Comment

Michael Gordon

Michael Gordon is the political editor of The Age.

Illustration: Jim Pavlidis

Calculated cruelty on Manus

What occurs on Manus and Nauru is a consequence of choices we approved, and a reflection of who we are.

Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull distanced themselves from the rates decision, ...

The rise of blah-blah politics

There is an important discussion to be had about the penalty rates decision, but our politicians appear incapable of engaging in it, much less leading it.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he would not get in the way of a preference deal between the Liberals and One ...

Over the top with Malcolm

Malcolm Turnbull's verbal blitzkrieg against Bill Shorten produced two diametrically opposed, yet predictable, responses from those who witnessed it at close quarters in the national parliament this week.

Illustration: Jim Pavlidis

Poor fellow, my country

"Endless bouts of introspection and navel gazing are unhealthy," John Howard declared 21 years ago. "Mostly they arise out of attempts to rewrite our past or reposition our history by people with axes to grind who aren't all that interested in the truth."

A worried looking Malcolm Turnbull may have a more furrowed brow after MYEFO is released on Monday

Turnbull's chance for a fresh start

Malcolm Turnbull will play the lead role in his own re-make of Mission Impossible in 2017, complete with a cast of villains and traitors and no end of unpredictable subplots.

'As an exemplar of calm reason and restraint, Peter Dutton is about as convincing as Tony Abbott would be leading ...

When words fail

Peter Dutton found himself in unfamiliar territory this week, cast as the victim of the "tricky language" of Bill Shorten.