Public servants hastily polish up the blue books as new Morrison ministry takes shape
A who's-who of the members in contention for Coalition ministerial positions in the days after the 2019 federal election. Read More
Tony Abbott
Scientists want to build trust in science and technology. The alternative is too risky to contemplate
The next government must meet the challenge of refreshing the social licence between science, government and the many and diverse communities that make up our nation. Read More
So long and thanks for all the fish: the oddly polite history of political farewells
Something strange happens when politicians leave the political stage. The other side suddenly becomes much more civil – even affectionate. There is an outbreak of bipartisanship or non-partisanship. It is as though, after years of fighting across the chamber, the political opponents shove babel fish into their ears and hear each other for the first time. Read More
The federal election campaign through the ‘distorted prism’ of social media
Home Affairs head Michael Pezzullo has described social media as a “cesspit” while former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Peter Varghese warned it… Read More
Cracks form in the convention of cabinet confidentiality, PM&C gets the glue
“Apart from anything else, you ought to be found and sacked," says former head of the Australian Public Service Terry Moran, to whoever is responsible for selling off a secure cabinet full of papers from the actual cabinet. Read More
Michael Dillon: what next for Indigenous Affairs?
OPINION: Indigenous Affairs was never a good fit in the PM's department, according to a veteran of the portfolio. Michael Dillon looks ahead to what Martin Parkinson may need. Read More
Meals revealed for Abbott and Rudd, but Turnbull tray-table censored
We know what Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd ate on the government jet, but Malcolm Turnbull's preferences have been censored. It's a strange FOI ruling. Read More
Premiers plead Turnbull for metro rail money
Two Labor premiers have gotten in early on the prime ministerial changeover, expressing hope this morning that the change of leadership in Canberra would lead to a new approach to funding state public transport projects. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who came to office on a promise to rid Melbourne of the previous government's controversial East-West Link road tunnel, announced that a significant investment by the Commonwealth in the state's public transport system would be "fair and reasonable". Although the Commonwealth was prepared to contribute $3 billion to East West Link, Abbott was antipathetic to federal funding for city public transport, arguing that the Commonwealth had "no history of funding urban rail". Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also signaled a willingness to work with Turnbull to increase funding. Citing Turnbull's well-known penchant for catching public transport -- and tweeting about it -- Palaszczuk stated, "I want Mr Turnbull to now help fund public transport in Queensland." Read More
Malcolm Turnbull becomes 29th Prime Minister, frontbench sweep imminent
Tony Abbott has lost the leadership of the Liberal Party and prime ministership after less than two years in office. His rival, Malcolm Turnbull’s successful… Read More
Tony Abbott addresses new public service cuts
No more or less than we need, the Prime Minister says of further cuts to the Australian Public Service. Read More