Political focus group research shows people want to hear “plans” for the country. So the government talks plans. Tony Abbott flourishes a 50-page booklet about “Our Plan”. But for ambition, the “plan…
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
“In him I see a future prime minister of Australia”, Kevin Rudd said of Chris Bowen, one of his key backers, the day after last month’s leadership fiasco. Bowen had just resigned from the ministry, a very…
Public servants should have greater scope to speak out publicly about long-term issues, the former head of the Prime Minister’s department Terry Moran has said. Moran also urges bureaucrats to make more…
Given that come September Tony Abbott is likely to be PM and Christopher Pyne the education minister, the opposition’s policy on the schools funding plan is crucial, as the outcome of the federal-state…
The Gillard government has two immediate problems with the politics of its A$14.5 billion education funding plan. First, and most seriously, the six-year blueprint, which requires the states to pay one…
The states are being asked to pay for one third of the ambitious Gonski school funding program, which would inject a total of $14.5 billion extra across the public and private school sectors over the next…
The higher education sector is to take heavy budget cuts to help pay for the government’s Gonski school funding plan, a key measure in Julia Gillard’s bid for re-election. About A$2.3 billion will be saved…
Having decisively seen off Kevin Rudd’s last hope of returning to his old job, Julia Gillard has put the knife in again with a China visit widely hailed for its big advances in this vital relationship…
Former defence chief Peter Cosgrove has proposed Australia enter an economic union with Pacific countries, saying this would promote stability in the region. General Cosgrove said that while this perhaps…
As the opinion polls point solidly to a likely Liberal win in September, one industry is already set for a big structural adjustment. Who’s up and who’s down among the lobbyists depends substantially on…
The opposition’s broadband policy argues that achieving the good is better than hanging out for the perfect, especially when you have to pay more and wait longer for the latter, which you don’t really…
Universities spend $280 million a year on complying with federal and state government regulations and reporting requirements, according to a submission by Universities Australia to the Opposition’s deregulation…
Those wanting to see the Coalition put out more policy will have one to wrap their heads around this week when the opposition unveils its broadband plan on Tuesday. Broadband was a major disaster area…
While no doubt there will be devils in the detail, the government’s superannuation changes are mild and appear fair. They should not be subject to a scare campaign. But they will be. Tony Abbott immediately…
No doubt the money helps create jobs and investment but Labor backbencher Ed Husic surely had a point when he said the government’s $21.6 million grant for the Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea…
No one underestimates the political difficulty of clamping down on the generous superannuation tax concessions for high income earners. Even so, the government is making such a hash of things that it needs…
Labor’s proposed reforms to the electoral funding law are again up in the air after last week’s ministerial reshuffle. The former Special Minister of State Gary Gray had committed the government to trying…
One of the most interesting aspects of Julian Assange’s bid for a Victorian Senate seat is who will be his running mate. If Assange happened to fluke a win – which electoral experts say is a very long…
Next month’s federal budget will hit the generous superannuation tax breaks received by the very richest Australians. The target will be the highest one to two per cent of earners, with the government…
Speaking recently at a function to mark his 25 years in the Canberra Press Gallery Paul Bongiorno, respected journalist for the Ten Network, emphasised the importance of maintaining an outlook that is…
Julia Gillard hardly had time for some deep breathing after the cyclone of last week, before her government was hit by fresh buffeting winds. A new round of speculation that the budget would hit superannuation…
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten is bringing private sector legal firepower into the Fair Work Commission, including appointing the President of the Law Council of Australia, Joe Catanzariti as…
Julia Gillard will be among the first heads of government to meet the new leadership when she visits China in just over a week. After the government’s traumas, stepping back onto the international stage…
Tertiary Education Minister Craig Emerson, who will have to juggle his new job with his old one of Trade Minister, brushes off fears that he won’t have enough time for both. Rather, he sees the two as…
Julia Gillard’s reshuffle heavily rewards her supporters but also, notably, one senior member of the Rudd cabal. The changes load up senior ministers with extra responsibilities, putting key areas shed…
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