"The taxation measures in this budget are indeed tough. They are also heartless, thoughtless, lazy and regressive." JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED are strident in their criticism of blundering Treasurer Steel's budget debut.
"We are living in a utopian economy: everything seems good, but underneath the story is so much worse. Politicians know all of this though. Well, most," writes political columnist ANDREW HUGHES.
Albanese’s Curtin speech becomes the latest political football in the debate over the US relationship, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
"The Greens will be able to threaten the viability of the government by picking on any aspect of any budget that does not suit their constituency or is good for a run in the media," writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN reflects on how two once hot-button issues this week barely sparked media and political interest.
"We are surprised the Commonwealth Government has apparently supported a project that breaches almost all its guidelines on efficacy and procurement." JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED continue to shred the business case for light rail stage 2b.
"There is an alternative to the light rail. It looks the same, operates in a similar way, but at a tiny percentage of the initial investment. No rails! No new bridges! Much more flexible for future options," writes columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
"An alleged increase in the share of health costs can hardly be argued as an excuse or explanation for the appalling state of the ACT budget." JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED call out Treasurer Steel's feeble excuses.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers juggles expectations and ambition in pursuing tax reform, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
"While Labor kept all of their lower house seats, the Senate first preferences tell a different story and reveal that there is more happening in the burbs of the Berra," writes political columnist ANDREW HUGHES.
"When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong went out on Monday to back the US attack on Iran, it was obvious their support was through gritted teeth," writes politcal columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
If light rail heads south, who benefits? "The existing landowners from capital gains created by a multi-billion-dollar government project that has little or no public benefit," say JOHN STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED.
"Of the Integrity Commission performing its role, what has happened to Operation Kingfisher?... Damocles' sword has been hanging over the head of Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry for much too long," writes political writer MICHAEL MOORE.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has her first big outing with the national media next week. Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN has some questions for her.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers wants to get on with economic reform and tax is in his sights, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
The cancelled Albanese-Trump meeting a setback on tariffs and AUKUS, says political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED continue to expose the inconsistencies, questionable assumptions and conceptual flaws of the embarrassing light rail business cases.
"It is not so easy to pull the wool over the eyes of Canberrans. There are multiple solutions to increasing choice in housing in Canberra," writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
The galahs are chattering about ‘productivity’, but can Labor really get it moving, asks political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
