Urban Affairs
Rudd deserves benefit of doubt on gay marriage backflip
Stephanie Peatling Kevin Rudd has joined the ranks of politicians who have changed their mind on same sex marriage.
An important change of heart on the road to marriage equality
Rodney Croome The importance of Kevin Rudd's change of heart on marriage equality can't be overestimated.
Action on inept anti-terror laws must get priority
George Williams Last week on budget day the federal government released two independent reports on Australia's anti-terrorism laws.
Abbott, O'Farrell have equal claim to Menzies' legacy
Gerard Henderson Premier Barry O'Farrell is a proud follower of Robert Menzies (1894 to 1978), the founder of the modern Liberal Party.
Coalition answer to the Gillard education crusade
Jewel Topsfield It seems the Prime Minister is on her own when it comes to an education ''crusade''.
When surprises lie in wait, no excuses please
Tim Colebatch Save the budget or save the economy? That may be the conundrum that tests the Coalition's mettle.
Kenneth Davidson
Swan has prepared the way for Austerity Abbott
Kenneth Davidson A clever budget? More likely it gives the Coalition room to wind back the welfare state.
What sort of prime minister will this man be?
Tim Soutphommasane It is simplistic to think we are entering a new conservative stage in our national politics.
Voters approve hip-pocket hits we had to have
Peter Hartcher It's the poll result that will shock the political class more than any other. A government has defied all convention by taking money away from voters in an election year. And the voters notice.
When the numbers don't add up, Swan is surplus to requirements
Chris Berg They say every political career ends in failure. But some more than others. All the evidence suggests Wayne Swan's sixth budget, released last Tuesday, will be his last.
Acting a bit more prime ministerial
Chris Johnson There are plenty of people in the current Parliament who, when they deliver an address, look more prime ministerial than Tony Abbott: the actual Prime Minister, for one.
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.
Mothers, take note of this pair
Jacqueline Maley Mothers of Australia, switch off Super Nanny. Put down your parenting manuals and bin the baby books.
Smart politics from a leader who's growing up
Peter Hartcher Tony Abbott came on Thursday not to demolish the Labor government as a tribal leader but to chide it as an adult alternative prime minister.
A magnificent PM - when she drops her guard
Mike Carlton Julia Gillard is so much better when not trying. Stuck behind a lectern, droning away at some boilerplate speech cranked out by her office gnomes, she is cold and remote, more than a bit prissy.
Abbott's baby bonus in disguise
Anne Summers If Tony Abbott is serious about wanting to boost women's workforce participation, there are more effective and less expensive ways to accomplish this than via his paid parental leave scheme, which...
Following the path of Mulga Fred, wanderer
Tony Wright In the past few decades we have been joined by ever-growing numbers of long-distant wanderers.
Seeing sense as end nears
Peter Hartcher Labor's budget this week is like the pyramid of an Egyptian pharaoh, says one of the party's federal MPs: "Gillard is building the monuments for her legacy, and she's sacrificing us slaves in the...
Joe goes into bat and is hit with a Jones bouncer
Jacqueline Maley Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey thought he was having a good week. And he was, right up until the moment he called 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones on Wednesday morning.
