Coalition Plunges to Record Low as One Nation Surges, Leadership Speculation Intensifies
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Ley Leadership Under Scrutiny as Approval Drops, Hastie Speculation Emerges
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley faces mounting pressure following a poll showing her approval rating has fallen to 30% compared to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s 40%, with speculation about a potential leadership challenge from Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie surfacing just one day after the Liberal Party finalized its contentious climate policy position.
The Australian newspaper reported Monday on internal discussions about replacing Ley, the Member for Farrer in New South Wales, with Hastie, the Member for Canning in Western Australia who also serves as Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, though coalition partner Nationals declined to weigh in on what they characterized as internal Liberal Party matters.
Ley Prioritizes Affordable Energy Over Net Zero, Pledges Manufacturing Revival
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley unveiled the coalition’s energy policy framework at a Western Sydney manufacturing facility Monday, pledging to prioritize affordable electricity over net zero emissions targets while promising emissions reductions aligned with comparable nations rather than what she characterized as Labor’s economically damaging race ahead of global standards.
Ley, who leads the federal opposition, positioned the coalition’s climate approach as fundamentally an affordability question for households and businesses struggling with electricity costs that have risen 40% under the Albanese government.
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Albanese Blasts Coalition Climate Policy as 'Rolling Mess,' Questions Leadership Discipline
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched a fierce assault on the coalition’s climate policy Monday, characterizing the opposition’s position as a confused mess designed primarily to preserve Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s leadership through Christmas rather than provide coherent energy policy for the nation.
Albanese, delivered an extensive critique of coalition climate messaging during a joint appearance with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan in Melbourne, questioning whether the opposition understands its own position following a week of conflicting statements.
Victoria Unveils Knife Crime Crackdown, 'Adult Time for Violent Crime' Laws
Victoria will introduce legislation before Parliament rises this year imposing tougher penalties for knife crimes and implementing “adult time for violent crime” provisions that allow youth offenders to be sentenced for both juvenile and adult offenses simultaneously, Premier Jacinta Allan announced Monday in response to what she characterized as community demands for stronger consequences.
Allan revealed the legislative package during a joint appearance with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne, positioning the reforms as direct response to crime victims who have expressed frustration about insufficient penalties for violent youth offending.
Coalition Faces Internal Revolt Over Coal Subsidy Plan as Turnbull Condemns “Fact-Free Culture War”
The Liberal-National Coalition’s newly finalized climate policy has ignited fierce internal divisions and scathing criticism from former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who accused the party of conducting a “fact-free culture war” over energy policy while moderate MPs question potential taxpayer subsidies for aging coal-fired power stations.
The Coalition’s joint party room meeting finalized a climate and energy agenda prioritizing affordability and reliability over emissions reduction targets, with Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan defending provisions that could extend the operational life of coal plants through government underwriting.
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IN PICTURES
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Lupus Research Breakthrough Offers Hope for 50 Million Americans
Ruth Wilson’s six-year diagnostic odyssey before discovering her kidneys were failing from lupus exemplifies a critical challenge facing millions of Americans with autoimmune diseases. Wilson’s immune system had been attacking her own body while doctors dismissed her symptoms, a pattern that resonates across the estimated 50 million Americans affected by 140 identified autoimmune conditions. The Massachusetts woman’s experience highlights both the “disease of 1,000 faces” nature of lupus and the urgent need for improved diagnostic protocols that could prevent years of suffering and potential organ damage.
Scientists are now leveraging breakthroughs from cancer research and COVID-19 vaccine development to decode the biological mechanisms behind autoimmune diseases. Promising treatments like CAR-T therapy have achieved drug-free remission in lupus patients, while research into neutrophils and immune system triggers offers insights into why these conditions disproportionately affect women and often lead to premature cardiovascular disease. The National Institutes of Health’s new five-year autoimmune research plan signals growing momentum toward understanding disease subtypes and potentially preventing conditions like Type 1 diabetes before symptoms emerge.
WATCH THIS
Korea’s Last Empress: The Assassination of Queen Min
The death of Queen Min, Korea’s first empress and a pivotal figure in late 19th-century Korean politics, occurred under circumstances complicated by an unusual historical detail: no reliable images of the monarch existed beyond the palace walls.
On the morning of October 8, 1895, a group of Japanese-backed assassins stormed Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul with orders to kill the empress. The lack of widely circulated portraits meant the attackers could not identify their target by sight—a challenge that added confusion to an already violent raid.
Queen Min, known posthumously as Empress Myeongseong, had emerged as a powerful political force during Korea’s tumultuous transition period. She advocated for modernization policies and sought to counter growing Japanese influence on the Korean peninsula, positioning herself against conservative factions and foreign interests alike.
For years, the agent was in extremist groups, helping the police stop attacks and catch IS terrorists.
He is now coming out of the shadows to raise the alarm about the rise of teenage terrorism and hate crimes in Australia and around the world.
PICK OF THE DAY
Five Summer Dinner Recipes Ready in 35 Minutes or Less From ABC Lifestyle
ABC Lifestyle published five quick summer dinner recipes requiring 35 minutes or less to prepare, including mango and haloumi tacos, speedy zucchini pasta, pantry tuna salad, chicken rice paper rolls, and chopped steak salad, with two no-cook options designed for hot weather and busy end-of-year schedules.
The Front Page is edited by Mencari’s Miko Santos
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