Some pro-gay marriage Liberals might be railing against Bill Shorten’s pre-emptive move but its effect has been to suddenly raise the prospect of common political ownership of the issue.
Even with bipartisan support, a referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition is no certainty to succeed.
AAP/Dan Himbrechts
A defeat for Indigenous constitutional recognition would be disastrous and demoralising. But history tells us that even worthy proposals with bipartisan support are not assured of success.
Bill Shorten will introduce a same-sex marriage bill to the lower house.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Bill Shorten is acting to force the Liberals’ hand on gay marriage by giving notice he will move a private member’s bill in the House of Representatives on Monday.
More mines, more roads, as the government puts its drive towards economic development ahead of all else.
AAP Image/Alan Porritt
Amid talk of paths to surplus and investing in infrastructure, both sides of politics seem to have forgotten Australia’s longstanding responsibility to govern sustainably, and not just for the economy.
A swing and a miss: instead of taking its own advice to ‘have a go’ in its second budget, the government is like the captain who sends in a nightwatchman instead of himself.
AAP/Tony Ashby
Joe Hockey’s second budget has two large deficits: the fiscal one, plus the lack of a coherent and creative plan for Australia. The Abbott government failed to ‘have a go’ at building the future.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has unveiled $350 million of new planned spending under a Labor government.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has called for a bipartisan push to reduce the company tax rate for small business from the budget’s promised 28.5% to 25%.
Bill Shorten faces some budget pressure too. His budget reply performance will be judged partly on whether he includes new substance.
AAP/Paul Miller
Against the grim outlook of a continuing massive deficit, Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten are both seeking to frame the debate ahead of Treasurer Joe Hockey bringing down his second budget next week.
Bill Shorten has revealed a Labor plan to remove the tax-free concession available to people with high annual superannuation incomes.
AAP/Rebecca Le May
A Labor government would crack down on the superannuation tax breaks enjoyed by high income earners, raising more than $14 billion over ten years, under a policy released by Bill Shorten on Tuesday.
Labor leader Bill Shorten is set to confront several tricky issues at Labor’s national conference, later this year.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Bill Shorten has labelled this the year of ideas but obviously Labor would rather have the overwhelming attention on the Coalition for as long as possible.
Martin Ferguson criticised New South Wales Labor’s campaign against privatisation of the poles and wires.
AAP/Paul Miller
Bill Shorten should resist the witch-hunt against former ALP minister Martin Ferguson over his attacks on NSW Labor’s anti-privatisation campaign. The idea that the Labor Party should expel Ferguson…
Shadow minister for families and payments Jenny Macklin at the launch of Labor’s pensions campaign.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Playing the slogan game might degrade the political debate, but it worked alright for Tony Abbott – so now Bill Shorten’s launched into it ahead of the May budget. Labor has unveiled its “Mr Abbott. Don’t…
Universities should be accountable for their funding, says Shadow Higher Education Minister Kim Carr.
AAP
Labor has outlined its plan for universities should it be elected, saying it would be focusing on degree completion rather than enrolment.
Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten are united in condemning violence against women and children, but both overlook the young people who are victims too.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Responses to family violence by Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten and the terms of reference for Victoria’s royal commission fail to mention young people. Such a lack of recognition has dire consequences.
Indigenous leader Noel Pearson speaking to Prime Minister Tony Abbott during the PM’s visit to the Gove Peninsula earlier this year.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten will make their first joint appearance to promote the constitutional recognition of Australia’s first people on Thursday night. The function, in the Redfern area, is a dinner…
The Labor Party that Bill Shorten leads is much more professionalised in its MP make-up than its earlier incarnations.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
For British Labour leader Ed Miliband, defeat was yet again snatched from the jaws of victory. With the UK general election less than six months away, the recent Rochester and Strood by-election was a…
The University of Canberra’s Amanda Jones and Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including the government’s “wins” before a three-week parliamentary recess, Bill Shorten’s…
Jenny Macklin emphasises that the pursuit of inclusive growth also requires a set of economic policies that recognise the importance of human capital.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Opposition frontbencher Jenny Macklin says Labor should frame its policies around delivering “inclusive growth” and needs a new narrative to explain its agenda to the Australian people. In a major speech…
The problem confronting Labor and federal leader Bill Shorten is not so much the ties with unions as the centralisation of power in the party and a handful of affiliated unions.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Proposed reforms in the Australian Labor Party aim to give members a greater voice in party governance and policy development. This is driven by the need to reverse the party’s shrinking support base after…
Opposition leader Bill Shorten faces a difficult policy problem with boat turn backs.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Bill Shorten is in a awkward place on the issue of boat turn backs. Richard Marles’ suggestion that under certain conditions a Labor government might embrace the policy recognised reality. But the immigration…
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has found himself in a better than expected electoral position a year into his leadership.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Bill Shorten will have been a year in his job next month. After its trouncing at the election, Labor is in a much better position than many would have expected, leading on a two party basis in the polls…
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University