Nick Minchin acted to gag the Australian National Audit Office. So did Robert Ray, writes David MacCormack.
The new Government’s first few months have been marked by an unexpected political adroitness. But the Garnaut review and the Government’s response come with altogether higher political stakes than we’ve seen so far – not to mention the rather acute real-world consequences, writes David MacCormack.
The Coalition's decision to ditch AWAs is the smartest move they've made since the election, writes David MacCormack.
The first Estimates hearings of the new Government was always going to have a surreal air, writes David MacCormack.
One suspects that in years to come, Brendan Nelson's speech in reply to the Prime Minister's apology to the Stolen Generations will be known chiefly for how it was jeered and rejected. Such an outcome is unfair on him and unfair on the Coalition, writes David MacCormack.
Brendan Nelson’s reply was a curious affair. Doubtless many people won’t be happy with it but it seemed to come as close as possible to reconciling the (quite irreconcilable) views of reactionaries and progressives in the ranks behind him, writes David MacCormack.
Joe Hockey’s confected outrage over the Government’s plans for Parliament and its consultation with the Opposition on the wording of the apology is hilarious, writes David MacCormack.
apology to the Stolen Generations on Wednesday is already turning into a sort of National White Guilt Day, with live coverage, big screens being set up outdoors, BBQs and dancing, classes being stopped and demands for a public holiday, writes David MacCormack. .
If WorkChoices is dead, Julie Bishop is Dr Frankenstein. She's got the corpse on a table and is going to keep working feverishly until new life flows through its cold, hard veins, writes David macCormack.
To its credit, the Government's first go at finding savings in the Coalition's expenditure has scored a direct hit in the pork barrel. But Kevin Rudd's economic conservatism is still subordinate to his political conservatism, writes David MacCormack.