Public service told to prepare for March poll

Chris Johnson The Canberra bureaucracy is being primed for a federal election to be possibly held early next year.

Abbott: I won't use gender and class to divide nation

Chris Johnson Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has accused Prime Minister Julia Gillard of trying to divide Australia with gender and class wars.

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Women congregate to celebrate ordination

Chris Johnson There are only three female bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia and this week they are in Canberra celebrating what they and other women priests have achieved over the past 20 years.

Understanding mental health problems can benefit workplace productivity

Chris Johnson The head of the union movement and a former Liberal Party chief minister will appear on a unity ticket over industrial relations during addresses to be delivered at the National Press Club on...

War Memorial rejects honour request for peacekeepers

Chris Johnson Peacekeepers will not be included for now on the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour despite a petition signed by more than 17,800 people calling for them to be remembered alongside other...

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Tent embassy fighter known for passion

Chris Johnson Australia is mourning the death of one of the nation's leading indigenous rights campaigners.

Parliament overlooked cyclone Tracy hero Stretton

Chris Johnson The recent death of the man who led the recovery effort after cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin in 1974 was not noted in Federal Parliament, even though a condolence motion or ministerial statement was...

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Abbott shifts attack to surplus forecast

Chris Johnson Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has turned his focus away from the carbon tax and is attacking the government over its forecast budget surplus.

PM silent on McKew's claims of disloyalty

Chris Johnson Prime Minister Julia Gillard is refusing to buy into the debate about the removal of her predecessor but Kevin Rudd wants those involved in the 2010 coup against him to come clean about the roles...

Big picture: Australia in Asia in 2025

Chris Johnson The white paper says that one third of board members of Australia's top 200 publicly listed companies and Commonwealth bodies will have "deep experience in and knowledge of Asia".

Lawyer questions media presence

Chris Johnson The lawyer of suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson is outraged that the media appeared to have been alerted to a raids on the MP's home before it occurred.

Chris Johnson

Swan's $16b target to ensure surplus

Chris Johnson Baby bonus payments, private health insurance rebates and the budget surplus target have all been cut, but there is no slashing of public service jobs in the government's latest economic update.

Fair Work Australia's civil case threat to Thomson's career

Chris Johnson Suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson hopes civil charges brought against him by Fair Work Australia will be thrown out of court but if they are not, bankruptcy could force the independent out of...

It's time to move past sexism talk, MPs say

Chris Johnson Government ministers have urged all MPs to get back to discussing policy instead of the name-calling that has dominated parliamentary debate in recent months.

Sexism 'on rise' since Gillard PM

Chris Johnson Parliament's new Speaker, Anna Burke, believes the arrival of Australia's first female Prime Minister has given rise to an ugly and sexist element in society.

Slipper takes his revenge on opposition

Chris Johnson Former Speaker Peter Slipper has already exercised his newfound power as an independent MP by voting with Labor to change standing orders against the wishes of the Coalition.

Slipper exits as tempers flare

Chris Johnson The Government is in damage control following dramatic scenes in Parliament yesterday that resulted in Speaker Peter Slipper's resignation and the Prime Minister mounting an extraordinary defence in...

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.

Milne targets miners, rich in tax campaign

Chris Johnson Greens leader Christine Milne wants mining companies and rich people to pay more tax.

Abbott under fire for use of Bali Memorial Garden

Chris Johnson Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been accused of politicising victims of terrorism by staging a press conference in Parliament House's Bali Memorial Garden.