This week’s secret deal for the political parties to grab large dollops of public money for themselves is a particularly egregious insult to taxpayers towards the end of a parliament that has increased…
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
National security issues don’t play well for Labor, so to have two controversies erupting simultaneously is a fresh blow for a government already on the ropes. Four Corners’ allegation that Chinese hackers…
A Labor backbencher has called on federal caucus to reclaim the power to choose frontbenchers. Steve Gibbons, MP for Bendigo, has given notice of a motion to have the post-election caucus select the executive…
A government plan to hand out tens of millions of dollars in taxpayers money for the administrative costs of political parties has been bitterly attacked by highly-respected former minister John Faulkner…
In late March, after the abortive leadership move and the resignation of several frontbenchers, a fired-up Tony Abbott said the opposition would put a motion of no confidence in the government on the notice…
It’s no small irony that Julia Gillard began this hung parliament with a deal to contain poker machine gambling, on which she later welshed, and towards its end has ordered a ban on the promotion of betting…
The Australian public service is less well-placed that previously to offer expert advice, according to former minister Fred Chaney. Chaney said that public service reforms had actually weakened the capacity…
It might be the mickey mouse part of September 14 but the referendum to recognise local government in the constitution will be a fascinating case study of what happens to a view held by the public when…
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott had different emphases in their reactions to Ford’s announcement that it will shut down its Australian production – which started way back in the 1920s. Gillard and Craig…
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has launched a fierce attack on the Australian Taxation Office, accusing it of having had “an insular and inward looking culture” for too long and raising the spectre of possibly…
Kevin Rudd doesn’t do anything by halves so his announcement that he now believes in gay marriage was a big production. There was a long and reasoned essay on his blog, followed by a news conference, called…
The reform of Australia’s school funding system has degenerated into an unseemly arm wrestle between federal leaders and premiers, and conflicting claims about whether money would go up or down over the…
Barry O'Farrell must be Tony Abbott’s least favourite Liberal just now. O'Farrell has not just lived up to that old cliché “don’t stand between a premier and a bucket of money” by doing a deal with Julia…
Can you believe it? We’re now debating a second term Abbott government. On one hand, cautious Tony is presenting himself as careful and unthreatening: bipartisan on disability, accepting the budget’s savings…
It is not that this budget was a bad one. It’s that, according to most people on both sides of politics, voters aren’t listening anymore. Budget week seemed not a big economic moment, but principally another…
Tony Abbott has removed a big uncertainty for voters, and simplified the opposition’s task, with his promise to retain the carbon tax compensation even after he gets rid of the carbon price. The Coalition’s…
Tony Abbott has promised a Coalition government would keep the income tax and pension compensation Labor has given even after it scraps the carbon tax. The pledge, made in his budget reply, is a major…
Tony Abbott faces two tests in his budget reply. One he can afford to ignore; the other he needs to meet. The government calls for him to reveal the opposition’s fiscal program. But the Coalition has been…
There has been a mixed initial reaction to Treasurer Wayne Swan’s sixth budget from industry and community groups. Big business says it is disappointed with Wayne Swan’s sixth federal budget, laying doubt…
What is almost certainly the Gillard government’s last budget delays the attack on the deficit and concentrates on entrenching “legacy” programs, for which Labor hopes to be remembered. Dealt a difficult…
Treasurer Wayne Swan has delivered a budget with a A$19.4 billion deficit this financial year, falling only to $18 billion in 2013-14. The government would aim to bring the budget back to “balance” – less…
Softening up voters for harsh measures, Julia Gillard observed a fortnight ago that “Tuesday 14 May will be no old-fashioned pre-election budget night”. The budget would not be a “political pamphlet” but…
Brett Mason, opposition spokesman on universities and research, has one of the lowest profiles on the Coalition frontbench. Yet in terms of his own portfolio, he is among the most qualified in the shadow…
Liberal Senator Cory Bernadi has called on the federal Coalition to oppose the referendum to recognise local government in the constitution, which will be held with the September 14 election. Senator Bernadi…
With the election just four months away but the campaigning seeming endless, the view of politics from the marginal Labor seat of Eden-Monaro is one of disillusionment. Regardless of gender, age or voting…
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