Abbott fires a shot at global big business
Mark Kenny and Gareth Hutchens Tony Abbott has fired a shot across the bow of big business flagging that Australia will use its leadership of this year's G20 meeting to push for an international crackdown on tax avoidance strategies favoured by global corporations.
Latest political news
Navy assault claims may not get clear verdict
Mark Kenny, Michael Bachelard Claims the navy burnt the hands of asylum seekers may never be disproved, with an Indonesian investigation stalling and the Australian government refusing to give a full account of events.
Australians give thumbs down to Bali for holiday
Philip Dorling Nearly two-thirds of Australians think Bali is not a safe holiday destination and only one in five has confidence that they would get proper medical help if they got sick or injured there.
Coalition's plan to cut welfare 'not justified'
DAN HARRISON Labor has accused the Abbott government of exaggerating welfare spending to justify cuts, pointing to figures that show Australia spends less on welfare than most developed nations.
Australian Valuation Office job cuts slammed
Stephanie Anderson and Ben Westcott The closure of the Australian Valuation Office "smacks of an ideological preoccupation with cutting government services", the Opposition says.
Health funds doubt Coalition means test pledge
Jessica Gardner Two of the country's biggest private health insurers believe the Coalition will break an election promise to scrap means testing of the rebate that subsidises policy costs for their members.
Indian children 'trafficked' for adoption
RORY CALLINAN Fresh evidence of Indian children being trafficked for adoption in Australia has emerged as the Abbott government flagged a boost in inter-country adoptions.
Toyota crunch meeting as Hockey slams union
James Massola, Mark Hawthorne Federal and state ministers, union officials and car industry heavyweights will sit down on February 13 in a crunch meeting that will try to save Toyota's manufacturing operations in Australia.
'We will determine who comes to our nation'
JUDITH IRELAND Nauru President Baron Waqa has issued a fierce rebuttal against claims his country has abandoned the rule of law, saying ''we will determine who comes to our nation''.
Abbott 'inflaming tensions for political gain'
MICHAEL BACHELARD UPDATE Indonesia believes Tony Abbott may be deliberately inflaming tensions between the two countries for political reasons and to allow his government to continue turning back asylum seeker boats.
Warning forest wars could reignite
Shorten says Coalition hiding plans for cuts
Drinks industry rejects alcohol summit
Thomson link to brothel receipts, court told
Call for climate change to be taught in schools
People on dole selfish: government MP
Coalition move to wind back forest protection
Rescue costs of $2.4m being pursued
NZ may suspend Nauru aid
PM prods Indonesia over boat turnbacks
Thomson case: Union 'was a boys' club'
Australia wants to block ex-spy's evidence
Push for national summit on violence
Shorten launches Labor's Griffith campaign
Plan to curb Antarctic expeditions
Cosgrove to be made G-G on Monday: report
Bishop welcomes reforms, lashes Snowden
Customs gets $88m to upgrade screening
Naval base raid sparks review
Inflation rise dampens hope for rate cuts
Relationship vouchers to start in July
State leading charge to high living cost
PM to SBY: We will secure our borders
Two reviewers to lead Indon breach inquiry
Sexual services claimed as 'entertainment'
PM rebukes 'cocky' Shorten on 'oncer' remark
Comment & Analysis
No joke, navy captains' intent a critical issue
DANIEL FLITTON There is a wry joke about submarines, that only the navy would build a ship designed to sink.
Women in power stymied by gender bias
LESLIE CANNOLD This weekend marks six months since Julia Gillard stepped down from the highest office in the land. With International Women's Day on the horizon, it is timely to reflect on Gillard's rise and fall.
Old battles: Advance Australia where?
MICHAEL GORDON For a leader who railed against what he called a perpetual seminar on the national identity, John Howard devoted an awful lot of time and energy to the subject.
Chilly reception for Abbott's stand-up routine
JUDITH IRELAND Opinion Tony Abbott packed his beanie and his uggs this week and flew off to Davos to meet his world colleagues, economic forum style
Tonys and Davos: it must be Oz Day
John Birmingham Proud days for Australia as the PM strode like a colossus across the global stage at Davos, where he explained that the diabolical situation in Syria needed fewer baddies and more goodies.
Asylum-seeker policy could amount to crime
Sophie Rigney There is a legal argument that the government has a case to answer at the International Criminal Tribunal over its treatment of asylum seekers.
Attacks on Bishop unwarranted
Peter Wertheim, Alex Ryvchin With her Israeli settlements comments, Julie Bishop has tried to avoid acting as judge and jury on the issue.
Minister reinvents international law
Saeb Erekat Opinion The victims of that colonisation are wondering when the international community will muster the determination to end Israel's impunity.
No one wants 'relationship vouchers'
CLEM BASTOW Clem Bastow on why there's no such thing as a $200 golden ticket to relationship bliss.
Here's the path to harmonious love...
JUDITH IRELAND Opinion If the aim of the federal government's 'relationship vouchers' scheme is to create harmony in Australians' love lives, would the scheme's $20 million budget be better spent on other things?
Activist fund dives into NBN Service Stream
ADELE FERGUSON Star-studded activist fund earmarks beleaguered NBN contractor Service Stream as its first investment.
Patriot games: keeping it real on Australia Day
TIM SOUTPHOMMASANE Patriotism has its ugly side. But Australia Day offers genuine opportunities to celebrate success and togetherness, too.
PM's pitch to change constitution dangerous
John Warhurst Opinion The PM's move not only to alter the constitution, but to complete it is understandable but ill-advised.
Don't play the challenger's game
MARK KENNY Opinion For those of us doing relaxing summery things like watching tennis, the return of national politics may feel a tad premature.
Infrastructure? Time to take a tack to port
JOSH GORDON Labor has outplayed the government with its plans for the Port of Melbourne
Special features
Loose lips sink ships
Before becoming head of Australia's secrecy-shrouded border protection operations, Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell penned a commentary on the need for the military to be open to the media. David Wroe reports.
Theatre of war: the next act is coming home
Jacqueline Maley Australia's Defence Force Chief, General David Hurley, knows better than most that while you can train troops for war, it is much harder to train them for coming home.
Who gets the benefits?
The inquiry into government benefits has already ruled out cuts to the two most expensive parts of the nation's $90 billion welfare bill, writes Anne Davies. So what is its agenda?
East Timor: Oil and troubled borders
Tom Allard Amid claims of bullying and spying, an international court must decide if Australia has acted fairly in its dealings with East Timor.
Carr's journey of a lifetime
Heath Aston It reads like the bucket list of a dedicated sightseer.
Australian mongrel
Blog A riff on what it means to be Australian by animator Roco Fazzari.
Kevin 747 continues jetsetting ways
Heath Aston Not even a resounding election defeat could clip the wings of Kevin 747.
Row over 'outrageous' Ayers Resort comments
Heath Aston Sacked directors of Ayers Rock Resort, told that if the $320 million acquisition was such a good deal they should buy it themselves.
Lone parents fear they'll be hit even harder
Craig Butt and Daniela Miletic Single parents fear they will be hit as the Abbott government conducts a welfare review.
Parliament portraits proving too popular?
Ross Peake The portraits at Parliament House of former prime ministers are proving to be a magnet for visitors wanting a picture of themselves with a famous Australian.
Investigating MPs' expenses
Fairfax Media has conducted an extensive investigation on MPs claiming expense entitlements. Read our coverage here.
Political pics of the year
Three Prime Minister, two leadership ballots and an election campaign for 2013. The best photos from a tumultuous year.
The meltdown: How Labor self-destructed
Together, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard had the support of the nation and the party. Divided, their feud would be the undoing of a government. An investigation by Peter Hartcher.
Cartoon Gallery
Home of the best cartoons by our resident artists from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.
