Michelle Grattan on Defence - National Times

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

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...

Michelle Grattan

PM battens down the hatches for seven months in a leaky caucus

Michelle Grattan One thing sure to ''leak'' is a prime ministerial lecture to the troops about leaking. So you have to wonder why Julia Gillard would have left herself so open at her first caucus of the year.

James Ashby lost the battle but won the war

Michelle Grattan James Ashby has lost his court battle but he has won his wider war. In this dramatic case, the law and politics intersected.

Michelle Grattan

Gillard now needs to settle the dust

Michelle Grattan The politics of the absurd have kicked in with the two men who set up the notorious AWU association from which they then allegedly siphoned money now out there on either side of the war over Julia...

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.

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Michelle Grattan

When those boats just keep on coming

Michelle Grattan If treasurer Wayne Swan is worried that he mightn't be able to achieve that razor-thin surplus, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has to be terrified that the asylum seeker boats won't stop.

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.

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Michelle Grattan

Asian century's opportunities could be lost in translation

Michelle Grattan Australia has lessons to learn in how to engage with the region.

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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

Gloves on as PM gears up for battle

Michelle Grattan Julia Gillard likes to box. A trainer goes to The Lodge twice a week, holding up the pads while the Prime Minister slugs away.

Experts float a blueprint for asylum compromise

Michelle Grattan Despite Angus Houston's claims that politics played no part in his panel's thinking, its package is crafted cleverly enough to given maximum push towards forcing a compromise.

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.

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Michelle Grattan

Media Paradox: many more voices, much less reporting

Michelle Grattan Economics and readers' consumption habits have made newspapers the headline story.

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.

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Michelle Grattan

Game changer or game over?

Michelle Grattan Treasurer Wayne Swan declares that tomorrow - the day the carbon tax starts - will be a 'game-changer'. Tony Abbott insists it is the beginning of the ''python squeeze''.

Michelle Grattan

Rudd vanquished, now the hard work starts

Michelle Grattan Gillard’s immediate test is to handle the reshuffle caused by Rudd’s departure to the backbench. She would be wise to keep it limited and inclusive.

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