New Zealand looks set to take a share of asylum-seekers from Australian detention centres. The countries' two leaders are expected to make an announcement on the issue tomorrow. Prime Minister Julia Gillard is in New Zealand for talks with her counterpart, John Key, to mark 30 years of close economic ties. The issue of asylum-seekers … Continue reading New Zealand may take asylum-seekers from Australian detention
Tag: Julia Gillard
Australian Prime Minister urged to use Kevin Rudd in election campaign
Pressure is growing on Julia Gillard to exploit Kevin Rudd's popularity with the electorate and elevate his role in the election campaign, with four members of her cabinet now publicly declaring that the former prime minister is an asset for the party. Two of the Prime Minister's key supporters, Victorian Right faction powerbrokers Stephen Conroy … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister urged to use Kevin Rudd in election campaign
Australia: Kevin Rudd publicly supports Julia Gillard
Kevin Rudd has been forced to publicly reiterate his support for Julia Gillard after the Prime Minister complained of a caucus whispering campaign against her. The move came as Tony Abbott flagged a change in parliamentary tactics, saying his team would look more like an “alternative government” than an opposition this year. Mr Rudd told … Continue reading Australia: Kevin Rudd publicly supports Julia Gillard
Australian PM Julia Gillard accuses own MPs of undermining her government
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accused members of her parliamentary team of white-anting the government, as she demanded unity from Labor MPs. The Prime Minister is understood to have today told parliamentary colleagues that she had been informed by members of the media that some within her ranks had contacted them over the summer, … Continue reading Australian PM Julia Gillard accuses own MPs of undermining her government
Australian government compared to Nazis by Opposition frontbencher
Remarks comparing the federal government to the Nazi party are offensive and hurtful, new federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says. Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne on Sunday said the federal government was unravelling like Hitler's government in the movie Downfall. Mr Pyne said the resignation of two senior ministers and Prime Minister Julia Gillard's subsequent reshuffle showed … Continue reading Australian government compared to Nazis by Opposition frontbencher
Senior Cabinet ministers resign from Australian government
The Gillard government's turbulent start to the new parliamentary year continues with the shock resignation of two of Labor's most senior Cabinet ministers, the Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and the government's leader in the Senate, the Higher Education Minister, Chris Evans. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a mid-level reshuffle of her Cabinet this morning announcing, among … Continue reading Senior Cabinet ministers resign from Australian government
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd back on television
Cabinet Minister Tony Burke was unceremoniously dumped from Seven's Sunrise program by email yesterday afternoon to make way for Kevin Rudd's return to the show that made him a political star. Mr Rudd faced off against his old sparring partner Joe Hockey on Sunrise this morning after agreeing early last month to resume duties with … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd back on television
Australian public to endure eight month election campaign
If day one of the election campaign is anything to go by, it’s going to be a long seven months until the September poll. As many commentators lamented yesterday, the announcement by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday has kick-started a campaign which is likely to be driven more by personality than policy. At least … Continue reading Australian public to endure eight month election campaign
Australian Prime Minister looks to East Asia, digital threat, in new security strategy
Julia Gillard has waved a final goodbye to the so-called "9/11 decade", heralding a new age dominated by threats of cyber espionage and traditional great-power conflict. Like her centre-left contemporary Barack Obama, she is moving her party away from the preoccupations her predecessor - Middle Eastern conflicts, ballooning defence and intelligence budgets, an incessant focus … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister looks to East Asia, digital threat, in new security strategy
Australian Prime Minister’s speech to have China, cyber crime focus
Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, reportedly will seek to boost Labor's defence credentials in a speech singling out China and cyber attacks as key security concerns. Ms Gillard will make the comments on Wednesday in her first important speech of the election year to the Australian National University's National Security College in Canberra, The Australian newspaper … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister’s speech to have China, cyber crime focus
Prime Minister Julia Gillard talks up Australian economy
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says people can have confidence in the Australian economy, as other countries fight high levels of unemployment. Ms Gillard attended a ground-breaking ceremony in Darwin today for the start of a $34 billion LNG project by Japan's Inpex, saying it was a "fantastic" opportunity for the Northern Territory and part of … Continue reading Prime Minister Julia Gillard talks up Australian economy
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard orders probe into suburban violence
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is exploring what her government can do to tackle the recent violence in suburban Brisbane and Sydney. Referring to the street clashes in Brisbane and the spate of shootings in Sydney's west and south-west, Ms Gillard said during her launch of a cybersafety program that she has asked the Home Affairs … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard orders probe into suburban violence
Julia Gillard ahead as Australia’s preferred Prime Minister
Julia Gillard has kept her lead over Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister in the first opinion poll of the year. The Essential poll, published on Monday, put Ms Gillard nine points ahead of the opposition leader who was rated preferred prime minister by 33 per cent of voters. The coalition's two-party vote was down … Continue reading Julia Gillard ahead as Australia’s preferred Prime Minister
Australia: Commission on child sex abuse will be traumatic, Gillard warns victims
There are traumatic times ahead for child sexual abuse victims as the royal commission swings into action, Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned. But eventually, the inquiry's recommendations will hopefully bring healing to the Australian nation, Ms Gillard told child sex abuse survivors today. A day after she announced the appointments to the royal commission into … Continue reading Australia: Commission on child sex abuse will be traumatic, Gillard warns victims
Australia: Jenny Macklin sorry for ‘insensitive’ dole claim
FAMILIES Minister Jenny Macklin has apologised for saying she could survive on the $35-a-day Newstart, admitting her comment was "insensitive" and that the dole payment would be very hard to live on. Her backdown came amid increasing pressure on the Gillard government, including from Labor MPs, to lift the $245-a-week welfare payment. Former prime minister … Continue reading Australia: Jenny Macklin sorry for ‘insensitive’ dole claim
Abbott has long-held views on IVF, says Australian Attorney-General Roxon
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will be judged on his long-held views on abortion and IVF access despite his chief-of-staff going public about his support for her IVF attempts, says Attoney-General Nicola Roxon. Peta Credlin, Mr Abbott's top adviser, has told magazine Marie Claire in an article to be published this week that she quizzed the … Continue reading Abbott has long-held views on IVF, says Australian Attorney-General Roxon
Australian political leaders off and running
AS Australians yesterday put the final touches on their New Year's Eve celebrations, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott fired the first shots of the 2013 election campaign. In a sign of what is in store for voters this year, the leaders used their New Year messages to pitch their plans to the people. The Prime … Continue reading Australian political leaders off and running
Craig Hill 