"Cigarette smoking in Australia has been on the decline for more than 30 years. This drives Big Tobacco apoplectic, and they constantly look for new ways to influence government policy," writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
Anthony Albanese is taking personal charge of Australia’s AI rollout by creating an Office of AI in his own department, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN
"Being able to rely on independents, rather than always the Greens, makes a more interesting minority government. Labor does not need to be dragged further left relying almost exclusively on support from the Greens," writes MICHAEL MOORE.
"By the PM’s behaviour, he has arguably demeaned women by subjecting them to judgment about whom he was willing to “shag, marry or date”. Whether they had a view on it or not." Columnist ROBERT McMAHON thinks Albanese has gone too far.
Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN believes artificial intelligence offers the Albanese government its best hope of lifting productivity, but balancing its economic promise against its risks will be no easy task.
"I think many of us have missed that One Nation’s growth is partly down to a lack of centrist options and less the rise of the conservative vote," writes political columnist ANDREW HUGHES.
"If this is the test by which the Barr government is measured, no minister can ever be held accountable for anything. Just throw some public servants under the bus when things go wrong," writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
A Western Australian byelection will provide an early test of One Nation’s electoral surge and its battle with Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN
"Increasing the budget deficit by $547 million is worryingly imprudent – unless, of course, the government simply had no choice." And it had no choice, say JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED.
Labor’s national conference may be billed as open and democratic, but the government will be working hard to keep AUKUS and Middle East tensions from taking centre stage, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN
Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN on how the Liberal Party can't resist returning to damaging infighting and struggles to keep itself on track.
"When reports are less than timely, they lose considerable impact minimising the prevention of corrupt conduct. After seven years and two elections, the findings of the Operation Kingfisher are yet to be published," writes MICHAEL MOORE.
The Liberals' polling woes are deepening but Angus Taylor's party has no obvious way out of its malaise, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN
"Simple economics tells us where demand exceeds supply, prices increase. The practical on-the-ground effect is likely to be frenetic activity at property inspections, applications for properties and rising rents," writes ROBERT McMAHON.
'Why has the budget deteriorated despite the windfall increase in revenue? And where has the money gone? JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED return to the revenue questions in the ACT Budget.
With One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's "monocultural" call triggering political gyrations, multicultural policy will be front and centre in coming months, requiring the government to respond, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN
By agreeing to the Greens' eight-week extension of the Senate inquiry into its NDIS legislation, the Labor government faces complications in implementing reforms, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN
"Mark Parton has done a solid job talking to us. His engagement on the rising youth crime in Canberra, ovals being trashed, and use of social media, are all good to see," writes political columnist ANDREW HUGHES.
Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN finds more Australians are becoming wary of the economy, multiculturalism and the US in her analysis of the latest 2026 poll by the Lowy Institute.
