The only credible explanation for Scott Morrison personally installing himself, as an undisclosed ministerial partner, in several portfolios is the former prime minister’s passion for control.
It’s said the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. Let’s hope that’s not the case with Mathias Cormann’s climate stance when he joins the OECD.
Developments in Melbourne on Saturday are more important, and certainly of more interest to the public, than what has happened in Eden-Monaro. According to the count so far, Anthony Albanese is set to…
An attempt to hobble Mathias Cormann in retaliation for the government’s refusal to produce the Gaetjens Report on Bridget McKenzie failed after Pauline Hanson withdrew her support.
I’d hoped to keep my absence nice and private, especially from those quiet Australians fighting fires. Regrettably, despite best efforts, my press office wasn’t able to keep a lid on the story.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Mathias Cormann and Jim Chalmers on the mid-year budget update
The Conversation, CC BY29.7 MB(download)
The figures indicate a worsening economy, but the government has sought to put a positive spin on the situation, saying the Australian economy is showing resilience.
After securing a condition which she cannot disclose “due to national security concerns”, Jacqui Lambie has voted with the government on the repeal of the medevac laws.
This week, Morrison told his backbench to keep their opinions in line or internal, appointed a man he’s personally close to as his new head of the Prime Minister’s department, and put the public service in its place.
The first week of the new parliament ends on a high for the government, with its $158 billion tax cut package passed, and the first stage of tax relief ready to flow in a week or so.
The government’s election centrepiece – its $158 billion, three-stage tax package – is set to pass into law, as the key vote of crossbencher Senator Jacqui Lambie is confirmed.
It’s reasonable to take Cormann at his word about missing that the change hadn’t been processed. Even accepting this, however, the affair looks bad for Cormann, who failed the “Caesar’s wife” test.