'Behaviour' rules vilify asylum seekers - Lib

Lenore Taylor, Judith Ireland A Liberal backbencher has accused his party of ''vilifying'' asylum seekers after the Coalition immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, called for ''behaviour protocols'' for those released into the...

Coalition calls for freeze on bridging visas

Judith Ireland The Opposition wants a review after a man on a bridging visa was charged with indecent assault.

Judith Ireland

Ministers defend Gillard's decision to go west

Judith Ireland Labor frontbenchers have defended Julia Gillard's plan to go west next week, despite eyebrows being raised about her five-day blitz in key Sydney electorates.

PM moves into western Sydney in 'burb blitz

Judith Ireland Prime Minister Julia Gillard is set to swap her harbour-side pad in Kirribilli for a hotel in western Sydney next week, as she goes on a five-day blitz of marginal seats in the area.

States' 'argy-bargy' won't stop Gonski: PM

Judith Ireland Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she has the political will to secure the Gonski education reforms, despite ''argy bargy'' from the states over the proposed changes to schools funding.

First national children's commissioner appointed

Judith Ireland Megan Mitchell has been appointed as the first National Children’s Commissioner.

Xenophon turns to Hollywood for pointers on Labor leadership

Judith Ireland The long dresses and long acceptance speeches of the Oscars may seem a world a way from Canberra, but independent MP Nick Xenophon can see some similarities.

Poll a 'wake-up call' for Labor

Judith Ireland The latest poll results are a ''wake-up call'' for Labor, says frontbencher Simon Crean, who concedes that the party cannot ''gild the lily'' about the figures.

Malaysia defends deportation

Judith Ireland Independent Senator Nick Xenophon was denied entry to Kuala Lumpur because he had participated in an illegal street protest, according to the Malaysian government.

Xenophon relieved to be back in Australia

Judith Ireland The independent senator Nick Xenophon is ''very relieved'' to be back in Australia after being detained in and deported from Malaysia, where he was deemed to be a ''security threat''.

'Relieved' Xenophon returns

Judith Ireland Independent senator Nick Xenophon has arrived back in Australia, after being detained in and then deported from Malaysia, where he was deemed a ‘security risk’.

Rudd doesn't want top job

Judith Ireland Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has said it is time the Labor leadership debate was put into ‘cryogenic storage’, declaring he has no ambition to return to the top job.

Judith Ireland

A bore-draw as parties keep going through the motions

Judith Ireland My mother told me that only boring people get bored. So I have always been at pains to never be bored about anything. Not even watching paint grow.

Love is all around, and Rudd gets the roses

Judith Ireland When is a leak not a leak?

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Thomson criminal case halts parliamentary inquiry

Judith Ireland A parliamentary committee has suspended its inquiry into whether independent MP Craig Thomson misled parliament, former attorney-general Nicola Roxon told Parliament on Thursday.

Abbott's dam plan 'completely wild'

Jonathan Swan, Judith Ireland Environment Minister Tony Burke has slammed the Coalition’s leaked draft dams policy as ‘‘incoherent’’ and ‘‘completely wild’’.

All the world's a stage as Heff takes a cultural stance, while Mal goes global

Judith Ireland Labor's much anticipated National Cultural Policy has an ''expected'' release date of ''early 2013''.

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Parliament's little games so taxing for the PM

Judith Ireland Pope Benedict XVI's decision to step away from the Popemobile was met with surprise as well as understanding around the world. If one can't retire at 85, how could there possibly be a God?

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Rudd: history to judge mining tax

Judith Ireland THE former prime minister Kevin Rudd has made a thinly veiled criticism of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, over the mining tax, which he says has not raised ''any...