upcoming preselection.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has told Senator Jacqui Lambie to lighten up after a party cartoon mocked her prolapse. Lambie had revealed in August that she had the condition, which she linked to her military service, and that it required surgery and five months of leave. Labor frontbencher Tim Ayres and independent MP Monique Ryan, a medical doctor, joined Lambie in condemning the video. Hanson said it was satirical and that it had raised awareness of the condition, which affects one in 12 women.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has criticised a One Nation cartoon that uses her vaginal prolapse as a punchline. Lambie disclosed the condition in an emotional Senate speech in August, saying it required surgery and five months of leave. She said she would not demand the video's removal but urged Pauline Hanson's team, especially the men, to take it down. Other politicians, including independent MP Monique Ryan and Queensland Labor MP Kara Cook, have condemned the cartoon. Labor's Tim Ayres called it cheap and nasty political propaganda.
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has said he did not agree to take leave from the party room, contradicting leader David Shoebridge's account. Steele-John is being investigated over alleged inappropriate behaviour towards women between 2017 and 2025. Shoebridge's spokesperson said leave had been understood to be agreed and that it does not prejudge the WA Greens inquiry. Steele-John denies wrongdoing and accuses rivals of leaking misleading information to influence upcoming preselections. He also said a 47-page document was meant to counter a smear campaign.
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Greens leader David Shoebridge says he understood that Senator Jordon Steele-John had agreed to take leave from his role. Steele-John denies this. He says he is not on leave and accuses party factions of weaponising allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women. Steele-John says he will take part in an inquiry commissioned by the WA Greens. Shoebridge says the key findings of that inquiry must be made public.
The federal government has nominated a former attorney-general to lead the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The live blog tracks developments as the appointment unfolds, with updates grouped into key events for readers following the story closely.
West Australian senator Jordon Steele-John has accused a clique within the Greens of running a pre-selection smear campaign against him. He denies allegations of misconduct towards female colleagues, which were raised in a letter sent to Greens leadership by seven staffers and party members. He says the only complaint was made by a former partner, and that a police investigation into a sexual assault report was closed with no charges. He says his new leader, David Shoebridge, let him down by announcing he had taken leave, which he says he has not.
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has denied allegations of inappropriate conduct and says he has been falsely accused, including of sexual assault. He blamed the public fallout on factionalism within the party. Steele-John said police investigated the sexual assault complaint and made no adverse findings against him. He denied taking leave after a letter from seven party members reached Greens leader David Shoebridge's office. The Greens WA branch says it is setting up an independent process to assess the allegations.
