Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says Bill Shorten leaving is “significant”. NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has announced he will retire from politics ahead of the federal election, revealing he will take on a university role next year. “It is significant that he’s leaving,” Mr Kroger told Sky News host Paul Murray. “He’s probably the last of the Bob Hawke Labor members from Victoria. “Centre right, pro-America, pro-Israel.”

Libertarian Commentator Chrysten Abraham says she would have preferred Bill Shorten to Anthony Albanese for prime minister. NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has announced he will retire from politics ahead of the federal election, revealing he will take on a university role next year. “If I had to choose between Bill Shorten and Albo as prime minister, I would choose Bill Shorten,” Ms Abraham told Sky News host Paul Murray. “Because Albo doesn’t know his arm from his elbow.”

‘To Di For’ podcast host Kinsey Schofield has weighed in on Queen Camilla's “new friendship” with bestselling American author Emily Giffin, who has previously criticised Meghan Markle in a series of Instagram posts. The Queen consort earlier in this year delighted Ms Griffin when she sent her a personal letter after they met at a literary event earlier this year. She told the author she enjoyed her work and was looking forward to reading her new book in the "peace and quiet of Scotland." Ms Schofield claimed the Duchess of Sussex would not be happy with Queen Camilla's relationship with Ms Griffin. “Knowing how sensitive Harry and Megan are, I absolutely believe that this would drive Megan Markle crazy,” Ms Schofield to Sky News host Rita Panahi.

Stepmates Studios' Mark Nicholson says Kamala Harris sounds like she has “had a couple of wines” before speaking. Mr Nicholson told Sky News host Chris Kenny Kamala tried to do an “Obama impression”. Kamala Harris has been seen during multiple speeches appearing to have different accents for different crowds.

Sky News host Peta Credlin slams the Albanese government’s commemoration of National Flag Day, by flying the Australian flag alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. “There’s only one national flag,” Ms Credlin said. “Some people might think it's just a gesture, but it's actually deeply subversive of our national unity. “The left is really good at sneak attacks on our symbols and our institutions. “I'm encouraged, one thing you almost never see is Peter Dutton with any flag behind him other than our national flag.”

Some NFL fans are fuming over a new social media promo that the league posted to social media. It comes as Taylor Swift was featured more than anyone else in its new promo as the 2024 NFL season kicks off. Sky News host Rita Panahi questioned whether the league's use of the pop star in a recent video was “overkill”. “Is it a bit of overkill? Because I know a lot of football fans are fed up with it, but it may be attracting a new audience.”

Sky News host Peta Credlin discusses economic growth figures which “make clear” individually Australians are “getting poorer”. New data shows Australia has experienced its slowest economic growth since the 1990s recession. “What the national accounts confirm is that we are in the midst of a per capita recession,” Ms Credlin said. “We're deep into it because it's now six quarters of going backward on this per per-person basis.”

A new movie exploring the life of former US president Ronald Reagan has deeply divided audiences and critics. The new film starring Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid depicts the life of the actor turned 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The far-left publication Daily Beast called it “the worst movie of the year” and absolute “trash”. The LA Times labelled it” historical hooey and a slog” of hero worship. However, review website Rotten Tomatoes has painted a picture on how ‘Reagan’ is being viewed much differently by audiences and critics. Rotten Tomatoes critics appeared to rip the film with a 21 per cent rating base, whereas the audience gave the film a 98 per cent rating. Sky News host Rita Panahi joined ‘To Di For’ podcast host Kinsey Schofield to discuss the difference in ratings on the new film. “I think that says something. People are turning up in droves to see it and I think audiences no longer really trust lefty media critics,” Ms Panahi said.

Sky News political correspondent Olivia Caisley has revealed no byelection will take place following Bill Shorten’s unexpected retirement. “For many, this was a pretty big surprise today in Canberra,” Ms Caisley said. “The prime minister though making it pretty clear that there will be no byelection in the seat of Maribyrnong in Victoria which Bill Shorten holds currently, nor does the timing of his departure in around six months’ time mean that there will be a February election. “The key flavour of this departure speech today was a focus on Bill Shorten’s record on social justice. “We’ve really seen Bill Shorten bouncing back and really taking on the task of being the NDIS minister over the course of this parliamentary term. He is considered a very strong parliamentary performer.”

Former US president Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron, attended his first day of college in New York on Wednesday. As he arrived at a downtown Manhattan campus, the 18-year-old was flanked by Secret Service agents. Barron wore a white Ralph Lauren Polo, black pants, sneakers and a Swiss Gear backpack as he began college life. According to sources close to the New York Post, Barron’s first stop at his new school was at the dean’s office before heading to class. It’s been confirmed that the teen will attend New York University (NYU), where tuition starts at $US67,000 a year. Sources revealed the former first son would live off campus at his father’s Trump Tower building and commute to school daily. According to the Daily Mail, the 18-year-old will be studying at NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Victoria’s police union has declared morale is “hopeless” and its stations are “threadbare” as members escalate industrial action, targeting the state Labor government. More than 17,000 Victorian police officers have launched a new round of industrial action in a long-running and bitter pay dispute. The officers are demanding a 24 per cent pay rise and better working conditions. They have refused the state government’s previous offer of a 16 per cent increase.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has congratulated NDIS Minister Bill Shorten on his time in parliament. Mr Dutton’s comments come after Mr Shorten announced during a media conference on Thursday that he would be retiring from Parliament. “He has contributed an enormous amount to this country,” Mr Dutton said. “He was the leader of the Opposition, a job nobody in their right mind wants. “He had a disappointing end from his perspective during his time as leader of the opposition, but he recovered well and he showed a level of dignity and respect to our democratic process that he should be honoured for, so I congratulate Bill for his time in parliament. “We look forward to paying tribute to him in parliament as well”.

Four of the seven victims in the Bayesian superyacht wreck were trapped alive in the ship's cabins as it sank off Sicily, according to their autopsies. NYC lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda, Morgan Stanley's Jonathan Bloomer, and wife Judy died of asphyxiation due to "dry drowning" from toxic air pockets, Italian outlet la Repubblica reported. No water was found in the lungs of the four victims, revealing they did not drown by seawater, the outlet reported. Pathologists with the Palermo Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed they died from asphyxiation as the air around them became toxic with carbon dioxide. They said the victims’ cause of death was “death by confinement,” according to the Italian publication. Additional tests are reportedly still needed to confirm the four victims' cause of death by "dry drowning". The autopsies on other victims Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, and yacht cook Thomas Secaldo are scheduled for Friday.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced he would not seek a seventh term in parliament during a media conference on Thursday. Mr Shorten said he is excited to announce he has been chosen to be the Vice Chancellor of the University of Canberra. “I’ve decided not to seek a seventh term in parliament, over 30 years ago when I joined the Australian workers union, I was driven by the belief that everyone regardless of circumstance deserves an equal opportunity,” Mr Shorten said. “I genuinely consider myself to be one of the luckiest people in politics, I’ve been the member for Maribyrnong … I’ve had the privilege to serve in portfolios that I care about … for nearly six years I had the very amazing privilege of serving as leader of our party and the movement which has been such an irreplaceable part of my life. “Labor, we never stopped trying, whether it was defending Medicare, re-election on climate, marriage equality … these were hard fights, all worth having. “This is always when Labor is at its best, when we are the party of ambition and compassion when we use the power of politics to stand up for those who were denied power by the circumstances of their birth or the shafts of fate. “I’ve experienced some extraordinary political highs … but there is not a single day in the last 17 years that I would hand back, because every day, I know how lucky I have been to have the privilege to serve the Australian people. “I’m excited to say that from February of next year, I’ve been chosen to be the Vice Chancellor of the University of Canberra. “I am thankful to be leaving parliament while there are still some people who want me to stay.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the retirement of NDIS Minister Bill Shorten after 17 years in parliament. “My friend Bill Shorten has decided he will not be contesting the next election,” Mr Albanese said. “In this term and right throughout his 17 years in parliament and before an official, a proud official in the trade union movement, Bill has given everything every day.” “I want to make it clear that I have asked Bill to remain in cabinet until he departs in February.”

Author Douglas Murray has exposed US Vice President Kamala Harris for her inauthenticity after she was caught speaking in different accents to different crowds. In an article for the New York Post, Mr Murray said the vice president and other Democrat powerhouses deserve an Oscar for their performances at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Sky News host Rita Panahi said the vice president must have taken the author’s advice about the Oscar onboard after she switched up her accent during two separate rallies. “It does not look authentic, it looks horribly pandering,” Mr Murray said. “It's just another example of the fact that America is trying to work out who this politician is and then not really getting an answer.”

Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres says Labor is determined to keep acting in the public’s interest. “We are all in this together in the Labor show,” Mr Ayres told Sky News Australia. “We are determined to keep acting in the public interest - that’s the singular focus of this government and I think that’s what Australians want to see”.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten is expected to announce his retirement from politics at a media conference on Thursday.

Family members of Vice-Presidential nominee Tim Walz have declared they’re throwing their support behind former US president Donald Trump. Mr Walz’s older brother Jeff Walz posted to a Facebook group saying, “I’m 100 per cent opposed to his ideology”. The vice-presidential nominee was originally from Nebraska but entered politics after he moved to Minnesota.

Pro-Palestinian protesters who pleaded guilty to trespassing on Commonwealth property have avoided criminal convictions. The group of four spent more than an hour on the roof of Parliament House in July, in protest of Israel’s war in Gaza. They appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court and three of the four were handed no-conviction orders. The fourth protester - who had prior trespassing convictions - was handed a 12-month good behaviour bond. The group is banned from attending Parliament House for two years.