Fri, November 29, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

Labor can't legislate its way out of this battle with the RBA

There is growing disagreement over when unemployment is inflationary - and the RBA's view helps explain why it is still so bearish on rate cuts.

by: Brian Stokes

Louise Haigh's rise from young Labour MP to Transport Secretary

Ms Haigh became the youngest female Cabinet minister to ever be appointed when she was made Transport Secretary earlier this year.

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: 'Shocking' net migration figures are so high 'you have to double take', says Starmer

Keir Starmer has vowed to end the Tories' "open borders experiment" after new stats show net migration to the UK fell by 20% in the year to June 2024, but from what was a record high of more than 900,

by: Brian Stokes

Deepfake extortion targets Singapore officials, highlighting growing cyber threat

by: Brian Stokes

Social media ban, migration laws and RBA overhaul headline Federal Parliament's chaotic media week

EXPLAINER: After months of deadlock and dispute, Federal Parliament burst to life to pass an extraordinary 45 bills before MPs headed home for the long summer break.

by: Brian Stokes

Birmingham was a failed moderate who leaves a legacy of rolling over and letting the right win

Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham was a leading moderate, or so we were repeatedly told. But what does he have to show for it?

by: Brian Stokes

High-ranking military official in China suspended and placed under investigation

A member of China's powerful Central Military Commission has been suspended and put under investigation, the country's Defense Ministry said Thursday. Miao Hua was director of the political work department on the commission,

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: Top Tory says it's a 'day of shame' for his party - as PM condemns 'shocking' migration figures

Keir Starmer has vowed to end the Tories' "open borders experiment" after new stats show net migration to the UK fell by 20% in the year to June 2024, but from what was a record high of more than 900,

by: Brian Stokes

Adam Gopnik's "Going There With Donald Trump" Eight and a Half Years Later

The idea that it can be bounded in by honest conservatives in a Cabinet or restrained by normal constitutional limits is unsupported by history. — Adam

by: Brian Stokes

Trudeau Liberals' two-month GST holiday bill passes the House, off to the Senate

The federal government's five-page piece of legislation to enact Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promised two-month tax break on a range of consumer goods over the holidays passed in the House of Commons late Thursday.

by: Brian Stokes

Starmer: 'the previous government were running an open borders experiment'

The ONS have revealed that nearly one million people arrived in the UK in the year ending June 2023, as the PM cited the Conservative Party's 'Global Britain' slogan.

by: Brian Stokes

Death threats in Marcos-Duterte feud highlight the Philippines' problem with political violence

Family dynasties have a stranglehold on Filipino politics — and this week was a reminder that some dynasties at the top are militaristic and fond of violence.

by: Brian Stokes

Anthony Albanese gets down and dirty in deal making and breaking as Senate rushes to Christmas finish

The prime minister personally intervened in the wrangling and deal-making as the government battled to get as much as possible of Labor's legislation passed in the chaotic dying days of 2024's parliamentary sitting.

by: Brian Stokes

Miners rejoice as Albanese shelves environment watchdog

But the onset of early season bushfires heralds a heated debate over summer about the future of the government's election commitment.

by: Brian Stokes

French government crisis: Mobilize the working class to bring down Barnier and Macron!

The struggle against Macron cannot be left to parliamentary maneuvers by the neo-fascist Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whose New Popular Front enabled the forming of the government.

by: Brian Stokes

Election 2024 Day 21: one last push from major parties deadlocked as nation goes to the polls on Friday

With less than 24 hours to go until the country heads to the polls, it's a short but hard fought campaign as parties and Independents attempt to fill as many of the 174 Dáil seats as possible.

by: Brian Stokes

Ready for an election, Albanese unveils his new catchphrase

After driving 45 pieces of legislation through parliament in a week, the prime minister has signalled his election campaign strategy.

by: Brian Stokes

France's bond yields rise above Greece's for first time amid political instability in Paris

Borrowing costs for France have hit a 12-year high relative to Germany, and were more than those of Greece for the first time ever

by: Brian Stokes

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith on why he suggested Lindsay McKenzie as Wellington City Council's Crown observer- On the Tiles

When the Government announced a Crown observer was being appointed at Wellington City Council, former Cabinet minister and current Mayor of Nelson Nick Smith knew just the man for the job. Smith wrote to Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and recommended Lindsay McKenzie,

by: Brian Stokes

Death threats and division: A political feud takes a dramatic turn

Behind all this drama is a once powerful political alliance which has spectacularly unravelled. The decision by the Marcos and Duterte clans to join forces in the 2022 presidential election was a marriage of convenience.

by: Brian Stokes

Jharkhand gov to take legal action for Rs 1.36 trillion coal dues: CM Soren

Soon after taking oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren announced that his government would take legal action to realise its Rs 1.36 lakh-crore coal dues from the Centre.

by: Brian Stokes

Chinese journalist and former Harvard fellow sentenced to 7 years

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: Starmer holding news conference as deal announced with Iraq to tackle small boat crossings

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is holding a Downing Street news conference after new stats show net migration to the UK fell by 20% in the year to June 2024, but from what was a record high of more than 900,
Thu, November 28, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

As Priyanka Gandhi debuts in Parliament, here's her strengths and weaknesses

by: Brian Stokes

For interest rates to fall, 75,000 more people need to be out of work

by: Brian Stokes

Election 2024 live updates: 'All to play for' on final day of the campaign

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: Government changes immigration rule - as new migration data to be published shortly

by: Brian Stokes

Labor has given up on Prahran. It's an astonishing act of political cowardice

by: Brian Stokes

Lebanon Truce Expands Area Free of Hezbollah Arms, Sharpens Terms of UN Resolution

by: Brian Stokes

Mexico's President and Trump Describe a Positive Talk but Differ on Migration Details

by: Brian Stokes

US to sanction Maduro-aligned officials, to put pressure on Venezuela's president to accept election results

by: Brian Stokes

'Grave concerns' over national insurance hike impact in Wales

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: Government changes immigration rule - as new migration data set to be published

by: Brian Stokes

French government creaks as Barnier's budget woes weaken survival chances

by: Brian Stokes

Divide and Conquer: Political Riptides Threaten to Overwhelm the Nation

by: Brian Stokes

Crackdown on employers who flout visa laws and exploit foreign workers

by: Brian Stokes

Germany's industrial bloodbath leaves politicians fumbling for answers

by: Brian Stokes

Bali Nine's fate will be in Australia's hands if they return home: Indonesia

by: Brian Stokes

Using the notwithstanding clause to evict the homeless shows the limits of municipal politics

by: Brian Stokes

Franklin County judge sues fellow judges, claiming racial, gender and employment discrimination

by: Brian Stokes

Raw Politics: Labour's year of living anonymously

by: Brian Stokes

Liberal GST holiday expected to pass soon as government introduces solo bill

by: Brian Stokes

Horse carriage owners and workers consider what's next if council shuts down the industry

by: Brian Stokes

Simon Birmingham to retire from politics

by: Brian Stokes

Seen and Unseen: Ideology and politics don't have a place at a family gathering

Wed, November 27, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

The Senate is a circus and this senator is its clowning glory

by: Brian Stokes

Cash-strapped Allan government spends record $130m on Australian Grand Prix Corporation

by: Brian Stokes

Two announce bids to run for Santa Fe mayor in 2025

Birmingham bows out of politics warning against Trumpian culture wars

Those ... who seek to divide our country only make us weaker", Birmingham said before hugging Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on his way from the Senate.

Simon Birmingham, the former foreign minister and current shadow foreign affairs minister, has announced his decision to retire from politics at the next federal election, scheduled for May 2025. Birmingham, who has been a senator for South Australia since 2007, cited the need for a "new chapter" in his life after nearly two decades in public office. His departure will leave a significant gap in the Liberal Party, where he has been a key figure, having served in various high-profile roles including as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. Birmingham's exit is part of a broader reshuffle and renewal within the party, as it seeks to rebuild and reposition itself following recent electoral losses.

Read the Full Sydney Morning Herald Article at https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/simon-birmingham-to-quit-20241128-p5kud5.html