The proposed National Integrity Commission is under attack, amid fears it will be toothless. The government needs to rethink its model.
Morrison this week delivered to an audience of big business what was described as his most important speech for the rest of the year.
Steven Saphore/AAP
Next week begins the year’s final parliamentary fortnight, and the main attention will be on the fate of two bills - the ensuring integrity legislation, and the medevac repeal.
Christian Porter is confident the Coalition can pass a religious discrimination bill, despite criticism from many groups to his exposure draft legislation.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Rather than asking, “How can we best address religious discrimination in Australia?”, Christian Porter is saying, “This is what we’re doing about religious discrimination; any objections?”.
“I have previously said that I would be seriously disinclined to approve prosecutions of journalists except in the most exceptional circumstances,” said Attorney-General Christian Porter.
Lukas Coch/AAP
As the battle over press freedom continues, the Attorney-General has ordered that any prosecution of a journalist for offences related to national security must have his approval.
Hanson, who thinks men get a bad deal in the system, will be deputy of the new family law inquiry.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
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.
If this bill had been law when Rugby Australia sacked Israel Folau, he might have chosen to pursue a federal discrimination case.
Joel Carrett/AAP
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.
Attorney-General Christian Porter announced the draft bill at Sydney’s Great Synagogue.
Bianca de Marchi/AAP
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.
Attorney-General Christian Porter unveiled the draft legislation at Sydney’s Great Synagogue on Thursday.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The government is relishing the difficulties the John Setka controversy has created for Labor leader Anthony Albanese, who remains opposed to tighter restrictions on unions.
Had Peter Dutton won the 2018 leadership ballot and become prime minister, the governor-general may have had some tricky legal arguments on his hands.
AAP/Ellen Smith
The Constitution says that the governor-general can only act to fill a vacancy in the prime ministership if there is one - but in this case, some complex questions would have arisen.
Scott Morrison faces the risks of the Folau saga becoming a divisive intrusion into what he wants to be a steady-as-she-goes style of government.
AAP/The Conversation
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull clashes with Attorney-General Christian Porter.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Attorney-General Christian Porter announced that sabotaging food will now attract a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
AAP/Lukas Coch
After a spate of sewing needles being found in strawberries, the federal government has moved quickly to tighten penalties for those who sabotage fruit. But it is unlikely to be a strong deterrent.
Attorney-General Christian Porter wants the legislation passed before the “Super Saturday” byelections on July 28.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The government wants to rush through its espionage and foreign interference bills, but more time is needed to make sure these make the country safer without jeopardising freedom.
Roman Quaedvlieg repeated earlier denials of the accusations against him after being sacked.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The government has been extraordinarily secretive when questioned in recent months about where the investigation was up to and why it was so prolonged.
Practices for a redress scheme should follow what the royal commission did when working with survivors.
AAP/Jeremy Piper