Cormann ramps up pressure on Labor over budget repair

Senator Cormann has challenged Labor to step up to plate and work with the Coalition to pass savings through Parliament.

Turnbull's chance to return the shine to his leadership

• COMMENT

Malcolm Turnbull is a man under pressure.

Bishop kick-starts new foreign policy framework

Julie Bishop will kickstart her second term as Foreign Minister with a new white paper that will establish a "philosophical framework to guide Australia's engagement, regardless of international events".

Labor accuses Liberals of snub despite 'bipartisan' approach

Labor questioned Malcolm Turnbull's call to "reach across the aisle" and repair the federal budget, revealing the government has ignored requests for briefings on the proposed $6 billion in superannuation changes.

PM ramps up pressure to back $6b in savings

• 1 hr ago

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will ramp up pressure on the federal opposition to support $6 billion in government savings it committed to during the election, promising he is ready to "reach across the aisle" to repair the budget.

Labor to play hardball and test government's working majority

Labor will test the Coalition's claim that it has a "working" majority in the new parliament and has not entered into a formal "pairing" arrangement, which could effectively deny government MPs holidays or even sick leave.

Morrison backs changes to 'egregious' GST carve up

Treasurer Scott Morrison says changes to the GST distribution formula would ensure the "egregious" situation that sees Western Australia receive back just 30 per cent of the GST revenue it pays is not repeated.

Morrison rejects suggestions he kowtowed to crossbench on Ausgrid

Treasurer Scott Morrison has flatly dismissed conjecture that he kowtowed to protectionist crossbenchers in rejecting a Chinese bid to lease NSW electricity assets, labelling such claims "complete crap".

Abbott speech reopens racial discrimination debate

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says his government should have pursued less ambitious reform of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, in comments that will spur debate in the conservative wing of the Liberal Party about changing the Act and potentially create a new headache for Malcolm Turnbull.

Liberal MP proposes four-year-terms referendum

Liberal MP David Coleman says Australia should hold a referendum in 2019 and set fixed four year terms for the federal parliament.