March 13, 2014 He was branded a convicted Egyptian jihadist terrorist and the fact that he was housed in a low-security facility for asylum seekers behind a pool fence was described as a "grave breach" of national security by the Coalition before last year's election.

March 13, 2014 Former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser says the Abbott government is working in the short term interests of business and not the long term interests of the community in its policies on climate change.

March 13, 2014 Prime Minister Tony Abbott has hit back at critics of his decision to send Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson packing, declaring his government has the right to "stamp its authority" on the nation's premier economic agency.

March 13, 2014 The Abbott government has confirmed plans to buy Triton surveillance drones that can watch vast stretches of the seas to Australia's north.

March 13, 2014 The federal government has launched a new Prime Ministerial advisory council on veteran's mental health to assist the tens of thousands of Australians who have served overseas in wars and peacekeeping operations.

March 13, 2014 Tony Abbott has immediately rejected a controversial suggestion by the Productivity Commission, which would involve charging motorists for kilometres travelled rather than on fuel.

March 13, 2014 Prime Minister Tony Abbott has again hinted that there may need to be some changes to his "signature" paid parental leave scheme for it to get through Parliament.

March 13, 2014 A Coalition-commissioned inquiry has plumped for a big-brother style "eye in the sky" applying tax to kilometres travelled rather than on fuel.

March 13, 2014 Unions not invited to participate in the independent panel that will review the 457 skilled migration visa have criticised the body as being ''stacked''.

March 13, 2014 Bill Shorten has acknowledged the minerals resource rent tax had damaged his party's relationship with the resources sector, and has refused to express confidence in the underperforming law.