Political News
Weaker laws may legitimise racist behaviour
COSIMA MARRINER Psychologists have slammed the Abbott government's proposed watering down of race discrimination laws, warning that any changes could damage the mental health of people from different cultural backgrounds by legitimising racism.
Ricky Muir's girl, 8, in burnout video
JONATHAN SWAN 12:14am His political party wants to have a "national conversation" about safer driving. But federal senator-elect Ricky Muir, who represents the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party, might be starting this conversation sooner than he wanted.
Mike Baird: the new man at the top
SEAN NICHOLLS Mike Baird says he's ready for hard decisions - and dealing with the opposition.
Hockey hones his budget razor
MATT WADE It's become an autumn ritual in national politics. As the trees turn yellow in Canberra, treasurers recycle a well-worn narrative of budget pain. They speak of tough calls, difficult choices and the need for sacrifice if the nation's books are to balance.
Joint Strike Fighter commitment a boost for high-tech manufacturers
DAVID WROE Australia's commitment to buy more F-35s is a boost for a high-tech manufacturing sector hurt by car industry woes.
Click go the shears: Joe Hockey softens up the public for budget pain
MATT WADE Joe Hockey is softening up the public for budget pain.
Direct action could fail even without Palmer United Party
LISA COX Tony Abbott's "direct action" climate change policy is almost certain not to pass the Senate in its present form – even if the Palmer United Party were to change its position and vote for the plan.
Western Front as important as Gallipoli, says Tony Abbott in Anzac Day speech
GARETH HUTCHENS Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Gallipoli is just one part of the great 'tide of events' that helped shape our nation.
Tony Abbott offered olive branch by Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
MICHAEL BACHELARD Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signalled his intention to mend damaged relations with Tony Abbott before he leaves office in October by inviting the Australian Prime Minister to a May conference meeting in Bali.
Hockey to cut $300 billion to reach target
MARK KENNY The Abbott government would have to take $300 billion out of commonwealth spending over the next ten years in order to achieve its target surplus of 1 per cent of GDP in 2023-24, analysis of figures released by Joe Hockey shows.
Tony Abbott's indigenous adviser calls for more money
SAFFRON HOWDEN Less than a month from the federal budget, one of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Aboriginal affairs advisers has called for a doubling of the number of indigenous rangers working to protect almost 500 million hectares of land across the continent.
Coalition's emissions reduction fund poses more questions than answers
ADAM MORTON From the subject of prime ministerial launches promising solutions for the moral challenge of a generation, to a lonely minister holding an afternoon press conference in the shadow of the nation’s most-revered public holiday: climate change policy has fallen so far in Australia’s political life that the government gives a good impression of hoping we ignore it.
White paper leaves carbon questions unanswered
Lisa Cox and Mark Kenny Economists and environment groups have rounded on the Abbott government’s "direct action" climate change policy after key details of its centrepiece, an emissions reduction fund, were revealed on Thursday.
Auditor-General slams Department of Human Services over handling of Medicare
DAN HARRISON The Auditor-General has raised questions about the ability of the department responsible for Medicare to safeguard the integrity of the $19 billion program.
Look the other way for Treasurer Joe Hockey's budget crisis
PETER MARTIN There is a budget crisis, but it isn’t coming from where the Treasurer is telling us to look.
'Direct action' will achieve 5% emissions reduction 'easily': Greg Hunt
Lisa Cox and Mark Kenny Environment Minister Greg Hunt has said the government will easily meet its 2020 target of a 5 per cent reduction on emissions, despite concerns that the government's "direct action" scheme will not generate the necessary reductions.
Kevin Rudd and Peter Garrett to appear before home insulation inquiry in May
MATTHEW KNOTT Former prime minister Kevin Rudd and ex-Labor colleagues Peter Garrett and Greg Combet have been called to appear before the royal commission into their government's home insulation scheme next month.
Reducing costs of medical devices could save government $1billion over four years, say private health insurers
DAN HARRISON The Abbott Government could save more than $1 billion over four years if Australian prices for medical devices such as pacemakers and hip joints were brought into line with those paid in other countries, private health insurers say.
Prime Minister's Anzac Day message
Tony Abbott On Anzac Day, Australians at home and abroad pause to remember all who have served our country.
Rebel MPs defy Tony Abbott and George Brandis on race hate laws
JONATHAN SWAN Coalition MPs are secretly defying Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Attorney-General George Brandis by drafting an alternative proposal for changes to the race hate laws.
