The government this week will take the first step in killing off the controversial Australian Building and Construction Commission by stripping back its powers “to the bare legal minimum”.
"If you’re outside staring in, you’d probably say the Albanese government is looking good. If you’re inside gazing out, you’d likely think its challenges appear little short of dire," writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
An international expert on monetary policy is one of a three-member panel that will conduct a broad review of the Reserve Bank, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australia faces a "complex and rapidly changing" economic environment.
The first week of the new parliament will contain some depressing news, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Monday softening up the community to expect a “confronting” statement on the economy.
The Albanese government will reinstate the pandemic leave payment for workers who have to isolate but do not have sick leave, after earlier vigorously defending its ending on budgetary grounds.
"The question is whether political leaders have the will to inject new urgency into the fight against covid, given the only practical weaponry in this time of pandemic fatigue is 'light touch' ammunition," writes MICHELLE GRATTAN.
With covid cases surging in a new wave and half the winter still ahead, the news from Health Minister Mark Butler isn’t good, reports MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Ensuring equal opportunities and pay for women is one of the wide range of topics laid down for the federal government’s jobs summit, writes MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Australia has given Ukraine another $100 million in military aid, and Albanese has pledged Australia will continue support for the embattled country “for as long as it takes for Ukraine to emerge victorious", reports MICHELLE GRATTAN.