Nick Feik

"All governments gather information and all governments know that every other government gathers information," said Tony Abbott yesterday in parliament. "I have news for you," retorted Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa. …

While other heads of state boycotted the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in protest at Sri Lanka's record of human rights abuse, our prime minister steadfastly refused to criticise. Yesterday he announced, furthermore, …

"Rudd had sped the play up, brought in the world, reduced the barriers between politics and the voters (“call me Kevin”), embraced the hyper-stimulation, self promotion and instant gratifications and condemnations of the age. He’d …

"A leaked draft of a controversial chapter of the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement reveals the negotiating positions of 12 countries – including Australia – on copyright, patents and other intellectual property issues, with …

"Labor has warned the Coalition its thumping election win counts for nothing in negotiations over the debt ceiling, with the government's attempt to raise the nation's credit limit to $500 billion trapped in a political deadlock that could …

Then: "(Scott Morrison) described his daughter Abbey as 'our miracle child, the answer to a lifetime of prayer and 14 years of painful, invasive and heartbreaking fertility treatment.'" - Daily Telegraph, August 2013  Now: "Immigration …

As predicted, it took no time at all for the new parliament to devolve into a mess of petty name-calling, howls of offended outrage, doomed procedural motions, delaying tactics and sundry acts of political theatre – on both sides of the House. The …

Today is the largely ceremonial opening day of the 44th federal parliament. After a church service, a 19-gun salute, a Welcome to Country and the reconvening of the Senate, Bronwyn Bishop will be elected and ritually dragged to the Speaker's chair …

The Coalition government's hardline, self-interested approach on immigration, climate change and foreign aid is producing its fair share of critics. The Indonesian government, evidently frustrated by Australia's new border protection regime, …

Denialism comes in many forms. The most obvious is literal denial, in which facts are denied outright. But there are more insidious and dangerous forms (coined 'interpretive' and 'implicatory' denial by sociologist Stanley Cohen). These …

The government's new media strategy – explain as little as possible – is now causing considerable disquiet among journalists. Press gallery doyen Laurie Oakes said that the Abbott government is "thumbing its nose at voters" …

The Coalition has been reviewing close to 100 tax and superannuation policies announced by the previous government but not yet introduced. Treasurer Joe Hockey announced today that the government will be ditching at least seven them, including the proposed …

As a large part of the nation pauses to watch horses racing, it's an understandably quiet day in politics. The government, as it surveys some of the curly international issues before it, might be forgiven for wishing the rest of the world …

The WA Senate votes have been recounted – all but the missing 1375 ballots – and this time Greens Senator Scott Ludlam and sporting enthusiast Wayne Dropulich will be declared winners. They won't celebrate for long though, because protests …

In ordinary circumstances, a few missing votes would be a concern but nothing more. In the case of the 1,375 missing West Australian Senate votes, it affects nothing less than the national balance of power. The votes had been verified during the …