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The Latest Articles by Michelle Grattan

Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get through late work

Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the candidate considered most likely to succeed Anthony Albanese as Labor’s leader.

The Conversation

Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t be hostage to intolerant fringes

Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate.

The Conversation

Australia’s $230 billion Future Fund encouraged to invest in housing, energy transition, infrastructure

The Albanese government has rewritten the mandate of the Future Fund – the nation’s sovereign wealth fund – to urge it to direct investment into the “national priorities” of housing, the energy transition and infrastructure, where the risk and returns are acceptable.

The Conversation

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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Special Minister of State Don Farrell on getting ‘big money’ out of elections

The government says it will take “big money” out of election campaigns – or, more realistically, curb it – with its legislation imposing donation and spending caps and real-time disclosure.

The Conversation

Budget update will revise down company tax receipts but treasurer Chalmers welcomes economy’s ‘soft landing’

Next month’s federal budget update is expected to revise down company tax receipts for the first time since 2020, amid continued low economic growth in the near term.

The Conversation

Chalmers targets reforms to superannuation products and transparency in the retirement phase

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will announce on Wednesday a package of reforms to the retirement phase of the superannuation system, to make it easier to navigate and consumer friendly.

The Conversation

Albanese government gives firm ‘no’ to joining UK-US agreement to advance nuclear technology

The Albanese government has been put on the spot by a new agreement – which it has declined to join – signed by the United Kingdom and the United States to speed up the deployment of “cutting edge” nuclear technology.

The Conversation

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Senate censures Lidia Thorpe for disupting King’s reception and Ralph Babet for posting hate speech

The Senate has censured two of its own, Lidia Thorpe and Ralph Babet, both of whom were absent when the votes were taken because of problems with their flights to Canberra.

The Conversation

Businesses will have to accept cash for essentials under government plan

The Albanese government, anxious to prevent a dash from cash by businesses, says it will mandate that they must accept it for essential items.

The Conversation

NACC head Paul Brereton says resigning in the face of bad publicity would ‘undermine’ the commission

The head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Paul Brereton, has rejected calls he resign after a finding of “officer misconduct”, declaring to do so would harm the NACC.

The Conversation

Government aims to pass political donation and spending caps within a fortnight after in-principle deal with opposition

The Albanese government aims to rush through legislation within a fortnight for political donation and spending caps, after in-principle support from the opposition.

The Conversation

Grattan on Friday: Labor will ask voters ‘who will make you better or worse off in next three years?’

The government is standing by Kevin Rudd, albeit with gritted teeth, in the face of calls for him to be replaced as Australia’s ambassador to Washington. But the row is an unhelpful and potentially damaging distraction for a prime minister beset by problems and under the shadow of an approaching…

The Conversation

Politics with Michelle Grattan: shadow communications minister David Coleman says misinformation legislation ‘one of the worst bills ever’

The government has embarked on a raft of new online safety measures aimed at protecting Australians from the excesses of misinformation and social harm online.

The Conversation

Government to impose ‘duty of care’ on digital platforms: Communiations Minister Rowland

The Albanese government will develop and legislate a “Digital Duty of Care” to place the onus on platforms to keep people safe and better prevent online harms, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has announced.

The Conversation

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The Conversation

Former US ambassador accuses Sky News of creating a ‘self-licking ice cream’ to attack Kevin Rudd

The furore over Australia’s ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd, is a “self-licking icecream” created by some at Sky News, former defence chief and former ambassador to the United States, Dennis Richardson says.

The Conversation

Jim Chalmers to announce $900 million fund for states to boost competition and productivity

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will announce a fund of up to $900 million for states and territories to improve productivity and competition, in a Wednesday speech urging an all-out effort to tackle one of Australia’s biggest structural economic issues.

The Conversation

View from The Hill: Albanese plays ‘captain’s pick’ to maximise Labor’s election prospects in Tasmania

Anthony Albanese prides himself on his eye for a good candidate.

The Conversation

WA premier seeks advice about a possible early federal poll clashing with state election

Western Australian Labor premier Roger Cook has asked for advice about the implications of a possible March federal election clashing with the state poll.

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The Conversation

Treasury modelling says indirect impact of Trump’s tariffs likely to be worse than immediate impact for Australia

Donald Trump’s trade and tariff policy would bring a small reduction in Australia’s output and extra price pressures, especially in the short term, according to Treasury modelling.

The Conversation

View from The Hill: Don Farrell pushes to pass Labor’s electoral reforms before Christmas

In a government that puts ministers on show until people are sick of seeing their faces, Don Farrell is a man with hardly a public profile.

The Conversation

Grattan on Friday: Donald Trump’s win will make 2025 even more challenging for Anthony Albanese

Early Wednesday evening, Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan raced down the Parliament House stairs to collect a bag of McDonald’s from an Uber. To celebrate Trump’s victory, he called out as he ran.

The Conversation

Government to publish secret section of Robodebt report, but timing is uncertain

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the government plans to publish the secret section of the Robodebt royal commission report, although it is not clear when it will do so.

The Conversation

Bridget McKenzie admits to 16 undeclared upgrades, including on personal New Zealand flights

Opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie has admitted to receiving sixteen undisclosed upgrades, including on five personal flights to or from New Zealand.

The Conversation

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Independent Helen Haines says the NACC has had ‘disappointing start’, and the government is pork barrelling

Trust in politicians is at an all-time low, not only in Australia but across the world. Now more than ever, people are demanding a higher standard for our elected officials.

The Conversation

Government to introduce urgent legislation after High Court strikes down law to monitor former immigration detainees

The High Court has struck down the Albanese government’s law enabling it to impose ankle bracelets and curfews on the more than 200 non-citizens it released from immigration detention in 2023 after an earlier decision by the court.

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