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Pauline Hanson billed taxpayers almost $16,000 for private charter flights to travel around flood-affected Queensland at the suggestion of Gina Rinehart, despite previously claiming the trip was at “no cost to the taxpayer”.
Hanson and Barnaby Joyce flew on Rinehart’s luxury Gulfstream G700 from the Sunshine Coast to Mount Isa, after which they travelled on charter flights to flood-affected communities around Julia Creek to meet local mayors.
Parliamentary expense reports published this week show that Hanson billed taxpayers for three private flights between Mount Isa and Cloncurry, Cloncurry and Julia Creek, and Julia Creek to Mount Isa on 10 January.
Top news
In pictures
Standing before a glistening crescent moon and adorned in more than 7,000 Swarovski crystals, Australia’s 2026 Eurovision hopeful Delta Goodrem gave a powerful performance on the 70th anniversary of the global song contest – and become the first Australian act to qualify for the grand final since 2023.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, celebrated Goodrem’s success, saying: “I think she’s a ripper. She’s so proud. I’ll say this about Delta Goodrem. She’s at the stage of her career – she doesn’t need to do this at all.”
What they said …
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“We are not in Trump’s America. Angus Taylor’s proposal is a race to the bottom with the far right.” – Noura Mansour, the national director of Democracy in Colour.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has been criticised for his plans to slash immigration and restrict welfare payments to citizens only.
Podcast
Political editor Tom McIlroy and economics editor Patrick Commins talk to treasurer Jim Chalmers about the criticisms that his “reforming” and “ambitious” budget, while historic, stands to benefit only a relatively small number of Australians.
Chalmers explains why the budget didn’t include an increase in tax for gas exports, and how this government is putting forward an economic strategy to address the anxieties that lead voters to turn to populism on the right.
Before bed read
The artist-owner of the stilt-mounted 1980s Ball-Eastaway House near Sydney, designed by Glenn Murcutt, is preparing to pass on custodianship of the iconic home.
Murcutt won architecture’s most storied award, the Pritzker, and is often cited as one of the pioneers of modern sustainable architecture.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: TALE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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