Higher education reform delayed but more urgent than ever

There's a right way and a wrong way to make reforms. The Coalition is belatedly going about it the right way, but the cost of Christopher Pyne's bungling has been three years of policy paralysis.

Sydney must share the shame of gay-hate crimes

The story of Sydney has many dark chapters, but one of the darkest is the wave of gay-hate bashings and killings that took place from the late 1970s to 2000. Men were murdered in their homes in ferocious attacks. Some of Sydney's most picturesque coastal and neighbourhood parks were the sites of killings characterised by their brutality.

Silent on the sidelines please, for children's sake

When a parent disrespects other children, fans or volunteer officials, the effect is magnified and long lasting for kids who just want to get fit, have fun and be part of a team.

Policy goes missing in unedifying week

To win back younger voters, the Prime Minister needs to pull the extremes in the Coalition into line and better explain his economic plan.

Interns plan offers hope for ready, willing and able workers

With the right safeguards, the budget program has the potential to create jobs and better equip jobless people for the workforce.

Dutton's dog-whistle demeans all Australians

We fear the Prime Minister, who usually reveals a humane side, is placing politics above people and national unity.

Penalty rates backlash reveals Shorten's union troubles

The threat to voter trust in Labor could just as easily have come from myriad other problems linked to the influence of unions on the Labor party.

Voters will tire of Shorten's rich Turnbull shtick

The Prime Minister's personal story - having been left by his mother at age 9 to grow up in a single-dad household in mostly rented flats - is not the stuff of landed gentry.

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ICAC must be allowed to continue its good work in public

David Levine's recommendation that the Independent Commission Against Corruption should be stripped of its powers to hold public hearings will be welcomed by some.

In praise of Australia's fashion industry

This week is a symbol of Australian fashion's tenacity in the face of fierce market headwinds.

Eurovision, Dami Im and that fabulous frock

What are the chances that Australia's entrant in the Eurovision song contest, Dami Im, will end in the top five, maybe, even the top spot?

Election 2016: Fear of a hung parliament frames campaign

Behind the policy debates, the scare campaigns and the cheap personal shots, both major parties are worried about a close result.

Election 2016: Real climate change demands real solutions

No-one outside the government believes Direct Action in its current form can meet our global commitments.

Baird counts cost of crazy-brave merger war

The exclusion of mergers for those councils fighting in the courts would allow the government draw a line in the sand on the process and try to step away from any blame.

Election 2016: Chris Bowen offers plausible economic management

The potentially most damaging claim was that the Coalition – not Labor – was jeopardising the nation's AAA credit rating.

Election 2016: In search of better government, from either side

This is an election about policy not personality; party reform not abuse of power; and ensuring we get a better, more trustworthy government this time.

Turnbull must campaign like every day is Mother's Day

What do mothers want? For the busy modern mum, Mother's Day may be the only day of the year when her needs and desires rather than those of her family are given priority – even by her.

Vale John Kaye: A role model for better politicians

Rather than personal attacks, the Greens MLC was consumed with the contest of ideas and holding the government to account.

Policy beats personality in welcome election battle

While twice as many voters still prefer Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister, Bill Shorten knows the Coalition leader is vulnerable on fairness and reform.

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Turnbull's housing arrogance insults voter intelligence

Protecting the housing haves at the expense of the have-nots is dangerous for the government ahead of the July 2 election.

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Companies should pay higher price for ripping off consumers

Retailers have a lot invested in the trust of their customers. When facing the public, they want to be seen as acting reliably and honest in the interests of their customers, providing products that will make us happy, healthy or look good.

How Shorten can take the lead

The Labor leader should resist over-egging the class warfare mantra of "millionaires over battlers".

Morrison erases just enough of Abbott-Hockey

This is less an election sweetener of a budget than an Aspartame effort aimed at convincing voters to trim down their expectations. That fits neatly with the Coalition's election scare that Labor is all tax and spend.

Morrison's delicate economic balancing act

The Treasurer needs to explain his "steady as she goes" budget repair plan without scaring voters into thinking he's tentative because the economy is struggling.

Women athletes making gains in race for equality

Academic David Rowe this week cautioned that the fight to eliminate sexism from sport was a marathon not a sprint. But the allegations against the Australian-born chief of British cycling, Shane Sutton, and the criticisms that have circulated of sexual discrimination in British and world cycling are a reminder it's also an obstacle race.

Turnbull-Morrison must exorcise demons of unfair 2014 budget

The coalition government mark II has overpromised and underdelivered. This is its big chance to outline a vision and restore trust.

Why the Wanderers will win

What a club! In four short years, from rags to riches and back to rags. Now the glittering prize is again within reach. Western Sydney Wanderers, we salute you.

Political doublethink and cruelty fuel refugee debacle

Australia is exposed for failing to strike regional resettlement deals for refugees.

Remember Port Arthur - and strengthen gun laws

Prime minister John Howard read accurately the terrible sense of helplessness Australians felt after Port Arthur. And that helplessness survives today whenever guns are used for crime.