Karen Barlow

is The Saturday Paper’s chief political correspondent.

By this author


News December 13, 2025

Exclusive: Libs brace for Price’s defection to One Nation

As Barnaby Joyce announces he will run for One Nation, Liberals are preparing for further defections to the far-right party.

News December 06, 2025

Labor’s new AI plan puts faith in self-regulation

In a bid to support Australian innovation in the AI revolution, the Albanese government has stripped back layers of regulation, which critics say hands big tech too much power.

News November 29, 2025

Chris Bowen shrugs off dual role criticism

As the latest figures show Australia will struggle to meet its new emissions reduction target, the climate change minister explains how he will manage his role in next year’s UN summit.

News November 22, 2025

Exclusive: ‘They have an unlimited appetite for stupidity’

Sussan Ley has reasserted her position as Liberal leader, although moderates in the party are worried she may cave in to extreme rhetoric on immigration.

News November 15, 2025

The new vanguard of Liberal Party women

EXCLUSIVE: As Sussan Ley confirms the decision to scrap the Liberals’ commitment to net zero, the party’s three new female parliamentarians speak of their views on the Liberals’ future.

News November 08, 2025

Inside the Coalition split: ‘Like washing the bear without getting its fur wet’

As the Nationals announce they will no longer support net zero, some moderate Liberals are pushing to dissolve the Coalition agreement.

News November 01, 2025

Watt’s race to environment law reform

Environment Minister Murray Watt tells The Saturday Paper he is convinced his reforms will pass before the end of the year, although the Greens and the Coalition are both wary of supporting them in their current form.

News October 25, 2025

Exclusive: Sex discrimination commissioner ‘inundated’ with threats of harm

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody describes a wave of hate and calls for her resignation fuelled by the Murdoch press in response to her advocacy for transgender rights.

News October 18, 2025

The Burke interview: ‘A tinderbox for the angriest voice’

The home affairs minister says divisive voices are the loudest they have ever been in Australia – but a ‘ballast’ of cohesion remains and economic policies will calm the electorate.

News October 11, 2025

Exclusive: Abbott ‘disappointed’ by Andrew Hastie as right splinters

A fracturing of the Liberal right faction has created chaos within the party, leading to what MPs have called ‘incredible ... damage’ to the Coalition’s reputation and prospects.

News October 04, 2025

News Corp and Advance called to misinformation inquiry

The Senate inquiry into climate misinformation invited both News Corp and Advance to its hearings – senators have received 5000 emails from Advance supporters, telling them to back off.

News September 27, 2025

‘Ruthlessly effective’: The Morrison lieutenant behind Ley’s leadership

Liberal powerbroker Alex Hawke – a key figure in Scott Morrison’s inner circle – has emerged as the factional leader and numbers man on whom Sussan Ley depends for her control of the party.

News September 20, 2025

Exclusive: Government refuses to release climate security report

MPs are demanding the government make public a ‘terrifying’ intelligence report on climate change to support this week’s National Climate Risk Assessment and target.

News September 13, 2025

‘I despair for this party’: Inside Jacinta Price’s sacking

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has stood firm against another far-right attack on her leadership, but it has exposed a struggle between the Liberal Party’s powerbrokers.

News September 06, 2025

Exclusive: Watt on his plans for urgent environment law reform

Environment Minister Murray Watt rejects criticisms that he’s bowing to Western Australian interests on key reform, and wants to seize a window of opportunity to work with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley for a deal by the end of the year.

News August 30, 2025

Labor ‘playing politics’ with Joyce’s net zero bill

The government has given ‘unprecedented’ time to Barnaby Joyce’s net zero bill weeks before it must deliver a new midterm emissions reduction target.

News August 23, 2025

Australia’s united front on Ukraine

As an international coalition steps up support of Ukraine in its war with Russia, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has backed the prime minister’s offer of Australian forces to join peacekeeping efforts.

News August 16, 2025

Labor shrinks from AI rules

Amid pressure from tech giants and the promise of massive productivity gains, the industry and innovation minister is stepping back from a plan for new laws to regulate the use of AI.

News August 02, 2025

Inside Albanese’s firming position on Gaza and Palestinian statehood

Anthony Albanese is telling colleagues the recognition of Palestinian statehood is only a question of when, as the government responds to the crisis in Gaza.

News July 26, 2025

‘Thanking their lucky stars’: How the Chinese vote shaped Albanese’s trip

As the Albanese government celebrates the success of the prime minister’s trip to China, it is clear the diplomatic visit has electoral implications in at least 15 seats.

News July 05, 2025

‘Pissed uncle at Christmas’: Inside Trump’s trade push

The focus on a PM meeting with the US president ignores the realities of his chaotic stance on trade and greatly overstates its significance, insiders say.

News July 05, 2025

Class of 2025: Part II

The prime minister’s ambition to leave office at a time of his own choosing is buttressed by a historically large Left-leaning caucus committed to the Labor agenda.

News June 28, 2025

Exclusive: Labor has first Left-majority caucus

A survey of new members and senators shows Labor’s caucus has a Left majority for the first time since national groupings were introduced – and details their home ownership, education and previous careers.

News June 21, 2025

‘World upon his shoulders’: Farrell on the trade challenge facing the US

EXCLUSIVE: The trade minister tells The Saturday Paper about Australia’s edge in negotiations with the US over tariffs.

News June 14, 2025

Albanese’s grand plan for Labor

The prime minister has staked out a course for his second term that he hopes will address calls for bolder action, including from young voters and his Left faction colleagues.

News June 07, 2025

Exclusive: New review tribunal overwhelmed by backlogs

The federal appeals tribunal, revamped to address a backload of cases, is now swamped as a result of volatile policy over international student intake.

News May 31, 2025

The Ley interview: ‘I don’t mind what people think of me’

EXCLUSIVE: The leader of the opposition has reunited the Coalition in her first weeks and now sets about the mammoth task of reconnecting to the electorate.

News May 24, 2025

‘Tail’s wagged the dog’: The Coalition’s implosion

The Nationals staked their political future on four policy positions, in what looks increasingly like a messy and misguided coup.

News May 17, 2025

Can Sussan Ley rebuild the Liberal Party?

Sussan Ley hopes to lead the Liberals from the centre, but former MPs warn there is ‘nothing even remotely sensible or centrist mulling around in that party room right now’.

News May 10, 2025

‘Sleepwalk into irrelevance’: The Liberal loss explained

As the Liberals deal with a comprehensive loss at last weekend’s election, there is division inside the party over what went wrong and what to do next.

News May 03, 2025

Labor secures resounding victory

Anthony Albaneses Labor government has won the election resoundingly, securing a majority with strong swings around the country, and Peter Dutton has lost his seat of Dickson.

News May 03, 2025

Can the major parties regenerate?

Both major parties have run election campaigns focused on the leaders to the exclusion of rising stars and talented rivals, even as shifting demographics highlight the need for generational change.

News April 26, 2025

The issues missing in this election campaign

Both major parties are accused of missing the big picture in this election campaign, with the critical issues of climate, inequality and integrity left largely unexplored.

News April 18, 2025

On the plane with Albanese: ‘In turbulent seas, we’ve kept our eye on the horizon’

In an exclusive interview with The Saturday Paper, the prime minister says he is campaigning on three elements: his record, his promise and the risk of the alternative.

News April 12, 2025

Exclusive: David Pocock’s demands of a minority government

In an interview with The Saturday Paper, the independent ACT senator lays out the two top conditions for his support in the likely scenario of a hung parliament.

News April 05, 2025

Mark Butler and Labor’s Medicare campaign

Medicare has been a centrepiece of every modern election campaign for Labor. In an interview with The Saturday Paper, the health minister is doubling down, with a focus on Peter Dutton’s record in his role.

News March 28, 2025

What’s at stake on May 3

The prime minister has kicked off a long-awaited official campaign that most believe will deliver a hung parliament, as the independents work to harness growing voter disaffection with the major parties.

News March 29, 2025

Labor hitches election hopes to economic management

With the economy dominating this election campaign, Labor insiders say they can shake voters’ traditional perceptions of the Coalition as the stronger steward.

News March 25, 2025

Federal budget 2025

The Albanese government delivers an election-eve budget sweetened with tax cuts, which the opposition will be under pressure to match, while conceding that a surplus is a decade away.

News March 22, 2025

Will Trump upheaval force AUKUS rethink?

As Elon Musk guts the department overseeing America’s nuclear capabilities, concern is mounting about Australia’s AUKUS deal, with experts advising a turn back to Europe for procurement.

News March 15, 2025

Exclusive: Secret briefings on climate national security risk

The government invited only the progressive independents – excluding the Greens, the Coalition and the relevant parliamentary committee – to a briefing on the still-unpublished Climate Risk Assessment report.

News March 08, 2025

Election hangs on youth vote as Gen Z and Millennials ditch major parties

More than half a million Gen Zs will vote for the first time in this election, boosting a young demographic that is more powerful than ever and a serious threat to the major parties.

News March 01, 2025

How Trump’s war on diversity is spilling over to Australia

As the United States government aggressively dismantles gender and inclusion initiatives, there are signs of Australian companies stepping back from targets.

News February 22, 2025

Creative Australia in crisis after Venice Biennale decision

Lawyers have been engaged as Creative Australia and the arts minister both refuse to say what really happened before the dumping of Australia’s representative at the Venice Biennale.

News February 15, 2025

News Corp’s campaign against Rudd: ‘It’s a vendetta’

Attempts to undermine Kevin Rudd’s ambassadorship – from the opposition and in the Murdoch press – have been described as ‘revenge’ for his criticism of the media mogul.

News February 08, 2025

The Albanese interview: ‘Anyone who didn’t vote for Scott Morrison … why are they going to vote for Peter Dutton?’

In an exclusive interview with The Saturday Paper, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is targeting new seats in all six states and believes he can hold majority government.

News February 08, 2025

Inside Labor’s plan to fight tariffs

As Donald Trump threatens even the closest allies with tariffs, Trade Minister Don Farrell prepares to argue the case for exempting Australia – and America’s biggest rival, China.

News February 01, 2025

Exclusive: Dutton’s nuclear plan requires ‘huge’ new bureaucracy

The opposition’s plans to cut the public service are at odds with the scale of bureaucracy and consultants needed to support its nuclear power proposal, the minister for the public service says.

News January 25, 2025

‘They’re excited by Trump’: Dutton’s inclusion strategy

Insiders say the opposition is already taking cues from the new US administration’s hard line on gender and diversity policies.

News December 21, 2024

Exclusive: Dutton set to revive Indigenous placenames fight

Peter Dutton ends the year with detailed plans to wind back reconciliation, peppering departments with questions about the cost of Welcomes to Country and promising to scrap flags, dual names and the ambassador for First Nations people.

News December 14, 2024

Politicising the Melbourne synagogue attack

The opposition has seized upon the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue to claim that the government is contributing to rising anti-Semitism in Australia.

News December 07, 2024

Albanese’s Plibersek problem

Labor insiders have criticised the prime minister’s treatment of his Left faction rival and say he is driven by personal grievance.

News November 30, 2024

Labor confronts Rinehart-led push to cut public service

The government’s pledge to restore confidence in the bureaucracy is under attack as the Coalition embraces the mining magnate’s Trumpian vision for deep cuts.

News November 16, 2024

Can Angus Taylor be treasurer?

His Liberal Party colleagues describe Angus Taylor as a gifted strategist with strong economic qualifications and driving ambition, but some fear he lacks cut-through in the political match-up with Jim Chalmers.

News November 09, 2024

Labor election grants referred to audit office

Independent MP Helen Haines has referred $1.35 billion in election grants to the audit office, saying they overwhelmingly skew to Labor electorates.

News November 02, 2024

The teals are ready for an election battle

The Coalition is questioning the independence of teal incumbents and challengers for the next election in a new Liberal ‘teals revealed’ campaign.

News October 26, 2024

The Sukkar interview: How the Coalition plans to fix housing

Following a mixed reception to the latest piece of the Coalition’s policy, the shadow minister reveals further measures to come on deregulation and access to finance.

News October 19, 2024

Exclusive: Stacking claims at new tribunal

As Labor’s new Administrative Review Tribunal begins operation, former members have raised concerns about a lack of transparency and political interventions in the selection process.

News October 05, 2024

The Plibersek interview: ‘We’re caught up in macho posturing’

In an interview with The Saturday Paper, Tanya Plibersek says she is still negotiating with the cross bench and believes she can pass Labor’s environment reform.

News September 28, 2024

‘Just a bloody mess’: The Coalition confronts the energy market

While Coalition insiders say Peter Dutton has rallied the party room around his nuclear policy, some fear that unity has been achieved at the expense of key seats.

News September 21, 2024

Labor’s bitter housing feud with the Greens

As the government faces the prospect of its housing agenda unravelling, with two key bills stalled in the Senate, Labor and the Greens are locked in a bitter fight over an issue that could decide the next election.

News September 14, 2024

The Albanese government’s reliance on NDAs

The government is increasingly using non-disclosure agreements as a condition of consultation on reforms, threatening advocates and social welfare groups with imprisonment if orders are breached.

News September 07, 2024

‘Urgency and directness’: Inside Labor’s courting of the teal independents

As the likelihood of minority government increases, Labor is actively cultivating relations with the teal independents.

News August 31, 2024

Labor and merit-based appointments

As the new Administrative Review Tribunal prepares to begin operating on October 14, an analysis of 364 appointments shows Labor has been sincere in reforming the stacked body it replaces.

News August 24, 2024

Frustration over national domestic violence plan

Two years into the decade-long national plan to end gendered violence, key reviews released this week have highlighted significant shortfalls in the strategy.

News August 17, 2024

Labor’s punt on diluted gambling reforms ‘a betrayal’

As Labor prepares to introduce a partial ban on gambling advertising, it faces internal dissent and an opposition strategy to paint the party as untrustworthy.

News August 10, 2024

eSafety Commissioner: ‘We are testing our powers’

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is seeking new powers to target the revenue of social media giants in order to curb their hosting of graphic, often violent, content.

News August 03, 2024

Exclusive: Border Force drones retired over security concerns

As Anthony Albanese restructures Home Affairs, it can be revealed that the drones Labor claimed were being used to monitor released asylum seekers were decommissioned months before the High Court’s ruling on indefinite detention.

News July 27, 2024

Labor poised to launch universal childcare plan

Labor will soon unveil a foundation of its cost-of-living election pitch: a proposal to introduce universal, affordable childcare.

News July 20, 2024

The case for treating domestic abuse as terror

EXCLUSIVE: In a rare interview, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody backs calls for domestic violence to be treated the same way as terrorism, and says the national plan needs to go further.

News July 13, 2024

Women call for action as reports of financial abuse surge

A parliamentary inquiry into how the financial system can be used against women has exposed a dramatic increase in reports of such abuse and a shortage of measures to prevent it.

News July 06, 2024

Inside the Fatima Payman defection

Fatima Payman has confirmed she spoke with election strategist Glenn Druery before crossing the floor, as colleagues say her defection from the Labor Party was months in the making.

News June 29, 2024

Exclusive: Labor is letting housing charities fail

As the government struggles to attract support for its housing policies ahead of a cost-of-living election, homelessness services are left without essential funding.

News June 22, 2024

Dutton’s plan for a nuclear power grab

The opposition leader has seized on disillusionment over the government’s lack of support for households to transition to renewables in the hope of making his uncosted nuclear policy a cost-of-living issue.

News June 15, 2024

Exclusive: Inside the Coalition’s climate division

As the Coalition fractures over climate action, Anthony Albanese tells The Saturday Paper he believes it is the No. 1 issue for many voters.

News June 08, 2024

What is happening in Home Affairs following Pezzullo’s departure

With the Coalition stepping up attacks on the immigration minister, Home Affairs insiders spoke to The Saturday Paper about much-needed reforms to the department.

News June 01, 2024

Linda Burney on racism and the path to equity

In an interview with The Saturday Paper, the Indigenous Affairs minister dismisses speculation about her political future and says the ‘fire is still raging’ to deliver change.

News May 25, 2024

Exclusive: Parliament House still unsafe in post-Jenkins world

Staffers and politicians say workplace culture has been slow to improve. Unredacted survey results obtained by The Saturday Paper reveal the full extent of the failures that prompted the reforms.

News May 18, 2024

Inside Albanese’s bet on how the future will be made

The budget is a pitch to make investments in green projects the centrepiece of the next federal election – but observers say the plan lacks coherence and that it will take a year to sell that vision.

News May 14, 2024

Chalmers targets second Labor term with strategic budget

Labor’s budget confirms the election priorities of the energy transition, housing and cost-of-living support, while securing a second consecutive surplus. Its targeted spending is intended to avoid a rebound in inflation.

News May 11, 2024

Exclusive: Budget to promise $115.2 million arts bailout

Tuesday’s budget will include a substantial support package for performing arts schools, several of which are on the brink of collapse.