Battle ready: Defence Minister eyes next hotspots
DAVID WROE Australia's new Defence Minister David Johnston says he wants the military to be battle-ready for future conflicts in the unstable Middle East and south Asia, even including the possibility of fresh trouble in Afghanistan.
Latest political news
WA Premier urged Abbott to raise GST
![Colin Barnett](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2009/07/13/630667/topth_barnett-90x60.jpg)
JONATHAN SWAN Tony Abbott will have to break his election promise and raise the GST, says West Australian Premier Colin Barnett.
Climate warrior an early victim of axe
![Tim Flannery.](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/19/4762822/am-th-climateabbott-20130919202820943376-90x60.jpg)
Tom Arup, Peter Hannam The Abbott government moved swiftly to abolish Labor-era climate change institutions by shutting the Climate Commission.
Car industry facing wipe-out
![Holden factory](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2011/12/13/2835618/holden-factory_320-90x60.jpg)
SAM HALL Parts industry warns of diabolical outcome unless federal government commits to further automotive funding.
'Cowboy' tack riles Indonesian MPs
![Abbott](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/07/23/4594183/Abbott-90x60.jpg)
Michael Bachelard, David Wroe Senior Indonesian politicians launch another broadside at PM Tony Abbott's asylum seeker policies, warning him not to be a 'cowboy'.
Liberal lobbyists quit party posts
![Michael Photios](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/04/02/4159279/th-photios-90x60.jpg)
SEAN NICHOLLS Controversial political lobbyists Joe Tannous and Michael Photios will quit their roles on the NSW Liberal state executive.
Muscle flexing comes at a hefty cost
Workers in axed agencies still in dark about changes
HSU cronyism allegations prompt new Fair Work inquiry
Abbott can't stop green loans, top lawyer says
NSW Right forced Howes out of Senate contest
Abbott flags challenge to ACT gay mariage bill
Macklin back Albanese for leader
No 'pocket full of money' for Holden: warning
Abbott criticised by both sides over lack of senior women
Direct Action keeps state policymakers guessing
Preference flows have Palmer in front by a fingernail
Abbott urged to push for China free trade deal
Comment & Analysis
Can people power save Labor from itself?
![Michael Gordon](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/13/4746978/Michael-Gordon-90x60.jpg)
Michael Gordon Opinion The script for Labor in defeat usually involves retribution, introspection and recrimination.
An uneasy start to the new normal
![Mark Kenny dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/12/4741683/Mark%20Kenny%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
MARK KENNY Opinion Tony Abbott vows to start as he means to go on. And it's abundantly clear he is in no rush.
No surprise Abbott's crew is light on women
![<i></i>](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/17/4755233/Judith_Ireland-90x60.jpg)
Judith Ireland Opinion There was something genteel about the ceremony that took place at Yarralumla on Wednesday.
Tony's taken politics out of our faces
![d](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/20/4766183/JacquelineMaley_dinkus-90x60.jpg)
JACQUELINE MALEY Opinion The most lucid commentary I heard throughout the entire election campaign came from a Brisbane cafe owner on the Sunday morning after the poll.
Let's give Abbott a chance to prove himself
![Mike Carlton dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/12/4741697/Mike%20Carlton%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
MIKE CARLTON Here is an olive branch: it would be a good idea to give Tony Abbott some time to prove himself as prime minister.
How far will the climate purge go?
![Tom Arup dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/12/4741762/Tom%20Arup%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
TOM ARUP Opinion The axing of the Climate Commission should be no surprise.
Grassroots say could be catastrophic
![MichaelEgan_dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20130921004219im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/19/4762114/MichaelEgan_dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Michael Egan The new scheme will do nothing to enhance democracy and nothing to help Labor's prospects.
Special features
Women in Tony's world
Rocco Bloggo Let’s get one thing absolutely straight – Tony Abbott has no problem with women and their rightful place in the world.
Albanese and Shorten put loyalty to the test
Michael Gordon Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese have traded gentle barbs about loyalty in the Labor leadership contest.
Grassroots Labor debates leadership
Nicky Moffat Excluded from party leadership decisions since the ALP's formation over a century ago, Labor's rank and file membership is now buzzing.
Happy birthday Mr (former) PM Lee
Daniel Flitton Singapore's former leader Lee Kuan Yew has been around long enough to collect prime ministers in a scrapbook.
WestConnex motorway project unveiled
Prime Minister Tony Abbott joins NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell on Thursday to explain a new series of roads and tunnels largely under the inner west of Sydney. Nine News.
Read about it in Garrett's tell-all memoir
Jonathan Swan After much haggling, apparently, Peter Garrett has signed his life away.