National affairs
9 June 2010
The federal government has increased the stakes in the debate over mining taxes. Stephanie Brookes looks at the thinking behind the government’s ad blitz –…
National affairs
3 June 2010
Legislation before parliament will give the immigration minister new power to “terminate” certain classes of visa application, reports Peter Mares
National affairs
27 May 2010
The heart sees a government in big trouble; the head knows that first-term governments usually survive. Either way, it’s time for the government to throw away its rulebook,…
National affairs
25 May 2010
Why did most of the media run dead on the Securency bribery allegations?
National affairs
21 May 2010
“Mrs Bao” is still waiting for the Australian government to respond to requests from the Commonwealth ombudsman and the United Nations Human Rights Committee.…
National affairs
18 May 2010
Whatever NAPLAN’s limitations, it does provide intriguing information about how different school systems perform, writes Dahle Suggett
National affairs
16 May 2010
What does $25 million worth of consultancy conclude about the national broadband network, asks Jock Given
National affairs
7 May 2010
There are seven good reasons to suggest that the government’s backdown on emissions trading will have costs both in electoral and longer-term political terms, argues…
National affairs
7 May 2010
The prime minister needs to stop conflating policy and politics, writes Peter Brent
National affairs
6 May 2010
Funds from the planned super-profits tax on mining could have been used much more productively, argues Brian Toohey, and key Henry report recommendations deserved early…
National affairs
28 April 2010
By focusing on negotiations with the Coalition, the government lost momentum and opportunities, writes Rob Chalmers
National affairs
23 April 2010
While My School says very little about the effectiveness of any school, it does offer some tantalising information about Australia’s school system in general, writes…
National affairs
22 April 2010
The virtues of governmental diversity got lost in the debate about Kevin Rudd’s hospital policy, writes Graeme Orr
National affairs
15 April 2010
Have party strategists got it right about the electoral appeal of targeting asylum seekers?
National affairs
14 April 2010
Like the previous government’s asylum processing freezes, it’s likely that last week’s decision is based on an overly optimistic assessment of conditions in…
National affairs
8 April 2010
The world has nine more steps to take if we’re serious about nuclear disarmament, writes Andy Butfoy
National affairs
7 April 2010
Once an advocate of testing and accountability in schools, Diane Ravitch has reassessed the evidence, writes Paul Bamford
National affairs
7 April 2010
Building Australian submarines would compound the defence white paper’s mistaken view of the threats Australia faces, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
7 April 2010
A little-noticed audit report finds that too much of the ammunition held by the Australian Defence Force is useless, writes Geoffrey Barker
National affairs
6 April 2010
Acting lessons? Tony Abbott was right to say no, says Peter Brent
National affairs
1 April 2010
The Australian talks about climate change with (almost) one voice
National affairs
1 April 2010
Simon Birmingham has breakfast at Tiffany’s, and it’s another day in parliament’s social media landscape, writes Peter Brent
National affairs
31 March 2010
Rationalising federal–state relations could make governments less not more accountable, argues Anthony Sibillin
National affairs
30 March 2010
The states’ house has always been controlled by politics and parties, argues Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
26 March 2010
Most coverage of the home insulation controversy ignored history and avoided simple mathematics, writes Rodney Tiffen
National affairs
26 March 2010
Pressure is growing for a small but potentially very effective global financial transactions tax. But where is Australia in the debate, asks Ross Buckley
National affairs
22 March 2010
Peter Mares spoke to journalist Sue Neales and political scientist Haydon Manning about the likely shakedown in Tasmania and South Australia
National affairs
10 March 2010
The Coalition’s focus on debt could easily backfire, argues Peter Brent
National affairs
10 March 2010
The South Australian economy has picked up, but the polls suggest a government in serious trouble. What went wrong, asks Dean Jaensch
National affairs
9 March 2010
Kevin Rudd’s hospital plan kicks off what looks like being a long battle, writes James Gillespie