100 Days
100 days in photographs
CHRIS HAMMERThe first 100 days of the Abbott government seen through the lens of Fairfax Canberra photographers Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen.
Latest
Visa freeze flop
Click to play videoImmigration Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media about the revoked cap on protection visas.
Car Industry
Liberal Labor split on car plan
Click to play videoFederal and South Australian Labor denounce Tony Abbott's car assistance package, but the Victorian Liberal government welcomes it as 'a good first step'.
'We have inherited from Labor gross debt'
Click to play videoBudget deficits could persist for a decade if no action is taken says Treasurer Joe Hockey in his Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook statement. Vision: ABC.
Budget blame game
Click to play videoBoth sides of politics take aim at each other over the state of the books in tomorrow's MYEFO
Goodbye Afghanistan
Click to play videoPrime Minister Tony Abbott announces the final Australian troops in Afghanistan have left for home.
Double blow: Holden and NBN
Click to play videoA climatic final sitting week has seen the government forced to weather Holden's exit announcement and a massive recalibration of the NBN rollout.
'Predetermined outcome' for NBN review?
Click to play video'The NBN was delivering on its corporate plan' insists Labor's Michelle Rowland.
Marriage equality back on senate agenda
Click to play videoThe Greens will use the final sitting day of 2013 to champion marriage equality with a private members bill to be put before the senate today.
Labor attacks Speaker
Click to play videoLabor's Bernie Ripoll has ramped up Labor's attacks on speaker Brownwyn Bishop, accusing her of sledging opposition MPs.
Holden must show their cards
Click to play video'We want to see the car industry survive' insists Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg but admits the government wants to know Holden's future intentions.
Holden must stay
Click to play videoLabor senator Louise Pratt believes that the importance of the car industry to the manufacturing sector means that the government has no choice but to ensure Holden remains in Australia.
Cars, Qantas and carbon
Click to play videoLabor MP Andrew Leigh and Liberal MP Andrew Laming tackle the issues that are shaping the final parliamentary sitting week of 2013.
Freeze on protection visas
Click to play videoImmigration minister Scott Morrison has capped protection visas that can be issued to asylum seekers.
Labor stalls carbon tax repeal
Click to play videoShadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change Louise Pratt defends Labor's decision to split the carbon tax repeal legislation, delaying the government's repeal efforts.
Backflip on Gonski backflip
Click to play videoPrime Minister Tony Abbott and Education minister Christopher Pyne announce they will commit to the original funding of Gonski.
School Funding
War of words
Click to play videoChristopher Pyne and Bill Shorten swap insults over the coalition's decision to develop a new school funding model. Nine news.
Labor in poll position
Click to play videoLabor's Andrew Leigh and Liberal Andrew Laming give their analysis on the first post-election Fairfax poll which has the ALP shooting to a 52-48 per cent lead over the government.
Indonesian ambassador responds to recall
Click to play videoRAW AUDIO: Doing his best to deflect reporters' questions, the Indonesian ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema passes through Canberra airport
Boats and debt
Click to play videoLIberal MP Wyatt Roy reflects on the key political issues that have dominated the first week of the 44th Parliament.
Debt ceiling positions entrenched
Click to play videoLabor says Treasurer Joe Hockey must take responsibility for the consequences if he doesn't accept its offer to raise the debt ceiling by $100 billion, not $200 billion. Nine news.
A great but mad House
Click to play videoNational MP Andrew Broad reflects on his first days as a new face in the Australian Parliament.
Greens: 'Show us the evidence'
Click to play videoSenator Larissa Waters says the Greens will consider their position on the debt ceiling once the Government provides details.
'Time for Rudd to be lionised'
Click to play videoShadow MInister for Immigration Richard Marles believes Kevin Rudd leaves Parliament with a 'might legacy'.
Aus-Indo relations
Australia must respect Indonesia
Click to play videoIndonesian academic Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti says that Aus-Indo relations have worsened under the Abbott Government.
Climate fight
Household bills v global climate
Click to play videoPM Tony Abbott has told Parliament his bill to scrap the carbon tax is about household costs. Greens' leader Sen. Christine Milne says the fight is about climate disasters like the super typhoon Haiyan.
Names
Bronwyn's blunder?
Click to play videoNew Speaker of the House, Bronwyn Bishop has allowed the government to brand Opposition leader Bill Shorten, 'Electricity Bill' for his stance against the carbon tax repeal.
PM limits carbon cuts
Click to play videoAs Prime Minister Tony Abbott prodded 'Electricity Bill' Shorten to help scrap the carbon tax, he told journalists his government won't commit to 2020 carbon cuts beyond 5%.
Debt ceiling
Government 'dishonest' on debt?
Click to play videoOpposition Leader Bill Shorten has accused PM Tony Abbott of dishonesty over his plans to increase the government's credit limit to $500 billion.
Asylum Seekers
'The boats are stopping'
Click to play videoTony Abbott says asylum seeker boats are stopping, but won't confirm or deny reports the government is discussing a people swap with Indonesia.
New Parliament
Bronwyn Bishop elected Speaker
Click to play videoThere was humour and rancour in the House of Representatives as Bronwyn Bishop was elected as Speaker on the first day of the 44th parliament.
Remembrance Day
Keating's call against arms
Click to play videoPaul Keating uses a Remembrance Day speech to warn Australians against 'the grand ambitions and grand alliances that fractured Europe and darkened the 20th century'.
Strong stand on navy misconduct
Click to play videoPrime Minister Tony Abbott is questioned by the media over reports of sexual harassment aboard HMAS Ballarat.
Cutbacks
Science cuts savaged
Click to play videoLabor MP Amanda Rishworth says the Abbott government is behaving as though 'they know it all' with cuts to the CSIRO and the scrapping of advisory panels.
Foreing Investment
GrainCorp in-fighting continues
Click to play videoAnother National Party MP, Andrew Broad, has joined the struggle to prevent Treasurer Joe Hockey from approving the sale of grain handler GrainCorp to an American corporation.
WA Vote
Winning Senator wants new vote
Click to play videoGreens Senator Scott Ludlam says the Electoral Commission should begin the legal process for a new Senate vote in WA after a count botched because 1,375 votes were lost.
Climate Change
Labor will be 'consistent' on carbon
Click to play video'Climate change didn't end on September 7th,' says Anthony Albanese, underlining party leader Bill Shorten's insistence that Labor will only back carbon tax repeal if an emissions trading scheme replaces it.
Senate Count
Ludlam: 'Vote should not be declared'
Click to play videoThe planned declaration of the West Australian senate recount should not go ahead, says Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, after the revelation ballot papers have gone missing. Nine news.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan withdrawal ceremony
Click to play videoAustralian troops gather at a ceremony in Tarin Kowt to mark their impending withdrawal from Afghanistan and to hear speeches from Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten.
Carbon tax
Strategic 'repositioning' behind Labor's carbon tax backdown
Click to play videoLabor must sever itself from the 'demonised' carbon tax and weather the short-term cost, says former ALP adviser John Flannery.
From left field
Hungry times in the House
Click to play videoOpposition spokesman for resources Gary Gray searches for an ad hoc snack on the floor of Parliament.
Nobel economics
Changing lanes? Call an economist
Click to play videoIs changing lanes in bumper to bumper traffic, or switching supermarket queues really worthwhile. Peter Martin discusses the award winning economics that answers the question.
Balance of Power
Poo thrower a Senate chance
Click to play videoSenate dark horse Ricky Muir has defended his antics with kangaroo poo as another likely new face in the upper house refuses to talk beyond his one issue - health in sport.
Campaign 2013
Rudd's West Wing moment
Click to play videoViewers of the Prime Minister's appearance on ABC's Q&A; wondered whether Mr Rudd was channeling President Bartlet from the TV series 'West Wing'.
Maintain your Rage
Click to play videoThe ABC's much-loved music broadcast RAGE gets political, as Anthony Albanese, Julie Bishop and Adam Bandt drop some tunes mid-campaign. The Canberra Times' Jenna Clarke offers some liner notes.
All sizzle, no sausage?
Click to play videoPhotojournalist Andrew Meares captures the scenes at a prime ministerial sausage sizzle in Adelaide over the weekend.
'Them polls are a bunch of wombats!'
Click to play videoRAW VISION: On the campaign trail, a local expresses his confidence in the Prime Minister and tells him not to worry about bad polls numbers.
Tony the Truckie
Click to play videoTony Abbott presses the flesh with Linfox truck drivers in Melbourne, and demonstrates his familiarity with the big rigs.
Interviews
Economic battle lines
Click to play videoAs Treasurer Joe Hockey releases MYEFO both sides of politics have dug in for a battle over economic credentials.
Protect Aussie jobs?
Click to play videoAmanda Rishworth (ALP) and Wyatt Roy (Lib) debate whether the government should protect iconic Australian business.
Visa freeze 'punitive and cruel': Manne
Click to play videoRefugee advocate David Manne says the immigration minister's visa freeze lacks policy rationality.
Debt deal love
Click to play videoGreens Senator Larissa Waters and Nationals MP Andrew Broad discuss the deal done to abolish the debt ceiling
Timor spying claims
Click to play videoLiberal MP Josh Frydenberg defends Australia's intelligence network and is confident in the 'checks and balances' involved.
Demolish the ceiling?
Click to play videoAndrew Leigh (ALP) & Andrew Laming (Lib) join Tim Lester in the studio to discuss debt and GrainCorp
Rebuke Textor: Rishworth
Click to play videoPM Tony Abbott needs to distance himself from comments made by Liberal pollster Mark Textor on Twitter says Labor MP Amanda Rishworth.
Abbott out of his depth on crisis
Click to play videoPM Tony Abbott can balance an apology to Jakarta while maintaining secrecy on intelligence matters, believes Greens Senator Larissa Waters.
Spying allegations
Spying allegations bite
Click to play videoThe spying allegations shaking Australia's fractious relationship with Indonesia are likely to get worse according to security expert Clinton Fernandes.
Always assume someone is listening
Click to play videoAs tensions with Jakarta escalate Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg says he assumes every call he makes is being monitored.
Post predicament
Click to play videoSenators Louise Pratt and John Williams talk Australia Post, Indonesia, GrainCorp and the WA Senate election.
Intelligence sharing with Jakarta
Click to play videoAustralia might need to share intelligence with Indonesia in order to rebuild the bilateral relationship according to Labor MP Michael Danby.
Childcare overhaul
Click to play videoLiberal Mp Andrew Laming says a complex childcare system means it is difficult to develop a single national policy.
Inconsistency on human rights
Click to play videoLabor MP Andrew Leigh says there are never 'difficult circumstances' to justify torture.
Climate Change
No climate commitments
Click to play videoAustralia's delegation to climate talks in Warsaw has reportedly been instructed to avoid making any new carbon reduction commitments. Liberal MP Andrew Laming explains why.
Indonesia Relationship
Greens: spying should stop
Click to play videoWest Australian Senator Scott Ludlam talks to Tim Lester about spying, the WA senate count and climate change.
New Member
Keep GainCorp Australian
Click to play videoTIM LESTER New National Party MP Andrew Broad discusses the future of GrainCorp, relations with Indonesia and his first week in parliament with Tim Lester.
Shallow foreign policy
Click to play videoDr Ross Tapsell says more depth to the relationship with Indonesia is needed.
Onus on Electoral Commission: Pratt
Click to play videoSenator Louise Pratt says a speculation of a new WA Senate election is premature.
Wheat, water and espionage
Click to play videoNationals Senator John 'Wacka' Williams discusses the plan to sell GrainCorp, coal mining's effect on water, and Indonesian reaction to spying claims.With Tim Lester.
Coalition unmoved on gay marriage
Click to play videoLiberal MP Andrew Laming says he hasn't seen much movement within the Coalition on marriage equality.
E-voting 'inevitable': Leigh
Click to play videoLabor MP Andrew Leigh says the WA Senate election debacle has accelerated the move to electronic voting.
Government spying
Governments must be accountable for spying
Click to play videoAndrew Bartlett, Qld Greens convenor and forrmer senator, believes that Australia must show leadership with intelligence collection practices.
Intelligence
Embassy spying
Click to play videoIntelligence expert Prof. Des Ball says spying by embassies is routine with foreign missions in Canberra among those that carry out the highly secret intelligence work.
'We have the right targets'
Click to play videoLiberal MP Josh Frydenberg rejects the revised emission reduction targets released by the Climate Change Authority which state that Australia's current targets are inadequate.
Afganistan Aid
Afghan aid plea
Click to play videoAfghanistan needs development assistance from Australia to be maintained at existing levels, according to that country's ambassador to Australia amid speculation aid levels may be cut.
Analysis
Fragile Australian economy
Click to play videoAn OECD report expresses concern over further budget cuts due to a soft Australian economy Peter Martin explains.
Abbott's stance unsustainable
Click to play videoThe Age's Political editor Michael Gordon analyses the potential ways the Abbott government can resolve the rift with Indonesia.
Tax tweaks
Click to play videoPeter Martin discusses the tax changes announced by Treasurer Joe Hockey on Wednesday
Huawei ban 'a bit silly'
Click to play videoThere is no good reason for banning Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from working on the NBN, according to telecommunications analyst Paul Budde.
Bank deposit
Click to play videoEconomics Correspondent Peter Martin explains why Treasurer Joe Hockey has given the Reserve Bank $8.8 billion.
Same-sex marriage
High Court awaits same-sex marriage legislation
Click to play videoTIM LESTER According to constitutional law expert Professor George Williams, the legal challenge to the ACT marriage equality legislation will be a question of federalism not human rights.
US Budget Crisis
Fiscal cliff looms
Click to play videoDr Nicole Hemmer says 'tea party' Republicans have brought the US to the edge of defaulting on government debt by threatening fellow Republicans.
Jakarta Talks
Both sides give ground
Click to play videoIndonesian President Yudhoyono says bilateral talks on asylum seekers are now possible, while Tony Abbott says Australia will consult Indonesia over his government's 'tow-back' policy.
Budget balance serious challange
Click to play videoWith a need to protect growth and reduced revenue, Mark Kenny and Tim Colebatch discuss the path to surplus for Treasurer Joe Hockey
Boats policy substantive problem
Click to play videoAs Prime Minister Tony Abbott prepares for his first overseas visit his plan to stop the boats may jeopardise diplomatic efforts with Jakarta. Analysis
Balance of power
Click to play videoThe exact make up of the new Senate is yet to be determined, but up to eight small parties and independents look likely to hold the balance of power. Tim Colebatch explains.
Negotiating the aftermath
Click to play videoStrategists Jannette Cotterell and Greg Turnbull discuss Tony Abbott's landslide election victory, the Labor leadership conundrum, and the prospect of a colourful new Senate.
Featured
Toyota's future in Australia
What needs to be done to keep Toyota making cars in Australia? Liberal Wyatt Roy and Labor's Amanda Rishworth discuss the way ahead.
Car industry invaluable, expert warns
Australian manufacturing could lose irreplaceable talent if the car industry disappears, warns a industry observer.
Holden must shoulder some blame
NSW Nationals senator John WIlliams plays down speculation that only one federal minister supports giving additional financial assistance to the car industry.
Big brother's new kit
Senior writer Philip Dorling tells Tim Lester the advanced technology harvesting data across Australia is being provided by a little known Melbourne company.
ABC criticism 'unwarranted'
Shadow parl. sec. for foreign affairs, Matt Thistlethwaite says the ABC did what any media company would do.
GrainCorp decision a 'win' for Australia
Nationals senator John Williams is adamant that the Treasurer's decision to reject ADM's takeover bid for GrainCorp was the correct one.
Government 'adhering to Israel's interests'
Labor's Andrew Leigh looks at the political issues shaping the week ahead, including the Government's adoption of a new position on Israel at the UN, the latest polling numbers, and GST reform.
Wyatt's word to baby boomers
Australia's youngest Federal MP, Wyatt Roy talks about his generation paying the taxes to keep their parent's generation alive longer and says baby boomers need to stay at work till they're older.
Indonesia's upper hand
Can PM Tony Abbott wait out Jakarta's anger over the phone monitoring revelations? Indonesia expert Professor Tim Lindsey doubts it.
Indonesian backlash
Statements by Prime Minister Tony Abbott have only inflamed anger in Jakarta according to Ass. Prof. Greg Fealy
Further Snowden leaks expected
More Australian spying allegations are likely to come, says Assistant Profesoor of International and Political Studies at UNSW Clinton Fernandes.
Tony Abbott's boat plan slammed
Prime Minister Tony Abbott will have to dump his plan to tow back Asylum boats, according to respected Indonesian expert on international law, Hikmahanto Juwana.
Patrol limits
Shadow immigration spokesperson Richard Marles wants to know what limitations of use are on the patrol boats gifted to Sri Lanka.
'Lionise Kevin' says Rudd supporter
As Kevin Rudd leaves federal politics, will his party look beyond years of bruising leadership fights and install his as a Labor great?
Labor targets Scott Morrison
Uproar in parliament, as the opposition targets the architect of the government's asylum seeker policy, Scott Morrison.
Destructive 'Typhoon' Tony
As the Government moves to repeal the carbon tax, Greens leader Christine Milne has dubbed the Prime Minister 'Typhoon Tony' and linked inaction on climate change to the destructive typhoon that has flattened the Philippines.
People-swap deal hypocritical
Fairfax Indonesia correspondent Michael Bachelard says Australia-Indonesia relations have become noticeably edgier since the Abbott Government assumed office.
'Time for Rudd to be lionised'
Shadow MInister for Immigration Richard Marles believes Kevin Rudd leaves Parliament with a 'might legacy'.
Parliament kicks off
Senator Louise Pratt and Senator John Williams map out what lies ahead for Australia's 44th Parliament which commences today.
Aus-Indo relationship 'shambolic'
The Australian-Indonesian relationship is being dealt 'tremendous blows' by the Abbott Government's asylum policy, says Labor MP Andrew Leigh.
Parliament trumps climate talks
The government says it's more important for Environment Minister Greg Hunt to be in parliament than at international climate talks. Labor disagrees.
Science cuts savaged
Labor MP Amanda Rishworth says the Abbott government is behaving as though 'they know it all' with cuts to the CSIRO and the scrapping of advisory panels.
Trust deficit
Indonesian Lieutenant General (ret) Agus Widjojo says Australia needs to rebuild trust with its closest neighbor.
Diplomatic rescue?
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop faces a tough early test in the job as she seeks to repair damage to relations with Indonesia over embassy spy allegations affair. Correspondent Michael Bachelard discusses the challenge.
GrainCorp in-fighting continues
Another National Party MP, Andrew Broad, has joined the struggle to prevent Treasurer Joe Hockey from approving the sale of grain handler GrainCorp to an American corporation.
Greens call for spying halt
An apology is the least Indonesia can expect from Australia following revelations of electronic spying, according to Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.
Govt cool on Howard's climate talk
The PM's parliamentary secretary Josh Frydenberg has distanced himself and the government from former leader John Howard's climate scepticism in a speech abroad.
Coalition split over GrainCorp sale
The National Party is fighting a rear-guard action against the sale of wheat wholesaler GrainCorp, as Treasurer Joe Hockey considers whether to approve the deal. Senator John 'Wacka' Williams explains.
Onus on Electoral Commission: Pratt
Senator Louise Pratt says a speculation of a new WA Senate election is premature.
Paper or Electronic?
Is it time to move beyond paper voting? Labor's Andrew Leigh says the switch is inevitable as he and other MPs respond to the costly loss of 1375 votes in WA and the possibility of a new senate election in the west.
'The rosiest picture in years'
Australia's economic indicators are all falling into place, says Peter Martin, adding that an interest rate cut on Tuesday is unlikely.
'Lost' votes causing stress
Labor senator Louise Pratt admits delays in settling the trouble-plagued WA Senate vote have been 'distressing', as candidates seek legal advice and wait to see whether 1,375 lost votes are recovered.
Roy on cars and Clive
Liberal MP Wyatt Roy says we should carefully consider the future of Australia's car industry and throws in a few words of advice to Clive Palmer as well.
Embassy espionage in Canberra
Leading intelligence and security academic Prof. Des Ball discusses the history of embassy spying and says Australia is a target in our own capital.