Abbott demotes staffer after threat

Mark Kenny Tony Abbott has been forced to demote his director of policy, Mark Roberts, after the top-level staff member threatened to use his position in a future Abbott government to ensure a cut in funding to...

PM to go one-on-one with premiers for schools deal

Mark Kenny and Tim Colebatch Julia Gillard's massive $14.5 billion school funding package has been rebuffed by all states and territories forcing the self-styled ''education'' Prime Minister to go to plan B: protracted...

PM to launch into shuttle diplomacy on school funding

Mark Kenny Julia Gillard's $14.5 billion school funding package has been rebuffed by all states and territories, forcing the self-styled ''education'' Prime Minister to go to plan B: protracted one-on-one...

Abbott demotes policy director who made threat

Mark Kenny Tony Abbott has been forced to demote his director of policy, Mark Roberts, after the top-level staffer threatened to use his position in a future Abbott government to ensure a cut in funding to an...

PM fails to reach deal with states on Gonski reforms

Daniel Hurst and Mark Kenny Prime Minister Julia Gillard has failed to reach a breakthrough on school funding reforms in her talks with state and territory leaders.

Gillard signals flexibility on Gonski deals

Mark Kenny Julia Gillard is standing firm on her signature school reforms despite not one state committing to the multibillion-dollar joint funding agreement.

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Gillard's support slumps further

Mark Kenny Support for Prime Minister Julia Gillard's government has slumped further since she vanquished her leadership rival Kevin Rudd, a new poll shows.

Good news can't stop PM's slump

Mark Kenny Support for Prime Minister Julia Gillard's government has slumped further since she vanquished her leadership rival Kevin Rudd, a poll shows.

Flatlining

Mark Kenny Federal Labor and Julia Gillard have experienced no improvement in the latest Fairfax/Nielsen poll, despite seeing off Kevin Rudd.

Gillard's diplomatic triumphs have come all too late

Mark Kenny The PM didn't relish a foreign affairs role, but she has excelled as a stateswoman.

PM solved Rubik's Cube of diplomacy but won't get credit

Mark Kenny It has been said before that if it weren't for bad luck, Julia Gillard would probably have no luck at all.

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Gillard lands a big one with China deal

Mark Kenny Australia and China have formally committed to new annual leadership talks giving Canberra greater access than the Asian superpower has granted to virtually any other Western nation.

Gillard scores coup with China agreement

Mark Kenny Australia and China have formally committed to annual leadership talks, giving Canberra greater access than the superpower has granted virtually any other Western nation.

Australia, China in strategic talks

Mark Kenny and John Garnaut, Shanghai Australia and China have agreed to top-level talks to strengthen and provide direction to an economically crucial relationship that also presents vast opportunities.

Opportunity knocks with new leaders' forum with China

Mark Kenny, John Garnaut in Shanghai Australia and China have agreed to top level strategic talks to strengthen and provide direction to an economically crucial relationship which also presents vast opportunities.

Joyce's China trade comments ''reckless''

Mark Kenny and John Garnaut, Shanghai, China The Gillard government has again hit out strongly at the opposition, branding its foreign investment policies as ''reckless and against the national interests''.

Move to boost links with China's growing market

Mark Kenny A new campaign to promote Australian tourism, trade and investment opportunities in the rapidly growing Chinese market is planned for Shanghai following the success of the ''G'Day USA'' program.

Gillard urges closer Asian ties to ease tensions

John Garnaut and Mark Kenny The consequences of major power conflict in the Asia Pacific are becoming increasingly severe, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Abbott an 'economic simpleton', says PM

Mark Kenny, John Garnaut Prime Minister Julia Gillard has lashed out at the opposition, branding leader Tony Abbott an ''economic simpleton'' and its positions on foreign investment and superannuation tax changes crazy and...

Gillard set to raise Korean missile crisis in Asia talks

Mark Kenny Hainan, China: Julia Gillard plans to sidestep protocol to directly raise the security crisis on the Korean peninsula on Saturday in a speech to Asian leaders normally confined to resolving trade,...