Jessica Wright

Gillard rallies 'frontline troops' for election

Jessica Wright Prime Minister Julia Gillard rallies Labor election candidates, telling them they're the frontline troops who will take the government's message to the Australian people.

The long goodbye: Roxon and Evans call it quits

Mark Kenny and Jessica Wright Prime Minister Julia Gillard capped the third day of her self-declared election campaign with the resignation of two key frontbenchers, leaving her to fend off accusations Labor was spinning out of...

Labor in crisis: Gillard on back foot after ministers quit

Mark Kenny, Jessica Wright The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, capped the third day of her election campaign with the resignation of two frontbenchers, leaving her to fend off accusations Labor was spinning out of control.

Gillard's new front bench

Jessica Wright Prime Minister Julia Gillard has reshuffled her front bench following the shock resignations of two of labor’s most senior Cabinet ministers, marking a chaotic start to the government's parliamentary...

Cabinet reshuffle: Roxon and Evans out, Bowen, Dreyfus in

Jessica Wright Prime Minister Julia Gillard has reshuffled her front bench following the shock resignations of two of labor's most senior cabinet ministers, marking a chaotic start to the government's parliamentary...

Gillard in turmoil

Mark Kenny and Jessica Wright The Gillard government’s turbulent start to the new parliamentary year continues with the shock resignation of two of Labor’s most senior Cabinet ministers, the Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and the...

Roxon, Evans shock resignations prompt cabinet reshuffle

Mark Kenny and Jessica Wright The Gillard government's turbulent start to the new parliamentary year continues with the shock resignation of two of Labor's most senior Cabinet ministers.

Holiday bonus for home owners

Jessica Wright Australian mortgage holders have escaped more than $21 billion in extra interest payments this year, according to new Treasury data obtained by Fairfax Media.

Gillard worried about Slipper

Jessica Wright, Cosima Marriner In a warning aimed at negative political campaigns, the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has aired her concern at the emotional toll faced by Peter Slipper in the fallout from the speaker affair.

Pollies holiday at home as junkets are junked

Jessica Wright A crackdown on political junkets and taxpayer-funded overseas jaunts will mean a big rise in the number of MPs and senators holidaying at home this year.

Home sweet home for our politicians

Jessica Wright Crackdown on political junkets and luxurious taxpayer-funded overseas jaunts will see a sharp increase in MPs holidaying in their own backyard this year.

Liberals slap social media gag on MPs

Jessica Wright Coalition backbench MPs under pressure to close their Twitter and other social media accounts.

Former boyfriend defends Prime Minister

Jessica Wright Julia Gillard's former boyfriend and one time Australian Workers Union boss Bruce Wilson has broken his silence on the 17-year-old union slush fund saga declaring the Prime Minister has "absolutely...

'I hope to be Australia's first female foreign minister'

Jessica Wright Julie Bishop says she wants the foreign affairs gig in a Liberal government and gives Tony Abbott her full support. But seeing Bishop in action there's little doubt she could handle the top job.

Temporary visa bill from opposition

Jessica Wright and Nick Ralston LEGISLATION to reintroduce temporary protection visas will be tabled this week in the Federal Parliament by the opposition, which is seeking to put its stamp on Labor's flagging asylum seeker policy.

Coalition plans to send uni students for a year's study in Asia

Jessica Wright Thousand of university students would spend at least one year of their degree on an exchange program at an Asian university under a new Coalition plan to cement Australia's place in Asia.

Swan in rare praise of Rudd

Jessica Wright NINE months after Wayne Swan described Kevin Rudd as a Labor saboteur in a blistering attack at the height of the leadership contest in February, the Treasurer has paid tribute to the former prime...

Litany of major pledges axed to keep surplus

Jessica Wright The Gillard government's year of ''decision and delivery'' has been followed by 12 months of what could best be described as ''decision to dump''.

Carr urges restraint in Middle East

Jessica Wright Israel and Palestine are teetering on the brink of a full-scale war and both sides must pull back before tensions boil over completely, Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr has warned.

Eight more asylum seekers sent home

Jessica Wright Another eight Sri Lankan asylum seekers who arrived in Australia by boat, including five who were housed on Nauru, have been returned home at their own request.