University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics.
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Since Tony Abbott became prime minister, three issues have strained relations with Indonesia. Before the fracture over the fate of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, there were difficulties from the Coalition’s tow-back policy and a major crisis after revelations of Australian spying.
Australia needs new “philosophical underpinnings” for the major spending areas of health, education and retirement income, Business Council of Australia President Catherine Livingstone has said.
Australia has taken the unprecedented step of withdrawing its ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson.
A $250 million two-year pilot scheme would subsidise 4000 nannies to care for 10,000 children in families who cannot access mainstream services.
As Labor steps up its internal debate on whether its MPs should be “bound” on a vote for marriage equality, Tony Abbott’s gay sister Christine Forster believes that would “certainly improve the numbers” to pass the reform.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including the lead up to May’s budget, Prime Minster Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey’s challenge in selling the budget, Labor’s new superannuation policy and rivalries in the cabinet.
A shiver might have gone down Joe Hockey’s spine when he read a report that some colleagues were angry he’d missed Monday’s meeting of cabinet’s expenditure review committee.
A Labor government would crack down on the superannuation tax breaks enjoyed by high income earners, raising more than $14 billion over ten years, under a policy released by Bill Shorten on Tuesday.
After an extensive round of consultations with health professionals and patients, Health Minister Sussan Ley has announced that yet more work needs to be done to find solutions to Medicare’s problems.
The government is locked in a major battle with pharmacists as it looks for $3 billion in budget savings from the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Julie Bishop’s high profile as foreign minister must surely be rivalling that of Kevin Rudd.
States ready for arm wrestle with Abbott to get better deal on hospitals, schools.
University of Canberra Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Nicholas Klomp and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics.
Bitter battles about money hang heavily over the Council of Australian Governments meeting, though Tony Abbott wants it to concentrate on the less divisive topics.
An Australian Medical Association report showing the nation’s public hospitals face a funding “black hole” because of the federal government’s cuts gives premiers strong ammunition for their Friday meeting with Tony Abbott.
Tony Abbott has reaffirmed that the government’s aim is “always to get taxes down” in a speech also saying that the May 12 budget will offset all new spending with “responsible and fair” savings.
It’s no secret that Peter Costello doesn’t give a high mark to the Abbott government, and every now and then he uses his column in News Corp papers to call it out.
With the May 12 budget potentially crucial for Tony Abbott’s future, a Fairfax/Ipsos poll shows the government will go into its testing selling task with Treasurer Joe Hockey at rock bottom popularity.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics, including why Western Australia is wild about a possible cut in its share of GST revenue.
Of all the states, Western Australia is the one that traditionally has had the most individual and, let’s face it, bolshie, identity. When it has a grievance, the west can raise hell for a federal government of either hue.
Former Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson is in line to fill the Senate vacancy created by the resignation of Brett Mason.
Consumers must play a role in reducing their electricity bills, the government says.
The government is under renewed pressure over the Nauru detention centre, with a claim that it has known of “the sexual and physical assault of women and children” for at least 17 months.
Anyone who believes we really do need more economic reform might well despair at the inability of the government to effectively prosecute it and the business community to successfully advocate it. No wonder…
Contact Michelle for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Canberra
- Website
- X (formerly Twitter): @michellegrattan
- Article Feed
-
- Joined
