Issues
Gay marriage: the political knot it's impossible to untie
Jacqueline Maley Last week, I spied a peculiar photograph accompanying a newspaper story about the legalisation of gay marriage and adoption in France.
Coalition must be smarter when it issues preferences
Gerard Henderson Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan and Greg Combet appear to believe Labor will win the election.
How the world saw the big issues
Richard Klass The common reaction to North Korea is to laugh away its threats, along the lines of, ''They'll never do it … have you seen the guy?''
How the world saw the big issues
David Cameron’s same-sex marriage bill has passed, but there are deep divisions in his own party.
Excerpts: How the world saw the big issues
The Sandy Hook Elementary School killings spark soul-searching and a call for urgent gun law reforms.
Barnaby Joyce
Worthy issues lost in the chaos
Barnaby Joyce If you only knew the chaos which is the last parliamentary week as everyone tries to get all they need before Christmas.
Peter Jensen
Stylish same-sex campaign glosses over real issues
Peter Jensen We are in the midst of a sustained and brilliantly orchestrated campaign to radically alter the marriage laws of this country to allow same-sex marriage.
The ghost of issues past still haunts Gillard, two years on
Phillip Coorey When Julia Gillard knocked off Kevin Rudd two years ago yesterday, Labor was floundering principally because of three intractable policy issues - the mining tax, carbon pricing and asylum seekers.
Mark Metherell
Hot issues will test the mettle of Labor's new health minister
Mark Metherell Tanya Plibersek speaks softly but with a sharp tongue. This week she enters her first parliamentary week as Health Minister facing a clutch of tough-talking assignments.
Hugh White
Tricky strategy comes down to base issues
Hugh White Allowing US bases on the Cocos Islands is a very worrying development.
Tim Colebatch
Multiple issues take tax toll
Tim Colebatch Why is it so hard for the federal government to get its budget back in surplus?
Peter Hartcher
Behind the election stoush, the big issues they quietly agreed on
Peter Hartcher Elections define nations. This one has already redefined Australia even before the first vote is counted.
No political points to be scored in Ford closure
Michael Gordon Tony Abbott's initial reluctance to score big political points from Ford's decision to stop making cars in Australia tells us two things: the first is that he's a more measured politician than he...
Recognising local government needs rethink
Cheryl Saunders There is no good reason for this referendum now.
A goat in sheep's clothing?
Jack Waterford The personality, temperament, character and reliability of Tony Abbott is pretty much the primary issue that voters should be weighing up.
Taxing matters as GST takes centre stage again
Mark Kenny Hypersensitivity over the GST dates back to Howard and Costello.
Costs rise on raising children
Stephanie Peatling Cost of raising children up 50 per cent past five, new modelling shows.
Making a poll win a breeze
John Warhurst Pressure groups and organised interests are the weathervanes of political shifts.
GST may be the answer to balancing the books
Mark Kenny Politician after politician has squibbed it, making florid gestures but avoiding serious discussion of the goods and services tax.
