Federal Politics

Cyclone Debbie provided a rare and overlooked moment of bipartisanship in today's politics.

Is it any wonder politicians are on the nose?

In a barely noticed respite from last week's hyper-partisan squabbling, Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten actually agreed on a couple of things. It is an enduring curiosity that such moments tend to escape attention.

Senator Nick Xenophon during debate in the Senate on Friday.

Turnbull's company tax deal 'exxy' but effective

In the end, the deal to secure Malcolm Turnbull's signature election pledge of enterprise tax cuts, at least for small and medium businesses, was, to use the vernacular, a little "exxy". Big business missed out. A bridge too far. As such the cost to the budget is substantially less - around $20 billion. The X-man of Australian politics, Nick Xenophon has once again proved the master-negotiator, and Turnbull, the great deal-maker and achiever of results. As in all compromises, neither got all they wanted, But both will be happy.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop with Australian heads of missions this week.

Aliens in their own land

Australia needs a bigger, more coherent foreign policy that resonates beyond election cycles.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's decision to mothball the China treaty has been described as the worst-handled foreign ...

China syndrome: Turnbull turns on a dime over extradition

The government says it supports an extradition treaty with Beijing because it will ensure Chinese criminals are sent back to China, where they belong. And it maintains that righteous enthusiasm right up until suddenly, it's gone.And so, another column in the facade of orderly, government, topples to populist whimsy.Cory Bernardi's power as a rookie independent, just got a pretty big kick-along. The government's prestige, not so much.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: Problems threaten to dog him to the next election.

Right voice, wrong answer

There is a growing sense around the halls of power that Malcolm Turnbull is finally starting to get somewhere, writes Mark Kenny.

Premier of South Australiia Jay Weatherill has a reputation for bold and often unorthodox policy solutions.

Political force with uncommon gentleness

Politicians normally avoid airing their dirty linen in public but for Australia's longest governing leader, it was actually a laundry incident that nearly brought him undone.

The federal and ACT parliaments are inquiring into the need for, and form of, anti-corruption agencies for their ...

Nothing to see here, move on

The federal and ACT public services say they have no serious integrity problems. But who's actually looking?