Political Opinion
Analysis
Tipsters offering different odds on economy
TIM COLEBATCH Opinion Melbourne Cup day is a good opportunity to look at where our country is heading.
Joe Hockey looking prescient as optimism makes a comeback
PETER MARTIN Opinion Company profit expectations are their highest in 10 years, house prices are climbing the fastest since the start of the decade and the sharemarket has hit a five-year high.
It all adds up: port development on the Great Barrier Reef
Alana Grech, Bob Pressey and Rob Coles, JCU Opinion Although environmental impact statements are meant to examine cumulative impacts at the scale of ports, they fail to systematically address all the potential damages.
Broadband view out of whack with experts
Damon Young Opinion Tony Abbott recently pronounced the former government ''wacko''. He's talking about the NBN.
Comment
The lucky country? Try selfish and deluded, too
JOHN WATSON Opinion Cutting $4.5b from our foreign aid budget suggests we're happy to live in a world of obscene disparities.
Labor can't stop airing its dirty laundry
BIANCA HALL Opinion The most confusing thing about Labor strategist Bruce Hawker's new book, The Rudd Rebellion (to be released on Monday by Melbourne University Press), is why on earth he thought it would be a good idea to publish it now.
Action man Abbott runs government at a dawdle
JACQUELINE MALEY Opinion Is Tony Abbott - the runner, the marathon man, the parliamentarian least afraid to elbow Warren Entsch in a sprint from the House of Reps (readers will remember this sudden and athletic dash to avoid the ''tainted'' vote of Craig Thomson, from May of last year) - is this guy actually Australia's slowest prime minister? He is certainly not rushing back to Parliament.
Abbott and his inner Hulk
PETER HARTCHER Opinion Whether Labor lost or the Coalition won isn't semantics, the consensus version of the poll result will shape future decisions.
A superannuation blow for low-income earners
Andrew Leigh Opinion Superannuation policy must be more equitable.
Winning office has its perks
John Warhurst Opinion Governments get to extend their influence by making appointments to advisory councils and boards.
Comment
Labor hurting, but not all was lost
MARK KENNY Opinion The ALP's campaign director did a remarkable job of keeping the party alive.
Chaos led to exodus of true believers
MARK KENNY Opinion Nobody likes losing but the former AFL half-back flanker-turned-politico George Wright wanted us to know this week he really hates it.
Diplomatic espionage long a weapon in country's arsenal
Philip Dorling Opinion Australia has long spied on our neighbours, especially Indonesia, and we've long sought to take advantage from that in our diplomacy.
We're battling to keep quiet about all our secrets
Philip Dorling Opinion Australia has long spied on its neighbours, especially Indonesia, and we've long sought to take advantage of that in our diplomacy.
Labor must leave lost carbon battle to regather party for the war ahead
MARK KENNY Opinion It is a disservice to ''grief'' to deploy it literally in the political context, but there's no denying the trauma of losing office.
One for the pin, not a sword
JACK WATERFORD Opinion The Prime Minister's style is best countered by polite, respectful questions, not attempts to outdo his bluster
Tony Abbott well short of wacky diplomatic highs of previous PMs
TONY WRIGHT Opinion In the annals of Great Moments in Bunyip Diplomacy, Tony Abbott's use of the term "wacko" to describe, in an interview with the Washing-ton Post, Labor's broadband policy, is a limp thing.
Audit must serve public not sectional interests
TIM COLEBATCH Opinion The National Commission of Audit needs to be rigorous and objective to avoid creating problems for Tony Abbott.
What would a more literate world look like?
Stewart Riddle, University of Southern Queensland Opinion Let us suppose for a moment that there is a magic bullet for curing illiteracy. What difference would it make? And what might the world look like?
Economists remain convinced carbon tax or ETS is the way forward
MATT WADE Opinion Years of bitter political combat over climate change policy has left the economics profession unmoved.
Can't we all just celebrate love?
BIANCA HALL Opinion I've always been bemused by some people's violent reaction to same-sex marriage.
Barbed wire fence tangle for PM
PETER HARTCHER Opinion On bushfires, the argument is about perception and rhetoric, not policy.
Tony Abbott can't ride out the expenses scandal
GAY ALCORN Opinion The onus is on the Prime Minister to overhaul a rorted entitlement process, or front a cynical, suspicious electorate.
Analysis
Coalition to save stash of cash in abolishing tax
PETER MARTIN Opinion As unlikely as it seems, axing the minerals resource rent tax will save the Coalition a fortune.
Wikipedia's verdict on Greg Hunt: 'terrible at his job'
TONY WRIGHT Opinion Anyone with an internet connection can look up Greg Hunt on Wikipedia.
What's behind Don Randall's disappearing act?
MICHAEL HOPKIN Opinion The term 'besieged MP' is used too often . But in Don Randall's case, it's pretty apt.
Analysis
Love and marriage in the time of uncertainty
MARK KENNY Opinion The ACT's same-sex marriage laws aren't set in stone, but that's not quelling optimism.
His chariot ride over, silver-tongued Bob Carr bids farewell
TONY WRIGHT Opinion And so, with malice to no one and generosity to all, as he put it, Bob Carr bid his farewell, unwilling to hog the prize of his life any longer.
Joe Hockey will blame it on predecessor
PETER MARTIN Opinion It's called ''clearing the decks'', and there isn't a chief executive who hasn't at least thought about doing it.
Hearts swell in overflowing gallery for long-awaited day
TONY WRIGHT Opinion ''I have waited 58 years for this day,'' declared Lyn Grigg.
