The Latest Articles by Michelle Grattan

Government-Coalition deal secures sweeping new regime for political donations and spending

The Albanese government has secured bipartisan support for a major new regime covering political donations and spending, after making significant concessions.

The Conversation · Feb 12, 2025

Politics with Michelle Grattan: David Littleproud on US tariffs, a government-owned Rex, and the Nationals’ identity

With the election only months away, the Labor government finds itself suddenly battling with the Trump administration for an exemption from new US tariffs on steel and aluminium.

The Conversation · Feb 12, 2025

Albanese government looking to acquire Rex Airlines if buyer can’t be found

The Albanese government will on Wednesday announce it is willing, as a last resort, to purchase the collapsed Rex Airlines, in its latest bid to prop up aviation services to regional and remote areas.

The Conversation · Feb 11, 2025

Albanese government bans DeepSeek from official devices on security grounds

The Albanese government is banning DeepSeek – the Chinese artificial intelligence model – from all government systems and devices on national security grounds.

The Conversation · Feb 4, 2025

Parliament condemns antisemitism, but can’t avoid the blame game

Independent Allegra Spender spearheaded a condemnation of antisemitism by federal parliament – but the debate was mired in partisanship.

The Conversation · Feb 4, 2025

View from The Hill: Election battle turns to spending, with BCA calling for cap and Labor hitting Dutton’s planned cuts

As the political debate turns to government spending, the questions loom: is it too high, and will Peter Dutton be able to get away with keeping his proposed cuts mostly under wraps?

The Conversation · Feb 3, 2025

Politics with Michelle Grattan: John Blaxland and Richard Holden talk about what Trump will mean for Australia

As Australia gears up for the election, the incoming government’ Labor or Coalition, will face global challenges, geo-political and economic, especially with Donald Trump starting to impose tariffs on selected countries including China,

The Conversation · Feb 3, 2025

Albanese will pitch to blue collar men with heavy warnings on Dutton’s workplace policies

Anthony Albanese has outlined his pitch to improve his and his government’s standing among men, as he insists he can hold onto majority government at the election to be held in April or May.

The Conversation · Feb 2, 2025

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Albanese dumps Nature Positive legislation and considers shrinking the electoral reform bill

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dumped – for the second time – the government’s controversial “Nature Positive” legislation, which had run into strong opposition from the Western Australian Labor government.

The Conversation · Feb 1, 2025

Grattan on Friday: Dutton walks more softly on China, with election in mind

When Peter Dutton was asked this week  whether a Coalition government would continue  to foster trade relations with China, he declared unequivocally that “the relationship with China will be much stronger  than it is under the Albanese government”.

The Conversation · Jan 30, 2025