Opposition

Abbott launches Liberals' Eden-Monaro campaign

Ross Peake Opposition Leader Tony Abbott launched the Liberal Party campaign on Thursday for the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro.

Opposition pays the penalty for baby gaffe

Judith Ireland dinkus

Judith Ireland With the baby bonus to be scrapped from next March, there are plenty of Australians wondering what it means for them.

Jacqueline Maley

Tax revenue shortfall gives opposition a few nuggets

Jacqueline Maley.

Jacqueline Maley Say what you will about the allegedly nefarious deeds of the NSW Labor Party, at least some of their former members allegedly know how to profit - and allegedly handsomely - from a mining boom.

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Michelle Grattan

Opposition gets itself in a tangle again over budget surpluses

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Michelle Grattan Last year the opposition got itself into a complete tangle over its position on the surplus.

Jacqueline Maley

As Labor possibly heads for opposition, who might lead?

maley

Jacqueline Maley Tony Abbott has been a terrible Opposition Leader, if you believe the government.

Phillip Coorey

As the Coalition knows, there is a long history of costing opposition policies

Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey.

Phillip Coorey The opposition and some sections of the media are in high dudgeon because information has been released. However, it's not the first time a government has costed opposition policies.

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Jacqueline Maley

Vanishing surplus titillates opposition

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Jacqueline Maley CAN a surplus be elusive? Ours seems to be slipping in and out of view like the business bits of a burlesque dancer. At last week's mini-budget, it had shrunk to $1.

Phillip Coorey

Audacious spending plans aimed at drawing out opposition

Phil Coorey

Phillip Coorey A signature difference between government and opposition is that the former must account publicly for its promised spending every six months.

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Jaqueline Maley

Opposition glee as bill passes with Bob's worth of clatter

Jacqueline Maley dinkus

Jacqueline Maley IT IS often difficult, in matters Bob Katter, to tell where reality ends and perception begins. Ever since the colourful Queensland MP led a breakdancing flash mob outside the Queensland Parliament...

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Josh Gordon

The trash talk of opposition can suddenly become policy

Josh-Gordon-opinion

Josh Gordon Over-promising leads to disappointment and then to cynicism.

Opposition attack 'defamatory': Labor

ACT Labor has hit back at Liberal attacks on its funding structure, accusing the Opposition of ''defamatory'' conduct in its criticisms.

David McRae

Opposition to Indonesian executions must be colourblind

Umar Patek.

David McRae The execution of the three Bali bombers in 2008 was a low point in Australia's opposition to the death penalty.

Jacqueline Maley

Opposition on the nose as PM keeps the faith with off-colour Thomson

Craig Thomson

Jacqueline Maley DURING her address to the National Press Club last year, Prime Minister Julia Gillard famously gave journalists some free advice.

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Josh Gordon

Time to shine not whine for opposition

Josh-Gordon-opinion

Josh Gordon Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has done a reasonable job keeping the recriminations and infighting to a minimum but cracks are forming.

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Time to down tools and trip through a triangular tango

jacqueline maley dinkus

Jacqueline Maley The Midwinter Ball is supposed to be an evening when journalists and politicians come together to toast their mutually toxic codependent relationship, or ''to party'' , as it is called in Canberra.

Michelle Grattan

Minchin's emissions opposition a direct challenge to Turnbull

Michelle Grattan The Libs' Senate leader is encouraging climate sceptics to speak out.

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Michelle Grattan

Wanted: Shiny happy people for embattled Opposition

Michelle Grattan So Bradfield has a bright new Liberal candidate tipped to become a high-flyer. The question is whether the selection of Paul Fletcher, and the array of strong contenders who missed out, can be used...

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Tony Wright

Opposition must find its campaign feet straight away

Tony Wright Abbott needs a new tack and fresh momentum if he is to be heard.

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Michelle Grattan

Push comes to shove as Opposition party sours

Michelle Grattan

Michelle Grattan Matters of style and substance aside, Malcolm Turnbull's rush to take the top job was bad judgment.

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Peter Hartcher

Opposition leader only safe until the coalition grows up

Peter Hartcher WHERE are the grown-ups? In the ranks of the Opposition, they have gone missing.

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