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YOURS AND MYEFO
politicoz
At the National Press Club today, Joe Hockey will present his government's first major economic statement, the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO). The annual deficit is now expected to blow out from $30 to $50 billion. Hockey and Abbott …
STRATEGIC REVIEW
politicoz
Parliament has finished sitting for the year, and the Coalition will welcome the opportunity to regroup from an extremely rocky start to government. But there will be no respite yet. Today brings Abbott's first COAG meeting, with premiers Jay Weatherill …
100 DAYS
politicoz
Today marks 100 days of an Abbott government. The prime minister's office saw fit to issue a report card, and it gave a very positive assessment of its own performance so far. "You voted to scrap the carbon tax, end the waste, stop the boats …
HOLDEN IS HISTORY
politicoz
"Either you're here or you're not," taunted Hockey on Tuesday. The response from Holden, arriving shortly afterwards, was this time unequivocal: We're not. “The decision to end manufacturing in Australia reflects the perfect …
PROTECTING ASSETS
politicoz
Environment Minister Greg Hunt has approved the creation of one of the world's largest coalports in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The projects will involve dredging for three port terminals in Abbot Point – affecting World Heritage …
JACKPOT!
politicoz
Some issues, it seems, are too important to trust the public with. There are any number of ways that governments justify keeping issues out of public view. National security, for example, or commercial-in-confidence. But sometimes there's no …
ICONIC DECISIONS
politicoz
Threats to iconic companies Qantas and Holden will always be front-page news. Coinciding as they do with the difficult first few months of Coalition government, their symbolism is even more potent. Following the GrainCorp decision, Qantas and Holden …
THE END OF THE LINE?
politicoz
This is clearly not the support Holden was hoping for. The company has been in discussions with the government, seeking an assistance package for its local manufacturing operations. Without it, car-making in this country will cease permanently. So …
SWAMPED
politicoz
The Coalition has finally tasted parliamentary success. Working with the Greens to remove the debt ceiling would not have appeared high on its list of priorities in opposition, but it was necessary and it gave the government a chance to sideline …
BUGGING OUT
politicoz
Attorney-general George Brandis authorised an ASIO raid on the Canberra offices of a lawyer representing East Timor against Australia in arbitration in the international courts of The Hague. ASIO seized evidence provided by a former Australian intelligence …
CAUTERISED
politicoz
At some point over the weekend the Minister for Education became the Minister for Whatever It Takes To Make This Go Away. It's too early to gauge the political damage caused by Christopher Pyne's botched adventures in education funding, …
ASTONISHING ATTACKS
politicoz
Having secured another prime ministerial interview, Andrew Bolt began thus: "The attacks on you are astonishing." Bolt didn't explain to which ones he was referring but proceeded to rail against the ABC, inviting Abbott to do the same. Then …
HOCKEY REJECTS GRAINCORP BID
politicoz
The Coalition has placed great emphasis on its ability and ambition to attract foreign investment – Australia is 'open for business', said Abbott when he became prime minister. But it was always going to be conditional, given the tensions …
