The government will struggle to rescue its health rebate cut without another budget backtrack, and any concession could cost big dollars just when it needs to protect the budget's savings, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN says Anthony Albanese’s apparent snub of Jim Chalmers has reignited scrutiny of their underlying tensions, as Labor’s leadership succession takes shape.
"Angrification makes it easier and quicker to find a political leader and social media platform where you can weaponise the broader anger on an issue," writes political columnist ANDREW HUGHES.
The Greens are embracing confrontation under David Shoebridge, but JOSH HOLLOWAY questions whether the party has drawn the right lessons from its 2025 election losses.
What began as a promising political opportunity has become a migration minefield for Angus Taylor, caught between One Nation’s tougher stance and business concerns, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
From migration numbers and housing to Australian values, human migration expert ALAN GAMLEN challenges five premises behind the Coalition's newly unveiled migration policy.
"Leaving it to senior public servants when the news is bad and fronting the media only when there is a great picture or positive news is gutless politics," growls political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
"The sort of complacency illustrated by the explosion of the rabbit population is endemic in ACT politics. Compare sitting on hands regarding rabbits, to sitting on hands regarding the budget!" writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
"More than a year after its walloping at the last election, the Coalition’s policy machinery looks positively anaemic; a policy vacuum," writes political columnist ROBERT McMAHON.
Jane Hume has taken aim at Labor’s workplace relations regime, but the Coalition remains wary of promising the sweeping reforms many in its political base want, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN says Anthony Albanese heads to Pacific climate talks with pressing problems at home, as another rate rise intensifies the economic blame game.
"The Greens are really feeling the loss of the innovative Shane Rattenbury… from the time he arrived in the Assembly in 2008 the Greens committed to a guarantee on confidence and supply," writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
"The PM has used his power to alter staffing numbers based purely on political objectives. It is one of the more concerning uses of executive power in modern times because of the impact it has on our democracy," writes ANDREW HUGHES.
Anthony Albanese has been warning of the need for AI guardrails – now a rogue agent breaching a government firewall has made his case for him, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Anthony Albanese’s smiling selfie with Donald Trump belied a sharp divide over AI guardrails, as Washington also attacked Australia’s proposed Digital Duty of Care, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Australia wants to return to the UN Security Council in 2029, with Anthony Albanese promising to use the seat to champion the Pacific and press for UN reform, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
"One Nation’s – Hanson’s – attack on Andrew Hastie as a 'traitor' was one of the more appalling examples of political leadership I have seen in 30 years of observing and analysing Australian politics," writes columnist ROBERT McMAHON.
Six weeks after aborting his first attempt, Tony Burke has finally unveiled Labor’s migration overhaul – only to leave the government vulnerable from both sides of the debate, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
"Across the three financial years leading to 2025-26 the government spent almost $130 million on medical negligence claims." But that's not all, reports MICHAEL MOORE, there are millions lost to ACT Government incompetence every year.
