Steve Fielding
Why On Earth? Steve Fielding
Family First Party Senator Steve Fielding is questioned on Telstra and his IQ to that of an earthworm.
When political stunts go bad
Phillip Thomson They are the political high wire acts devised to win public support. But it often ends disastrously with a political staffer weeping in the background
Misha Schubert
Pollies tweet-talk electors
It's the new doorknock. Where once a politician might have turned up at your house or gotten a line on the nightly television news, these days they're just as keen to get into your Facebook feed or...
Unis plan for more life on campus with return of fees
Dan Harrison UNIVERSITIES are promising more vibrant campuses and expanded support services after the compulsory student amenities fee is reintroduced next year.
Glad rags and ballot gags, but grey hairs banished in new-look Senate
With their suits starched and hair freshly dyed and coiffed, the Senate has welcomed its 12 newest members.
New senators sworn in
With their suits starched and hair freshly dyed and coiffed, the Senate has welcomed its 12 newest members.
This time with meaning: Abbott renews calls for carbon tax vote
Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott has repeated a call for a plebiscite on the carbon tax despite the move being sunk last month as a stunt.
Abbott renews plebiscite push
Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott has repeated a call for a plebiscite on the carbon tax despite the move being sunk last month as a stunt.
Green tide washes into the red-seated chamber
Phillip Coorey WHEN Parliament resumes on Monday, there will be nine Australian Greens in the Senate, equalling the minor party record set by the Australian Democrats after the 1998 election.
Upper house gets a facelift
Jessica Wright IN A year of extraordinary events, the nation is about to witness yet another significant slice of Australian political history.
Fielding dumped as White Balloon patron
Richard Willingham Family First Senator, and sexual abuse survivor Steve Fielding, has been dumped as the patron of White Balloon Day, an awareness campaign for child sexual abuse victims, on his last day in...
Fielding's last stand is to vote down plebiscite
Phillip Coorey THE Family First senator Steve Fielding has left Parliament so opposed to Tony Abbott that the Coalition was accusing the government yesterday of secretly offering him a job.
Work with me: PM's appeal to MPs and business
Phillip Coorey JULIA GILLARD reached out to her own MPs and the business community yesterday, urging patience and co-operation, as the government seeks to reverse its flagging fortunes.
Abbott carbon vote hits dead end
Both houses of parliament appear set to reject a plan by the opposition for a plebiscite on the carbon tax.
Kiwis seek carbon pact as Abbott pins hopes on plebiscite
Phillip Coorey THE Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, pressed ahead with plans to scuttle the government's climate change policy last night as the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, talked up an Australian scheme...
Libs to torpedo exit fee ban
Jessica Wright A BAN on bank exit fees by the federal government is in jeopardy because the Coalition is planning a last-minute political tactic in the Senate to scrap it.
Opposition wants tighter voting control
The Opposition is calling for tighter controls on voting after nearly 30,000 potential cases of multiple voting were identified at the last federal election.
Joke's on you: April Fools' Day too much for senator
Richard Willingham OUTGOING Victorian Senator Steve Fielding has launched an ambitious plan to ban the telling of lies on April 1 to help stem the ‘‘ever-growing annual tradition of playing practical jokes on less...
Xenophon wants levy inquiry
Phillip Coorey CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT THE government faces a wait of another month before learning the fate of its flood levy.
Constitution test in hands of crossbench
Dan Harrison EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT THE federal Coalition hopes to make history today by taking advantage of Labor's lack of a majority in either chamber of Parliament to force it to relax youth allowance eligibility for regional...
