Home
Search
thewest.com.au
ProfilesChevron Right IconEllen Ransley
Photo of Ellen Ransley

Ellen RansleyFederal Political Reporter

Ellen Ransley is a federal political reporter for The Nightly based in Parliament House, with a keen interest in defence, foreign affairs and national security. During her time in the Canberra press gallery she has covered two federal elections and five budgets. She was awarded News Corp’s Young Journalist of the Year in 2021 for her work on rural mental health.

Email Ellen RansleyX @RansleyEllen
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton face off in the final leaders debate.

Federal election 2025CommentsAlbanese wins final debate, despite Dutton’s cutting remarks

Anthony Albanese has won the fourth and final leaders debate despite Peter Dutton’s brutal attack where he accused the Prime Minister of ‘wrecking the economy’.

David Johns, Caitlyn Rintoul and Ellen Ransley

ELLEN RANSLEY: After an unusual week, both leaders will need to pull out all the stops in the final days of the Federal election campaign.

analysis
analysis
Federal election 2025Comments
analysis
Poll countdown to kick off with final Albo, Dutton showdown

ELLEN RANSLEY: After an unusual week, both leaders will need to pull out all the stops in the final days of the Federal election campaign.

Ellen Ransley

Shadow veterans affairs minister Barnaby Joyce says no cuts will be made to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs under Coalition plans to slash 41,000 public servants from Canberra.

Federal election 2025CommentsCoalition promises no cuts to Veterans’ department

The Coalition says it will make ‘no cuts’ to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs under its plan to slash 41,000 public servants from Canberra, as questions swirl about the policy a week out from the election.

Ellen Ransley

‘The old adage of ‘third time lucky’ proved true for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Tuesday night, saving his strongest performance for the third debate of the election campaign,’ writes Ellen Ransley.

analysis
analysis
Ellen RansleyComments
analysis
Good things come in three, but it’s still too late

The old adage of ‘third time lucky’ proved true for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Tuesday night, saving his strongest performance for the third debate of the election campaign. 

Ellen Ransley

Katy Gallagher and James Paterson.

Federal PoliticsCommentsMinisters carry on campaigning as leaders hit pause

With both leaders diverted, frontbenchers have stepped up to the frontlines of the battle for votes.

Ellen Ransley and Nicola Smith

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is greeted by Monsignor Stuart Hall as he arrives to attend a mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral following the death of Pope Francis on Day 25 of the 2025 federal election campaign, Melbourne, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

updated
updated
Federal PoliticsComments
updated
Albanese, Dutton pause campaigning to mourn ‘people’s Pope’

Millions of Australians are in mourning at the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church, which has forced a solemn pause in the federal election campaign.

Ellen Ransley

A new analysis of political social media ads has revealed the biggest spenders in the lead-up to the election, with an independent MP unmasked as the highest-spending parliamentarian.

Federal PoliticsCommentsLabor outspends rivals in $500,000 social media ad blitz

A new analysis of political social media ads has revealed the biggest spenders in the lead-up to the election, with an independent MP the highest-spending parliamentarian.

Ellen Ransley

Peter Dutton will look to create 350,000 new small businesses over the next four years.

Federal ElectionCommentsCoalition’s new tax plan to inspire entrepreneurial Aussies

The Coalition will look to create 350,000 new small businesses over the next four years if it wins government, as it unveils fresh tax offsets and deductions to incentivise entrepreneurial Australians. 

Ellen Ransley

Anthony Albanese has not said whether or not there was a request from Russia to set up an airbase in Indonesia. Anadolu

updated
updated
Federal election 2025Comments
updated
Moscow slams AUKUS as Indonesian base scare rocks election

Russia has sensationally argued its relationship with Jakarta poses less of a threat than AUKUS, after reports Moscow had requested access to an Indonesian air base triggered a political firestorm.

Ellen Ransley

The housing debate failed to nail down any answers on the lips of voters.

Federal election 2025CommentsHighly anticipated housing debate fails to nail down answers

Labor and the Coalition have shirked questions about how to define ‘sustainable’ house price growth and failed to provide certainty on supply-side targets in a heated debate. 

Ellen Ransley and Jackson Hewett

Manuhua air force base The Nightly

Proposed baseCommentsDutton says PM should be red-faced over Russian base reports

Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese should be red-faced over his apparent ‘catastrophic’ cluelessness about Russia’s reported bid to set up a military base in Indonesia.

Caitlyn Rintoul and Ellen Ransley

The Prime Minister on Sunday unveiled a plan to build 100,000 new homes over five years to address supply and allow many to buy with only a 5 per cent deposit, while the Opposition Leader announced a mortgage tax deduction scheme to help first-home buyers with affordability.

Federal election 2025CommentsFirst-home buyers at the centre of Federal election

First-home buyers were central to the Federal election campaigns of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on Monday as they both started week three selling their latest headline policies. 

Caitlyn Rintoul and Ellen Ransley