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
Figures frenzy turns spotlight on Canberra's bureaucracy
Michelle Grattan IT WAS a government sting, and then an opposition counter-sting, which left the public servants in the federal Treasury feeling the pain.
Michelle Grattan
Canberra's tale of two characters
Michelle Grattan Suddenly, political attention is concentrated on Tony Abbott's distant past and Kevin Rudd's immediate future.
Michelle Grattan
A byelection defeat for Labor will cause shock waves in Canberra
Michelle Grattan When a government is in trouble, there is nothing like a byelection to send shivers up its spine and a frisson of excitement through the political system.
Michelle Grattan
Canberra capers fail screen test
Michelle Grattan Paul Keating strongly opposed the televising of Parliament. On Wednesday, Tony Abbott might have agreed with him.
Michelle Grattan
Chilly Victorian winds could cause shivers in Canberra
Michelle Grattan There are messages for Julia Gillard as well as Greens, independents.
Michelle Grattan
Surprising stability in Canberra no guarantee of lasting calm
Michelle Grattan The hung parliament's enterprising crossbenchers keep both sides on high alert.
Michelle Grattan
Timing, PM, is crucial
Michelle Grattan Julia Gillard's problems with her reshuffle will be how it is perceived. Her danger is it will be seen as ministers deserting a sinking ship and that it adds to an impression of chaos, which can be...
Michelle Grattan
Season's bleatings at year's end
Michelle Grattan This will be a bruising parliamentary week, the last of an extraordinary and draining year that has strained voters' tolerance of politicians to the max.
Michelle Grattan
Wrapped in polls, Gillard defies the 'killing season'
Michelle Grattan This will be a bruising parliamentary week, the last of an extraordinary and draining year that has strained voters' tolerance of politicians to the max.
Michelle Grattan
Belief in victory hard for party at war with itself
Michelle Grattan As Labor MPs gather in Canberra for the new parliamentary year, with the election date set and the ministry reshuffled, they are unsettled and uncertain.
Michelle Grattan
Gillard looks to political gain after Peris pain
Michelle Grattan The Prime Minister has got her way, but what are the likely consequences?
Gillard takes a big slipper to Abbott over Ashby judgment
Michelle Grattan The cynic might say that Justice Steven Rares has answered most of the questions about Brough, whom he found plotted with James Ashby against Peter Slipper.
Michelle Grattan
Gillard winged but still flying
Michelle Grattan The final parliamentary week has seen the Coalition repeatedly allege that the Prime Minister engaged in criminal activity when she was a lawyer in the 1990s.
Michelle Grattan
A front-foot fighter with bloodied shins
Michelle Grattan The final parliamentary week has seen the Coalition repeatedly allege the Prime Minister engaged in criminal activity when she was a lawyer in the 1990s.
Michelle Grattan
Bowen policy to deter boats laden with risks
Michelle Grattan Chris Bowen was guest speaker at the federal parliamentary press gallery dinner last night. He had been asked to address the function when it was set for early in the year, but it had to be deferred.
Michelle Grattan
Tony, lighten up for the battle ahead
Michelle Grattan Dear Tony, suddenly you have become THE talking point among the chattering commentators.
Michelle Grattan
Positive poll results give Gillard breathing space
Michelle Grattan Politics looked sweet to Julia Gillard when she woke up today to face the penultimate week of the full Parliament.
Michelle Grattan
Working bee just the start for Abbott
Michelle Grattan In just over a week, federal MPs will be back in Canberra for Parliament's spring session. It will be a doozy.
Michelle Grattan
Duck-shoving blame games foil progress
Michelle Grattan The rift between the states and Canberra is unlikely to change.
Michelle Grattan
Disability scheming trips up premiers who should know better
Michelle Grattan Who would think - who would believe - that politicians could make a handful of disabled people the object of such shameless power play? Last week's behaviour by Liberal premiers over the plan to get...
