“He was much loved by the Australian community. He was a character - a political character - in an era when you tend to get white bread politicians,” says Michelle Grattan on Tim Fischer.
Alan Porritt/AAP
Michelle Grattan reflects on Tim Fischer’s personal and political legacy, and discusses the kind of leader Scott Morrison is with the anniversary of his prime ministership approaching on Saturday.
Can Scott Morrison maintain the image of separation from the Canberra elite, given he’s its most powerful member?
AAP/The Conversation
After 12 months as prime minister, Morrison looks the strong leader, clearly in charge, with few constraints. But will he make a substantial entry in the history book of Australian prime ministers?
Australia currently has about 2,250 military personnel deployed on operations.
AAP/Dept of Defence/ABIS Bonny Gassner
Australia has committed to joining the US and the UK in a mission to protect oil ships in the Strait of Hormuz. But why is the Strait the source of so much tension between the US and Iran?
GetUp has been in the Coalition’s firing line for a number of years now, which is not surprising, given its lobbying efforts for left-wing causes.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
GetUp is already subject to the same type of regulation as a political party. By challenging its links to left-wing parties, though, the Coalition is seeking to strip away its claim of independence.
Morrison describes the “the bacon and eggs principle” where “the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed”.
AAP/Shutterstock/The Conversation
Ahead of the formal receipt of the Thodey report on the public service, Morrison stresses the service must be responsive to both its ministers and the “quiet Australians”.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Michelle Grattan reviews another busy week in federal politics, and take a look at the prime minister’s major speech on Monday on the public service.
The inability to meet Pacific Island expectations on climate change will erode Australia’s leadership credentials and influence in the region.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Australia ensured its official communique watered down commitments to respond to climate change, gaining a hollow victory.
Pacific leaders don’t want to talk about China’s rising influence – they want Scott Morrison to make a firm commitment to cut Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
It’s becoming increasingly obvious that Australia’s inability – or refusal – to take firmer action on climate change is undermining its entire ‘Pacific step-up’.
The Morrison government is at risk of losing control of China policy at the most critical time in Australian history.
AAP/EPA/Thomas Peter/pool
Backbencher Andrew Hastie’s recent opinion piece has caused ructions within the government, but Scott Morrison needs to articulate a clear policy on China that also allows for dissenting voices.
Beth Noveck and Rod Glover argue that to reverse the ‘creeping crisis’ faced by the public service, the government must train public servants to use creative problem-solving methods.
Shutterstock
On the ‘creeping crisis’ in the public service
The Conversation, CC BY28,8 Mo(download)
A timely study of the public service, titled Today's problems, Yesterday's toolkit discusses the ‘creeping crisis’ of effectiveness and legitimacy the Australian public service is facing.
The public service has been slow to adopt innovation in Australia – and this is a problem when it comes to effective government in the 21st century.
Shutterstock
With the experience of hastily joining the US-lead invasion of Iraq in 2003 still fresh, the federal government must ensure it has a clear view of the limits of any new commitment.
On Monday week, Morrison will set out in detail his thoughts on the public service in an address to the Institute of Public Administration.
Brian Cassey/AAP
The public service is a soft target, and Scott Morrison has already had it in his sights, telling it to remember the old adage – that it is on tap and the government is on top.
Albanese’s opposition’s new tactics during question time have put pressure on government ministers.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
A busy week in Parliament House has seen Labor adopting new tactics during question time, putting pressure on government ministers, while Morrison struggles to maintain order among his backbenchers.
Morrison has trouble keeping his backbenchers in line, as they rebel on issues like superannuation and Newstart.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
This week, Morrison told his backbench to keep their opinions in line or internal, appointed a man he’s personally close to as his new head of the Prime Minister’s department, and put the public service in its place.
Previous head of Treasury, and one-time chief of staff for Scott Morrison has been appointed the new head of the prime minister’s department.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Scott Morrison has appointed his one-time chief of staff Phil Gaetjens head of the prime minister’s department, replacing Martin Parkinson.
Jacinda Adern said the issue was having a ‘corrosive’ effect on Australia’s relationship with her country, and that Australia should not take the closeness of the relationship for granted.
Julian Smith/AAP
Many people being deported have extensive family ties in Australia and have spent very little time in New Zealand.
Energy minister Angus Taylor was the target of Tuesday’s question time and given that he’s not a strong performer in the House, he floundered.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University