Opposition in search of a spine and policy smarts
"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.
Politics
Political news and analysis from the ACT and Federal Parliaments
David Shoebridge won the Greens' first contested federal leadership ballot and promises a more adversarial and prosecutorial path for the party, writes BEN McKAY.
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.
Planning
Quality-of-life rating only gets us so far as a city
"For Canberra to become an 'ideal' city, it must address unmet community needs in health, housing, transport, and education. Priorities need to be based on detailed analysis rather than rhetoric," says planning columnist MIKE QUIRK.
Political commentary
Learn the lessons of stable government, Jo Clay
"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.
Political commentary
Why political staff numbers matter to democracy
"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.
"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.
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.
"It emerged that the NCA had been having private meetings since September 2023 with developers... and the NCA’s proposal reflected the developers’ ambitions for high-density residential development," writes RICHARD JOHNSTON.
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.
"Although politics is often framed in the news as agree or disagree, the tactic used most regularly is delay. The Labor government is the master of delay, and then one further step to shelve ideas or promises," writes MICHAEL MOORE.
"Going for three or more election wins is difficult. Very, very few can maintain that level of resonance across an entire nation of voters in a compulsory voting system for anyone aged over 18," writes political columnist ANDREW HUGHES.
Anthony Albanese has hit back angrily and emotionally at Pauline Hanson for saying his late mother should not have lived in public housing for decades, writes MICHELLE GRATTAN.
Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN says Peter Malinauskas has challenged the prevailing political mood on migration, warning a race to slash numbers would amount to economic self-harm.
Pauline Hanson’s “I don’t back down” approach faces two very different tests as One Nation fights Andrew Hastie while standing behind its controversial Victorian leader, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN.
