Sussan Ley controversy reopens debate about federal ICAC
When scandal erupts in Canberra, the major parties stop short of suggesting any real changes to the way MPs are held to account.
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Michaela Whitbourn
Michaela Whitbourn is a former corporate lawyer who has reported extensively across politics, finance, business and law. In 2011, she was appointed the NSW political reporter for The Australian Financial Review and provided in-depth coverage of historic corruption inquiries into former state Labor ministers. She also exposed attempts by the O'Farrell government to mislead voters about the effect of the carbon tax on transport costs. In October 2013, she joined The Sydney Morning Herald as legal affairs and investigations reporter.
'Thoughtful' debate takes a hit in social media age: outgoing Chief Justice
The nation's top judge has questioned whether "thoughtful and courteous" political debate can exist in the age of social media.
George Brandis accused of 'throwing Joe Hockey under a bus'
Attorney-General George Brandis has been accused of throwing former Treasurer Joe Hockey "under a bus" after he distanced himself from the political fallout over an alleged secret deal with the Western Australian government.
George Brandis is unfit to sit at the apex of the nation's legal system
If he did what has been alleged, he ought to go.
Brandis facing pressure to resign over secret deal
Attorney-General George Brandis is facing fresh calls to resign amid explosive claims he directed the government's chief legal adviser not to raise an argument in the High Court that would have scuttled a secret political deal.
Brandis backs down on Solicitor-General directive
Attorney-General George Brandis has avoided a humiliating defeat in Parliament by repealing a controversial directive restricting access to the government's chief legal adviser hours before it was set to be struck down by the Senate.
Brandis misled Parliament over former solicitor-general, inquiry concludes
Attorney-General George Brandis misled Parliament over his dealings with the government's chief legal adviser, a Senate committee has concluded.
University vilification case thrown out as 18C inquiry looms
A Brisbane judge has thrown out a controversial case of alleged racial vilification at the Queensland University of Technology, as an inquiry into Australia's race hate laws looks set to be announced as soon as next week.
'This was done because they didn't trust Gleeson'
A Turnbull government MP has given an explosive radio interview suggesting Attorney-General George Brandis issued a directive restricting access to the government's chief legal adviser because he "didn't trust" him.
Who would want to be Solicitor-General?
There is a pantomime-worthy piece of theatre in Parliament where a new Speaker is "dragged" to the chair, in a nod to the historical perils of a post in which a monarch might remove their head for proffering an unpalatable message.
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