Political Opinion
No, PM, we don't have the answer
Michael Gordon No, Prime Minister, the Australian experience does not offer anything remotely useful to countries dealing with the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War.
Jumping off the hamster wheel
![Peter Hartcher dinkus](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/p/b/c/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjfb6r.png/1441102467918.jpg)
Peter Hartcher Not all politicians think in sound bites as the latest crop of books by Labor and Liberal MPs show.
Rough edges to be knocked off laws
![Immigration Department secretary Michael Pezzullo.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/8/y/4/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjfjpo.png/1441360494166.jpg)
David Wroe Friday's parliamentary report on planned citizenship laws is carefully crafted to ensure the laws are more carefully aimed at the right people: foreign fighters and actual convicted terrorists back home.
Free Trade plan won't lead to jobs growth
![Paul Malone thumbnail](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/h/g/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjf6x8.png/1440254039202.jpg)
Paul Malone 10:30 PM The China Australia Free Trade Agreement will generate increased revenue for primary producers but will do little for jobs growth
Dutton media attack a reminder of Gillard era
![Immigration minister Peter Dutton.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/3/e/2/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjcs8s.png/1441364681209.jpg)
Matthew Knott A government flailing in the polls, struggling to explain a policy agenda and beset by internal instability. A senior minister emerges from the wreckage to accuse the media of bias. I say "deja", you say "vu".
A jihad, Mr Dutton? Hand us the confession
![Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says Australia has 'a lot to be proud of'.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/0/p/h/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjclzn.png/1441322861236.jpg)
Tony Wright Peter Dutton, you may have noticed, has accused Fairfax Media of conducting a jihad against the current regime. We hastily confess to knowledge that jihad is being waged. Who wouldn't?
Comment
How to give yourself the kiss of life
![Dyson Heydon will remain as the head of the royal commission into trade union corruption.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/b/a/d/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjbv1t.png/1441087896445.jpg)
Damien Murphy Papyrus-faced Dyson Heydon rarely looks a hale fellow but his usual taut self seemed slightly tighter when he entered his own bench to deliver judgment on Monday.
Heydon shows why judges really are a breed apart
![Commissioner Dyson Heydon on Friday.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/4/e/w/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjbmw6.png/1441020876002.jpg)
Mark Kenny Heydon may well be completely unbiased. But self-evidently, many people do not think so.
Heydon finds 'fatal' flaw in unions' argument
![To remain head of the royal commission into trade union corruption: Dyson Heydon.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/a/u/z/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjbbl9.png/1441013010979.jpg)
Michaela Whitbourn Dyson Heydon, renowned jurist, black-letter lawyer, was never going to resign his post as head of the Trade Unions Royal Commission without putting the unions' barristers through their paces.
Tony Abbott to sack ministers for backgrounding? Not bloody likely!
![Backbench influence: Senator Arthur Sinodinos.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/9/6/t/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjbhll.png/1441084596833.jpg)
Mark Kenny The call from a respected senior Liberal, Arthur Sinodinos, ostensibly for Tony Abbott to sack cabinet ministers for backgrounding against Joe Hockey and Abbott himself, is striking, as far as it goes. But let's be honest, it is not going nowhere.
Farewell Joe, hello ScoMo? Testing Abbott's loyalty
![Among those who have left the Prime Minister's office are senior policy advisers and a majority of the senior media advisers.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/a/m/3/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjazl7.png/1441088465876.jpg)
James Massola Analysis: Tony Abbott is famed for his personal loyalty, but it might yet cost him dearly politically.
Border Force: preserving freedom doesn't sit with governments
![Protesters at Flinders Street Station rally against the Border Force operation in Melbourne on Friday.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/a/l/6/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjal9v.png/1440859278473.jpg)
Tim Wilson Plans for a paramilitary-style operation in Melbourne's CBD were always going to lead to overreach, argues Tim Wilson.
Ignoring the end-of-budget-year splurge
![<i></i>](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/a/f/t/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj9pvr.png/1441065322190.jpg)
Markus Mannheim What will it take to convince a government to scratch the surface of this problem?
Border Force Fortitude fiasco surely a feint
![Protesters stop traffic outside Flinders street station, protesting against planned boarder protection raids.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/a/6/c/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gja8ar.png/1440773261271.jpg)
Tony Wright It was a cunning smokescreen. Had to be. Why else would the high command of the feared and fabulously coutured Border Force come up with something called Operation Fortitude?
Australia lagging behind in climate action
![Paul Malone thumbnail](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/h/g/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj9wxz.png/1440254039202.jpg)
Paul Malone The evidence that climate change is occurring is clear and Australia needs to act
Federal politics quiz: The week ending August 28
![The week in politics](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/8/8/j/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj9ywd.png/1440801652077.jpg)
Fergus Hunter 10 questions, 10 chances to prove yourself.
Passing judgment on Dyson Heydon
![Dyson Heydon is due to decide on his future as royal commissioner on Monday.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/4/p/w/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj7jj8.png/1440733408502.jpg)
Jack Waterford Dyson Heydon is the wrong man for the royal commission on unions. The fact that he cannot see that is part of the problem.
Political trajectories aren't quite as random as Andrew Leigh suggests
![<i></i>](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/9/j/y/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj9jy9.png/1440691390999.jpg)
John Wanna Readers will enjoy his latest book, though some of its tales are a tad too tall.
Sound industrial relations advice always upsets the zealots
![Productivity Commission chairman Peter Harris launches the draft report on industrial relations last month.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/2/l/p/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj9j20.png/1441022003581.jpg)
Paddy Gourley The commission's final report must give the government's APS bargaining policy the rubbishing it deserves.
States and territories must lead federalism reform as the distracted Commonwealth dithers
![flag](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/4/d/4/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj94hd.png/1441026869381.jpg)
Stephen Bartos Abbott's lack of leadership might not be fatal to this crucial process.
The gradual darkening of hard-won transparency
![Professor John McMillan: the inaugural (and last?) Australian Information Commissioner.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/r/d/8/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj81dl.png/1441166518376.jpg)
Richard Mulgan FOI needs a strong independent advocate. Powerful enemies are circling.
Abbott should be judged on quality, not quantity
![John Warhurst](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/q/p/s/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj7u6i.png/1440975655631.jpg)
John Warhurst The Abbott government has passed fewer bills than any government of the past 50 years. But does that mean anything?
Five things that need to happen before Australia becomes a republic
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: Queen Elizabeth II during day 3 of Royal Ascot 2015 at Ascot racecourse on June 18, 2015 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/u/0/h/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj71h7.png/1440572758235.jpg)
Stephanie Peatling The Australian Republic Movement is starting to get active again. But does anyone care?
Simple graph explains why politicians are struggling to revive economies
![<p>](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/6/a/l/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj6x83.png/1441335689266.jpg)
Gareth Hutchens There's a joke among economists that whenever you hear someone talking about a recession or stock market crash and they say "this time is different" then you know they don't know what they're talking about.
How PM's media strategy has 'all gone horribly wrong'
![Prime Minister Tony Abbott listened to a heartbeat of "Simman" a trauma simulator as he toured the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre hospital in Delhi, India.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/5/l/1/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj52wz.png/1440394513505.jpg)
Matthew Knott As Tony Abbott's cabinet was sworn in he was in a pensive mood.
Leaders in waiting keep powder dry
![Peter Hartcher dinkus](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/p/b/c/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj4vsa.png/1441102467918.jpg)
Peter Hartcher With storm clouds gathering over his leadership, only one man can save Prime Minister Tony Abbott now.
This is a First-World country, Mr Morrison
![Judith Ireland](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/q/o/3/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj404c.png/1440757864222.jpg)
Judith Ireland The lack of outrage is a fascinating insight into the fact that when you're up in politics, you're really up.
Abbott shouldn't campaign on jobs and growth
![Paul Malone thumbnail](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/h/g/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj4217.png/1440254039202.jpg)
Paul Malone It will take some convincing for the public to take a favourable view Tony Abbott's economic management.
Spare PM and save a satirist
![John Birmingham.](/web/20150906005824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/2/t/n/g/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj3npr.png/1440480500035.jpg)
John Birmingham Think of me and all the jokes I don't have to spend much time working on every day, as Toned Abs does the heavy lifting of bumbling foolishness and cartoon villainy.