Despite briefly being able to dine out on the legislation passed before parliament wound up last week, Malcolm Turnbull is headed to a not-very-happy Christmas.
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
As the curtain falls on the year, one of the most powerful players in the new parliament looks back on his successes.
After the national accounts showed the economy going backwards in the September quarter, Scott Morrison called for “partners” in the parliament to drive the government’s economic plan through.
The Turnbull government has slammed the door shut on an emissions intensity scheme for the electricity sector, in a demonstration of the power of the conservative forces in the Coalition.
Pauline Hanson has unleashed a new attack on her rebel senator Rod Culleton, declaring that things had ‘gone to his head’.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has lashed out at the prospect of the Turnbull government scrapping one of his signature programs, the Green Army.
In the final fortnight of the parliament for the year the government clinched some deals on major pieces of legislation.
It’s no wonder Malcolm Turnbull has been desperate in parliament’s final fortnight of 2016 to get some legislative wins.
The backpacker tax deadlock has been broken with a deal between the government and the Greens for a 15% rate that will be lower in effective terms because backpackers will keep extra superannuation.
Malcolm Turnbull didn’t actually trade his first-born this week but it felt like it might come to that. In a whatever-it-takes frame of mind, the government conceded a great deal to get its legislation…
After ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, the government is looking ahead to its 2017 review of climate change policy.
The Turnbull government has finally passed its signature legislation to restore a tough watchdog in the construction industry.
Malcolm Turnbull has promised key crossbencher Nick Xenophon closer monitoring of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
George Brandis faces the second inquiry within months into his conduct.
Attorney-General George Brandis has declined to say whether he told the then-solicitor-general, Justin Gleeson, not to run a particular argument in a High Court case.
The government has made another retreat on its backpacker tax, dropping its proposed rate from 19% to 15% in a deal that will get through the Senate crossbench.
Malcolm Turnbull has assumed responsibility personally for negotiating with key crossbencher Nick Xenophon over water.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has taken a swipe at Malcolm Turnbull’s ‘innovation’ narrative and called for ‘another big push’ on repairing the budget.
Tensions between Pauline Hanson and her beleaguered One Nation senator Rod Culleton have been on open display this week, raising the question of whether the party will be able to hold it all together.
Imagine Tony Abbott was still prime minister and Malcolm Turnbull remained his restless ministerial servant.
In times of budgetary constraint, the cost of Australia's welfare system has been regarded by many in the Coalition as a drag on economic growth. Labor's Jenny Macklin has a different take.
When micro parties that include politicians we might charitably call “characters” suddenly get clout, things are likely to go badly.
Earlier this week, footage aired of George Brandis speculating that Queensland's Liberal National Party might demerge. But Barnaby Joyce says this won't happen.
The first part of the Coalition’s industrial relations reform is in place following a late-night Senate vote.
Two Nationals crossed the floor and four others failed to vote on a motion from Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm to disallow the import ban on the Adler lever-action shotgun.
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