Make no mistake, Coalition and Labor are playing politics with marriage
There is blame enough for all sides in this ridiculous stand-off. Meanwhile, same-sex couples are left in limbo, altar in sight but out of reach.
James Massola is chief political reporter in the Canberra bureau. He was a Walkley finalist in 2015 and has worked in the federal press gallery for eight years, including stints for The Australian Financial Review and The Australian before joining the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
There is blame enough for all sides in this ridiculous stand-off. Meanwhile, same-sex couples are left in limbo, altar in sight but out of reach.
George Brandis tells Fairfax Media that same-sex marriage law changes could be delayed many years if the plebiscite is not held.
It was the lie that defined the 2016 election campaign, slashed Malcolm Turnbull's majority by 14 seats and almost propelled Bill Shorten to victory.
Australia has become "a nation that can no longer house its own children", Labor treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says, with soaring prices cutting young people out of the housing market and affordability in crisis.
Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop are more popular with voters than Malcolm Turnbull in the NSW seat of Orange, according to leaked polling obtained by Fairfax Media.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has unveiled a compromise deal on superannuation changes that dumps one of the most controversial elements of the "ironclad" policy and saves an extra $180 million.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be forced to wait another three weeks to find out if Labor will reverse course and vote for a $170 million national plebiscite to be held on Feburary 11, 2017.
Liberal MP Tim Wilson has apologised to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for an apparent clash during a lengthy Coalition party room meeting on same-sex marriage.
The Turnbull government needs to wake up to itself, fast.
The Coalition and Labor are inching towards a deal to pass the so-called $6 billion omnibus savings package, Treasurer Scott Morrison says.
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