Strategy to win hearts and minds cautiously received

Deborah Snow and David Wroe Defence white papers only come along every few years and Friday's - just the second since 2000 - was pitched carefully to a domestic as well as an international audience.

Bid to foil North Korea's nuclear ambitions

David Wroe Australia will urge China this week to clamp down on the flow of technology and equipment crossing its borders into North Korea that could be used by the rogue nation in its nuclear weapons program.

Australia urges tighter ban on North Korea

David Wroe Australia will urge China this week to clamp down on the flow of technology and equipment crossing its borders into North Korea that could be used by the rogue nation in its nuclear weapons program.

Danger does not compute in cyber war

David Wroe The number of serious cyber attacks investigated by Canberra's defence spy agency doubled last year, new figures show, as security experts warn of dangerous complacency in the Australian community...

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Abbott's first pitch evokes memories of a leader from the past

David Wroe Tony Abbott made two things clear in his response to Julia Gillard's surprise election announcement: one, he's all about positivity, and two, he means to be John Howard II.

PM blasts Liberals on voluntary voting

David Wroe Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accused the Liberal Party of trying to make democracy ''the plaything of cashed-up interest groups'' after the Queensland government opened the door to the abolition...

Australia pulls back in Afghanistan, Timor

Ben Doherty, David Wroe Australian troops have withdrawn from all forward operating bases and patrol bases in Uruzgan, and handed over control of security in the province to Afghan forces.

Newman reverses ban on uranium

David Wroe Queensland government overturns decades-long ban as conservationists attack move as a broken promise.

Murray plan to launch a new wave of brawls

David Wroe, Tom Arup The Gillard government faces a fresh brawl with the eastern states over its Murray-Darling basin plan after yesterday placating South Australia with a $1.

Greens on mission to save iconic sites

David Wroe Christine Milne has said the mining boom amounts to 'liquidating the environment'.

Forces hunt rogue Afghan soldier

Dylan Welch, David Wroe The hunt for the rogue Afghan soldier who mowed down five Australian soldiers, killing three, continues as Julia Gillard described as ''ugly language'' a comment by independent Andrew Wilkie that she...

PM deflects 'blood on hands' jibe from Wilkie

Dylan Welch, David Wroe THE hunt for the rogue Afghan soldier who mowed down five Australian soldiers, killing three, continued yesterday as Julia Gillard described as ''ugly language'' a comment by the independent MP...

Footage of derelict sites shot to deter boats

David Wroe THE Immigration Department has been gathering footage on Nauru and Manus Island for ''confronting'' videos aimed at discouraging asylum seekers from getting on boats - even though the facilities...

Fed, Qld govts at odds over reef impact

David Wroe Gina Rinehart's $6.4 billion Alpha coal mine faces delays after becoming caught in a ''green tape'' battle between the federal and Queensland governments over the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

Mine threat to Barrier Reef: PM

David Wroe Gina Rinehart's $6.4 billion Alpha coal mine faces delays after becoming caught in a 'green-tape' battle between the federal and Queensland governments.

Gillard looks to next generation as she greets one of China's rising stars

Daniel Flitton, David Wroe THE Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said there was ''significant scope'' for Australia and China to expand their economic co-operation as she hosted Chinese political high-flyer Wang Yang in Sydney.

Massive marine reserves created

David Wroe Australia is to establish the world's largest network of marine reserves, which will ring the country and cover more than three million square kilometres of waters to protect reefs and marine life,...

Pokie reform going ahead, says Wilkie

Andrew Darby, David Wroe THE pokies-reform MP Andrew Wilkie has brushed aside doubts about the government's commitment to tackling problem gambling, insisting that reforms to limit pokie losses will materialise.

Straight talk over gay issues on menu

David Wroe Gay marriage proved a headache for Julia Gillard at her party's conference in December. But in the current climate, she just might be relieved to talk on a subject that doesn't involve her foreign...

Quick move to show policy differences

Bianca Hall, David Wroe In a bid to start distinguishing himself from Julia Gillard on policies and ideas, Kevin Rudd yesterday made a pitch to colleagues and the nation on the economy, education and health.