Western Front as important as Gallipoli, says Abbott
GARETH HUTCHENS 3:41pm Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Gallipoli is just one part of the great “tide of events” that helped shape our nation.
Latest political news
Hockey to cut $300 billion to reach target
![Hockey](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/24/5374592/mb_thumb_hockey-20140424183139996009-90x60.jpg)
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.
Carbon questions still unanswered
![Environment Minister Greg Hunt addresses the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 24 April 2014.
Photo: Alex Ellinghausen](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/24/5374740/mb_thumb_hunt-20140424192000711662-90x60.jpg)
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.
Abbott offered olive branch by SBY
![Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/25/5376808/1398400284251.jpg-90x60.jpg)
MICHAEL BACHELARD 2:31pm 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.
PM's indigenous adviser calls for funding
![Prime Minister Tony Abbott addresses the media during the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter announcement at Fairbairn in Canberra on Wednesday 23 April 2014. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/24/5375089/mb_thumb_tonny-20140424205731162058-90x60.jpg)
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.
Abbott ally called as ICAC witness
![Tony Abbott andJohn Caputo.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/25/5375377/th-caputo-90x60.jpg)
Sean Nicholls, Kate McClymont A Liberal Party official linked to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Premier Mike Baird will give evidence at the Independent Commission Against Corruption's inquiry into alleged illegal donations starting on Monday.
Reduce costs of medical devices: insurers
![Reducing the cost of medical devices such as pacemakers could save the government $1 billion over four years.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/25/5375681/1398376775456.jpg-90x60.jpg)
DAN HARRISON The Abbott Government could save more than $1 billion over four years if Australian prices for medical devices were brought into line with those paid in other countries, private health insurers say.
Rudd, Garrett face inquiry next month
![Former prime minister Kevin Rudd will appear before the royal commission on May 14.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/24/5374201/1398322905286.jpg-90x60.jpg)
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.
Auditor-General slams Medicare handling
![A crackdown on Medicare rorting by doctors has been judged a failure.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/24/5374553/1398327404150.jpg-90x60.jpg)
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.
Cambodia asylum deal moves closer
![Scott Morrison.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/23/5371407/1398298956275.jpg-90x60.jpg)
SARAH WHYTE Australia is moving closer to a Cambodia solution as the Immigration Minister is pushing to expand his regional resettlement "club" despite poor social and economic conditions in the Pacific region.
Running costs double jets' price tag
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DAVID WROE The cost of running the 58 Joint Strike Fighters announced by the Abbott government will double the price tag for the cutting-edge planes to a towering $24 billion, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Unis urge free market to dictate fees
!['You don’t want to have one Rolls Royce and 12 clapped out commodores.'](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/23/5371405/1398299574161.jpg-90x60.jpg)
MATTHEW KNOTT Australia's top universities are urging the Abbott government to embark on the biggest shake-up to university funding since the introduction of HECS by removing government caps on student fees.
Hockey sells case for pension age rise
Duke and Duchess full of praise for Australia
ASIS witness to appear in Timor legal battle
Greens model millionaire taxes
Direct action misses audit probe
Disappointment as Greste again denied bail
Shorten under fire over reform plan
Big pay rise for public service bosses
Wealthy 'shouldn't expect free doctor visits'
Rate rise fears ease on soft inflation
Jet fighter deal a 'dud' decision: Lib MP
UN criticises tow-back policy
Cuts date imminent: Hockey
US alliance 'overcharges, under-delivers'
Pension housing exemption questioned
Independent schools call for more funding
Army to be examined on deaths
Asset sales on cards to cut NBN costs
Shorten aims to boost Labor membership
Threat to block tax repeals over direct action
Lovely royal visit is winning hearts: Shorten
Release Manus report: Labor, Greens
Shorten plans sweeping Labor reform
Super concessions not pensions killing budget
Nauru breaching international law, says UN
End mining fuel credits, save $13b: Greens
More disputes over environment decisions
Comment & Analysis
Palmer's jive seals his party's fate
![Mark Kenny dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741683/Mark%20Kenny%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
MARK KENNY Opinion Parties built around a strong individual rarely succeed and never last.
Curious notion of our 'birth' at Gallipoli
![john hirst dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/02/04/5129317/john%20hirst%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
John Hirst The first Anzac Day passed unremarked in Australia. Australians did not receive a good account of the Gallipoli landing until two weeks later.
Gallipoli not only war to define warfare
![Gary_Foley-dinkus-2014](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/24/5374737/Gary_Foley-dinkus-2014-90x60.jpg)
Gary Foley As an Aboriginal person who had family serve in World War I, I am acutely aware that there are many Aboriginal families who had relatives who fought at Gallipoli.
Race-hate laws: maybe we don't need them
![Gay Alcorn dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4742168/Gay%20Alcorn%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
GAY ALCORN Keating's race hate reforms went too far in 1995. Brandis' amendments are just as bad.
Ddeaths at sea for annihilation on land
![Fairfax Media writer](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741740/RichardAckland_dinkus-90x60.jpg)
RICHARD ACKLAND With every passing day, news from the asylum seeker front line gets darker.
We're all in the waiting room on health
![Stephen_Leeder-dinkus-2014](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/24/5374738/Stephen_Leeder-dinkus-2014-90x60.jpg)
Stephen Leeder Since coming to power last year, the federal government has not offered the community a health policy or even a story about what it intends to do. Instead, we are saturated with pronouncements that healthcare as we know it is unsustainable.
The republic cause is receding
![Nicholas Reece](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/10/06/4808735/Nicholas%20Reece-90x60.jpg)
Nicholas Reece With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge winding up their trip to our southern land it is time for a bit of straight talk amongst we Australians.
Time to consider US-style university system
![fred_hilmer_dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2014/04/23/5371065/fred_hilmer_dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Fred Hilmer The recent Facebook post by Education Minister Christopher Pyne querying whether Australia’s higher education system could include US-style colleges was interesting to say the least.
Time is almost up for Queen Elizabeth
![Fairfax Media writer](http://web.archive.org./web/20140425211110im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741735/Paul%20Sheehan%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
PAUL SHEEHAN Once upon a time, during the visit of a new, young and good-looking Queen Elizabeth, it was estimated three-quarters of the Australian population went out to see her.
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