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
Abbott's casual approach to Ashby issue indicative
Michelle Grattan Tony Abbott has scored a notable own goal by admitting that he's been vigorously defending Mal Brough without having read the court judgment in the Ashby sexual harassment case that strongly...
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
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
US poll gives Labor audacity of hope
Michelle Grattan Good heavens - now Barack Obama is getting in on the misogyny act.
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
Swan avoids risking too much with juggling act
Michelle Grattan The government has done what it had to do. It has kept its budget numbers in the black, in a fiscal exercise driven by the imperative of preserving its political credibility rather than by economic...
Michelle Grattan
Political necessity minimises the pain
Michelle Grattan The government has done what it had to do. It has kept its budget numbers in the black.
Abbott punches the foot in his mouth
Michelle Grattan TONY Abbott has swung one political punch too many, and yesterday floored himself.
Michelle Grattan
Lindsay Tanner's guide to sucking up for votes
Michelle Grattan Rule 10 of Lindsay Tanner's laws of politics: ''It's vital not to offend anyone who matters''
Michelle Grattan
Labor facing battle to save the furniture
Michelle Grattan Behind the horror scenes, the ALP must now switch to election survival mode.
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''.
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
How very courageous Minister
Michelle Grattan The Labor camp should be having a rethink. When those performing stunts incur the ridicule that was aimed at the object of them, there’s a problem.
Michelle Grattan
From Brough to Palmer, the Queenslanders are at it again
Michelle Grattan What is it about the conservatives in Queensland? They can deliver a heap of seats but they always seem to bring trouble, too, for their Canberra crew.
Michelle Grattan
Tough choices would confront a recycled PM Rudd
Michelle Grattan LET'S cut to the chase. What would political life be like if Kevin Rudd became PM again? Would there be a quick election? What would happen to the present frontbench? Would the carbon tax be...
Michelle Grattan
Now for the consequences of big reform
Michelle Grattan Julia Gillard has ''landed'', as they say in Labor circles, the most significant reform this government has made.
Michelle Grattan
Gillard faces an uphill battle
Michelle Grattan Julia Gillard faces a herculean task to sell her carbon pricing scheme.
Michelle Grattan
Polls and Kama Sutra aside, air of exhaustion pervades Labor
Michelle Grattan In politics hype can quickly become reality. Or reality can fall short of the build-up, which is what happened on Parliament's first day of 2012.
Michelle Grattan
Unsavoury way to sort out a feud
Michelle Grattan The Gillard camp's tactics are dirty and demeaning. Rudd's 'who, me?' line is nonsense.
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.
