The seven steps to power
Phillip Coorey CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JULIA GILLARD has offered to name the date for the next federal election in three years' time but the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has risked angering the three men who will decide who governs the nation.
Dear sir, there's a lake in my car park
Matthew Moore URBAN AFFAIRS EDITOR SYDNEY Water cannot say say how much water flows through its biggest underground pipes, but Paddington residents know there is enough to fill a 73-space underground car park in less than an hour.
Universities have knowledge but lack wisdom
Heath Gilmore HIGHER EDUCATION MODERN universities are neglecting the teaching of wisdom to the detriment of its students, says vice-chancellor Steven Schwartz.
Fathers 'stereotyped' by Child Support Agency
Paul Bibby WORKPLACE THE government watchdog responsible for overseeing child support payments has been unfairly focusing on parents who do not pay enough while ignoring those who are getting too much, the Commonwealth Ombudsman says.
Keneally blames MPs for her falling popularity
Sean Nicholls and Louise Hall THE Premier, Kristina Keneally, has lashed out at her misbehaving MPs and blamed them for a disastrous poll result that revealed the collapse of her once-buoyant satisfaction rating.
Hogan grounded over tax dispute
Paul Millar Actor Paul Hogan is said to be "stunned" and "disappointed" after being prevented from leaving Australia because of his tax affairs.
Lib panel ruling a blow for powerbroker Clarke
Sean Nicholls STATE POLITICAL EDITOR A BITTER branch stacking dispute between powerbrokers in the NSW Liberal right has been resolved in what is being claimed as a victory for the federal MP for Mitchell, Alex Hawke, over the NSW upper house MP David Clarke.
Teammate spied on Lane's 'huge' torso
Bellinda Kontominas CURIOUS about her weight gain and the way she covered up with a towel, Keli Lane's water polo teammates ''spied'' on her huge stomach while wearing goggles underwater, a court has heard.
11th hour payout in $15m fraud case
Joel Gibson and Ellie Harvey PERPETUAL Trustees Australia has settled a High Court case brought by the brother of the late attorney-general Paul Landa at the eleventh hour, avoiding a potentially damaging judgment over its handling of a $15 million fraud case.
Pokie reform could be resurrected
Jacob Saulwick NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT POKER machine reform will be given a second wind in Federal Parliament. The likely fourth independent in the House of Representatives is planning to meet the anti-pokie senator, Nick Xenophon, tomorrow.
All smiles at the start as the hard bargaining begins
Phillip Coorey CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT THE last time Bob Katter was in the prime minister's office, Kevin Rudd was behind the desk and Julia Gillard was knocking at the door. Quite literally.
Fixed term only for now
Mark Davis JULIA GILLARD'S promise to nominate a date for the next election to address concerns of the three independent MPs about stability would be a de facto move to a fixed term for the federal Parliament for the first time.
Independents to sit down with Nationals
Tom Arup THE independent MPs crucial to forming government will come face-to-face with senior National figures next week, despite hostility between them.
Two tense little Corangamites
Geoff Strong and Dan Oakes THE former television journalist Sarah Henderson, the woman whose political fortunes could also determine which party governs Australia, was last night closing on her Labor rival in the Victorian seat of Corangamite and was just 573 votes behind.
Caretaker government
Running the shop until the vacuum is filled
Ari Sharp What is a caretaker government? Once the House of Representatives is dissolved for an election, the government assumes a caretaker role.
Abbott apologises to whistleblower Wilkie
Andrew Darby HOBART THE likely independent MP Andrew Wilkie said the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, had apologised for the Howard government's vilification of him over his opposition to the Iraq War.
Wheels of government grind ever more slowly
Ari Sharp THE prolonged caretaker period has delayed decisions on matters as diverse as the new Murray-Darling water plan, the anti-siphoning list for sport broadcasting and the awarding of contracts by the state broadband company NBN Co.
Miners try to corner PM on deals with the Greens
Mathew Murphy AUSTRALIA'S biggest miners have called on a returned Labor government to implement the mining tax they agreed on before the election, and threatened to resume a bruising campaign against the tax if Labor modifies its proposal.
Election puts Murray-Darling plan in doubt
Paul Myers THE election result has thrown into doubt the future of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's draft water plan - even before it is revealed.
More than one shade of darkness
Michael Slezak Melancholia has split the psychiatric community, writes Michael Slezak.
A Latin lover is good for alibi
Matt Buchanan and Leesha McKenny Straight from the ''Did that just happen, or is there a hidden camera somewhere'' files comes this little gem.
