Malcolm Turnbull 'utterly undistracted' by Tony Abbott
Jane Lee 6:03 PM Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has rebuffed suggestions that ousted former leader Tony Abbott will impede the Coalition's election campaign, saying he is "utterly undistracted" by Mr Abbott's ability to generate headlines.
Latest political news
Andrews 'prepared to challenge' Turnbull
James Massola 4:46 PM A key supporter of former prime minister Tony Abbott says he is prepared to challenge Malcolm Turnbull for the prime ministership.
Richardson prepares for marathon operation
Matthew Knott 3:49 PM The moment Graham Richardson has been dreading and delaying for years has arrived.
Morrison blasted: 'That's a four-word slogan'
Michael Koziol 11:14 AM When it comes to interviewing Treasurer Scott Morrison, Sydney shock jock Ray Hadley is more familiar playing the role of partner-in-crime than sparring partner.
Dumped Liberal MP threatens to quit
Michael Koziol 9:22 AM Dumped Western Australian Liberal MP Dennis Jensen is threatening to quit the party after he was dumped by local preselectors ahead of the upcoming federal election.
Political icon Bob Ellis dies, aged 73
Michael Koziol, Josh Dye 11:37 AM Writer, journalist and political commentator Bob Ellis has died, aged 73.
Questions over freedom for detention kids
Michael Koziol 8:33 AM The federal government has celebrated the release of the last children from Australia's mainland immigration detention centres, despite lingering questions over how much freedom some families have been awarded.
'Darwin of coral reefs' blasts mine leases
Tim Elliott 12:17 AM The decision on Sunday to approve mining leases for Queensland's Carmichael coal mine is akin to "evil", according to one of the world's foremost marine scientists.
'Hundreds of cancer drugs' to enter market
Jane Lee 8:04 AM Ron Walker considers himself among the luckiest cancer survivors.
Greens plan to abolish CGT concessions
Josh Dye 12:01 AM The Greens have announced plans to phase out capital gains tax concessions from property sales by 2020 in a radical move to address housing affordability.
Doctors propose radical drinking proposals
Michael Koziol Royal Australasian College of Physicians recommends a dramatic crackdown on alcohol to a Senate inquiry.
Comment & Analysis
How to fund a bigger and better Australia
Nicholas Reece 8:48 AM The PM’s latest ‘Big Idea’ may have died, but the problem of paying for our schools and hospitals is still very much alive.
We should be told how our judges are chosen
George Williams 9:00 PM US Supreme Court appointments are infected with the bitter partisanship that pervades US politics while Chief Justice Robert French's impending departure has excited barely a murmur.
We shouldn't play politics with infrastructure
Marion Terrill 9:00 PM Voters should think twice before accepting politicians' promises of a transport infrastructure bonanza, especially before spending plans can be independently evaluated.
Dramatic change needed for our kids
Eric Jamieson 9:00 PM Australia has to shift to a student-centric approach, rather than one that is teacher centric.
PM gets lesson in complexities of federation
Mark Kenny "Utter humiliation" was how a Labor insider described Malcolm Turnbull's stunning repudiation at Friday's Council of Australian Governments meeting.
Deja vu as PM's style mirrors king of chaos
Peter Hartcher There are striking similarities emerging between the prime-ministerial ways of Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd, according to a Labor campaign veteran.
Time for new conversation on asylum seekers
Michael Gordon Will this be a fleeting, aberrant positive moment in the overwhelmingly bleak story of Australia's treatment of those who seek protection by coming on boats without an invitation?
Malcolm Turnbull's challenge: be like Mike
Sean Nicholls As NSW Premier Mike Baird's experience so clearly demonstrates, sometimes the most difficult decisions are easiest to make in a crisis.
Why Australia lies about its Indigenous history
Waleed Aly Debate about Aboriginal history in Australia always descends into hysteria because it bruises our misplaced national pride.
Turnbull's most foolish investment decision
Jessica Irvine It's fair to say Malcolm Turnbull knows a thing or two about making a buck.
Why you don't need health insurance
Marcus Strom Every year people rail against private health insurance companies hiking up their premiums. Not me - I couldn't care less.
Why the states should charge income tax
Peter Martin Face reality: we can’t vote for better schools and hospitals in state elections and lowers taxes in federal elections and expect to get both.
Grassroots efforts beat big boys
Elizabeth Farrelly Four green shoots that have broken through the deadening layer of Abbott-spewed ash.
Is it just too hard to be PM in 2016?
Dom Knight There may never have been a more exciting time to be prime minister but it's probably never been this difficult to govern.
Why are Australians so gloomy about future?
Matt Wade Snap out of it Australia. Despite our wealth, health and good weather an international survey has revealed consumers here are among the gloomiest in Asia. And it's been that way for most of this decade.
The NBN is already out of date
Laurie Patton Australia has fallen to 60th in global Internet speed rankings. If we fell to 60th in the Olympics medal tally there'd be a national outcry. Just a few years ago we were 30th in terms of average peak Internet speed, which is the key measurement of broadband performance.
Where are all the women scientists?
Emma Johnston Malcolm Turnbull, our innovation Prime Minister, says there's never been a more exciting time to be an Australian but I'm only half convinced. The bright light shining on this new innovation age is not illuminating many women.
Trump's plan is a real danger to Australia
Peter Hartcher Donald Trump has made an idiotic and potentially incendiary claim about one of the world's most flammable strategic tinder boxes.
Special features
Barnaby v Tony: the battle for New England
It will be one of the most intriguing contests of the coming election: Barnaby Joyce v Tony Windsor in the battle for New England.
If Turnbull could turn back time
Will the Prime Minister, like Kevin Rudd before him, come to wish he'd called an early election?
PM gets lesson in complexities of federation
"Utter humiliation" was how a Labor insider described Malcolm Turnbull's stunning repudiation at Friday's Council of Australian Governments meeting.
Victorian premier stands out in COAG conga line
An unlikely star emerged on the COAG stage on Friday.
Deja vu as PM's style mirrors king of chaos
There are striking similarities emerging between the prime-ministerial ways of Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd, according to a Labor campaign veteran.
Dangerous idea could be dead on arrival
Analysis Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, accused not so long ago of being a ditherer, has launched a one man Festival of Dangerous Ideas this week.
Children and porn's inescapable world
Just as pornography is only a few clicks away for adults on the internet - so it is for children.
Time for new asylum seeker conversation
Will this be a fleeting, aberrant positive moment in the overwhelmingly bleak story of Australia's treatment of those who seek protection by coming on boats without an invitation? Or will it be a tipping point?
Malcolm Turnbull's challenge: be like Mike
As NSW Premier Mike Baird's experience so clearly demonstrates, sometimes the most difficult decisions are easiest to make in a crisis.
PM's bold proposal: Visionary or posturing?
Mark Kenny Whether Malcolm Turnbull's abrasive approach to federal financing reform at this COAG is visionary and achievable or simply pre-election posturing of a panicked government's search for an agenda to which it can point, is a matter of perspective.
Turnbull starts pulling the big policy levers
The cautious approach was a bad look for the PM. That's why bold policy ideas are now tumbling out.
Why Australia lies about its Indigenous history
Debate about Aboriginal history in Australia always descends into hysteria because it bruises our misplaced national pride.
Turnbull's most foolish investment decision
It's fair to say Malcolm Turnbull knows a thing or two about making a buck.
Why you don't need health insurance
Every year people rail against private health insurance companies hiking up their premiums. Not me - I couldn't care less.
