The Coalition’s confusion over its fiscal policy reflects the gap between its small government rhetoric and political reality.
Tony Abbott
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Crikey’s Tony Abbott coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
Gays jilted at altar: how serious is Labor about marriage?
Marriage equality advocates have the Herculean task before them of convincing Tony Abbott of allowing a conscience vote, writes Brian Greig, former Democrats senator and gay rights campaigner.
Politicians and the awful reality of a strong dollar
For all her problems, Julia Gillard understands just how important the strong dollar will be not just for business but governments, write Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
Repealing a tax will ‘save’ $4b? Er, no, Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott is boasting of saving $4 billion, which will be long gone when he gets into office.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Rinehart might be good for Fairfax
Crikey readers have their say.
Crikey Says: Shoes over substance
Yes, we’re in. We’re falling in line with every other media schmuck today and giving the quite upmarket shoe brand some more free publicity for what is, it must be said, a genius PR move on their part.
Abbott’s nostalgia for Howard’s Oz is no basis for an economic policy
Nostalgia is a fine political tool if you can use it and half his luck if Abbott can make it work for him. But it’s no basis for an economic policy.
Cox: how about asking Tent Embassy why they’re so angry?
Why do so few of the media reporters actually ask the Aboriginal demonstrators why they are so angry with being told to change tactics?
Gillard: just a matter of when
The Australia Day debacle is emblematic of a Prime Minister who can’t take a trick.
Crikey Says: Compare and contrast
If there’s one thing that the blanket blitz of Tent Embassy coverage lacks, it’s perspective.
Tony Abbott, ordinary man extraordinaire, revisited by Michael Duffy
Michael Duffy, author of Latham and Abboott, has talked again at some length with one half of his joint biography, reports Richard Walkins.
No AFP inquiry into Australia Day protests
Crikey media wrap: The Australian Federal Police announced this morning that it will not launch an investigation into the Tent Embassy demonstration on Australia Day that resulted in Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott being evacuated from a Canberra restaurant and caused mass media hysteria.
View from the Tent Embassy: reality v news reports
The most striking factor of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy protests was the stark difference between reports of the events and the reality, writes Tracker editor Amy McQuire.
Political snippets: A plain talking politician
I rather admire Tony Abbott for not being one of those ultra cautious politicians.
Crikey Says: Choose your own angle on this Oz Day story
Like a giant national inkblot test for the nation, the “meaning” of yesterday’s events at the Lobby restaurant in Canberra is really what the observer brings to them.
Australia Day kerfuffle all about judgement, or lack thereof
Nobody came away from the Australia Day protests looking good. An angry crowd banging on windows was never going to end well and Tony Abbott’s provocative comments also showed bad judgement, writes Michael Stuchbery.
Australia Day protest no match for media hysteria
Crikey media wrap: Australia Day turned ugly in Canberra yesterday after comments by Tony Abbott incited Aboriginal Tent Embassy activists, resulting in a dramatic exit of the leaders executed by the PM’s security detail.
Wilkie’s pokies bet goes bust; Thomson enters fold
Crikey media wrap: Julia Gillard announced Andrew Wilkie’s proposed mandatory pre-commitment scheme was a loss on the weekend after it failed to get enough crossbench support. Meanwhile, embattled MP Craig Thomson has entered the pokies debate.
Sydney heavies finally step up on pokies reform
Julia Gillard and responsible minister Jenny Macklin, the two Victorian ladies of the Left, seemed genuinely committed to pokies reform before this week’s confusing antics.
Essential: warmer months but voters still cold on leaders
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott both finish the Summer break with marginal improvements in their voter standing, but the political landscape is essentially unchanged.
podcast Canberra Calling: The Rewound and Fast Forwarded New Year Podcast
In the first Canberra Calling for 2012, Crikey’s Canberra Correspondent Bernard Keane and Crikey deputy editor Jason Whittaker look back at the year in Australian politics and what is in store for 2012.
Keane’s 2011: year of the flake
Politics in 2011 was characterised by an intense dislike of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, and rampant denialism.
Asylum seekers: finding a Political Solution
Crikey media wrap: The Gillard government appeared willing to negotiate its Malaysia Solution even before the latest boat tragedy but the Opposition refuses to compromise on its asylum seeker policy, according to private letters released yesterday.
The 2011 Crikeys: our best and worst politicians
Who are our best and worst political performers for the year? The award goes to …
Crikey Says: Crikey says: and the best politician of 2011 goes to …
Today we kick off the 2011 Crikeys with our Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane’s wrap of the best and worst from our politicians in 2011.
