A cash for votes budget

All governments attempt to bribe electorates with their own money in the budget before an election – before pleading austerity as soon as they’re elected. The current coalition follows this well-trod pack at unprecedented scale.

Hawkes and doves

The raft of policies offered by an over-confident Bill Shorten gave the Coalition some easy targets before the last election, but Anthony Albanese’s low-key approach is proving a more difficult target for Scott Morrison to hit.

A royal commission for COVID?

A royal commission would not detract from Australia’s undoubted successes in dealing with COVID but would put us in a better position to confront a future wave or new pandemic.

Australia stumbles through omicron

Politicians across the country have been hit for six by the speed and severity of the Omicron outbreak, and hopeful rhetoric has proved no substitute for proper preparations and effective measures.

Carbon politics over policy

Scott Morrison’s new carbon plan seems more about appeasing his critics on both sides of the political spectrum than actually committing Australia to the battle against climate change.

Albanese needs to walk the talk on Labor’s integrity issue

The Labor leader has campaigned relentlessly against the government on a range of integrity issues and so to soft pedal on his party’s own ‘branch stacking’ scandal smacks of double standards and a failure of leadership.

Abbot warns of Chinese designs on Taiwan

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has warned that communist China could soon “lash out disastrously” at Taiwan.

A choppy transition from pandemic to endemic

The Victorian and New South Wales governments are looking forward to life returning to normality despite the inexorable rise of COVID infections.

Australia on the brink

Australia seemed to have coronavirus well contained, but a spate of recent outbreaks risk plunging the country into another round of lockdowns and restrictions.

The post-election reckoning ahead

The Coalition ditched its mantra of ‘fiscal responsibility’ during the pandemic, but a financial reckoning may be on the horizon – as soon as the next federal election is won.

Frydenberg shakes the money tree

In addition to the boosts to women and aged care, many individuals and businesses will be scrutinising the budget for what it says about opening Australia back to the world when the pandemic ebbs.

Federal government quashes Victoria’s foreign deals

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has used new powers to end Victoria’s controversial trade agreements with China, Syria and Iran.