Political news and analysis from the ACT and Federal Parliaments
"The ACT Government 'has never been influenced by the CFMEU' was a recent statement made in answer to a question in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Andrew Barr. It was received with guffaws across the chamber.
"Walk into a waiting room in a Canberra emergency department and ask the patients whether the doctors or nurses treating them were inefficient." JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED look at where they think Saul Eslake's report misses the target.
"The apparent convergence between Shoebridge and Trump is striking because their political philosophies are so dissimilar. Yet, both risk reducing pressure on Moscow while placing additional burdens on Ukraine," writes ROBERT McMAHON.
Anthony Albanese’s offer of an extra staffer to One Nation’s David Farley has sparked accusations of political interference and renewed scrutiny of the prime minister’s staffing powers, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN
Can Labor remain the party of care while tightening the purse strings? JOSHUA BLACK examines how economic pressures are reshaping Anthony Albanese's social reform ambitions.
One Nation’s rise threatens to upend the political order in NSW, while high inflation and the prospect of another interest rate rise deepen Labor’s difficulties, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Anthony Albanese wants politicians to turn down the heat, but a crossbench senator’s angry outburst and fresh questions over a $6 million golf club grant have turned it back on him, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
"To be credible, the ACT Government has to stop its obfuscation and commission an independent assessment to evaluate if bus rapid transport could deliver the benefits of light rail at lower cost," writes planning columnist MIKE QUIRK.
Cartoonist PAUL DORIN asks: was it a dirt file on Helen Haines from the Mr Albanese's office? The PM says no.
The attack on Helen Haines has forced politicians to confront the ugliness of political discourse, but lasting change will require a broader reckoning with society’s growing incivility, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
For political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN, Mathias Cormann’s warning against imitating populists carries a pointed message for the Coalition as it struggles to counter One Nation’s growing appeal.
As threats against politicians rise, KRISTINA MURPHY argues that restoring trust in government could be as important as stronger security in preventing political extremism.
The attack on independent MP Helen Haines has shocked Australia, but political violence is hardly new. JOSHUA BLACK and FRANK BONGIORNO examine its troubling history and what it means for democracy today.
"The ACT bank account is not just empty, but in the red to the tune of billions because of bad policy and reckless spending. But there's no sense the government is changing its modus operandi." JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED shake their heads.
"The 40 per cent of ACT voters who put David Pocock as their first preference at the last election should be feeling very proud of his performance," writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
Greens leader David Shoebridge faces a growing party crisis after Jordon Steele-John publicly disputed claims he had agreed to take leave amid an investigation into allegations against him, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
"Given the Coalition’s relationship with big business has soured in recent years, AI could be a valuable opportunity to collaborate on big policy design and re-build mutual trust," writes political columnist ROBERT McMAHON.
"Pauline and her team hit the right buttons for an awful lot of people, or should that be a lot of awful people?" columnist HUGH SELBY returns to One Nation's "self help" videos and despairs at the latest one...
Is a death tax lurking on the political agenda, worries cartoonist PAUL DORIN.
