Sophie Morris

Turnbull may be cruising ahead in the polls but it’s not all smooth sailing as the PM navigates a messy senate and internal tensions.

Do US concerns over the sale of the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company suggest those who question foreign investment on strategic and security grounds have a point?

Once the nation’s most prominent republican, Malcolm Turnbull is now content to let Labor steal the debate’s lead.

With an appalling approval rating, but protected by Labor’s leadership rules, Bill Shorten must persuade the public he’s a man of ideas.

With an alliance redolent of the Hawke–Keating era, the compact between Turnbull and Morrison is key to the government’s fortunes.

For the new prime minister, it’s time to keep his enemies close and the conservatives closer.

In an attempt to slow the media cycle, Turnbull has borrowed from US presidents: speak only from a podium, and only on big issues.

As a mother and her baby daughter test the legality of offshore detention, Peter Dutton looks to the possibility of a ‘Philippines Solution’.

It was not just his popularity that won Malcolm Turnbull the leadership. There was also a long-running plan to reboot policy.

A perceived snub to Lee Rhiannon has sparked a fresh storm for the Australian Greens.

Balancing enemies and allies, Malcolm Turnbull’s cabinet lays the groundwork for reform while holding the party together.

After a long campaign to woo shock jocks and conservatives, Malcolm Turnbull has beaten Tony Abbott with the promise of rebuilding the Liberals’ ‘broad church’.

The extraordinary crisis in Europe has thoroughly reshaped the language and terms of the refugee debate in Australia.

As unions attempt to discredit the trade deal with China, Bill Shorten must carefully weigh its post-byelection benefits.

While Treasurer Joe Hockey rails against bracket creep, the eyes of the world are focusing on the faltering Chinese economy.

For Tony Abbott, the outcome of next month’s byelection in WA is likely to decide if he sinks or swims as prime minister.

Liberalism and the Liberal Party are becoming mutually exclusive, as Tony Abbott digs in over same-sex marriage and climate policy.

Doctors who have worked in immigration detention show no sign of being silenced, despite the possible prosecution of those who speak out.

Amid the travel expenses furore, the government stands to lose tens of millions of dollars on a decision to switch to a single travel manager.

Asylum-seeker policy may dominate debate at this weekend’s ALP conference, but an underlying theme is who’ll take the leadership reins post-Shorten.

One year into his senate stint, Ricky Muir has developed into a confident speaker, a popular figure with unions and someone the ALP could eye as a future candidate.

From a ‘near-death experience’ in February to preparing the Coalition for the next election, it seems Tony Abbott may be an old dog with new tricks.

Shutting down the office of the information commissioner is the latest gambit in the Abbott government’s quest to avoid scrutiny.

Inside the government’s attempts to control the conflicting ‘narratives’ on housing prices – and the plans to address the bubble.

The practical results of revoking citizenship are yet to be seen, but the threat has already served its purpose in the party room.

The Greens’ new leader has a fresh vision for the third-force party: transparent, consultative and mainstream.

From ‘debt and deficit disaster’ to ‘go out and spend’, is the government playing a reckless game with the national economy?

In a budget marked by confusion, the government’s hunt for ‘unfairness’ has made enemies of key constituents.

A week ago, Christine Milne’s camp was pushing stories of a new strategy. By Wednesday, she was announcing her resignation.

Missed opportunities to improve childcare have blighted both Coalition and Labor governments. Can Scott Morrison’s plans for sweeping reforms finally provide a grown-up solution?

Ahead of the ALP’s national conference, the party’s factions are manoeuvring on metadata, climate change, same-sex marriage – and the future leadership.

Australia’s weak commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is raising eyebrows around the world.

Tony Abbott has a gun pointed at the senate: a chance to fix preference systems that advantage minor parties, then rush to a double dissolution.

It’s a high-stakes gamble for industry groups to support unpopular government policy if the senate objects, as the experience of university chiefs shows.

Why openness, pragmatism – and maybe some ice-cream – are the best ways to deal with the pain of miscarriage.

Same-sex marriage got as close as it has been to breakthrough in the Coalition party room this week, but was spooked by the budget.

The leaking of media reforms has enraged News Corp and left the impression Turnbull is trying to wedge Abbott.

The red and green houses of parliament are being tinged with khaki as an increasing number of former defence force personnel enter politics.

With his spot at the top seeming safe for the moment, Tony Abbott will pin his hopes of long-term survival on keeping households happy.

After weeks of mutinous destabilisation by backbenchers, the fate of the prime minister is now in the hands of his cabinet ministers.

Labor promised to be defined this year by their ideas. So where are they?

Julie Bishop finds herself in a unique position: pointedly wedged between two rivals and ready to decide the future of both.

Turnbull is in pole position to replace the prime minister. But how has he overcome doubts within the Coalition?

The tax arrangements keeping electricity prices high.

Leadership tension has spilled into the Nationals, as the Coalition tries to understand the chaos in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The AMA’s criticism of proposed changes to Medicare highlights the government’s need to lengthen its own consultation times.

While David Morrison is making headway on women’s recruitment and promotion in the army, the ‘band of brothers’ culture persists.

The education minister’s bullishness in defeat of his university reforms epitomises the government’s struggles in the senate.

The government spent billions buying water from farmers to save the Murray-Darling, but there’s now a push to sell water back.

The minister is seeking to hugely extend his discretion to determine citizenship, visas and asylum.

A change of heart over financial advice regulations has exposed holes in the Coalition’s senate strategy.

While the Liberals court Clive Palmer, overlooked Nationals are threatening revolt from within.

The government is throwing everything at an obstreperous senate to push through its unpopular budget measures.

Christine Milne is risking trouble within Greens ranks as she bids to rebuild the party’s base.

The Palmer United senator regrets legislation her party is passing and fears it has already lost its way.

Labor is working on a plan to force oversight onto the national security legislation it waved through.

By extending a lifeline to Direct Action, independent senator Nick Xenophon may yet sneak in a carbon price.

As Coalition figures drum up fears of Muslim extremism, Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells is trying to reassure a community at the crossroads.

A late-night meeting between David Leyonhjelm and the attorney-general offered brief hope for compromise on security legislation.

The focus on national security can dull dissent in political debate, but it still exists in both major parties and the PUP.

The mixed reputations of David Johnston and Julie Bishop rest on the success of our military operations in Iraq.

The ALP believes it can capitalise on fears the government’s cuts to higher education will put university out of the reach of many families.

In the past month, the emerging ‘Abbott doctrine’ has put Australia on a war footing.

Loopholes in disclosure laws are allowing major donations to be funnelled into parties via an elaborate network of forums and sponsorships.

Irrespective of the Warburton review’s findings, the uncertainty Tony Abbott has created is killing the green energy sector.

An outsider during the Howard years, George Brandis is at the centre of this government, and at the centre of its follies.

With Clive Palmer and a handful of backroom advisers calling the senate shots, some Nationals have decided it’s time to ‘muscle up’.

The pragmatic approach and active diplomacy of Australia’s UN ambassador are paying huge dividends in the wake of MH17.

Labor stalwart John Faulkner knows his call to empower party members will send the NSW state conference into chaos and splinter his own Left faction. He also knows it’s essential.

Ricky Muir’s in Canberra, keeping a diary, and getting what he wants. Already, he’s more serious than anyone thought.

The attorney-general is exploiting fear of returning holy fighters to push through ASIO’s long-sought powers.

An inconvenient alliance has added fuel to Clive Palmer’s mysterious machinations regarding climate change legislation.

All eyes are on the PUP senators-elect but the government is bracing for dissent from its own.

With the upper house balance of power soon in his grasp, the PUP leader has approached senators Xenophon and Madigan to join his bloc.

As the PM sets off to meet world leaders, his government is withdrawing the nation from international affairs.

Support for the Greens fell drastically at the last election, and their party room is divided, but the power they will wield in the new senate is significant.

Amid the rancour over last week’s federal budget, the government’s proposed medical research fund has drawn one unlikely high-profile supporter.

As one of eight crossbench senators set to wield enormous power come July, Ballarat’s John Madigan is ready to stand and be counted.

Interest groups emerge at budget time to take the government to task. Joe Hockey’s fuel excise increase finds the motorist lobby gearing up for a fight.

Blame laying and calls for heavy lifting aside, it’s time for Joe Hockey to take ownership of the economy.

Student resistance to Christopher Pyne’s plan to allow universities to raise their fees will find an unlikely champion in Clive Palmer’s senate bloc.

Despite a quiet start to opposition, Labor has a plan to win back government, and it relies on one man: Tony Abbott.

From the moment he lost power, Kevin Rudd began work on his biggest project yet: a pitch to become UN secretary-general.

With the fresh wounds of the rerun WA senate election adding to the pain of last year’s federal rout, a new crop of Labor MPs have a unique chance to redefine their ailing party.

The government’s agenda hinges on the crossbench from the WA senate election re-run. A report on its poor attempts to negotiate.

The prime minister’s surprise revival of knights and dames comes amid rumblings from the Coalition’s sons of monarchy.

You can count on Queensland to keep federal parliament interesting. Meet the state's newest straight-talking senator and self-confessed trouble-maker.

After an initial fumble, and an angry rebuke, the government is preparing to offer Chinese business more than just a free trade agreement.

“At one point in time, we dries were in a niche and were trying to drag the party in that direction. We’re now mainstream and Tony Abbott is pushing us to the extreme.”

Will the Abbott government adopt harsh recommendations to stem the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’s bleeding?

The death of Reza Barati last week had its beginnings on the Labor backbenches, where Kevin Rudd was plotting his return as leader.