Paul Sakkal
Political reporter
Paul Sakkal federal political correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald who previously covered Victorian politics and has won two Walkley awards.
Exclusive
Nuclear energy
Liberal MP warns Dutton on nuclear energy as Labor steps up attacks
There is widespread support in the opposition for a conversation on nuclear energy, but several Coalition MPs say they are worried the opposition is moving too quickly.
- by Paul Sakkal
Tim Wilson’s preselection win locks in Goldstein rematch against Zoe Daniel
The ambitious Liberal has spent months forming a strategy on how to win over the 12 per cent of voters who abandoned the party at the 2022 election and reclaim his old seat.
- by Paul Sakkal
Liberal royalty to take on Monique Ryan in Frydenberg’s former seat of Kooyong
Amelia Hamer was considered a frontrunner for the seat despite a late surge in support for Rochelle Pattison, the chair of Transgender Victoria.
- by Annika Smethurst and Paul Sakkal
Constance secures Gilmore candidacy for federal election
Former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance has won preselection for the South Coast seat of Gilmore, beating Shoalhaven councillor Paul Ell 80 votes to 69, and setting him up for a fifth tilt at federal parliament.
- by Angus Thompson, Annika Smethurst and Paul Sakkal
‘Banning big money, just not theirs’: Teal MPs accused of seeking to protect wealthy donors
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior minister Don Farrell have turned their sights on a group of crossbenchers in a debate over big money in politics.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
TikTok lags on extremism as MPs call out graphic content on platform
TikTok is the only social media giant not signed up to a global anti-extremism pact.
- by Paul Sakkal
Last hurrah for the big spenders? Inside Labor’s campaign reform balancing act
The election reform package would create a big change in how campaigns are funded and politicians engage in politics. But achieving consensus will not be straightforward.
- by Paul Sakkal
Crime for clicks: Dutton wants to outlaw gang violence videos
The federal opposition leader is proposing a new offence to clamp down on the growing trend of “posting and boasting”, which police in Victoria, NSW and Queensland are worried is spawning copycat offending.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
Political advertising
Political campaign lies to be outlawed (if they’re definitely lies)
A new unit inside the Australian Electoral Commission would be tasked with adjudicating on the truthfulness of election advertisements.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
Political donations
Clive Palmer plots High Court challenge to keep spending millions on election ads
Labor has cited mining magnate Clive Palmer spending hundreds of millions on recent federal elections as grounds for its move to clamp down on donations.
- by Paul Sakkal