Paul Keating’s recent savage criticism of the Albanese government over the AUKUS deal is a reminder that former leaders have not always publicly disparaged their own parties.
Since the 1970s, Australian immigration policy has changed dramatically, meaning Afghan refugees face far greater hurdles than those who fled Saigon after the Vietnam War.
For so long the ‘coming man’ of Australian political life, Peacock’s many natural gifts always seemed better used beyond politics than within it.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked his department to probe whether Bridget McKenzie was in breach of ministerial standards in her handling of the sports grants program.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Our government has grappled for years to devise ethical standards for ministers and other officials. But codes are only part of the answer – MPs must also take responsibility for their own conduct.
Members of the Liberal Party’s latter-day “broad church” could do worse than secure copies of these Malcolm Fraser’s manifesto for a new political party.
AAP/ Luis Enrique Ascui
Before he died, Malcolm Fraser was working on a manifesto for a new political party with centrist ideals – realising that the Liberal Party had lost touch with the people it asks to elect it.
Cabinet confidentiality is important to ensure ministers are able to debate ideas before a decision is made public.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Canberra’s attitude to nuclear weapons has always been riddled with contradictions. Homegrown nuclear campaigners winning the Nobel prize have put the cat among the pigeons.
Gough Whitlam speaks to reporters after being dismissed as prime minister.
National Archives of Australia
Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. Read between the lines. I am deliberately adding fuel to the anti-immigration, anti-refugee “movement”. How else can you interpret Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s recent sustained…
A fired-up Peter Dutton accused Bill Shorten of trying to bully and demonise him.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Malcolm Fraser may be remembered for his failure to intervene in the Franklin Dam campaign, but he otherwise led a government distinguished for its environmental action.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop made headlines face palming and rolling her eyes during a speech by Treasurer Joe Hockey.
YouTube
The Coalition has had a substantial lift in the latest Newspoll, now trailing Labor in two-party terms 49-51% compared with 45-55% a fortnight ago. This is its best two-party result since September. The…
Malcolm Fraser appeared more comfortable in the media gaze out of politics than in it.
AAP/NAA
Malcolm Fraser’s relationship with the Australian media waxed and waned, from enthusiasm, pragmatism and caution to something, in the end, approaching mutual respect and perhaps even affection.
Lunch with Gough and Malcolm, as guests of Barry Jones in 2008.
Brian Dawe
Malcolm Fraser used to argue that he had not changed his political position, but he had in significant ways. This personal evolution was a wonderful quality in the former prime minister.
In his later years, Malcolm Fraser became a strident critic of Liberal Party policy.
AAP/Astrid Volzke
Malcolm Fraser – as opposition leader, prime minister and in retirement – was always a polarising figure, a characteristic coming through in some of the assessment of his legacy.
Malcolm Fraser wasn’t a visionary like Paul Keating, but he did steady the Australian economic ship.
AAP/Luis Enrique Ascui
Honorary (Senior Fellow) School of Culture and Communication University of Melbourne. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, The University of Melbourne