Michelle Grattan discusses the government's new family law inquiry, and Australia being banned from the speaking list at the upcoming UN climate change summit.
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Analysis and Comment
As the government starts its work on workplace change, it gave Pauline Hanson a win, for past and future favours, making her deputy chair of a joint parliamentary committee into the family law system.
A recent WA case has highlighted the crime of concealment of birth – and far more needs to be done to understand why some women still do it.
New Zealand is introducing new procurement rules to better link government spending with climate change policy. The first target is to reduce emissions profile of the government's vehicle fleet.
Of the original 31,000 refugees in the 'fast-track' visa caseload, nearly 8,200 are yet to have their applications processed. As a result, their lives remain in limbo.
Conscripting young volunteers to combat climate change is not necessary. Australians aged 15-17 already have the highest rates of volunteering in the country.
Iran's goal is to sow discord and inflict pain on energy markets, while avoiding crossing a threshold that prompts retaliation from the US. This is a fine line to walk at the best of times.
Media Files: investigative journalist Bastian Obermayer, who led the Panama Papers tax exposé.
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Today we meet Bastian Obermayer, the Pulitizer prize-winning journalist who led the Panama Papers investigation into global tax evasion.
We may no longer say ‘shiver me timbers’, but we still use plenty of pirate words for other things.
Rogue construction union boss John Setka is already in fights with the Labor party and the ACTU leadership. Now he faces a battle with parliament. Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick is moving to refer…
As the rhetoric around Chinese interference in Australia intensifies – most recently with the Gladys Liu allegations – Chinese-Australians have become 'collateral damage'.
Back for a second stint in the Senate, the Tasmanian finds herself with unprecedented power, holding the crucial swing vote on several key issues in the government's agenda.
Arthur Sinodinos with some reflections and advice
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As Arthur Sinodinos prepares to leave the Senate for his new role as Australian ambassador to the US, he sits with Michelle Grattan to reflect on his time in politics.
With her party ideologically riven and a difficult parliament, the NSW premier finds herself in political trouble, despite performing well on key measures.
Iran is being accused of 'hostage diplomacy' by resorting to incarcerating foreign nationals at a time when sanctions are crippling its economy.
Teaching history is as much about facts and people as it is about contested narratives and disputed interpretations, which is why it's time to make New Zealand history a compulsory subject at school.
Jim Chalmers on the need to change economic course.
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In this podcast, Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers argues the government can have both a more stimulatory policy and a surplus going forward.
After an extraordinary speech, Ben Morton would do well to remember that big business is not - and should not be - the corporate wing of the Liberal Party.
Liu's disastrous interview on Sky News forced the government into a full scale defence of her, saying that Labor, in pursuing her, was being “xenophobic” and “grubby”.
Another stormy week in federal parliament has seen debate around Gladys Liu's alleged links to China and the ethics of the government's push to drug-test Newstart recipients.
When we argue, it's far too easy to mistreat others. This is why it's important to follow certain norms of argument, remain open-minded and remember what's morally at stake.
When it comes to improving Indigenous policies and programs, Indigenous communities should be the ones evaluating government – rather than the other way around.
Independent MP Helen Haines on using ‘soft power’
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Helen Haines, who does not have the real legislative power her predecessor, Cathy McGowan shared after the Coalition fell into minority government, says "building relationships is key to getting things done".
With serious questions being raised about Liu's possible links to United Front organisations in Australia, a dark cloud could continue to hang over both her and the Liberal Party.
A new book takes apart Australia's recent move towards a more secret state, and the implications it might have for the health of our democracy.
The proposed amendments would provide much-needed updates to Victoria's vilification laws and bring the state in line with NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT.
Australian politics' 'revolving door' is undermining efforts to counter lobbying and potential corruption, and the regulation system is hopelessly flawed.
Moderate Liberal Russell Broadbent, says mandatory sentencing interferes with separation of powers, and removes the option for judges to take particular circumstances of cases into account.
Sometimes aggrieved parties simply want an apology, and this would be an important provision under the draft legislation.
While trust in politics maybe at an all-time low, new research finds that trust in sporting bodies is relatively high.
Although opportunities have expanded for women in policing, the numbers of women on most forces remain well below 50% and women are very underrepresented in senior roles.
As Boris Johnson's tactics cause deep rifts within the Conservative Party, the UK faces a Brexit of radical conservatism - and plenty of risks.
After losing her marginal seat of Corangamite at the election, Sarah Henderson is set to return to parliament after winning preselection for a Victorian Senate vacancy.
Where should we place Mugabe among the pantheon of African nationalists who led their countries to independence?
Michelle Grattan discusses the slowing economy, and the response to Channel 9's decision to host a fundraiser for the Liberal party.
While the Liberal party reaped mega dollars at Nine's Monday fundraiser, Nine and its chief executive faced a backlash from staff at the company's recently acquired former Fairfax newspapers.
There are now more legally innocent people in jail in Victoria than there were convicted prisoners in 2005.
More and more Australian jockeys are female, but the sport's entrenched masculinist culture is proving hard to change.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on a slowing economy
This week's June quarter national accounts showed the weakest economic growth since the GFC, but Treasurer Josh Frydenberg remains optimistic.
US President Donald Trump is in an unenviable position as the race towards the 2020 presidential election heats up. Meanwhile, the UK's attempts to Brexit continue to be untidy.
In an address to the Lowy Institute, outgoing ASIO head Duncan Lewis warned that “the scale and scope of foreign intelligence activity against Australian interests is unprecedented”.
The deep politics of racial division is at play when governments position mining as in the public interest, with Indigenous land owners obstructive of that interest.
When the standard evidence of identity isn't enough to justify an Australian citizenship, DNA tests are requested.
As the Sri Lankan Tamil family from Biloela prepares to learn their fate tomorrow, Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton can't avoid looking threadbare in terms of humanity.
The rate of people living to their 90s has grown by 67% in the past decade, much higher than any other senior age group.
Governments impose harsh restrictions to the freedom of sex offenders after their sentence. But there’s no evidence to support that ‘doing more of the same’ improves community safety.
By choosing to put their own bodies in a vulnerable situation, protesters are appealing to the humanity of the police to treat them with care and respect.
She's sitting third on the list of Democratic candidates at the moment, but the Massachusetts Senator's growing popularity may catapult her to the nomination.
A survey of 8,000 Hong Kong protesters shows that participants increasingly feel that radical protests are the most effective way to make the government heed public opinion.
People with high cultural intelligence are non-judgemental, tolerant of ambiguity and inclusive – and these qualities mean they are more likely to be successful in global business positions.
This proposed bill goes much further than other discrimination laws and weakens existing protections for many Australians.
Of all the news stories examined in a snapshot study, only 11% included the views or experiences of young people. And that inclusion was usually via adults.
Michelle Grattan discusses the increasing strain on the Australia-China relationship following the arrest of Dr. Yang Hengjun, and the government's draft religious discrimination legislation.
Australia is being very explicit in response to concerns about China at the moment, increasingly prepared to put aside the imperatives of diplomacy when necessary.
Given the unique aspects of the proposed bill, there should be a longer consultation period to examine why religious freedoms should be prioritised over other freedoms.
Proroguing the parliament for five weeks at a crucial time may prove to be a masterstroke in ensuring a no-deal Brexit.
The detained writer is entitled to Australian consular access while in prison in China, but like other detained Chinese-Australians, Canberra has few other legal options to help him.
The espionage allegation against the Australian writer comes against a backdrop of rising trade and political tensions – and the Australian government's response is hardening.
As the Australian government continues to pressure China over Yang Hengjun's formal arrest, Yang has appealed to Scott Morrison to please “help me go home as soon as possible”.
The NSW Labor party's general secretary Kaila Murnain was suspended on Wednesday night after sensational evidence about an alleged $100,000 donation from Chinese property developer Huang Xiangmo.
Professor of Public Ethics, Clive Hamilton, has accused "many" vice-chancellors of of losing sight of academic freedom, under the pressure of revenue and influence from China.
Systemic racism creates the architecture around which other forms of racism are enabled, supported and justified.
Since Timor-Leste's independence, relations with Australia have been undermined by contentious negotiations over oil and gas fields. But a new maritime border may mean brighter days ahead.
The Morrison government is setting up a University Foreign Interference Taskforce, as it grapples with encroachments by China into Australia's higher education sector.
Timor-Leste has had a long and violent history of struggle for self-determination, and while there is much to celebrate, there is also still much to do.
Tanya Day, Ms Dhu and Rebecca Maher are among the 400 people who have died in custody more than 25 years since the Royal Commission. How could those deaths have been avoided?
Queensland still mystifies too many politicians but its needs are surprisingly simple.
The Conversation119 MB (download)
Two Queensland-based experts discuss what so many politicians and pundits get wrong about the Sunshine State – and what its citizens are crying out for.
The Victorian Supreme Court has dismissed the John Setka's bid to prevent the Labor party from expelling him, saying the legitimacy of the motion to expel him was not within the court's jurisdiction.
Outspoken Australian-Chinese democracy advocate Dr Yang Hengjun has been formally arrested in China on suspicion of spying, further straining relations between the two countries.
After weekend, another spasm of violence in Hong Kong. Why isn't the protest movement petering out after 12 weeks, and what will the government eventually do in response?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison scored a precious invitation to the annual summit, but the meeting showed little promise of solving some of the world's most pressing problems.
In his valedictory address, outgoing secretary of the Prime Minister's Department Martin Parkinson, condemned “entrenched disadvantage” in Australia.
PM’s advisor Christine Morgan on tackling Australia’s rising suicide rates.
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On this episode, the PM's national suicide prevention advisor speaks with Michelle Grattan on what we know so far about suicide rates, and what needs more clarity.
Similar laws in the US have actually led to increasing the risk of fatal drug overdoses.
The idea that a small payment could motivate more people to vote resurfaces regularly, but this ignores evidence that monetary incentives to induce pro-social behaviour can be counterproductive.
Michelle Grattan reflects on Tim Fischer's personal and political legacy, and discusses the kind of leader Scott Morrison is with the anniversary of his prime ministership approaching on Saturday.
‘Dual use’ technology – technology used for both peaceful and military purposes – is allowed in Antarctica, according to the treaty.
The Victorian parliament should delay its vote on the birth certificate reform bill to allow more consultation with women's groups and to assess the potential impact on single-sex spaces.
After 12 months as prime minister, Morrison looks the strong leader, clearly in charge, with few constraints. But will he make a substantial entry in the history book of Australian prime ministers?
In a non-policing context, having to perform such acts would be a serious assault. This is why strip searches are meant to be a last resort and only used in serious and urgent circumstances.
Research and News
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese appears to be distancing himself from his predecessor Bill Shorten with his pro-business rhetoric.
As he leaves to take up his new post as Ambassador to the United States, Arthur Sinodinos warns that the Australian media landscape is becoming increasingly partisan.
Following a politically disastrous interview, Liberal MP Gladys Liu has issued a statement strongly proclaiming her loyalty to Australia and her support for the government's policy on China.
The former public service commissioner said the relationship between ministers and the Australian public service has transformed from a partnership to one more like “master-servant”.
Former national president of the ALP Mark Butler called for a root and branch overhaul of policy on Monday, in sharp contrast with the current ALP president, Wayne Swan.
Under the government's draft religious discrimination legislation, big companies would face tougher rules in relation to indirect discrimination.
Federal home affairs minister Peter Dutton says the government's "expectation" is that federal police should consider the importance of press freedom before investigating leaks to journalists.
Australia is expected to announce the commitment soon as US-Iran tensions remain high.
The government has asked a parliamentary committee to examine the issue and report on it by the end of 2019.
Anthony Albanese on Labor’s hard times
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Anthony Albanese defends Labor's vote for the government's $158 billion tax package, supports an increase in Newstart, and strongly argues the need to take the superannuation guarantee to 12%.
With Centre Alliance's Rex Patrick having a change of heart, One Nation's vote now becomes crucial for Labor's motion to pass.
Scott Morrison has appointed his one-time chief of staff Phil Gaetjens head of the prime minister's department, replacing Martin Parkinson.
Morrison is keen to whip the backbench into line early, telling the backbench to be “mindful of what we took to the election and what we didn't take”.
Industrial relations in the 2019 election
Unions and Labor have a long history of working together, but if the ALP wins office, unions will have to compete with many other groups to get what they want.
It ought to be possible to replace Australia's minimum wage with a higher "living wage" without putting people our of work, but more will be needed.
At this election there is a stark choice between the two major parties on industrial relations: the "small target" approach of the Coalition and the ALP's more ambitious and detailed plan.
Overruling the Fair Work Commission will give Labor what it wants, at the cost of diminishing the commission.
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George Pell's conviction has opened a rift in Australian society, with many people questioning the guilty verdict. Pell's lawyer has said he will appeal. On what grounds could he do that?
Australian Catholics are drifting from the church, and research shows sexual abuse scandals are a main reason why.
The US is negotiating a peace agreement with the Taliban, so it can safely withdraw its troops. But how can peace last in Afghanistan if women aren't at the negotiating table?
The Uyghurs are a Muslim minority group living China's Xinjiang region. It is now estimated over one million Uyghurs have been arrested and imprisoned in China's vast network of "re-education" camps.
The US has withdrawn from a major arms control treaty with Russia, and Russia followed suit. So, what was the treaty, and what happens now?
Twenty-five years ago, an Irish nun handed a report to the Catholic Church that detailed sexual abuse against nuns by priests worldwide. It was ignored. But now nuns are finally sharing their stories.
A refugee law expert on a week of ‘reckless’ rhetoric and a new way to process asylum seeker claims.
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Today on Trust Me, I'm An Expert, a refugee legal expert busts myths about how proposed medical transfer rules would work, and described some of this week's border security rhetoric as 'reckless'.
Some targets seem easier to meet than others, while some are just plain unreliable. Here are four things we've learnt from the last decade of Closing the Gap policy.
A barrister may report confidential client communications to police where their client has threatened the safety of another person, but going beyond such discrete instances is ethically fraught.
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