1754 Results

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott bested the Prime Minister for media coverage this week by a wide margin. Australia has more or less made up its mind that he will be in power come September.

What do the polls really show? Plus other political views noted along the way.

The wonks, the flacks, the hacks and the headkickers — here are the people who are doing their damnedest to get Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott into the Lodge. The Power Index names the string-pullers.

Joe Hockey’s words of wisdom: “having more women in the workforce increases participation.” Plus other political views noted along the way

Income disparity is widening rapidly, particularly in Chile, Mexico, the US and Israel. Plus other political views noted along the way

No surprises to see Wayne Swan win the most media mentions in budget week. But Tony Abbott shaded the Prime Minister in the fight for attention.

A key graph from the budget papers explains the challenge Wayne Swan has faced as Treasurer — one he has failed to address despite having the power to, writes Australia Institute executive director Richard Denniss.

Is the Treasurer serious when he says he wants to spend more, tax less and get the budget back into surplus as quickly as possible? Australia Institute executive director Richard Denniss investigates.

As in previous budgets, a huge chunk of Wayne Swan’s savings are actually tax rises or the closure of tax loopholes. He’s also targeted some relatively painless areas — big companies, public servants — for squeezing.

Treasurer Wayne Swan’s 2013-14 budget reflects his time as Treasurer: great economic outcomes, but delivered in a confused and incoherent way, writes Bernard Keane.

Both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have improved their standing with voters, this week’s Essential Report reveals, but voters aren’t impressed with Abbott’s Paid Parental Leave scheme — especially Liberal voters.

Why haven’t any Australian MPs resigned since the last election? The country’s first uninterrupted Parliament in 62 years has defied all expectations. These days, MPs just won’t die.

Richard Farmer remembers the revolt Wayne Swan led against then treasurer John Dawkins, plus other political views noted along the way.

Julia Gillard probably can’t expect a late rally of support for the ALP before the election — but she can take heart that it’s not her fault

Academics at MIT are trying to make steel without greenhouse gas emissions. The Prime Minister is back to cuddling babies. And we’ve found Atlantis!

Tony Abbott is getting almost equal media time to the PM — as if he were now de facto prime minister.

The Left is dead — hopelessly lost in the minutiae of gestures, rainbow crossings, political correctness and confected outrage about the latest Geoffrey Barker piece. It’s time for the Left to think about material conditions and macroeconomics.