Labor outlook bleak: Tanner

Phillip Coorey The former finance minister, Lindsay Tanner, says the Australian Labor Party could be entering a period of ''unprecedented bleakness'' due to a combination of factors - including the rising affluence...

Tanner denies fanning leadership row as he closes political chapter

Lenore Taylor, Phillip Coorey LINDSAY TANNER says his book criticising the Labor Party and the poll-driven ''panic'' that led to the coup against Kevin Rudd was not designed to help provoke another leadership change.

Rudd says Gillard crew needs to toughen up

Chris Johnson Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has delivered a clear message to government ministers who are angry that his time in office has been publicly defended, saying they should be tough enough to wear it.

After the tumble, and staffer bumble, she's ready to rumble

Michael Gordon A literal and metaphorical fall for Julia Gillard sees the PM starting the parliamentary year on the back foot, and in dire need of a leap of faith to retain the leadership.

Colleagues see red over Rudd's plans

Phillip Coorey THE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, has raised the ire of colleagues by proposing a democratic overhaul of the Labor Party far greater than any of the reforms being proposed at this...

Grants breaches widespread: audit

Federal bureaucrats often failed to warn ministers against approving controversial grants that could harm their political careers, an audit has found.

Audit criticises agencies' grant advice

Federal bureaucrats repeatedly failed to warn ministers against approving controversial grants that could harm their political careers, an audit has found.

Keating spits fire at ABC's Q&A

Former prime minister Paul Keating has likened ABC TV's Q&A program to the Punch and Judy show, saying he wouldn't be seen dead on it.

Ministers ignored grants guidelines

Markus Mannheim Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese approved $28 million in grants against his department's advice, and another $3 million worth of roads projects in his own electorate, in breach of government...

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Super boss defends heavy investment in shares

Ben Butler THE head of one of Australia's largest superannuation funds has defended its policy on investments amid growing criticism of funds predominantly investing their money in highly volatile sharemarkets.

Rudd was beheaded, and it was all for nothing, Tanner laments

Phillip Coorey LINDSAY TANNER attributes the coup against Kevin Rudd last year to the culture of modern-day politics in which MPs are spooked by an increasingly rapacious media cycle.

Life after the circus: Tanner on politics

Michael Gordon Former Labor Party minister Lindsay Tanner laments in his book Sideshow the demise of big issues, big ideas and big battles amid the rise of petty intrigue, gimmicks and stunts.

Big ideas forgotten as clowns take centre stage

Michael Gordon For a long time, Lindsay Tanner couldn't quite pin it down. The big changes in his life after politics were obvious enough - a four-day week, more time with his four kids, Mondays on the farm - but...

Tanner blames the media

Former federal finance minister Lindsay Tanner has launched a broadside at what he describes as the 24-hour media "carnival".

Canberra catches the travel bug … at a cost

Lucy Battersby FEDERAL public servants will spend at least $1.5 billion on airfares over three years despite attempts to reduce federal travel costs and bargain for bulk discounts, new tender documents show.

Haunted by the ghost of PM past

On Tuesday, Kevin Rudd visited the federal Labor MP, Daryl Melham, in his southern Sydney seat of Banks. Melham, in common with federal Labor MPs in the western suburbs, is in need of help.

Bandt arrives to offer advice to city candidates

THE Greens MP Adam Bandt made history at the 2010 federal election by wresting the once-safe Labor seat of Melbourne from the ALP and yesterday came to Sydney to try to help two candidates do the...

Something rotten in the state of politics, say old foes

Tom Hyland and Josh Gordon WHEN they were politicians they rarely agreed on anything. Not now. Bob Carr, Jeff Kennett and Steve Bracks; Peter Costello, Gareth Evans and Lindsay Tanner; Carmen Lawrence and Alexander Downer.

Bishop lashes cuts to Foreign Affairs

Phillip Coorey A push to cut funding to the Foreign Affairs Department to help recover revenue lost from free trade agreements makes a mockery of the government's claim to be an economic reformer, the opposition...