Mike Burgess, previously head of the Australian Signals Directorate, has a solid history in the intelligence area and Labor has welcomed the choice.
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Australia is expected to announce the commitment soon as US-Iran tensions remain high.
The government has asked a parliamentary committee to examine the issue and report on it by the end of 2019.
Anthony Albanese says an Indigenous Voice must be enshrined in the Constitution, making it difficult to see how he and Scott Morrison will be able to agree on a referendum question.
Parliament has now finished its sitting fortnight. Michelle Grattan discusses the key issues from it, including Labor’s approach to passing legislation given its weaker position in the Senate.
Unexpectedly in opposition, Labor can’t win right now – it can only cope as best it can.
The citizenship provision of the Constitution’s section 44 has raised its head again, with the eligibility of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg being challenged by an elector in his Kooyong seat. Michaal Staindl…
Anthony Albanese on Labor’s hard times
The Conversation, CC BY42.1 MB (download)
Anthony Albanese defends Labor's vote for the government's $158 billion tax package, supports an increase in Newstart, and strongly argues the need to take the superannuation guarantee to 12%.
One Nation’s two senators have saved Energy Minister Angus Taylor from an inquiry into his intervention over endangered grasslands, with a Labor motion defeated 33-32 in the Senate.
With Centre Alliance’s Rex Patrick having a change of heart, One Nation’s vote now becomes crucial for Labor’s motion to pass.
A busy week in Parliament House has seen Labor adopting new tactics during question time, putting pressure on government ministers, while Morrison struggles to maintain order among his backbenchers.
This week, Morrison told his backbench to keep their opinions in line or internal, appointed a man he’s personally close to as his new head of the Prime Minister’s department, and put the public service in its place.
Scott Morrison has appointed his one-time chief of staff Phil Gaetjens head of the prime minister’s department, replacing Martin Parkinson.
Paul Oosting responds to GetUp’s critics
The Conversation, CC BY29.1 MB (download)
GetUp's national director Paul Oosting joins Michelle Grattan to respond to critics who accuse the organisation of "creating an environment...[of] abuse, harassment, intimidation".
Morrison is keen to whip the backbench into line early, telling the backbench to be “mindful of what we took to the election and what we didn’t take”.
Centre Alliance’s Stirling Griff on Newstart
The Conversation, CC BY26.3 MB (download)
Centre Alliance Senator Stirling Griff tells Michelle Grattan that his party will pressure the government to raise Newstart.
Former ministers Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop are among many who have accepted jobs post-office in breach of ministerial code of conduct - but they will face a senate inquiry.
Michelle Grattan discusses the slower pace which has taken over Canberra - at least until next week when the action picks up with the new sitting week.
While Morrison appears to have built a strong relationship with the idiosyncratic US president, there are several foreign policy challenges ahead.
Megan Davis on a First Nations Voice in the Constitution
The Conversation, CC BY31.4 MB (download)
Megan Davis says the idea of including an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution is being rejected on an understanding that "simply isn't true" but believes Australia has the "capacity to correct this".
Michelle Grattan speaks with University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini about the government’s plans to put forward a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
It would be another miracle if the Morrison government managed to have a referendum passed to give Australia’s Indigenous people constitutional recognition.
Ken Wyatt on constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians
The Conversation, CC BY27 MB (download)
Ken Wyatt says he is "optimistic about achieving [constitutional recognition] because...Australians will generally accept an opportunity to include Aboriginal people" and that he will work with "naysayers".
Ken Wyatt, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, announced plans to hold a referendum to enshrine constitutional recognition of Australia’s Indigenous peoples during this parliamentary term.
Less than four in ten Australians believe stronger laws are needed to protect religious freedom in a new poll, but 68% say Israel Folau should be able to share his views on social media.
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