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Mark Kenny

Mark Kenny is Fairfax Media's national affairs editor. A director of the National Press Club, he regularly appears on the ABC's Insiders, Sky News Agenda, and Ten's Meet the Press. He has reported from Canberra under three prime ministers and several opposition leaders.

United front: Lucy Turnbull, Chloe Shorten, Madame Cheng Hong, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Chinese Premier Li ...

Beef breakthrough as China insists its regional intentions are peaceful

Local beef producers have won unfettered access to the giant Chinese domestic market for the first time, in a commercial breakthrough that gives Australia a unique level of entree denied to all other countries until now. But the resolution of Australia's beef over beef exports came with a gentle reminder to Canberra, and other regional neighbours, that China will not back down on the South China Sea and regards its outposts in international waters as its sovereign territory.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

Shorten needs union law breakers like a hole in the head

  • ANALYSIS

Just as dwindling unions and, by association, their parliamentary champions, were thrown a lifeline by the prospect of a WorkChoices-style campaign to protect weekend penalty rates, a union leader reminds voters what they hated about the old model of industrial relations: strikes, intimidation, and belligerent lawlessness.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks to the media at Parliament House ahead of a meeting with gas executives on Wednesday.

Real Malcolm muscles up on gas

  • ANALYSIS

Perhaps voters are more awake to it after the bizarre "real Julia" declaration, but when a leader suddenly promises "leadership," it grates.

Richard Di Natale is urging Australian society to seek a better life-work balance for the sake of everyone.

Work fewer hours and be happier: Greens

Greens leader Richard Di Natale believes many Australians would be better off with a four day working week or a six hour working day even if it meant less money. This would allow people to spend more time on the things that make life worth living, such as family, sport, and volunteering.