Government signs off on new Murray plan
Tom Arup 1:10pm The federal government has signed into law a long-awaited plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin plan which the Greens say they will move to disallow it in parliament.
Labor risks creating 'underclass'
DAN HARRISON 10:47amLabor Senator Doug Cameron says the Gillard government has moved too far to the right on asylum seeker policy, and risks creating a new underclass by denying refugees the right to work while they await permanent visas.
National Times Home Page - Political News More Political News
David Wroe
Carr praises Egypt for role in peace
10:21am Foreign Minister Bob Carr has praised in glowing terms the role played by Islamist-led Egypt in helping broker the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, saying it bodes well for the future stability of the Middle East.
Phillip Coorey
Loophole on mining royalties might go
The federal government is considering revisiting the mining tax legislation to close the loophole that allows the states to gouge the tax's revenue by raising royalties - a move which would risk another election-year war with the minerals giants.
The columnists More Columnists
Michelle Grattan
Labor's return to the Howard days is excruciating
It might have been less painful if they had just embraced Howard's harsh asylum-seeker policy in one fell swoop.
Paul Sheehan
Would-be leaders preen but the women have the numbers
Even though Malcolm Turnbull is being ostentatiously loyal to his leader, he cannot abstain from remarking on the fact that he is very popular without actually saying he is more popular than his leader, Tony Abbott.
The contributors More Society & Culture
Peter Munro
Why so few spoke up for a woman who was abused on a city bus
How many times does someone have to scream, ''I hate blacks'', at a foreigner on a crowded bus before you protest? What if the same bigot yelled, ''Speak English or die, motherf---er'' - would you tell him to stop?
Norman Day
Marvellous Melbourne, a city lived on the street, is in peril
For Melbourne to retain her charm, the next growth period must be gently managed. As our population doubles from a medium-sized city of about 4.2 million people now to a large metropolis of 8 million by the middle of this century, we will be changing shape at a fast rate.
The bloggers More Blogs
John Birmingham
Archie, his fighter planes and his gift to us all
7:26am The Tomahawk fighter was a dog of a thing, a tough, unlovely junkyard dog.
Dick Gross
Tipping a tipping point in Catholicism
In all of the noise and fury, we may be witnessing a historical moment for faith in Australia.
Rocco Fazzari
Many Kevins, many Rudds
Many Kevins’ is this week’s espresso video animation theme, helping to perhaps keep his profile up there.
Barney Zwartz
What George doesn't understand
Many inside and outside the church are calling on Pell to resign as Archbishop of Sydney. This is highly unrealistic.
Features
Uneasy Truth
Virtually all of my friends are plastic
A few weeks ago I contracted whooping cough and was quarantined. Thanks to the internet, my isolation was far from lonely.
Global Opinion
The Independent
Why I voted no to women bishops
