Australia
Sunshine House becomes lost in the sleazy shadows
Peter Costello A minority government protects conduct that should not be tolerated.
Grumpy pollies more than one can bear
Judith Ireland National Simultaneous Storytime may sound like a parent's worst nightmare, but it is actually an initiative to promote literacy.
By accident or design, Labor's legacy of bad planning lives on
Elizabeth Farrelly As a primate of signal curiosity I often feel like some urban fringe dweller, guddling about in the detritus of the culture industry, feeling with my fingerless gloves for gleams of truth or...
A new rort claim, and Parliament's reputation falls further
Josh Gordon Our politicians continue to give us reasons to not believe in them.
Problems take back seat to the farce
Barnaby Joyce Sometimes the whole political creature gets so fascinated with its own navel, the media staring intently full frontal at it as well, that frustration in the suburbs and the regions goes from anger to...
What may thwart PM Abbott
John Warhurst Recent elections in France and Greece raise a complex question - radical change after an election versus negotiated continuity, which resonates in Australia.
Radioactive game of passing the parcel
Richard Broinowski Reports indicate France is soon to return reprocessed nuclear waste generated at Lucas Heights to Australia.
Lost in a frontier fantasy
Jeff Lewis THE closest many of us in the eastern states have come to the mining boom is its statistical reassurance.
No hidden deal, just mutual respect
Daniel Flitton Yikes! A politician being 'tricky with the truth'. Who would have thought it?
Deportee belongs back in Australia
Jason Pobjoy Labor can add meeting human rights obligations to its list of broken promises.
Australia no longer a middle power
Nicholas Stuart Tonight's budget is going to have to slash away at government programs across the board if it's going to meet Wayne Swan's objective of returning to surplus.
Politics turns gays into black sheep of Australia's family
Steve Dow Christine Forster and Carl Katter may have not appreciated it as they watched their siblings take political power in Australia, but divine guidance means their blood ties count for little.
Where does Anzac Day fit in a culturally diverse Australia?
Tim Soutphommasane When you adopt a national identity you inherit a tradition.
Deja vu as Australia returns from smoko for Asian century
The Gillard government has commissioned the former treasury secretary Ken Henry to report on Australia and the Asian century. Our trade with China, Japan, India and other Asian countries is booming.
Labor's Carr trick brings Australia within a whisker of US cabinet model
Peter Costello A big difference between Australian government and the US's is the way a cabinet is chosen. The US president can choose from an unlimited pool - a Wall Street executive to become treasurer; a retired...
Australia gambling big on hopes high mineral prices will last
Tim Colebatch Recession is a risk in the slow lane of the two-speed economy.
There is no compelling explanation for Australia's UN bid
Raoul Heinrichs Let's rethink our quest for a non-permanent UN seat, writes Raoul Heinrichs.
Australia as the bad neighbour
Daniel Flitton No matter who ultimately prevails from the present political ruckus - be it Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott - the Australian prime minister needs to do a repair job with countries in the...
Did the real Julia come out in the Australia Day fracas?
Tim Lester Julia Gillard needs a pivotal moment.
Why we need to find a new date for Australia Day
Martin Flanagan WHAT happened in Canberra on Thursday was doubly unfortunate. The image, on Australia Day, of an Australian prime minister being bundled towards her car looking harassed in response to a perceived...
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