Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan is the political editor of The Age. In 2008, she shared the Melbourne Press Club Lifetime Achievement Award with Laurie Oakes. She edited the books 'Reconciliation' and 'Australian Prime Ministers' (2000), and wrote 'Back on the Wool Track' (2004).
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.
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.
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.
Michelle Grattan
Surplus swansong leaves Labor in stormy waters
Michelle Grattan Wayne Swan's ditching of the promise the government made in 2010 - is a difficult and humiliating backflip. It is a broken promise of the first order.
Michelle Grattan
Bowen policy to deter boats laden with risks
Michelle Grattan Chris Bowen was guest speaker at the federal parliamentary press gallery dinner last night. He had been asked to address the function when it was set for early in the year, but it had to be deferred.
Michelle Grattan
Wrapped in polls, Gillard defies the 'killing season'
Michelle Grattan This will be a bruising parliamentary week, the last of an extraordinary and draining year that has strained voters' tolerance of politicians to the max.
Michelle Grattan
PM, Abbott on a steep foreign learning curve
Michelle Grattan Gillard is a quick study in foreign affairs, but Abbott has a way to go.
Michelle Grattan
Battle of boats outcome still in balance
Michelle Grattan Will the Pacific solution mark II work? The short answer is, it's too soon to judge.
Michelle Grattan
Dangerous days, for refugees and the government
Michelle Grattan Labor is desperately hoping the boats will now stop and the issue will lose its potency.
Michelle Grattan
It's only right, says voice from left
Michelle Grattan Melissa Parke's low-key style is very different from more familiar, high-profile left operators.
Michelle Grattan
A flawed Malaysia deal would surely be a lesser evil than losing more lives
Michelle Grattan I strongly opposed the Pacific Solution, and aspects of the Malaysia swap plan are also abhorrent, but so many people are dying we have to act now.
Abbott's positive hitch
Michelle Grattan The point is Abbott knows that many people feel either that they don't have a handle on him or, worse, that they dislike or even fear him.
Michelle Grattan
Labor playing with fire in its rush to burn the Green witch
Michelle Grattan Suddenly Labor, or at least many in it, have decided they must burn the Green witch. Prominent players have been stoking the fire all week, tossing the vitriol like kindling onto the pyre.
Michelle Grattan
Abbott's strength, Gillard's weakness
Michelle Grattan Tony Abbott is negative but a ferocious opponent.
Michelle Grattan
Refugee nightmare plays out for Gillard
Michelle Grattan THE past week has brought home that the Labor government can't claim a shred of principle on asylum policy any more.
Michelle Grattan
Ugly debate brews
Michelle Grattan Debate on asylum seekers threatens to turn very dark, and it's a test for the nation and its leaders to prevent it.
Michelle Grattan
Disquiet at Labor's lack of vision
Michelle Grattan There are rumblings within the ranks for the ALP to work out what it stands for, and sell a clear set of values to voters.
Michelle Grattan
Foreign soils forgotten in home-grown argy-bargy
Michelle Grattan "But you said . . . You never meant it!"
Michelle Grattan
IR monkey wrenches Abbott, population perishes on Gillard
Michelle Grattan It is only week one, but already on the election obstacle course Tony Abbott has been singed as he tried to cremate WorkChoices, and Julia Gillard has found herself haunted by Kevin Rudd and Mark...
Michelle Grattan
With sleeves rolled up, the PM makes elegant U-turn and quickly moves on
Michelle Grattan AMERICAN political aficionados love the term "game changer".
