Tag: Australian politics

OPINION & ANALYSIS: January 26 marks one of the greatest expropriations in modern history, which took place at Sydney Cove. Why do so many Australians want to commemorate an act of egregious injustice?

Ambassador to the US contacted the FBI about George Papadopoulos's alleged comments to Australia's High Commissioner in the UK, revealing links to Russia.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: 2017 has been a year of deep uncertainty in much of the world, while in Australian politics it has been one in which policy progress has been swamped by other distractions.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: I am sick of the sick the body politic and the contempt shown towards 'we, the people', writes Tess Lawrence.

Senator George Brandis set to become Australia’s new high commissioner to the United Kingdom following a ministerial reshuffle by Malcolm Turnbull.

There was ecstatic scenes in a packed public gallery, with people draped in rainbow flags singing “I am, you are, we are Australian”, and some MPs joining in from the chamber floor.

Evidence cannot be found that Victorian MP David Feeney has renounced his British citizenship. Labor would be at high risk of losing his Melbourne seat of Batman to the Greens if he were found to be ineligible.

The Australian parliamentary week will be dominated by same-sex marriage and MPs’ citizenship. The government will also introduce a suite of legislation targeting foreign interference and espionage, all while welcoming back Barnaby Joyce.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: As former British PM David Cameron said, he supported same-sex marriage because he is a conservative. Unfortunately, his Australian counterparts have a less generous vision of conservatism.

The Queensland state election result makes the byelection in Bennelong on December 16 even more important.

A tearful senator said she was “heartbroken” and would ask that her case be referred to the High Court.

ALP Abroad president urges registered Queensland voters to have their say in high stakes state poll, warning of One Nation influence.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: It is only since 2013 that LGBTIQ people have been protected under federal anti-discrimination laws. It is now up to the PM to reject any marriage bill that diminishes these protections.

LGBTQI community celebrates as the results of the postal survey show Australians are in favour of marriage equality 62% to 38%, paving the way for legislation.

Kristina Keneally, a former premier of NSW, announces high profile candidacy for seat vacated over citizenship crisis, threatening the Coalition's majority.

Tasmanian independent senator Jacqui Lambie steps down after discovering she is a British citizen.

Labor claimed it got all it wanted in the deal; the government claimed the ALP wished to include further clauses designed to clear MPs on the basis that they had taken “reasonable steps” to renounce dual citizenship.

VIDEO: Australian Senator Sam Dastyari says of being racially abused at a pub: "It makes you feel small, it makes you feel horrible."

Malcolm Turnbull stressed this would not be an audit – for which there have been widespread calls. Meanwhile, Liberal backbencher John Alexander "believes" his father renounced British citizenship.

Bill Shorten says Labor would support a ‘universal disclosure to the parliament’ on citizenship, as crisis continues to unfold.

Acting Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said it was “extraordinary that the president of the Senate – who oversaw several High Court referrals – did not reflect on his own eligibility until just days ago”.

Barnaby Joyce heard the news while he was in his electorate. He goes into the byelection virtually certain to be returned – especially after the former independent MP for the seat, Tony Windsor, announced he would not stand.

Michaelia Cash under fire, telling a Senate estimates hearing the tip-off by her staffer of a Federal Police raid on AWU offices was made without her knowledge.

Malcolm Turnbull’s government is now more than two-thirds of the way to the 30 losing Newspolls which Turnbull used in challenging Tony Abbott for leadership.

ABS estimates it has now received 10 million ballots. Anglican diocese reveals it gave $1 million to 'no' campaign while 'yes' campaign urges those who have not yet voted, including people overseas, to do so.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Speaking in London this week to a climate sceptics group, Tony Abbott gestured to what seems to be happening in government policy – but then set the bar higher.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Research shows young people are passionate about issues like marriage equality, but many do not understand how governments are formed and prime ministers elected.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Without an adequate counter from the Yes campaign – especially one offering more emotionally compelling messages – the advantages of the No campaign are likely to narrow the polling gap significantly.

Immediately after the decision, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told parliament he encouraged every Australian to have their say in the ballot, repeated that he and his wife Lucy would be voting yes, and turned on Bill Shorten.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Now, in the marriage equality debate, those who fought against religious freedom protection are suddenly all for it.

Uncertainty for government prolonged by High Court while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten repeats call for two senior Coalition frontbenchers to stand down from ministry.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: What has escaped almost everyone in this latest parliamentary fracas is not so much the freedom to wear the burqa in Australia but rather the freedom NOT to wear it, writes TESS LAWRENCE.

The changes to the citizenship tests aren’t wholesale, but they have raised the bar for an English speaking skills-set.

VIDEO: George Brandis received a standing ovation from his political rivals across the chamber for his devastating condemnation of Pauline Hanson wearing a full burqa in the Senate.

Labor denies collusion with NZ colleagues to destabilise government over Barnaby Joyce citizenship affair, counter-accusing foreign minister of creating a diplomatic incident with Australia's closest ally.

Australian government rocked by revelation that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce might be a citizen of New Zealand, potentially making him ineligible to be a federal MP.

WATCH: Lesbian mum Senator Penny Wong blasts government's proposed plebiscite on same-sex marriage as a "stunt" that will expose kids to hatred, in remarkable speech to parliament.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: So, the government seems determined to give voters a voice, and equally determined not to be bound by what those voters say. How did we get here and where to now?

Overseas born Australian federal politicians of all stripes are checking their paperwork after government minister forced to step-down over dual-citizenship fiasco.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Tony Abbott's relentless undermining of Malcolm Turnbull is becoming more than a political embarrassment for his own party, writes TESS LAWRENCE.

The Defence Act will be strengthened to remove some constraints governing the “call-out” of the ADF in terrorist situations.

Former head of the Australian Republican Movement, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull danced to a delicate diplomatic tune when he met with Her Majesty in London.

A push is being mounted from within the Liberal Party to get former prime minister Tony Abbott to take the job of High Commissioner to the UK to put an end to his undermining of Malcolm Turnbull.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Pauline Hanson claimed Australia was in danger of being “swamped by Asians”. At her re-election to the Senate on 2016, Hanson expanded her claim to also being “swamped by Muslims”. But is this factually correct?

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Pauline Hanson’s controversial comments were based on anecdotes from conversations with a limited number of teachers. There is both established and new evidence that clearly indicates her claims about students with disability are unsubstantiated.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Tough English language tests will be used to decide Australian citizenship. Does this new policy look and feel like Australia’s old White Australia Policy?

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Not only must Australia's leaders manage competing ideologies in their parties and span diverging nations, they must also respond to a volatile electorate that is decidedly “anti-politics”.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Indigenous Australians are willing to negotiate. But are non-Indigenous Australians ready to enter into respectful negotiations? Or will they, once again, ignore the invitation?

ANALYSIS & OPINION: If Donald Trump's proposed tax cuts go ahead, Australia and other countries will have to respond by either cutting taxes as well, or totally reforming the way we tax corporate income.

VIDEO: One Nation leader Pauline Hanson thought she was getting in on a selfie with an adoring supporter. She was wrong...