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
Semantics cannot hide rift in cabinet
Michelle Grattan PM and her ministers attempted to reconcile conflicting accounts of foreign worker deal.
Michelle Grattan
Well executed? Or executed well?
Michelle Grattan Julia Gillard has made one hell of a call. But will it help her - or Tony Abbott?
Michelle Grattan
Thomson charged, but Abbott less than arresting
Michelle Grattan With Julia Gillard on the back foot, Tony Abbott makes a foolish ministry pledge.
Michelle Grattan
Timing, PM, is crucial
Michelle Grattan Julia Gillard's problems with her reshuffle will be how it is perceived. Her danger is it will be seen as ministers deserting a sinking ship and that it adds to an impression of chaos, which can be...
Abbott's plan puts politics over good policy
Michelle Grattan Oppositions have a standard tool in their kitbag: it’s the call for an inquiry. Any sniff of scandal triggers a demand for a judicial investigation, or even the full monty, a royal commission.
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
Figures frenzy turns spotlight on Canberra's bureaucracy
Michelle Grattan IT WAS a government sting, and then an opposition counter-sting, which left the public servants in the federal Treasury feeling the pain.
Michelle Grattan
Jones forced to eat words
Michelle Grattan Shockjock's appalling comment becomes part of the wider battle between Labor and the Coalition.
Tony Abbott's 'real' challenge
Michelle Grattan Today's polls — Nielsen and News — both reinforce the message Abbott has a major issue with his own ratings and, worse for the Coalition, that it is starting to leak into the voting figures.
Michelle Grattan
Is Abbott on thin ice? Absolutely
Michelle Grattan The Opposition Leader's greatest strength may turn into his Achilles heel as the parliamentary term goes into its last year.
Michelle Grattan
Working bee just the start for Abbott
Michelle Grattan In just over a week, federal MPs will be back in Canberra for Parliament's spring session. It will be a doozy.
Michelle Grattan
Another day, another crisis ... or two
Michelle Grattan The Prime Minister has a set of new crises that will make for a tense and testing week.
Michelle Grattan
Canberra capers fail screen test
Michelle Grattan Paul Keating strongly opposed the televising of Parliament. On Wednesday, Tony Abbott might have agreed with him.
The Year of Living Dangerously
Michelle Grattan The allegation that News Ltd was actively involved in the intrigue against Speaker Peter Slipper is not just giving Labor ammunition against its bete noire media company but feeding into the debate...
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
Gillard faces an uphill battle
Michelle Grattan Julia Gillard faces a herculean task to sell her carbon pricing scheme.
Michelle Grattan
Time we had a separate minister for indigenous affairs
Michelle Grattan THE Gillard government is anxious to distinguish its approach to improving life for Northern Territory Aborigines by launching consultations to discuss where to go when the legislation for the...
Michelle Grattan
Killer blow vital for Gillard
Michelle Grattan Leadership ballots are run a bit like regular election campaigns, with day-by-day tactics.
Michelle Grattan
Albanese integrity puts colleagues to shame
Michelle Grattan Amid a great deal of dishonourable behaviour from many senior Labor figures who should know better, Anthony Albanese has emerged as a man of integrity.
Michelle Grattan
Kev's gang has little in common
Michelle Grattan An eclectic quartet of four ministers came out to support Kevin Rudd last week.
