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
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
Headaches for Abbott as tactics falter
Michelle Grattan Stressing the need for unity during his address to his troops on Tuesday, Tony Abbott told the MPs that if they ever needed to get a message to him, they should just call direct - he would always...
Michelle Grattan
Bestiality comment claims unlikely victim
Michelle Grattan It's surely one of the weirdest falls in federal politics - a shadow parliamentary secretary forced to quit a job for suggesting we could be on the slippery slope towards condoning bestiality.
Michelle Grattan
Abbott finds that a taut Coalition is not that easily taught
Michelle Grattan In his Quarterly Essay, David Marr writes that Tony Abbott is in a contest with his own body.
Michelle Grattan
Timing rarely right for referendum
Michelle Grattan At last, something the government, Coalition and Greens can agree on! Pity it's just saying ''not now''.
Michelle Grattan
Oakeshott's code of limited value
Michelle Grattan When Parliament returns, it will debate Rob Oakeshott's proposal for House of Representatives MPs to have a code of conduct.
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
Semantics cannot hide rift in cabinet
Michelle Grattan PM and her ministers attempted to reconcile conflicting accounts of foreign worker deal.
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.
Michelle Grattan
Turnbull insists on doing it his way
Michelle Grattan Malcolm Turnbull may or may not have become reconciled to his likely fate for next year.
Michelle Grattan
The view from the back
Michelle Grattan Gillard's marginal-seat members fear for their political lives.
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
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
The waiting game goes on
Michelle Grattan Kevin Rudd was active on the Syrian crisis this week, reporting to Parliament and calling in that country's senior diplomat.
Michelle Grattan
It's show time now shadow boxing is over
Michelle Grattan Kevin Rudd is appealing to his desperate and dysfunctional party as its best vote-getter, but he is confronting a seething hatred from his many critics determined to block his resurrection.
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.
Michelle Grattan
Abbott will have to crack whip as the discipline of campaigning is forgotten
Michelle Grattan Discontent is likely to grow, especially if the frontbenchers don't perform up to scratch.
Michelle Grattan
Enough is enough - it's time to name the date as election climate heats up
Michelle Grattan NOW comes the climate policy. That's the next big thing for Julia Gillard, after the triumph of the mining tax compromise and the U-turn on asylum seekers that has hit very choppy seas.
