Queensland
Peter Costello
G20 summit helps seal Queensland's place in political sun
Peter Costello The G20 leaders summit to be held in Brisbane in 2014 will be the biggest political meeting ever held in this country.
Why privatisation killed Queensland Labor
Geoff Gallop When Anna Bligh decided to go ahead with a significant privatisation program after the state election in 2009 she signed up for almost certain defeat. I say this for three reasons.
Peter Costello
Queensland speaks but Labor fails to hear
Peter Costello Immediately after the state rout, Julia Gillard left for South Korea. That said it all.
Peter Costello
Queensland tsunami is heading for federal ALP
Peter Costello Wayne Swan claims mining billionaires threaten our democracy. But the likes of Clive Palmer and Gina Rinehart do not threaten him nearly as much as another, far more important, species - the...
Phillip Coorey
There was little love between PM from Queensland and president from Texas
Phillip Coorey Kevin Rudd, as prime minister, never had a great relationship with George Bush. Rudd came to power as Bush was in the presidential exit lounge and things started to deteriorate almost from the first...
Phillip Coorey
Keys to Lodge lie in NSW or Queensland
Phillip Coorey This election, like its immediate predecessors, will be won and lost in NSW and Queensland.
Cosima Marriner
The murky waters of Queensland's wild rivers
Cosima Marriner The murkiness of the wild rivers issue poses an ideological conundrum for many Queenslanders. What's more important, indigenous self-determination or preserving a unique unspoilt environment? Do you...
Analysis
Tory politics: pact to the rafters in contradiction
Waleed Aly Tea Party in the US, the UKIP in Britain - Abbott better beware the rising attraction of conservative splitters.
Swan song is his own doing
Nicholas Stuart The moniker of world’s greatest treasurer will be cold comfort as he delivers what’s sure to be his last budget.
Comment
NAPLAN is driving our students backwards
Peter Job High standards of literacy and numeracy are a fundamental responsibility of schools and teachers.
The day the steel melted
Tony Wright Julia Gillard once spoke of having been a shy, reserved child who had grown a shell hardened by the rigours of politics and who had learnt the arts of ''holding a fair bit back, and hanging tough''.
The battle won, woman of steel sheds armour
Tony Wright Julia Gillard once spoke of having been a shy, reserved schoolchild who had grown a shell hardened by the rigours of politics and who had learnt the arts of ''holding a fair bit back, and hanging...
See what public thinks on same-sex marriage
Gerard Henderson The media in Australia is obsessed with same-sex marriage. It is far from clear, however, that this is a priority for many Australians living in the suburbs and regional centres - far away from the...
One shot at boosting our schools: it's now or never
Nicholas Reece The education reforms are the circuit-breaker our schools desperately need.
The thimble and pea trick on schools
Sean Nicholls Julia Gillard's plan to implement David Gonski's education reforms was unveiled at a crucial time for the states and territories: right in the middle of their budget preparations.
Behind Abbott's royal tug of war
Jack Waterford Tony Abbott has done us all a favour by placing anathema on the appointment of a new governor-general by the prime minister, Julia Gillard.
Gillard's deal on Gonski a case of better late than never
Mark Kenny Things are somehow different way out west.
Now the mud sticks to both sides
Chris Johnson Tony Abbott is pushing his pedals between Adelaide and Geelong this week, feeling pretty chuffed about putting in a decent performance on the ABC's 7.30 program last Wednesday.
Time to tackle skills shortages
Marlene Kanga The federal government would be better off tackling the issue of the real need for better training.
Latest reforms in the hands of Coalition states
Tim Colebatch The Gonski reforms, if they ever take effect, will be paid for by recycled money. They will dilute the Gonski review's focus on the most disadvantaged.
