Drifting in the polls and facing a fractious crew, the Captain launches his 15 week voyage in search of political authority.
(The Canberra Times, 19 March 2016)
Senate sleepover
The Senate passes voting law changes after a marathon all-night sitting.
(The Canberra Times, 19 March 2016)
On strike
Fairfax staff in Canberra, Brisbane, Newcastle and Wollongong have voted to strike for 24 hours in support of colleagues in Sydney and Melbourne facing substantial job cuts. So no cartoon today!
Deflating expectations
Polling research by Essential finds public perceptions adjusting to the reality of Malcolm Turnbull PM, “a leader that opens up debates then closes them down; who calls for a contest of ideas then slams his opponents with scare campaigns when they engage; who lacks the will to take on his own party on the issues that had previously defined him”.
(The Canberra Times, 17 March 2016)
Our climate detector
A spike in global temperatures in February has lifted warming beyond 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Australia has responded to the climate emergency by proposing to cut back on researchers working on climate monitoring and modelling, and by trying to claim that our emissions have peaked.
(The Canberra Times, 16 March 2016)
Free Atena Farghadani
There are many human rights issues that cry out to be raised when the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif visits Australia this week. Including the case of jailed Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani.
(The Canberra Times, 5 June 2015)
Squirrel!
The Opposition Government has 28 questions for the Government Opposition on its proposed “gumby” tax policy changes to negative gearing.
(The Canberra Times, 14 March 2016)
The Safe Schools program
(The Canberra Times, 12 March 2016)
Tony makes a comeback
Tony Windsor has decided to recontest the Federal seat of New England, now held by the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Party. The issue of coal mining on prime agricultural land is likely to be central to the outcome.
(The Canberra Times, 10 March 2016)