Crikey » Politics

What next for Australia-Malaysia relations?

Crikey — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:05:48 +0000

Relationships between Australia and Malaysia were terse under former PM Mahathir Mohamad. Now that his son's in a political position, will there be a return to old times? asks Greg Lopez.

There’s still hope for President Palin

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:04:39 +0000

Sarah Palin may have resigned her post as Alaska's governor. But there is a way for this impressive candidate to become Pres, says Fred Barnes... in, say, 2020.

Indonesia: the economy and the election

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:56:53 +0000

Indonesia is one of the rare countries whose economy is set to expand this year, says the IMF. And heading into the election, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is getting the credit.

Tony Abbott: chick magnet?

Possum Comitatus — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:56:02 +0000

WTF? asks Possum Comitatus. The thing is, the Coalition needs Abbott to attract female voters. So can he?

What happened to Rudd’s pet cause?

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:48:48 +0000

In December, PM Kevin Rudd promised to halve homelessness by 2020, committing $1.2 billion over four years, writes Stephen Lunn. But the sector is frustrated.

What’s standing in the way of US-Russia relations?

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:47:30 +0000

Well, Putin for one, says Russian political analyst Yevgeny Kiselyov -- but both sides need to reset their expectations of each other.

US and Russia strike an arms deal

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:35:44 +0000

Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev have reached a preliminary agreement on cutting both country's nuclear weapons stockpiles, in what the NYT calls "one of the most significant arms control treaties since the end of the cold war".

The two sides of Robert McNamara

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:13:03 +0000

Former US defence chief and architect of the Vietnam War, Robert McNamara, has died, age 93. Evan Thomas shares his memories of "a control freak whose toughest job was shaping his own legacy."

5 good reasons Palin quit

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:07:04 +0000

Forget the pregnancy and presidential rumours -- Palin's reasons for leaving are multilayered and largely personal. Time wraps the most important factors that insiders say went into her surprise decision.

Essential Report: 59/41

Possum Comitatus — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:03:09 +0000

Another poll, another episode of death by increments in the vote estimates. This week’s Essential Report come in with a two party preferred of 59/41 -- a 1-point increase for the ALP.

Memories of Robert McNamara

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:59:54 +0000

In the wake of former US defence chief Robert McNamara's death, Politico speaks to former senator Birch Bayh about his Vietnam legacy.

IVF for everyone

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:34:27 +0000

The Federal Government is planning to restrict Medicare funding for IVF, writes Susie O'Brien. But why should fertility treatment be just the preserve of the rich?

China riots: the toll climbs

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:08:08 +0000

Riots broke out in Xinjiang after police tried to break up a demonstration by members of the Uighur Muslim minority. The death-toll, now at 129, has risen much higher than expected. Reuters has a good Factbox on the situation.

Have NSW political donors failed to disclose donations?

Bernard Keane — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:20:00 +0000

A number of NSW political donors may have failed to disclose the full extent of their political donations, a comparison of NSW and Commonwealth electoral disclosure data shows.

Zelaya can’t land in Honduras

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:02:01 +0000

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has been attempting to land on home soil in a Venezuelan plane but the military is blocking his path. One Zelaya supporter has been killed while campaigning for his return.

Macklin advised not to consult Aboriginals over town camps

Chris Graham — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Jenny Macklin was advised by her department against formally consulting with Aboriginal people over the compulsory acquisition of their land, reports Chris Graham.

Exit the Accidental Premier … enter Della?

Alex Mitchell — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 +0000

The tumbrils are beginning to roll down Macquarie Street to carry Nathan Rees to a premature execution as Premier of NSW. Meanwhile, a chariot is being polished for Health Minister John Della Bosca.

News flash: Another Lib leader bites the dust

Charles Richardson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 +0000

SA's opposition leader has Martin Hamilton-Smith announced his resignation. Whoever replaces him faces an uphill battle.

Australia’s most important state deserves better

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:59:00 +0000

Until the pleasantly ineffective premier Nathan Rees is returned to sender, New South Wales will remain mired in a leadership and economic mess.

Ten political scandal survivors

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:32:17 +0000

Will he go? Won't he go? As Govenor Sanford's political future hangs in the balance, 10 politicians who survived a public airing of their dirty laundry, writes Daniel Finkelstein.

A quarter of Americans don’t believe “all men are created equal”

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:15:31 +0000

To celebrate the Fourth of July, Rasmussen surveyed Americans on whether they agree or disagree on statements in the Declaration of Independence. Amongst other surprise results, 23% disagreed with the statement that "all men are created equal".

Life was better under communism, say most East Germans

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:00:56 +0000

Two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, nostalgic has kicked in for the German Democratic Republic. In a new poll, more than half of former eastern Germans defend the GDR.

People smuggling crackdown: proceed with caution

Andrew Bartlett — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:15:26 +0000

In seeking Malaysia's help to crack down on people smuggling, the federal government needs to make sure that it doesn't make things worse for asylum seekers, says Andrew Bartlett.

Parliamentary Death Match

Crikey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:52:08 +0000

There was always something about Julia Gillard...

The bigger issues behind North Korea’s missile launch

Crikey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:41:41 +0000

North Korea's Fourth of July fireworks show was fairly predictable -- the bigger issue is the dictatorship selling their missiles to countries like Iran, Syria and Burma.