Federal Politics

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Love in the time of measles

There were few excuses for staying home from school that carried weight with my mother. Mention an outbreak of measles among classmates, however, and sleep-ins were ours.

Tip of the hat: Malcolm Turnbull joined WA Premier Colin Barnett on Barrow Island in Western Australia last year.

Malcolm Turnbull's Pauline Hanson problem

Malcolm Turnbull is not travelling west this week for the final gruelling days of the Western Australian state election, but his government's low standing and the taint of a resurgent Hansonism are playing their roles in the local contest.

Summonsed home: DFAT is trying to wrangle 113 Very Important Diplomats back to Australia.

$1.1m to fly diplomats home? Wouldn't cover a night at Monte Carlo

The Ad Hoc Ways and Means Committee at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is suffering the vapours as it attempts to wrangle 113 Very Important Diplomats, 113 cross-the-world business-class return flights, 113 hotel suites, an unknown number of splendid dining occasions, cigars, champagne, cognac and, naturally, limousines on demand, into a paltry $1.1 million.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 16 February 2017. ...

Only pests will benefit from pesticide agency move

Whether Barnaby Joyce or Pauline Hanson is the wiser statesman, the better politician or the more intelligent citizen is a moot question upon which few could hold a certain opinion, for now at least.

Malcolm Turnbull responded with platitudes about how this is about "getting the balance right:.

Why Malcolm Turnbull show leadership on penalty rates

  Malcolm Turnbull needs to change tack if he is to have any prospect of neutralising the debate on Sunday penalty rates in the retail and hospitality industries, let alone winning it – and change tack fast.