I was never worried about metadata as a journalist, says PM
Latika Bourke 2:32 PM Prime Minister Tony Abbott has told reporters not to fear police accessing their metadata to identify their sources saying he never worried about his own metadata when he was a journalist, at a time that pre-dated widespread internet and mobile phone use.
Latest political news
Lazarus demands apology for 'feral' comment
Latika Bourke 3:50 PM Independent Senator Glenn Lazarus is demanding Tony Abbott apologise for describing the Senate as "feral" and warned the prime minister's comments may hamper negotiations on future legislation.
Second budget will be 'much less exciting'
James Massola 2:58 PM Prime Minister Tony Abbott says sweeping structural changes are off the table for his second federal budget, signalling a significant step back from the sweeping economic reform agenda attempted in Joe Hockey's first budget.
Senator urges native animals as pets
4:18 PM Forget cats and dogs. Imagine picking up a baby Tasmanian devil or wombat at the local pet shop.
Inside Treasury's 'Operation Lamington'
Heath Aston 1:54 PM It was meant to be an opulent event. But an alternative plan was hatched that may as well have been known as Operation Lamington.
Pyne facing rumblings of dissent in SA
A legislative slap in the face on university reform may be the least of Christopher Pyne's problems with voters in his home state of South Australia threatening to truncate his career as a Liberal MP.
Onions Australia thanks Abbott for mini-boom
James Massola 1:50 PM Two bites was all it took. Now, Onions Australia chief executive Lechelle Earl is travelling to Canberra to thank the prime minister for sparking a mini-boom in enquiries about the humble vegetable.
'Australia was heading for a Greek-style future'
Latika Bourke 4:44 PM Labor has condemned Tony Abbott's claim that Australia was heading for a "Greek-style economic future" as inflammatory, irresponsible and capable of harming economic confidence.
Vow to balance budget sparks fears of cuts
Heath Aston, James Massola 2:41 PM Tony Abbott insists the budget will be be back in balance within five years, even as the government's higher education reforms were defeated in the Senate.
Senate votes down Pyne's uni changes
Matthew Knott 9:34 AM The Senate has rejected the Abbott government's proposed higher education changes - including the deregulation of university fees - for the second time within three months.
Expert committee hits back at fast-track push
Dan Harrison 12:15 AM The expert body that recommends drugs for subsidy has hit back at a pharmaceutical industry push to fast-track listings for new cancer medicines.
Comment & Analysis
We should test for EQ not IQ
Ross Gittins 11:25 AM Brains are important, but "people skills" have been neglected when it comes to preparing children for a prosperous life.
Negative gearing: time to kill this sacred cow
John Daley and Danielle Wood Taxpayer popularity is not a good reason to keep an arrangement that robs young people of a chance to buy a house.
A surplus in five years? PM's pledge not clever
Peter Martin 7:02 PM Tony Abbott's commitment to balance the budget in five years is not wise. He has no way of knowing what lies waiting around the corner.
Liberals only half as good as Labor on women
Meredith Burgmann 9:00 PM Labor women were lambasted by Liberal women, who told us that affirmative action was demeaning and that they, the LIberals, would advance their women though other means.
Leaks could put journalists behind bars
Philip Dorling Sooner or later an Australian journalist will be prosecuted and perhaps jailed for receiving leaked government information.
Hockey outclassed on Q&A, by an economist
Peter Martin Treasurer Joe Hockey was upstaged and shirtfronted on Q&A; Monday night, but not by a member of the audience or the other of politics.
Dipping into super for a house is a good idea
Peter Martin Denying Australians access to their money to stop them entering the housing market is a cruel way to keep a lid on prices.
Pyne splits bill but merely doubles defeat
Mark Kenny The indefatigable Christopher Pyne has done it again - proclaiming a shrewd tactical advance from what looms as another sickening defeat for a government growing fat on a diet of its words.
Can Lazarus raise political career from mire?
Peter Reith Glenn Lazarus is the Senator who said of the government's education reforms "You can polish a turd for as long as you want but it will always be a turd." No wonder the standing of the Senate is at a low point.
Choosing is hard, but it’s still a lifestyle choice
Amanda Vanstone Instead of attacking the Prime Minister over his choice of words, we should tackle the issue of funding remote communities and how we can best maximise the opportunities for young Indigenous Australians.
A fresh start for Luke Foley quickly turns sour
Paul Sheehan Of the hundreds of thousands of words that have been written and spoken about this month's NSW election, it turns out only one word will determine the outcome: honesty.
Bitterness sets in when the kissing stops
Annabel Crabb Protest parties are the Vegas weddings of the political world.
Bali Two: No time to be hardline
Tim Lindsey A tougher response to an inexperienced Indonesian government would be the wrong move.
Abbott's shameful return to the base
Peter Hartcher The Prime Minister’s populist assault on minority groups is disqualifying him from the leadership of a united country.
Prime Minister's diplomatic dance
Daniel Flitton Tony Abbott promised "more Jakarta, less Geneva" as his foreign policy slogan, but ironically, this week, the two far distant capitals and diplomatic traditions he meant for them to represent came crashing together.
Memo to PM: We'll harden up when you do
Jacqueline Maley When the government constantly backs away from tough decisions, how are voters supposed to react when told they must swallow tough decisions themselves?
Hockey trial: malice or reasonable inquiry
Rick Feneley, Michaela Whitbourn, Louise Hall In the witness box this week, Joe Hockey was asked about a group called Friends of Joe. “That’s a very good question,” the federal Treasurer replied. “I feel like I have only a few friends at the moment.”
Offend, distract, repeat: PM's lifestyle choice
John Birmingham Tony Abbott's latest gaffe would be particularly egregious if it didn't smack of political convenience.
Metadata laws: just what big business wanted
Michael West Powerful vested interests will use metadata retention laws to silence critics and whistleblowers.
Comments reinforce Aboriginal despair
Pat Dodson A genuine engagement has to be the starting point for Indigenous Australians.
Good government starts when, exactly?
James Massola The storm is not over for the federal government, despite Tony Abbott's renewed confidence.
Special features
The Pulse Live from Parliament
Stephanie Peatling It's the most exciting day of the parliamentary year - red tape repeal day. I don't know about you but I'm keen. Let's see what's going on.
Margie defends Peta in first magazine interview
Margie Abbott has used her first sit-down interview to throw her support behind her husband's besieged chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
Abbott cheer causes sober face for St Pat's Day
Tony Wright Having offended the Indonesians, Putin and the UN, Abbott might have imagined he was on safe ground with his St Patrick's Day message.
Leaks could put journalists behind bars
Philip Dorling Sooner or later an Australian journalist will be prosecuted and perhaps jailed for receiving leaked government information.
Metadata: Brandis 'hasn't read the law' says Ludlam
Will bloggers be afforded the same protections as journalists under metadata laws? George Brandis says "no", but Senator Scott Ludlam claims the Attorney General hasn't read the evidence act.
Pyne and the magical sausage machine
Sketch Christopher Pyne is giving sausage-makers a terrible name.
Can Lazarus raise his career from the mire?
Glenn Lazarus is the Senator who said of the government's education reforms "You can polish a turd for as long as you want but it will always be a turd." No wonder the standing of the Federal Senate is at a low point.
Pyne splits the bill but merely doubles defeat
The indefatigable Christopher Pyne has done it again - proclaiming a shrewd tactical advance from what looms as another sickening defeat for a government growing fat on a diet of its words.
The case against Barnaby Joyce
Labor alleges the Agriculture Minister misled parliament, and that the head of his department was sacked for voicing his concerns.
The five biggest brawlers from each side of federal politics
There they sit, as they would have in high school, increasing the volume but not the standard of parliamentary behaviour.
Tony Abbott's shameful return to the base
The Prime Minister’s populist assault on minority groups is disqualifying him from the leadership of a united country.
Offend, distract, repeat: the PM's lifestyle choice
Tony Abbott's latest gaffe would be particularly egregious if it didn't smack of political convenience.
Memo to PM: We'll harden up when you do
When the government constantly backs away from tough decisions, how are voters supposed to react when told they must swallow tough decisions themselves?
No time to be hardline over Bali nine duo
Tim Lindsey A tougher response to an inexperienced Indonesian government would be the wrong move.
United? In the Senate, misleading labelling is business as usual
Tony Wright It is close to the time, surely when the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission will launch an investigation into the Palmer United Party on the grounds of misleading labelling.
PM, please don't preach
Rocco Fazzari Tony Abbott's week included a gaffe, some preaching and a backflip.
