What does a democracy do when a dominant news media organisation goes rogue during an election campaign? In 2022, News Corporation is confronting Australia with this question once again, as it did in 2019…
From personally targeting the Victorian premier to railing against the compulsory use of masks or scapegoating a minority group, News Corp’s coverage has been not just biased but dangerous.
Stephen Conroy is to head up a new gambling industry body, Responsible Wagering Australia.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The gambling industry certainly holds an attraction for former politicians. Perhaps it’s all that money, and the attraction of staying in the game – even if at a peripheral level.
Malcolm Turnbull said he remained ‘quietly confident, reasonably confident’ of forming a majority government.
David Moir/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull has taken ‘absolutely full responsibility’ for his criticised election campaign, and declared the Coalition must rebuild public trust in itself on the issue of Medicare.
Peta Credlin will be a commentator on Sky for the duration of the election campaign.
AAP/Sam Mooy
Tony Abbott is being good in this campaign, certainly so far, even to the point of praising the government’s superannuation changes when, as prime minister, he was totally opposed to any reform. But his…
One only has to know Malcolm Turnbull’s nature to understand his deep frustration at the government’s internal dissent.
Ben MacMahon/AAP
The momentum for a July 2 double dissolution has accelerated with Malcolm Turnbull opening the way to bring the May 10 budget forward by a week. “The budget will be in May,” he said on Tuesday, as he prepared…
Tony Abbott’s psychological dependence on Peta Credlin was built on gratitude and loyalty but went way beyond.
Lukas Coch/AAP
It is hard to imagine the emotions of Tony Abbott or Peta Credlin as they read journalist Niki Savva’s indictment, in The Road to Ruin, of the former prime minister’s pig-headedness and his former chief-of-staff’s…
Tony Abbott’s anger and distress at losing the prime ministership is clear through a calm veneer.
Sam Mooy/AAP
The pain in politics is not pretty. Most leaders relish imposing it on adversaries. But then, when they come to bad ends, as they often do, they bleed and vent. Tony Abbott’s anger and distress is clear…
Peta Credlin did not seem to accept any responsibility for the demise of her leader despite taking much credit for getting him into office.
Paul Miller/AAP
Peta Credlin, former chief of staff to the former prime minister, has remained high-profile and defiant to the end. Despite her changed circumstances Credlin went ahead with a panel discussion at Tuesday’s…
Federal Liberal Party director Brian Loughnane is in an awkward position.
Julian Smith/AAP
As ministers jostle ahead of Malcolm Turnbull’s reshuffle for survival or advancement, attention is also on the future of Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane. Loughnane is husband of Peta Credlin…
Prime Minister Tony Abbott confers with his chief of staff, Peta Credlin, during question time.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Peta Credlin is in the classic “double bind” of all women in power: if they take charge, they transgress the gendered expectations that “female qualities” are best suited to a supporting role.
Former Liberal Party president Shane Stone in 2005.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Former Liberal president Shane Stone has hit out at party treasurer Philip Higginson for his scathing correspondence complaining about party governance.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s chief of staff Peta Credlin has once again come under fire.
AAP/Karlis Salna
Tony Abbott’s leadership is now so fragile that he seems nearly beyond being able to rebalance himself. Abbott is the victim of leaks and general destabilisation, and the continued miscalculations by himself…
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been unable to turn his fortunes around this week.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
If, as Tony Abbott declared, good government started on Monday then, to borrow a Gillardism, it “lost its way” well before the week’s end. The days after Abbott’s “near death” experience provided no evidence…
Prime Minister Tony Abbott still strongly supports his chief of staff Peta Credlin.
AAP/Karlis Salna
Tony Abbott’s right-hand woman Peta Credlin is in an invidious position. Not only are many Coalition figures wanting her removed, but now Rupert Murdoch says it’s her “patriotic duty” to fall on her sword…
Rupert Murdoch has tweeted that Tony Abbott’s chief of staff Peta Credlin should stand down.
AAP image/Jason Reed
News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch has made an extraordinary intervention in the Coalition controversy over Tony Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin, declaring via Twitter that she must go. In a series of…
Prime Minister Tony Abbott needs to contain the backbiting and discontent in the higher reaches of his government.
AAP/Lukas Coch
After getting a serious bollocking from Ray Hadley on Thursday, Tony Abbott told the Sydney shock jock that he’s determined to be “a better prime minister with a better government and a more effective…
Treasurer Joe Hockey has sought to make a virtue of what will be a substantial worsening of the projected deficits.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Some barnacles are not, it seems, able to be removed – certainly not in time for Christmas. As the political year grinds to its end, the Prime Minister’s Office is under almost as much attack as that of…
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including the tension between Julie Bishop and Peta Credlin, the GP co-payment changes and Prime…
Senior ministers have had objections about the centralisation and control by Peta Credlin in the prime minister’s office.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Julie Bishop and Peta Credlin had one significant parallel experience on the way to government. They both survived three Liberal leaders. Bishop was deputy to Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull and Tony…