Live: Teal independents launch new centrist political party

Two Sydney teal independent MPs have launched a new centrist political party, with ambitions of picking up seats in the Senate.

Follow all the updates in our live blog.

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Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:21am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:21am

PM defends government budget changes at CEDA address

By Joshua Boscaini

Anthony Albanese has in the last few minutes just stepped up to deliver a speech to Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).

The prime minister has defended the government's changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax in the budget.

He says the government did not expect for a moment that it would be "smooth sailing" when embarking on the overhaul.

"The easy political option in that situation is to kick the can down the road. To try and explain away, or work around, a system that isn't working. And while that might be the easy choice — it's not the right one," Albanese says.

" It is not enough to acknowledge people's frustration. You have to act on it. You can't just nod along while young Australians tell you that the deck is stacked against them. You have to do something to give them a fair crack."

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:17am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:17am

New centrist political party won't have leader yet, MPs say

By Joshua Boscaini

Sydney MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender say their new party will not have a leader yet, but may have one in the future if the party grows.

They say the party will at present operate like a sports team and that members will have a free vote on all matters.

"The constitution of the party basically says, you know, until there's sort of 10 members, which effectively members are senators or and members of parliament, we're not going to put in this sort of leadership structure," Spender says.

Asked who will fund the political party, Steggall says it will need to be "built from the ground up" and hasn't ruled out taking donations from billionaires like Mike Cannon-Brookes.

"Communities are at a huge disadvantage compared to the political parties. We know the majors did a stitch-up when it came to donation reform laws in the last parliament to ensure they could really freeze out competition," Steggall says.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:10am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:10am

Community Strong will have focus on economic management, climate action: MPs

By Joshua Boscaini

Returning to that other big story of the morning now, with the launch of the new centrist political party Community Strong Australia.

Teal MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have told ABC Radio National Breakfast that the party will be focused on values and consultation with experts and the community.

"It will be very centrist and I think for our communities it's important to understand our commitment to our communities hasn't changed," Steggall says.

"We are still focused on our core pillars, our pillars around sensible economic management, climate action, integrity, equality, they are the heart of what Community Strong is about."

Spender has suggested the party could be a home for people who feel "politically homeless" and who are business and climate-action focused.

"This is an opportunity for people who have a range of views, because most Australians are not particularly ideological; they just want the country to work."

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:02am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 8:02am

ASIO chief says his organisation is ready for so-called ISIS-bride's return to Australia

By Joshua Boscaini

In the last hour, the home affairs minister has revealed a so-called ISIS bride, who was temporarily blocked from returning to Australia, has now received a permit to come back.

The woman was subject to a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) and was refused re-entry to Australia, and applied for a permit to come back.

Tony Burke says the woman was issued a permit to return to Australia last night, and that she can return to Australia at any time.

Director-General of Security Mike Burgess says his agency was involved in the decision and is satisfied his organisation is ready for the woman's return.

"ASIO is not all-seeing and all-knowing and we don't want to be, but I can assure your listeners that actually the full use of my organisation's capability and powers will be used when this individual returns to this country," Burgess says.

"When there are Australians who have been overseas in places like Syria and Iraq who represent security concerns, we assess them. We know the level of the risk, and anyone who's considered a high or medium risk gets my agency's full attention."

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:52am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:52am

Mike Burgess says he's worried Australians could be killed at hands of foreign govt

By Joshua Boscaini

The ASIO chief delivered his annual threat assessment last night, where he defended the agency's counter-terrorism resourcing in the years before the Bondi terrorist attack.

The domestic spy chief also said in his assessment that he worries one day an Australian will be killed at the hands of a foreign government on Australian soil.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Director General of Security Mike Burgess has warned that it could be "everyday Australians" or a high-profile individual.

"I am really concerned about the actions of some nation states, Iran in particular, and the level they will go to," Burgess says.

"That's why we describe our security environment as degraded because some nation states will plumb the depths and go to extreme levels that we would find unacceptable and horrible."

Asked if his agency's funding of counterterrorism was adequate in the years leading up to the Bondi terrorist attack, Burgess says he's already given evidence at the antisemitism royal commission.

"I'll refrain from any other comments other than to say and repeat what I said last night," he says.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:40am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:40am

ASIO chief defends resourcing decisions while warning of 'unprecedented number of threats'

By Joshua Boscaini

Australia's domestic spy chief, Mike Burgess, has defended the agency's resourcing decisions in the years leading up to the Bondi terror attack, arguing his agency is grappling with an "unprecedented" volume of threats.

In his annual threat assessment, Mr Burgess revealed the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has foiled 31 major terrorism plots since 2014.

And he said 14 "significant terror-related cases" have been resolved since the Bondi terror attack in December last year.

ASIO's resourcing decisions have come under scrutiny at the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, focusing on an apparent shift in resources away from counter-terrorism and towards counter-espionage earlier this decade.

Read the full story by defence and national security correspondent Tom Lowrey in the link below.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:39am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:39am

Angus Taylor brushes aside reports Liberal MPs are questioning his leadership

By Joshua Boscaini

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has been asked about reports in The Australian that some Liberal MPs are questioning his leadership.

The newspaper reports some opposition MPs aren't happy with the Liberal leader's performance against both One Nation and Labor.

Speaking to Channel Nine, the opposition leader has brushed away the reports, saying he's focused on his plan.

"I think all of us absolutely reject Labor's model of multiculturalism, which is different rules for different people," Taylor says.

"I'm not going to comment on anonymous backgrounding, Tom. I don't do that. What I do is focus on our plan holding Labor to account."

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:32am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:32am

Opposition leader says he's offered to meet with Pauline Hanson

By Joshua Boscaini

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says he has offered to meet with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to work with the party, but hasn't heard back.

"I offered to meet her to stop these toxic taxes that Labor's pushing through, taxes on savings, on investment, on houses, on small businesses. I haven't heard back yet," Taylor says.

Asked if he would meet with Hanson to discuss a possible coalition between the Liberals and One Nation, Taylor says the opposition is focused on its own plan.

"We're focused on our plan, we're focused on our strong team to deliver a plan for Australians that's a credible plan for the future of this country," he says.

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:14am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:14am

Breaking: So-called ISIS bride on temporary exclusion order issued permit to return home

By Isabella Tolhurst

An Australian woman in Syria with links to Islamic State (IS), who was subject to a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO), has now been issued a permit to return to Australia.

The so-called 'ISIS-bride' was the only person issued a TEO from the cohort of Australian women with links to IS in Syria.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC's AM that the woman was issued a permit to return last night.

He says the TEO applies until a permit is issued, and when a permit is requested, it has to be legally issued.

"We received the final advice yesterday that we can no longer have an exclusion condition for her."

He says Australian intelligence and security agencies are ready, and her permit to return will include a raft of monitoring measures.

"She will have to report where she lives, where she works, where she studies, if she books a ticket to anywhere, for telecommunications she cannot use any telecommunications device without giving 24 hours notice," he said.

The woman and her child are the last of the Australians who had been in the  Al Roj camp in Syria.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:13am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:13am

Nicolette Boele won't be joining new political party for now

By Joshua Boscaini

Independent MP Nicolette Boele has congratulated the formation of the new Community Strong Party and has left the door open to joining.

Boele, who was elected to parliament at the last election, says she expects to work with the centrist political party often.

The Bradfield MP says she is "genuinely excited" about what the formation of the new political party means for Australia.

"For now, I am remaining independent. That is the mandate Bradfield gave me, and any decision to change that belongs to my community, not to a press conference," Boele says.

"I am still working through what this party would allow me to do for the people I represent that I cannot already do as a community independent and, until I am certain, I will not pretend otherwise."

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:10am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:10am

Independent MPs launch new centrist political party called Community Strong Australia

By Joshua Boscaini

Independents Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have announced the creation of a new centrist political party called Community Strong Australia.

In a statement, the Sydney MPs say the party will support "community-backed" candidates and parliamentarians in both houses of parliament.

Community Strong Australia representatives will be able to collaborate on policy yet retain the right to a free vote on the floor of parliament, according to the statement.

An application has been lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission to register the party, and the process should be finalised by October.

The party's focus will be on integrity, climate action, and economic prosperity, according to a statement from Stegall and Spender.

"Australia is at a turning point and people are worried about what the future holds. Community Strong Australia offers unity over division and reason over rage. We invite everyone who shares those values to join us," Steggall says.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:06am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:06am

PM to defend tax reforms in 'State of the Nation' speech

By Lexie Jeuniewic

The prime minister will use an upcoming address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) State of the Nation conference to assert Labor's tax reforms will make a positive difference to people's lives.

Anthony Albanese will say capital gains tax and negative gearing changes, which are expected to pass parliament today, will "help correct the negative consequences of tax changes made in 1999".

"The changes that John Howard and Peter Costello made to capital gains tax and its interaction with negative gearing were supposed to boost investment in the share market," Albanese will tell the independent think tank's event in Canberra later today.

"Instead, they turbocharged property as an investment vehicle."

Albanese will outline recently announced capital gains carve-outs for small businesses and start-ups, and acknowledge the "constructive engagement" of the business community, which largely reacted negatively to the tax changes unveiled on budget night.

The speech also contains sharp criticism of the Coalition, with Albanese to say the opposition has chosen "irrelevance".

"They have gone beyond defending a status quo that is failing people — they are now promising to re-impose it. To bring back the distortions that have locked young people out of the housing market.

"They want to repeat the mistakes of decades past, we are fixing them — in housing and across the economy."

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us early this Thursday morning.

I'm Josh Boscaini, joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.

Independent MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have launched a new centrist political party named Community Strong Australia. We'll hear more about that a little later.

The prime minister will this morning deliver an address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) for the State of the Nation address.

And the government's budget bill will go to a vote in the Senate this afternoon, following that deal between Labor and the Greens to pass the legislation through the upper house.

There's lots happening today, so let's get right into it!