Australia in January 2026: the most important developments in politics
Australian politics in January 2026 centred on the response to the attack at a shopping centre in Bondi. On 8 January the government announced it would form a royal commission into antisemitism after the shooting. On 12 January it was reported that Parliament would meet early to pass hate speech laws. Around 20 and 21 January Parliament passed stricter gun laws together with an anti-hate speech law. On 30 January Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged protesters to respect the "solemn visit" of Israel's President.
A second theme was Australia's representation in Washington. Kevin Rudd formally resigned as ambassador to the United States on 13 January, following criticism of Donald Trump. By 12 January Labor insiders were reported to be competing for the role. One commentary suggested that Albanese was politically weaker after Rudd's departure. Separately, a former top official warned of a "high probability of failure" for the AUKUS submarine pact, and Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock joined other global central bankers in supporting US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who faces a probe initiated by Trump.
In foreign relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was an opportune time for China and Australia to boost trust and deepen cooperation. Australia placed India in its highest-risk category for student visa applications, which means increased scrutiny and slower processing times.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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