Michael Gordon
Michael Gordon is the political editor of The Age.
Michael Gordon
From class wars to classroom war: the Gillard battle plan
Michael Gordon Dejected federal Labor MPs have something positive to say to their alienated, disengaged and even hostile constituents.
No pain no gain: PM talks budget options
Michael Gordon Julia Gillard's warning underscores reality that selling this pre-election budget will be even harder than framing it.
PM's comeback now consigned to history
Michael Gordon Julia Gillard's government is now trapped in a vortex of miserable morale, low expectations and sullied credibility - almost all of its own making and all neatly reflected in another shocker...
Gillard takes on Abbott in the populist and cynical stakes
Michael Gordon Simon Crean maintains Australia's new cultural policy joins the dots on a range of Labor priorities.
They look like Keystone Cops and the real test is still to come
Michael Gordon Julia Gillard has triumphed in her third party-room showdown with Kevin Rudd, but Tony Abbott is the biggest - the only - winner from one of the most bizarre days in Australia's political history.
Michael Gordon
The national disgrace that is our asylum-seeker debate
Michael Gordon A month before Julia Gillard's mini-campaign in Sydney's outer west, Tony Abbott took his own mini-campaign to Melbourne's outer east, and reflected with justifiable pride on the diversity of...
Michael Gordon
Worlds apart, but the pain's the same when the axe falls
Michael Gordon Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott agree on something. There are no parallels between the political assassination of Kevin Rudd in 2010 and Ted Baillieu's decision to fall on his sword this week.
Michael Gordon
The remaking of Tony Abbott: a seven-month Liberal project
Michael Gordon Tony Abbott gave voters a glimpse of a very different prime ministership when he stepped up to the podium at the National Press Club.
Michael Gordon
PM's captain's pick may end a sorry chapter in Labor history
Michael Gordon The long backstory to the PM using her 'captain's pick' to impose Nova Peris, an Olympic champion but a political novice, on Labor's NT branch helps explain why Warren Mundine was so quick to endorse...
Michael Gordon
Dirty politics stains the PM, Abbott and all of us
Michael Gordon The Coalition will pay a price for playing politics this way.
Michael Gordon
PM wobbly but Abbott not much steadier
Michael Gordon Has Julia Gillard's comeback stalled and is Tony Abbott capable of raising his own standing from the basement?
Michael Gordon
Let's sack the worm and have a truly great debate
Michael Gordon The contrast between the American and Australian approaches to leaders' debates could hardly be more stark.
Michael Gordon
Everything is not all right, we're uptight, out of sight
Michael Gordon There are signs that both sides of politics are at least trying to inject a dose of confidence into the electorate.
Michael Gordon
The dogs of war replace Canberra's civilised pack
Michael Gordon There was no tougher, more uncompromising fighter on the conservative side of politics, but John Howard was always prided himself on being civil.
Our politics has entered a new phase of uncertainty
Michael Gordon In this fluid political environment, stand by for more moments to make you wince.
Michael Gordon
Tanner orchestrates his own Labor sideshow
Michael Gordon Lindsay Tanner's last book on politics explored the relationship between politicians and the media. It began with the observation that most journalists would scan the book, looking for shock...
Michael Gordon
Is this the beginning of a Gillard revival?
Michael Gordon Julia Gillard isn't big on admitting to personal failings. Truth is, she is at her best when her back's against the wall and she's conceding absolutely nothing.
Michael Gordon
The trouble with Labor's new-look Nauru solution
Michael Gordon If the comparison is with the early days of John Howard's Pacific Solution, the transfer of the first plane-load of asylum seekers to Nauru yesterday was a qualified success.
Michael Gordon
Poll shows Gillard on slow road back
Michael Gordon Modern improvement should harden resolve of MPs who believe decision should come later, not sooner.
Michael Gordon
Time to stop finger-pointing and start being constructive
Michael Gordon It's time Tony Abbott made it possible for Julia Gillard to implement policies to prevent asylum-seeker tragedies.
