Bracket creep no longer main problem as jobless rate soars
Mark Kenny 12:41 AM The Coalition seems to have lost its enthusiasm for returning bracket creep, less than a day after Treasurer Scott Morrison dashed hopes of significant pre-election tax cuts in its May 10 federal budget.
Latest political news
Bishop treads fine line on China photos
Philip Wen in Beijing and David Wroe 7:08 PM Foreign Minister Julie Bishop maintains reports of China deploying surface-to-air missiles in the South China Sea remained in dispute, despite official confirmation.
Jones supports ex-Wallaby over Bishop
Heath Aston 1:01 AM Alan Jones has delivered a blow to Bronwyn Bishop's hopes of holding on to her safe Liberal seat by throwing his support behind a former Wallaby.
PM steps in over Lib pre-selection fight
James Massola, Sean Nicholls
8:12 PM
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has stepped in to protect two of his sitting NSW MPs in the days before preselection nominations close on Friday.
Psychiatrist likens detention to Nazis, gulags
Nicole Hasham 12:56 PM "Public numbing and indifference" towards state abuses in Nazi Germany resembles that enabling Australia's immigration detention centres, a prominent psychiatrist says.
Turnbull's new ministers are sworn-in
Matthew Knott 12:56 PM We've had the proposal, clinked glasses at the engagement party and now it's official: Barnaby and Malcolm are as one.
367 years of parliamentary experience lost
Fergus Hunter 1:50 PM Almost 400 years of experience will walk out the doors of Parliament House by the 2016 election as preselection season sees the resignation and retirement list grow.
'Make pensioners rely on home equity'
Peter Martin Retirees with substantial wealth tied up in their homes might soon face face the prospect of losing their pension, the head of the Productivity Commission says.
Economy faces hazards unlike any in 20 years
Gareth Hutchens The Australian economy is facing hazards unlike any seen in more than 20 years, and is starting from a position of income weakness, according to a frank new report.
Morrison aims low in first pre-election budget
Mark Kenny Treasurer Scott Morrison has all but ditched the Coalition's commitment to fast deficit repair, signalling a mild budget in which spending cuts to balance the budget are ou.
Negative gearing losses biggest in ACT, WA
Peter Martin The Australian Capital Territory is the nation's biggest loser according to a new analysis of tax statistics, with Western Australia a close second.
Comment & Analysis
Morrison and art of the economic sales pitch
Stephanie Peatling Treasurer Scott Morrison is known for his love of a three word slogan. But more was expected from him today at his first address to the National Press Club since becoming Treasurer.
More than one way to kill negative gearing
Peter Martin 9:42 AM The big problem is the capital gains tax concession.
Why Bishop deserves to stay on as an MP
Jeremy Mitchell Of all the MPs past and present over the past 20 years, I would argue that Bronwyn has been among the hardest working, dedicated and energetic MPs the Parliament has seen.
Syrian refugees just want a fresh start
Innes Willox Driven from their homeland by violence, these people need our help to build new lives.
Why we shouldn't scrap negative gearing
Sam Crosby The $2.4 billion a year currently spent on negative gearing is an unjustifiable use of precious taxpayer money in today's climate.
Bronwyn and the invasion of the Westies
Alan Stokes Vote me! I promise to introduce dedicated four-wheel-drive lanes on all major thoroughfares in Mackellar – and no speed limits for BMWs or Audis!
Negative gearers aren't poor, Mr Morrison
Peter Martin It's the myth that keeps going round, in part because it contains an element of truth.
Sweeping done, Mal? Not quite. Love, Ian
Tony Wright Malcolm Turnbull seems unlikely to have had Ian Macfarlane in mind when he declared, at the very beginning of his prime ministership, "there has never been a more exciting time to be alive".
Labor's tax policy is courageous
John Daley and Danielle Wood Tax reform is politically difficult, so the opposition should be applauded for giving it a go.
New cold war would have different frontrunner
Peter Hartcher Russia's prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, reportedly said at the weekend that the world was "sliding into a new cold war". Can that possibly be true? And, if so, who's winning?
Announcement that starts your rapid decline
Peter Reith Once you have the scent of politics, it is hard to get it out of your system. The longer you have been in politics the greater the shock when you announce that you are leaving politics. Literally, from that moment, your political life slowly drains away from you.
Can Turnbull pull off the soft-shoe shuffle?
Amanda Vanstone What some wanted to see as a crisis, the PM typically saw as an opportunity.
Turnbull needs to act after wilted rose
Peter Hartcher The Australian people have sent Malcolm Turnbull a rumpled Valentine, a wilted rose.
Fading euphoria a warning for team Turnbull
Michael Gordon The lingering sense of joy, hope and relief that Malcolm Turnbull is Prime Minister is giving way to something decidedly less romantic.
Learning the language
Michael Gordon Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's efforts to "close the gap" have begun with some highly symbolic words.
Class clown Barnaby Joyce has centre stage
Peter Hartcher Barnaby Joyce's capacity for populist revolt made him famous and effective. But the new Nationals leader will have to control his bluster if he is to be taken seriously in Canberra and the rest of the country.
The dangers exposed by the sacking of Robert
Michael Gordon Malcolm Turnbull had no choice but to sack Stuart Robert for breaching ministerial standards, even though the advice from his department head suggested grounds for leniency.
CSIRO chief points ship into a scientific storm
Peter Hannam Scientists are calling for CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall to change his mind and not slash key climate researchers by half.
Off duty in China? Tell him he's dreaming
Judith Ireland The first sign the government was not going to get the week it wanted came on Monday morning.
Turnbull struggles to embrace change
Mark Kenny The PM's backdown on the GST at the first whiff of grapeshot has punctured overblown expectations.
No political stunt, it was a moment of clarity
Dan Andrews Remove politics from kids being returned to Nauru and the answer becomes clear.
Special features
Morrison and the art of economic sales pitch
Treasurer Scott Morrison is known for his love of a three word slogan. But more was expected from him today at his first address to the National Press Club since becoming Treasurer.
More than one way to kill negative gearing
The big problem is the capital gains tax concession.
Why Bishop deserves to stay on as an MP
Of all the MPs past and present over the past 20 years, I would argue that Bronwyn has been among the hardest working, dedicated and energetic MPs the Parliament has seen.
Who said that about negative gearing?
Test your knowledge with our quiz.
Syrian refugees just want a fresh start
Driven from their homeland by violence, these people need our help to build new lives.
Malcolm and Barnaby, best avoid the Canyon
'I don't remember ever feeling this awake!' exclaims one of the two freewheeling runaways of [this] hugely appealing new road movie, as they race ecstatically across the American Southwest.
We shouldn't completely scrap negative gearing
The $2.4 billion a year currently spent on negative gearing is an unjustifiable use of precious taxpayer money in today's climate.
Prisons trap our money along with crooks
Things may be gloomy in other countries, and even in parts of our own economy, but there's one aspect of Australian life where everything's on the up: we're enjoying a sustained prison boom.
Labor's tax policy is courageous
Tax reform is politically difficult, so the opposition should be applauded for giving it a go.
Sweeping done, Mal? Not quite. Love, Ian
Malcolm Turnbull seems unlikely to have had Ian Macfarlane in mind when he declared, at the very beginning of his prime ministership, "there has never been a more exciting time to be alive".
Negative gearers aren't poor, Mr Morrison
It's the myth that keeps going round, in part because it contains an element of truth.
Announcement that starts your decline
Once you have the scent of politics, it is hard to get it out of your system. The longer you have been in politics the greater the shock when you announce that you are leaving politics. Literally, from that moment, your political life slowly drains away from you.
Fading euphoria a warning for Turnbull
The lingering sense of joy, hope and relief that Malcolm Turnbull is Prime Minister is giving way to something decidedly less romantic.
Malcolm Turnbull needs to act after wilted rose
The Australian people have sent Malcolm Turnbull a rumpled Valentine, a wilted rose.
The dangers exposed by the sacking of Robert
Analysis Malcolm Turnbull had no choice but to sack Stuart Robert for breaching ministerial standards, even though the advice from his department head suggested grounds for leniency.
Learning the language
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's efforts to "close the gap" have begun with some highly symbolic words.
Class clown Barnaby Joyce has centre stage
Barnaby Joyce's capacity for populist revolt made him famous and effective. But the new Nationals leader will have to control his bluster if he is to be taken seriously in Canberra and the rest of the country.
Politics ten biggest stories
It's been a big week in federal politics - here are the top ten stories, told in less than a minute.
Time to go. Soon. Pre-farewells for the elders
Truss, Robb and Ruddock. Could there be a better name for a political consultancy?
Turnbull struggles to embrace change
The PM's backdown on the GST at the first whiff of grapeshot has punctured overblown expectations.
It wasn't a political stunt, it was a moment of clarity
Remove politics from kids being returned to Nauru and the answer becomes clear.
