This Month
Meet the men behind ‘the worst policy decision of the 21st century’
The GST deal, criticised as the worst public policy decision since Federation, is again under scrutiny as Premier Roger Cook promises hundreds of millions in handouts ahead of the state election.
Whyalla steelworks in administration; NAB shares dive; WFH tide turns
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Orica executive picked for Liberals’ tilt at ‘winnable’ NSW seat
Local Liberals are worried that a delayed preselection may put a winnable seat out of reach despite a star recruit.
Dutton is not playing Trump card, Morrison says
The former prime minister says the opposition leader isn’t trying to mimic the US president, and the Australian political system wouldn’t let him.
Anti-corruption commission backflips on robo-debt probe
A review by former High Court justice Geoffrey Nettle says investigations should take place into six people referred over the illegal welfare debt scheme.
Costello slams Trump tariff threat on Australia over ‘unfair’ GST
The Trump administration has no grounds to punish Australia for its goods and services tax, former treasurer Peter Costello says.
This US senator stole Joe Hockey’s boots. Now they’ve joined forces
Joe Manchin says Australia will always be a valued ally even if it does not feel that way in the frenzied early days of Donald Trump.
Albo must copy ScoMo’s playbook and fight like hell
Consensus building is for the first 30-odd months of a government’s term or the start of a new one. Right now, it’s time for full combat, and Dutton’s fair game.
January
States must step up the antisemitism fight
The antisemitic attacks on Jewish Australians are a national scandal. It’s up to state governments and police to protect all citizens equally.
Pratt matches Rinehart with full-page ad for Trump
The Australian packaging magnate has taken out a full-page ad in the centre-left New York Times, leaving no doubt about his support for the president-elect.
Rudd puts his feet up for summer as world braces for Trump
Ambassador to the US and former prime minister Kevin Rudd has been watching cricket back home in Australia while Donald Trump assembles his new team.
End the age of entitlement to taxpayer-funded political ads
Australia needs to get on top of the entitlement mentality to get the budget back in shape. A good place to start would be to stop paying for political ads out of the budget.
Cash for campaigns: Labor’s $251m ad splurge sparks criticism
Ad spending surged 40 per cent last year, as Labor spent millions publicising policies such as tax cuts, urgent care clinics, and fee-free TAFE courses.
December 2024
Dutton not match fit after dodging the pack, or so Labor hopes
When the opposition leader has made a foray into policy detail, he’s found himself on the sticky paper.
Our obsession with junk food is creating a type 2 diabetes crisis
Dr James Muecke was Australian of the year in 2020, but his message about the mounting dangers of highly processed foods was swamped by COVID. Now he wants subsidies to big junk food slashed.
Former Liberal MP returns to reclaim crucial Brisbane seat from Greens
Trevor Evans has ended months of speculation in a coup for the Coalition’s bid to reclaim an important inner-city electorate.
Anyone for tennis? Albanese needs to avoid the January jinx
A wander through some recent prime ministerial summers shows us that the season is stuffed with political danger.
Trophies and sequins as Australia’s business leaders gonged
A $70,000 Rolex and a sequined jacket show life is sweet for the victors, though the path isn’t always smooth.
Chalmers approves more spending – but only until the election
After three years of putting little emphasis on the private sector, Labor is now spruiking the value of a business-led recovery.
November 2024
Like Morrison, Albanese’s hoping for a summer of love
Given the confirmation this week by Treasurer Jim Chalmers of a bigger budget deficit this financial year, it would make sense to call a federal election for April 12.