Value the independent voices in parliament

Value the independent voices in parliament

Andrew Wilkie regrets signing a deal with Julia Gillard when she didn’t follow through with gambling reform and says the independents would be well advised to stay independent.

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Politicians from across the aisle farewell ‘man of conviction’ Kevin Andrews

Politicians from across the aisle farewell ‘man of conviction’ Kevin Andrews

Family,friends and former prime ministers have gathered to farewell Liberal Party stalwart and former defence minister Kevin Andrews at a state funeral in Melbourne.

  • byHolly Hales
Faith and conviction:Tributes flow for late Liberal minister Kevin Andrews
Updated
Vale

Faith and conviction:Tributes flow for late Liberal minister Kevin Andrews

The former defence and immigration minister and longest continuously serving member of federal parliament has died at 69 after a year-long cancer battle.

  • byAshleigh McMillan
The ‘sneaky’ language that failed to stop medical research with embryos

The ‘sneaky’ language that failed to stop medical research with embryos

A contentious argument within the Howard government over unused IVF embryos pitted conservatives and liberals against each other.

  • byShane Wright
Senior Coalition MP Stuart Robert gave secret advice to lobbyists
Investigation
Political lobbying

Senior Coalition MP Stuart Robert gave secret advice to lobbyists

Senior Liberal MP Stuart Robert,while in government,secretly gave free advice to a Canberra consulting firm that helped large companies win government contracts and meet Coalition ministers.

  • byNick McKenzie andDavid Crowe
‘Think about our team’:PM pressures moderates as party backs religious laws

‘Think about our team’:PM pressures moderates as party backs religious laws

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has secured majority party room support for religious discrimination laws despite moderate Liberals warning they don’t support them.

  • byLisa Visentin
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Queensland MP Andrew Wallace frontrunner to become new Speaker

Queensland MP Andrew Wallace frontrunner to become new Speaker

A former barrister and carpenter,Andrew Wallace is chasing the chance to be Australia’s 31st Speaker of the House of Representatives.

  • byRob Harris
Pay rise and a portrait:Outgoing MP Kevin Andrews urged to stand for Speaker’s role

Pay rise and a portrait:Outgoing MP Kevin Andrews urged to stand for Speaker’s role

The veteran MP will leave Parliament next year after losing a preselection battle,but he may be handed a farewell gift of being elected Speaker in the meantime.

  • byRob Harris
Former Victorian governor Sir James Gobbo dies aged 90

Former Victorian governor Sir James Gobbo dies aged 90

Leading political,church and community figures,including the Prime Minister,have paid tribute to Sir James Gobbo,who died on Sunday.

‘Lost the plot’:How an obsession with local jobs blew out Australia’s $90 billion submarine program

‘Lost the plot’:How an obsession with local jobs blew out Australia’s $90 billion submarine program

Australia’s plan to replace its ageing submarines has been plagued by cost blowouts and delays. A 1980s decision could be to blame,but is it too late to change tack?

  • byAnthony Galloway
How a Liberal defence minister tried to promote his staffer to a top military post
Exclusive
ADF

How a Liberal defence minister tried to promote his staffer to a top military post

The move by former minister Kevin Andrews was quickly thwarted,but defence chiefs are concerned that upcoming appointments must be free of political taint.

  • byNick McKenzie,Chris Masters andAnthony Galloway