Liberal backbencher Sharman Stone has taken the political row over the government’s refusal to aid SPC Ardmona into new territory by bluntly labelling the Prime Minister a liar. At the same time the company…
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
One feature of this government is that it doesn’t mind showing what, to adapt a Labor term, are its policy “internals”. This is notable, given its penchant for secrecy and control on other fronts. So we…
The Liberals have the star candidate but Labor has the potent scare campaign, as both sides slug out the final week in Kevin Rudd’s old seat of Griffith. Since Rudd’s resignation, a couple of developments…
The Abbott government has been firing rhetorical bullets at friends and enemies alike in the last few days. Some employers are weak-kneed. The ABC is unpatriotic. On the face of it, there’s little in common…
The federal government has rejected the bid by the embattled food processing company SPC Ardmona for $25 million, in a victory for the Liberal economic “dries” and “a marker” for industry policy. Announcing…
The Abbott government is dancing along a fine line as it deals with speculation that it might consider a co-payment for GP bulked-billed visits. Campaigning in the Griffith byelection Wednesday, deputy…
Before the election, there was speculation in business circles that an Abbott government would launch a far-reaching royal commission into the unions. But the Coalition’s public focus was an inquiry that…
Governor-General designate Peter Cosgrove wants to visit “stressed” indigenous communities in tandem with Australian of the Year Adam Goodes to see what their conditions are like. But Cosgrove, 66, whose…
The choice of Peter Cosgrove as Australia’s next governor-general has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the history of vice-regal appointments. The Coalition has encouraged the speculation since opposition…
In his Australia Day message this weekend Tony Abbott will repeat his commitment to amend the constitution to recognise Aboriginal people as the “first Australians”. He’ll say this should be a “unifying…
Tony Abbott has said Australia wants the G20’s Brisbane meeting to produce a three-page communique explaining precisely how countries’ “good intentions are being put into practice”. Laying down his priorities…
Scott Morrison is right in declaring that thwarted asylum seekers have a strong motive to advance spurious claims of bad treatment at the hands of the Australian Navy. But he is wrong and politically unwise…
Whichever side won the September election, Australia’s policy on asylum seekers was destined to take on an even harsher edge. The Coalition campaigned for zero tolerance; Kevin Rudd sought to more than…
Voters in Kevin Rudd’s former seat might be groaning at another bombardment, but the February 8 Griffith byelection has enough tactical importance for both sides to ensure this campaign won’t be a low-key…
Immigration minister Scott Morrison has reversed the freeze he announced earlier this month on the granting of protection visas for asylum seekers. Morrison’s backtrack came after a move by refugee lawyers…
2013 has been a red letter year in national politics, with three prime ministers - one the first female in the office - the second successful coup against a PM in three years, and a change of government…
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has sent a strong message to businesses not to expect handouts from his government, as he announced a $A100 million fund to cushion the impact from Holden’s decision to end manufacturing…
The big message out of the updated, gloomy budget figures released today is: prepare for some shocker spending cuts to come. The strategy is obvious, learned from forebears. Present a black picture. Heap…
Australia’s debt would hit A$667 billion – more than a quarter of GDP – in a decade on present projections, according to the mid year update that also shows the federal budget has deteriorated by A$101…
The budget update released today will reveal that without policy changes, Australia’s cumulative deficits would total more than $120 billion over the forward estimates. On the basis of revised numbers…
Labor’s trouble over the national executive’s controversial refusal to allow rank and file ballots for Victorian legislative council preselections has deepened, with appeals being lodged claiming breaches…
Kevin Rudd cast the Council of Australian governments as the workhorse of the federation. For Tony Abbott it is more of a hacking pony, good to have but with relatively light duties. Abbott’s first COAG…
It is just 100 days on Monday since the election, but the Abbott government lacks that air of excitement that power often brings. Rather, it is staggering towards Christmas, mugged by moving from rhetoric…
The cause of same sex marriage has been set back with the High Court unanimously knocking out the ACT’s law – invalidating the unions of about 30 couples. But the advocates of marriage equality are pushing…
Labor senator Sam Dastyari is best known as former secretary of the ALP in NSW and a right wing power broker. Although he hadn’t expected to arrive in the parliament so soon, he followed what has become…
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