The Morrison government has gone hard on accusing Labor of being China’s “pick” at the federal election, and in doing so is leading the country down a dangerous path.
Stretching back to the second world war, the term was used to encompass the well-being and safety of Australians, rather than the crude, vague threat from outsiders it implies today.
Tensions between Australia and China have increased further, after the Chinese shone a laser at a RAAF surveillance aircraft that was observing Chinese naval activity in Australia’s exclusive economic zone.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Trent Zimmerman has no regrets on Religious Discrimination rebellion
Michelle Grattan speaks with Trent Zimmerman, one of the five Liberal moderates who crossed the floor to vote to amend the religious discrimination package to protect trans children
The backbench Liberal revolt that pushed a protection for transgender kids through the House of Representatives, and thereby inadvertently doomed Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination legislation, has bitten deeply with the PM and senior ministers.
The personal powers of the immigration minister to grant or cancel visas are extremely broad and powerful. And this isn’t the first time they’ve courted controversy.
The AUKUS agreement has all the Morrison hallmarks: his own work, conceived and executed in secrecy, kept to the smallest possible round of colleagues, details to be worked out much later, and little concern for the incidental fallout, writes Michelle Grattan
The government’s refugee policy in the wake of the Afghanistan war is a chance to show the world what sort of country we are and we should display a more generous character, writes Michelle Grattan
How hard is Scott Morrison willing to poke the panda? That’s a question posed by the government’s review of the Chinese company Landbridge’s 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin.
Getting the right “balance” is one of the main challenges when framing and executing policies. The difficulties of achieving this are being exposed currently on two fronts – the repatriation of Australians and relations with China.
These issues matter to our strategic allies, particularly in the Pacific. Dutton’s climate change scepticism and attitudes toward First Nations people could have a damaging effect.
The difficult defence portfolio has had a swift turnover of ministers in recent decades. But with great challenges come great opportunities for Peter Dutton.