National

Labor on a high as Barnaby bolts and Pauline shocks

Nov 29, 2025

Anthony Albanese has closed out the parliamentary year by getting major environmental laws passed. -AAP Image

After passing landmark environment reforms years in the making, Labor has ended the political year on a high, with the Liberals still soul searching over their future.

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But while parliament may have risen for the year, ministers and federal departments are still set for a grilling when Senate estimates get under way next week.

The environment laws passed parliament on Friday, after the government struck a deal with the Greens.

Touted for five years, they allow for nature to be protected through environmental standards, while project approvals will be sped up.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the reforms as a "win for business, a win for our natural environment and a win for the country."

The government had been in negotiations about a potential deal on the laws with the coalition but talks did not progress.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley later labelled the deal with the Greens as "economy wrecking".

Despite speculation on her future as leader, Ms Ley did not face any leadership challenges, after a bitter battle within the coalition over energy policy.

She has since signalled immigration would be the next policy area to focus on.

But coalition ranks have dwindled further, with Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce announcing on the last full sitting day he would quit the party.

It has led to speculation he would join One Nation, but Mr Joyce has yet to indicate his next move.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson herself attracted controversy during the week, wearing a burqa into the Senate as a protest and refusing to apologise for the action, which prompted a seven-day suspension from the upper house.

With Senate estimates starting on Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology is set to come under scrutiny, after weathering mounting criticism over an almost $100 million website overhaul.

The redesign of the bureau's site, which is one of the most visited in Australia, has come under fire after complaints it was difficult to use and weather radars did not indicate the severity of storms.

The cost of the website has also been the subject of criticism, with the redesign initially estimated to cost $4.1 million, but later revealed to be $96.5 million.

The bureau's chief executive Stuart Minchin has previously acknowledged there had been a miscommunication about the cost, which has fuelled a negative perception among the public.