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.
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
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…
Bill Shorten has labelled this the year of ideas but obviously Labor would rather have the overwhelming attention on the Coalition for as long as possible.
Bill Shorten should resist the witch-hunt against former ALP minister Martin Ferguson over his attacks on NSW Labor’s anti-privatisation campaign. The idea that the Labor Party should expel Ferguson…
In launching its national “conversation” about tax reform, the Abbott government is caught between the policy imperative of “leading” and the political requirement of “listening”.
The government’s long awaited tax discussion paper says Australia has a relatively low tax burden compared to other developed countries but its system faces “challenges from a changing world”.
Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop said the take out from the result was that “people are ready for reform as long as it’s explained to them, and that’s what Mike Baird did”. It was a pointed comment.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including John Howard’s address at University of Canberra’s Future Leaders Congress and whether Prime Minister Tony Abbott should follow the Howard prescriptions.
Saturday’s New South Wales election will be seen as a major test of whether a popular leader can sell the public a much-disliked economic reform policy.
Many Liberal eyes are already on Julie Bishop. And given she’s indicated that if there were to be a leadership contest she’d likely be in it, the Foreign Minister will come under increasing scrutiny in coming months.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has indicated the government is preparing to announce Australia will enter negotiations to join China’s infrastructure bank.
Playing the slogan game might degrade the political debate, but it worked alright for Tony Abbott – so now Bill Shorten’s launched into it ahead of the May budget. Labor has unveiled its “Mr Abbott. Don’t…
The Coalition has had a substantial lift in the latest Newspoll, now trailing Labor in two-party terms 49-51% compared with 45-55% a fortnight ago. This is its best two-party result since September. The…
The day that then immigration minister Scott Morrison announced an inquiry into allegation of abuse in the Nauru detention centre, News Corps tabloids ran dramatic claims against Save the Children.
Malcolm Fraser – as opposition leader, prime minister and in retirement – was always a polarising figure, a characteristic coming through in some of the assessment of his legacy.
Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including the recent chatter of a double dissolution, what would happen to crossbenchers if it did happen and three Nationals crossing the floor in the Senate.
Malcolm Fraser has been lauded for his humanitarian work, including supporting asylum seekers and commitment to multiculturalism.
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