Asylum Seekers
Eden Parris
Asylum seekers on Nauru forced to play scapegoat
Eden Parris PM's tough rhetoric on self-harming reveals darker forces at work.
Michelle Grattan
Asylum seekers hurt by politicking
Michelle Grattan Amid political angst after the latest boat tragedy, we must face up to one reality, which is hard to accept.
Tony Wright
MPs' day of grieving: for asylum seekers lost and a Labor marriage gone cold
Tony Wright It was as awkward as an anniversary dinner for a marriage gone cold; everyone attempting desperate pleasantries until Uncle Ernie swerves two swigs over his limit and decides it's time to be frank.
It's time Abbott agrees to Labor's deal on asylum seekers
Michelle Grattan Tony Abbott's intransigence over asylum seeker policy looks more indefensible and irresponsible after the latest boat disaster.
Rachel Stevens
No, the Fraser era was not a golden age for asylum seekers
Rachel Stevens Australia's compassion towards Vietnamese boat people had its limits.
Labor punished in polls for fumbling on asylum seekers
Phillip Coorey IF the Newspoll results are correct, Labor has a right to feel a little miffed. For Malcolm Turnbull, the poll is an obvious and welcome circuit breaker.
Michelle Grattan
Rudd hostage to 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers
Michelle Grattan The Rudd Government is hostage to 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers Australia rescued, and at the mercy of increasingly obstreperous Indonesian authorities.
Gerard Henderson
Wielding the whip on asylum seekers: both sides have done it
Gerard Henderson The task facing Kevin Rudd over asylum seekers is not an easy one. Yet Rudd Labor has demonstrated its ability to run a consistent political line.
Phillip Coorey
Unconvincing acts on asylum seekers
Phillip Coorey One of the stranger moments of the US presidential election campaign in 2004 came when the Democrat candidate, John Kerry, shot a goose.
Peter Hartcher
A compassionate voice for asylum seekers
Peter Hartcher Chris Bowen has dumped the harsh rhetoric for a humane detention policy.
Nicholas Stuart
Won't someone (Billy?) come to the aid of the party?
Nicholas Stuart If anyone tells you they know who will be prime minister in a fortnight's time they are lying.
Comment
Labor needs new policies, not just a new leader
Tim Colebatch Rudd might not deserve to lead, but he would be able to make important changes.
It is time all sides work together to halt needless asylum seeker drownings
Paris Aristotle I was profoundly dismayed at hearing the news of yet another boat laden with asylum seekers capsizing north of Christmas Island.
Comment
How many more have to die before we act?
Paris Aristotle A humane plan to manage asylum seekers will elude us as long as political posturing continues.
JUNE 2013
100 days of grey
Peter Hartcher As much as our leaders would like the next 100 days to be about their policies, it will be about them - and their lack of political leadership, writes political editor Peter Hartcher.
Spin triers won't wash, say Labor plain speakers
Mark Kenny Doug Cameron isn't one to take backward steps and he wasn't doing so on Wednesday morning when he made repeated media appearances variously explaining, justifying, and validating, what looked like a...
ON THE QT
Good time to listen in naughty corner
Judith Ireland You have to feel for Anna Burke. Is there a more tedious job in Australia than being parliamentary Speaker?
Why it takes a flying crust to burst the political bubble
Jacqueline Maley Was there a harried Canberran mother who watched the news on Thursday night, or perhaps logged on to smh.com.
Joe goes into bat and is hit with a Jones bouncer
Jacqueline Maley Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey thought he was having a good week. And he was, right up until the moment he called 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones on Wednesday morning.
Why I quit the ALP
Andrew Macleod We don't need new leaders of the two main parties, we need new parties.
