Hunt deplores 'politicising' of a tragedy
DAVID WROE Environment Minister Greg Hunt has condemned attempts to link the bushfires to the need for greater climate action as politicising a ''human tragedy''.
Latest political news
Tick for Coalition costings, but clouds looms
PETER MARTIN The Coalition receives a clean bill of health on its election costings, with the Parliamentary Budget Office finding that if anything it understated the boost they will give to the budget.
Hockey looks to Asia as the US stutters
Tom Allard Treasurer Joe Hockey expresses doubts the world has seen the last of the US debt impasse as he urges the US to get its house in order and signas a renewed focus on Asia.
Shorten boasts of Gen Xers at his table
MARK KENNY Opposition Leader Bill Shorten declines to explain why his new spokesman for the 2015 Anzac centenary is a senator who will be out of Parliament nearly a year before the event itself.
Slipper seeks end to 'sham of justice'
DANIEL HURST Former speaker Peter Slipper calls on authorities to consider charging Liberal MP Don Randall, arguing the latest expenses scandal is the starkest example yet of unfair treatment.
Couple tried to fight crooked union boss
KATE MCCLYMONT While disgraced former Labor Party president Michael Williamson looks set to be jailed for stealing $1 million from his former union, a Fairfax Media investigation uncovers a pattern of extraordinary criminality.
Hockey's brief kept secret by Treasury
Canadian warning about Brisbane's G20
Australians moved to safety on Manus
PM to visit bushfire hit areas in NSW
No explanation: Randall repays cash
PM flags war cemetery for Canberra
Crossin hints at Gillard's 'shocking' behaviour
Push to clampdown on building unions
Boat arrives at Christmas Island
Voluntary euthanasia bill voted down
Government won't gag community organisations
Lower bills won't happen, say experts
Troops accused over Afghan deaths
Comment & Analysis
We're in the box seat to feel the squeeze
PETER HARTCHER 11:59pm Australia's position may be harmed when the US is diminished but there's also a possible advantage for us from our ally's recent debacle.
Tony Abbott: here are your 10 commandments
Nikki McWatters How might Jesus have governed Australia? As a greenie, leftie, pinko atheist, it strikes me that being a Liberal Prime Minister and a devout Christian is a hard ask, so here's some free advice to Tony Abbott.
Climate change ship heads to uncharted waters
Wendy Harmer There's no doubt that many of us who looked up to bruised and belligerent skies swirling with ash and a drift of incinerated gum leaves had to wonder, ''is this what the future will be like''?
Can Shorten calm the madding crowd again?
TONY WRIGHT It was just another night in a pub in the tough little town of Beaconsfield when things turned ugly. It was to become a peculiar test for a union chief named Bill Shorten.
It's time to honour fellow boat people
Arnold Zable On October 19, 2001, an unnamed fishing boat, now known as SIEV X, sank en route to Christmas Island. A total of 353 men, women and children lost their lives.
Labor's carbon tax bind: give in or die fighting
MARK KENNY Opinion She's offered it only within the confines of the government, but word is Peta Credlin has some advice for Labor leader Bill Shorten: take a deep breath, and turn your back on carbon pricing.
Shorten's challenge is to 'do a Whitlam'
John Cain The leadership ballot within Labor Party ranks has recently dominated the party, and so it should. As a long-time party member, I am sure members like the notion of being part of the process of choosing a leader.
Fixing the ALP doesn't start with shouting
MIKE CARLTON Opinion Graciously accepting the Labor leadership, former trade union boss Bill Shorten looked radiant in a tailored charcoal suit, crisp white shirt and a carefully knotted necktie of crushed mulberry.
Labor needs to shut up, grow up, move on
Matthew Franklin Here's some news for federal Labor: No one is interested in your boring, nasty bickering over whether or not Kevin Rudd is a bastard.
MPs behaving badly: we're fed up with them
JOSH GORDON The moral framework of many politicians is out of alignment with public expectations.
Special features
Taken for a ride
Kate McClymont and Deborah Snow Janice Hardacre has never forgotten the odd conversation she had with her then colleague, Michael Williamson, 20 years ago.
China frets as US counts debt fallout
Tom Allard and Philip Wen A sombre Barack Obama, framed by a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the White House's State Dining Room, didn't sugar-coat it when he described the impact of the debt default saga on the US.
Defence all at sea on new submarines
David Wroe Submarines are the stealthy killers in maritime warfare. They are the queens on the chessboard. Any country has to think long and hard about messing with another country that has an advanced submarine fleet.
Taking those vital big steps in childcare
Rachel Browne ''If every single childcare provider shut up shop tomorrow, the whole economy would crumble,'' says childcare veteran Lyn Connolly.
Investigating MPs' expenses
Fairfax Media has conducted an extensive investigation on MPs claiming expense entitlements. Read our coverage here.
Carbon controversy and confusion
The Australian Institute's Richard Denniss discusses the way ahead for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and other issues of the day.
Jesuit influence overplayed
John Warhurst The number of Australian leaders with a Jesuit education is remarkable, its impact on their politics less so.
Cartoon Gallery
Home of the best cartoons by our resident artists from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.