Michelle Grattan

The Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, has taken the sting out of a new carbon tax, with 19 billion dollars in tax cuts and extra benefits for low and middle income households. Audio

The cigarette company, Philip Morris, has launched court action to stop a plan to require all tobacco products be sold in plain packaging. Audio

It was billed as a tough love budget but the opposition says the Australian Government has shirked the hard decisions in this year's budget. Audio

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Kevin Rudd, has defended a cable he sent to the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, in which he said the United States should be prepared to use force against… Audio

Australia will hold a referendum on whether to recognise indigenous people in the country's constitution. Audio

A deal to sew up Australia's leadership may be announced by this afternoon. Audio

Australia's major political parties are now neck-and-neck in the race to secure enough seats to take control of the country. Audio

It's been more than a week since Australia's inconclusive federal election, and it seems there are deep divisions among the independent kingmakers. Audio

The three independents holding the balance of power in the Australian parliament seem set to become four. Audio

Australia's two main political parties have begun to court the independent MPs. Audio

The Australian opposition leader, Tony Abbott, has officially launched his party's campaign, promising what he calls a grown-up government that would target illegal immigration and scrap mining tax. Audio

To Australia where Labour has taken a battering in the latest election polls with the Liberal-led opposition now neck-and-neck with the Government. Audio

If television's election gimmick the worm is to be believed, incumbent Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, won the one and only election debate between Australia's two largest party leaders. Audio

Just two days into the election campaign and a new opinion poll has the Australian Labor Party in trouble. Audio

The Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's plan to set up a processing centre for asylum seekers in East Timor appears to be in tatters. Audio

The political editor of the Melbourne Age, Michelle Grattan joins us now from Canberra. Audio

Three Australian commandos are dead after a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, the largest loss of life in any incident in Australia's near decade of involvement in the country. Audio

The Australian treasurer Wayne Swan has handed down his third budget; attempting to woo voters with a quick return to surplus. Audio

Australian tax changes announced last night promise to redistribute the nation's wealth by taxing the profits of big mining and boosting the retirement savings of millions of Australians. Audio

The leader of the Australian opposition is considering banning the dole for job seekers under the age of thirty - in an effort to make them take jobs in areas with skill shortages. Audio