The stoush between Senators Sarah-Hanson Young and David Leyonhjelm harks back to age-old - not to mention nonsense and deeply sexist - dichotomies about women’s sexuality and moral character.
In announcing the retreat, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann reaffirmed that the government remained committed to the cuts, and cast the July 28 byelections as a referendum on them.
The decision, announced in response to questions at a news conference on Tuesday, doesn’t appear to have gone through shadow cabinet. Nor did Shorten mention it when he addressed caucus that morning.
The Senate on Thursday is set to pass intact the government’s $144 billion three-stage income tax package - but whether the plan is fully delivered will depend on who wins the election.
Any voters so angry about the more conventional parties that they are tempted to look Palmer’s way again might like to consider the shenanigans on Monday.
One paradox of leaders of personality parties is that while they attract voters and so can get others elected, this can be their downfall, because they are by nature loners not team people.
Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday, ended his career with growing repudiation by his party and the public for positions, from national defense to bipartisanship, that he had long embodied.
The Nationals now have their first Tasmanian senator since the Tasmanian tiger was last sighted, but that does not greatly reduce the challenges the government faces in passing legislation.
Capri Cafaro, American University School of Public Affairs
Senate confirmation for many of President Trump’s nominees has been tough. In this speed read, The Conversation asks: What is Senate confirmation, and why do we do it?
Experts reviewed more than five hours of testimony Facebook’s notoriously reserved CEO gave to Congress, searching for nonverbal clues to understand what he’s really thinking.
Tim Storer has one hell of a decision to make shortly after the May budget, when the government plans to bring back its legislation to give tax cuts to big business.