Michelle Grattan

Michelle Grattan is the political editor of The Age. In 2008, she shared the Melbourne Press Club Lifetime Achievement Award with Laurie Oakes. She edited the books 'Reconciliation' and 'Australian Prime Ministers' (2000), and wrote 'Back on the Wool Track' (2004).

All eyes south as states vote to put federal pollies in a spin

Michelle Grattan VOTERS distinguish between state and federal elections but state results have federal implications and feed into the psychological battle in Canberra.

Cautionary tale of two policies

Michelle Grattan The political battle is currently raging over two huge reform plans: Kevin Rudd's proposal for Canberra to become the major funder of the nation's hospitals, and Tony Abbott's $2.

Abbott lets fly from left field ... and gets caught out

Michelle Grattan Tony Abbott has done himself harm with his left-field proposal for an extra tax on bigger companies to pay for his parental leave plan.

Following in Turnbull's erring footsteps

Michelle Grattan Tony Abbott's party room has given him a sharp reminder that next time he wants to crash through the plate glass, he should warn his colleagues.

A dose of political reality may undo that Ruddy glow

Michelle Grattan Kevin Rudd has put forward a bold but measured plan for hospitals reform, but he will have an uphill battle to translate it into reality.

Federalism turns on financial carrots and Canberra's big stick

Michelle Grattan There are a couple of iron laws of Australian federalism. First, whatever the rhetoric from either side of politics, power is moving inexorably towards Canberra.

Ruddy spell required to sell Labor's healthy approach

Michelle Grattan It helped Gough Whitlam to power and it worked for Bob Hawke. Health reform has been Labor's great strength and its political security blanket.

Labor in box seat, but Abbott will be smiling

Michelle Grattan The messages from the Age/Nielsen poll are mixed.

PM bares himself for a flogging, and may get it

Michelle Grattan Kevin Rudd has donned the hair-shirt in a tack that will leave many of his colleagues wondering exactly where his head is at.

Rudd must cop some blame

Michelle Grattan When pressed on where the buck eventually stops in the insulation fiasco, Kevin Rudd yesterday did not point to the embattled Peter Garrett.

Rudd rides in to save the day

Michelle Grattan Kevin Rudd is sending his caucus into the community as an army of atonement, with the message that the government is in the problem-solving business.

It was only so long that PM could stand by his man

Michelle Grattan The Clayton's sacking of Peter Garrett means the government is seen to act, while avoiding giving Tony Abbott a prized scalp.

Burning the Midnight Oil but still insulated

Michelle Grattan Peter Garrett is the frontbencher who shrinks and shrinks, but survives in part because of his iconic status.

Sick system offers PM healthy trigger for double dissolution

Michelle Grattan IF VOTERS have cooled on the issue of climate change since the 2007 election, health has, if anything, intensified as one of their big concerns – especially in NSW.

My School criticism fails test

Michelle Grattan Education unions have picked the wrong fight. Parents will soon take for granted the website's accessible information.

Shift in focus risky for Abbott

Michelle Grattan In promising to change ''the balance'' in industrial relations, Tony Abbott is deserting the political rule of thumb he has set for himself.

PM rattled in psychological battle

Michelle Grattan Tony Abbott might have sounded unsympathetic to the homeless in a speech last week but they seem to have done pretty well out of him.

Can Abbott control IR monster?

Michelle Grattan If you are Liberal leader, there are two ways of looking at WorkChoices. The most obvious is that it was a monster that did the Coalition in and must never be allowed to rise from the dead - so the...