Coalition agrees to family tax benefit increase

Daniel Hurst The Coalition will support the planned increase in family benefit payments to replace the baby bonus, in a shift from shadow treasurer Joe Hockey's stance last week.

Coalition approves government 'raid on super'

Daniel Hurst The Coalition has waved through superannuation laws increasing taxes on high-income earners and adjusting caps on contributions that can be made at concessional rates.

NSW to Coalition: you are wrong on Gonski school funding

Daniel Hurst The NSW education minister has told his federal Coalition colleagues their key arguments against the Gonski school funding reforms are wrong.

Fast track to Australian citizenship? That's just not cricket

Daniel Hurst If Pakistani-born leg spinner Fawad Ahmed had an ace serve and a mean volley, he would probably already be an Australian citizen.

Top athletes face uneven pitch

Daniel Hurst If Pakistani-born leg spinner Fawad Ahmed (pictured) had an ace serve, he might already be an Australian citizen.

Only one in 200 sponsor companies found guilty of rorting 457 visa scheme

Daniel Hurst Just one in 200 companies that sponsor skilled foreign workers has been punished for misusing the 457 visa scheme this financial year.

With 'deep affection' Hawke remembers Hazel

Daniel Hurst Former prime minister Bob Hawke has paid tribute to his late former wife Hazel for being a ''constant support'' through difficult times.

Private teachers confused by Gonski

Daniel Hurst Private teachers are confused about how Julia Gillard's signature education reforms will affect their schools, prompting a key union to demand the government spell out clear, transparent information.

Abbott 'prays every day' for election victory

Daniel Hurst, Jonathan Swan Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has admitted he has thought about the victory speech he'd give if he wins the September election.

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Coalition in war of words on education

Daniel Hurst Prime Minister Julia Gillard's school funding reforms have ignited a war of words in Coalition ranks, with federal education spokesman Christopher Pyne claiming Premier Barry O'Farrell was ''conned''...

State 50/50 on signing for Gonski

Daniel Hurst Victoria has rated its chances of signing up to the Gonski school funding reforms as 50/50 and denied facing pressure from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to shun a deal.

School funds take a hit but the maths still point upwards

Daniel Hurst Julia Gillard's Gonski school funding reforms have the effect of reducing previously budgeted funding to schools for two years, despite her pledge to provide billions of dollars in spending increases.

Doubt on Gonski money trail as Abbott warns it's all states or bust

Daniel Hurst Funding reforms would deliver a saving to the budget bottom line in two of the next three years.

Labor tries to allay state fears of power grab

Daniel Hurst The proposed change to the constitution to recognise local government will make clear that councils remain under the watch of states, in a bid to allay fears of a Canberra power grab.

NSW could lose school cash under PM Abbott

Josephine Tovey, Daniel Hurst The federal opposition has refused to commit to allowing NSW to keep funding agreed to under the Gonski deal, a centrepiece of Tuesday's budget, if elected.

Dixon less inclined to sign on to Gonski

Jewel Topsfield, Daniel Hurst Victoria will ''totally rethink'' its approach to negotiations over school funding reforms amid concerns that the extra $2.

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NAPLAN faces scrutiny

Daniel Hurst and Josephine Tovey Concerns about NAPLAN causing too much stress for teachers and students will come under scrutiny with the Senate launching an inquiry into the national testing regime.

Coalition on the hard sell as business, unions slam IR policy

Daniel Hurst The Coalition says its new workplace relations policy shows WorkChoices is not only ''dead, buried and cremated'' but the ashes have been scattered ''and they'll never be gathered up again''.

Abbott says changes won't hurt workers

Clay Lucas, Ben Schneiders, Daniel Hurst Individual workers will be able to negotiate with their employers over hours and working conditions but only if they remain better off overall, under the opposition's new industrial relations policy.