THE Turnbull Government is mad to back Kevin Rudd’s bid to become the UN’s secretary-general this year. Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop is now attacking former prime minister Tony Abbott for having agreed instead to back New Zealand’s candidate, ex-leader Helen Clark. Abbott was adamant: Rudd had to be blocked. But Bishop, a Rudd mate, has repudiated that deal, and ...

British Prime Minister David Cameron wishes to call former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Europe so he could teach the continent how to “stop the boats” for refugees. British Chancellor Angela Merkel’s attempt to invite and welcome refugees was an ideal example of a Europe filled with emotions and humanity, but because of a world where smugglers and human traffickers ...

Another of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s investments is under scrutiny, with revelations he has a financial stake in the global parent company of the scandal-plagued 7-Eleven empire. Fairfax Media can reveal Mr Turnbull has shares in two international investment funds that invest in Japanese conglomerate Seven & I Holdings. Seven & I’s major subsidiary is Seven-Eleven Japan, which is the parent company of 7-Eleven in ...

Almost any senior public servant or top political operative would have been an improvement on Credlin, who Abbott let rampage across the government. Hockey should have been replaced by Malcolm Turnbull, who was more economically articulate than Abbott or Hockey. Turnbull was prepared to put aside his own ambition, temporarily, to save the Abbott government. He told other Liberals that ...

Malcolm Turnbull had resolved to take down Abbott but he needed a trigger. Abbott was determined not to give him one. Something had to give. Parliament House is a sprawling and sterile structure. The corridors are often barren, even when 5000 people work there during sitting weeks. Walk from the Senate entrance on the west side to the House of ...

She was constantly attacked in the media, which was fed damaging stories by disgruntled Coalition MPs right until Tony Abbott was replaced on September 14. Peta Credlin, the prime minister’s chief of staff, became one of the public symbols of the Abbott government’s failure. Abbott, accusing her critics of sexism, resolutely defended her in public and in private. Most MPs weren’t close enough to ...

More severe thunderstorms are forecast for most of New South Wales and the ACT after fierce weather on Friday led to blackouts and hundreds of calls for help. An updated warning on Saturday afternoon included parts of Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and greater Wollongong area. Severe thunderstorms started rolling in over the Blue Mountains from about 2:30pm and were ...

End in central-west New South Wales because community opposition to the proposal is so strong, the Federal Government has said. The site at Hill End, north of Bathurst, was one of six being considered for a nuclear waste facility. It was offered up by a local landowner, who could be paid four times the land’s market value. At a packed ...

Shane Watson will captain Australia in the third Twenty20 international against India at the SCG on Sunday. Watson will take on the Twenty20 captaincy in the wake of Aaron Finch’s hamstring injury, which he picked up during Australia’s 27-run loss to India at the MCG on Friday. “It is an honour to be asked to lead the side on Sunday, ...

The Turnbull government will consider backing Kevin Rudd to become the next United Nations boss if he officially puts his hand up for the role. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the former prime minister is yet to apply to become UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s replacement. “Should Kevin Rudd nominate then of course the Australian government would consider what sort of ...