In David Williamson’s satirical play “Don’s Party” based around the 1969 federal election night, Eden-Monaro gets a mention, among the early signs of a big swing to Labor. At that poll, the seat returned…
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
To insist on his fair dinkum “sensible centre” credentials as he unveiled his workplace relations policy, Tony Abbott recounted how, when a journalist and a union member, he’d moved a strike motion after…
Unions’ power would be curbed under an Abbott government, with more restrictions put on their right of entry to workplaces and a time limit imposed for concluding “greenfield agreements” for new projects…
When senior ministers decided to scrap the proposed 2015 tax cuts, the dark shadow of the L.A.W affair must have crossed their minds. Paul Keating legislated tax cuts before the 1993 election, talking…
The Reserve Bank giveth, the government taketh away. At least, that’s the latest pre-budget story. Many families with mortgages of $300,000 will save around $560 a year from the Bank’s 25 basis points…
The fracas over Tony Abbott’s “signature” paid parental policy has given a glimpse behind the curtain of discipline that the opposition leader usually keeps firmly in place and, much more importantly…
The row over Tony Abbott’s controversial paid parental leave scheme has widened with prominent Liberal moderate Mal Washer calling on the opposition leader and shadow treasurer to explain to the party…
The evidence of gross cruelty in Egyptian slaughterhouses that has just come to light underlines that while some progress may have been made, the problems in the Australian live export trade are far from…
After trying unsuccessfully this week to put distance between itself and Tony Abbott on the national disability insurance scheme, the government is now trying to minimise the gap on defence policy. With…
The Government’s new Defence White Paper has adopted a conciliatory tone towards China, focused attention on the region and announced the purchase of a dozen new high-tech fighter planes. Julia Gillard…
In the end, the disabled outsmarted the politicians. Julia Gillard will bring legislation to the current parliament for her tax increase to contribute to the cost of the national disability insurance scheme…
The proposed national disability insurance scheme, a rare policy on which Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott agree, has become the object of shameless and unfortunate politicking by both. When she announced…
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a 0.5% increase in the Medicare levy to help fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) - but Labor will not bring in legislation for the higher tax…
The levy being planned by the government to part pay for the national disability insurance scheme is not in itself a bad option. It wasn’t the preferred choice of the Productivity Commission, which thought…
Julia Gillard has thrown a heavy punch as the Government continues its pre-budget softening up process. But where the blow will land remains to be seen. Gillard described the budget’s revenue problem…
The estimate of budget tax revenue collection for 2012-13 has been further slashed, with the Treasury now saying it will be $12 billion less than forecast in October. The revision is another blow to a…
Labor has been anxious to sharpen the abortion issue against Tony Abbott in the election run up and now it has a way of doing so. The government has signalled that it wants to put the abortion drug RU486…
The government will produce its 2013 Defence White Paper in the coming fortnight - a document that in ambition will be a shadow of its 2009 predecessor. In focus, its eyes will be on the region. In diplomacy…
Barry O'Farrell’s signing up to the Gillard offer on schools funding could be the tipping point for the federal government to get a deal with most states. But the other key conservative states – Victoria…
The argument that the government has muddied its education message by cutting university funding as part of its package to boost schools spending has been reinforced by polling today from Essential Research…
Former Defence Chief Peter Cosgrove is likely to be at the top of the short list for the next governor-general if Tony Abbott becomes prime minister. The Coalition is concerned that the Gillard government…
As the economic debate sharpens just weeks before the budget, Tony Abbott is pushing Kevin Rudd’s 2007 mantra – “the reckless spending must stop”. Contemplating the reality that in a few months he is likely…
Predictably, Julia Gillard did not get a single state to sign up to her school funding reforms at the Council of Australian Government’s meeting. The much talked-up meeting has been a staging post at best…
Tony Abbott has made an important shift in the Liberal position on gay marriage. In another step on the road to a likely eventual change in the Australian law, Abbott now says the policy on the issue will…
So much for Julia Gillard’s hope that the carbon tax debate would fade once the scheme was bedded down in the middle of last year. The issue has erupted again, hitting the government where it hurts at…
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