Yesterday
Disaster lands long-term MP cabinet spot as car scandal still haunts
Lismore representative Janelle Saffin enters NSW cabinet while “minister for everything” John Graham is now permanently responsible for transport.
This Month
Chalmers insists he is ‘very respectful’ of Bullock
The treasurer says “everybody knows how respectful I am” of the RBA governor, denying a report in AFR Magazine that he pressured her over the bank’s messaging on government spending.
February
Chalmers has ‘damaged’ RBA independence
Jim Chalmers’ pressure on Reserve Bank governors Michele Bullock and Philip Lowe is “highly reprehensible” and has damaged the independence of the RBA, Roger Corbett and Angus Taylor say.
How Chalmers weaponised Treasury on Dutton’s lunch tax break
Forty pages of Treasury emails reveal how Chalmers is prepared to use the public service to mount political attacks, and call into question his judgment.
Byelection result could force Labor to splash cash in Melbourne’s west
Voters have lashed Premier Jacinta Allan’s government in Werribee and look to have dumped the Greens in the inner-city seat of Prahran.
Allan concedes safe Labor seat ‘on a knife edge’
Labor was ahead – just – in the Victorian state seat of Werribee which it has held since 1979 with half of votes counted in an important byelection.
Allan orders full-court press to stave off historic byelection loss
Jacinta Allan has gone chips in on the Werribee byelection, with defeat potentially spelling the end of the state Labor government, according to pollsters.
January
Albanese is stuck in fast-moving Trump world
The failure of the government to generate any excitement for its agenda is as alarming for Labor stalwarts and MPs as it is encouraging for the Coalition.
Stephen Jones leaves behind unfinished business for successor
The leading candidates to replace him on Labor’s economics team are Jenny McAllister, Andrew Charlton and Daniel Mulino, and whoever gets the job has a huge task ahead.
Four Middle East truths of the ceasefire deal
We shouldn’t draw too many conclusive lessons from the latest Israel-Palestine conflict, but it does point to some realities about geopolitics in the age of Trump 2.0.
Pragmatism – not ideology – is driving Dutton’s pushback against DEI
Attempts to mandate diversity and inclusion in companies when it is already second nature to most Australians can appear condescending and may fuel resentment.
Rishworth takes NDIS in Labor reshuffle, Wells promoted to cabinet
Anthony Albanese praised Aged Care Minister Anika Wells for securing the sector’s most significant reforms “this century” as he announced her new position.
Labor splurges cash in five-hour blitz of Tasmania
There has been a whirlwind round of funding announcements as the prime minister and three ministers covered Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Flinders Island.
Can hard times change the teal tide for Dutton?
It would be foolish to write off the opposition leader’s values-based election pitch. Economic conditions might hit home in the post-material seats he must win.
Dutton targets waste and handouts in middle Australia pitch
The opposition leader pledged to rein in what he says is wasteful spending and said his strong leadership would be an antidote to a “weak” Anthony Albanese.
Dutton declares Libs ‘back in town’ in Victoria
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has made it clear he believes the Victorian Liberal Party is stronger with Brad Battin, a fellow ex-police offer, in charge.
Battin vows to scrap electricity commission, names shadow cabinet
Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin has promoted Liberal MPs who supported him to replace John Pesutto and flagged plans to cut taxes and government waste.
Heed the election lesson of America and Argentina
This is shaping to be the year of licence and experimentation in politics, where the unthinkable can not just be thought, it can be said and done.
December 2024
‘It was stupid’: Labor admits meme with Dutton’s wife was wrong
Education Minister Jason Clare has admitted the Facebook post about Peter Dutton and his wife was “stupid” and “wrong”.
It looks like Albo might need that beach house in 2025
There is a disconnect between the prime minister’s regime and its senior ministers, which is starting to trigger bad memories for me of the Whitlam government.