When Tony met Clive: the birth of a political bromance

Judith Ireland At first glance, an independent country MP known for his no-frills approach and a billionaire mining magnate who wants to rebuild the Titanic may not seem to have much in common.

Calibre of policy tainted by the same old pair of specs

Judith Ireland The venture was ostensibly about the Coalition’s good deeds and efforts towards the national disability insurance scheme.

Windsor ready to help Palmer register party

Judith Ireland Independent MP Tony Windsor may consider trying to register Clive Palmer's United Australia Party himself, if it turns out there is a conspiracy afoot to prevent Mr Palmer from using the name.

Councils to spend $10m on referendum

Heath Aston and Judith Ireland Councils will spend $10 million trying to convince Australians to recognise local government in the constitution in a bid to guarantee their funding supply lines from Canberra.

Warning over 'truncated' run to referendum

Heath Aston, Judith Ireland Councils will spend $10 million to convince Australians to recognise local government in the constitution in a bid to guarantee their funding supply lines from Canberra.

Councils referendum to be put to voters at poll

Judith Ireland Australians will have an extra vote to cast on September 14, after the Gillard government confirmed that it would hold a referendum on the Constitutional recognition of local government along with...

Top parental leave rate pie in sky for most

Stephanie Peatling, Judith Ireland Only small number of women would be eligible for maximum rate under Coalition's scheme.

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Coalition pressed on parental leave price tag

Judith Ireland Shadow assistant treasurer Mathias Cormann has brushed away claims the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme would cost about $5 billion a year, more than was estimated at the last election, saying...

Family benefits cash promise derailed by falling revenue

Judith Ireland The Gillard government will not go ahead with a family benefits boost that would have provided a maximum of $600 extra a year to eligible Australian families, as it signals that the budget faces a...

Federal budget takes $17 billion hit

Judith Ireland The Gillard government will not go ahead with a family benefits boost that would have provided a maximum of $600 extra a year to eligible Australian families, as it signals that the budget faces a...

Missing Holocaust hero honoured with Australian citizenship

Judith Ireland A Swedish diplomat who led a rescue operation to save nearly 100,000 Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary has been recognised as the first honorary Australian citizen.

Man who rescued Jews becomes Australia's first honorary citizen

Judith Ireland A Swedish diplomat who led a rescue operation to save nearly 100,000 Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary has been recognised as the first honorary Australian citizen.

Upbeat Palmer launches campaign to rule the nation

Judith Ireland Mining magnate Clive Palmer plans to run candidates for his revamped United Australia Party in all lower house and Senate seats in the federal election, but Australian National University emeritus...

Palmer's party a 'welcome' addition to political landscape

Judith Ireland Katter’s Australian Party is welcoming Clive Palmer’s new party with open arms, describing it as a ‘‘strengthening of forces’’ against the Labor Party and the Coalition.

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Nelson seeks private funds to realise grand plans for memorial

Judith Ireland The director of the Australian War Memorial, Brendan Nelson, is courting corporate and private donors in a bid to see his ambitious plans for the memorial realised.

They flocked to remember the fallen

Judith Ireland Record crowds have turned out to commemorate Anzac Day at dawn services around Australia.

Nelson courts corporates for memorial donations

Judith Ireland New Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson is courting corporate and private donors in a bid to see his ambitious plans for the memorial realised.

Gillard makes new senior appointment

Judith Ireland Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that an advisor in her office has been appointed as head of the Office of National Assessments for five years.

Bonus to pollies' staff 'not about poll'

Judith Ireland Special Minister of State Mark Dreyfus has defended his decision to extend the redundancy payment for political staff by two weeks, describing it as ''appropriate'' and nothing to do with the...