Phil Coorey

The new Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is defending his expense claims for travel while he was in opposition. Audio

The Australian Labor Party MP, Bill Shorten, has signalled he will make a bid to replace Kevin Rudd as the party's leader. Audio

Tony Abbott won a landslide election victory in Australia but that doesn't mean he's in for an easy ride, with some commentators suggesting dealing with the Senate and a host of new minor parties… Audio

Australia's most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, is being branded 'out of touch' and 'in denial' after giving a news conference confirming he will cooperate with a federal royal commission… Audio

Police in New South Wales have raided the home and electoral office of the embattled MP Craig Thomson, who is accused of spending thousands of dollars of union funds on hospitality and prostitutes. Audio

In Australia, the Labour party's leadership crisis between the current prime minister, Julia Gillard, and the former leader, Kevin Rudd, is reaching a tipping point. Audio

In Australia, the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, is having to find savings of more than 11 billion dollars, after revising an economic forecast which now shows the country is likely to go further into the… Audio

To Australia, where a slanging match is escalating around the passage of the Government's controversial mining tax. Audio

Speculation that former prime minister Kevin Rudd is being pushed by key backers in Labor to challenge Julia Gillard for the leadership - possibly before the end of the month. Audio

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said the Australian arm of News Corp will also have to answer hard questions following the phone hacking scandal. Audio

In Australia it's budget day and for the Australian Prime Minister it's being seen as one her most crucial tests since she came into office last year. Audio

Australia's Immigration Minister plans to introduce tougher laws for asylum seekers making it easier to send them home if they've been involved in violent protests. Audio

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Kevin Rudd, is promising diplomatic assistance to the man who's whistle-blowing website has exposed international criticism of the way he runs his portfolio. Audio

In Australia, the fur has been flying in the row between the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Opposition leader over their visits to Afghanistan. Audio

In Australia, after two weeks of wrangling, Labour may be about to pull off a coup over the Speaker's position, after talks with a Liberal MP. Audio

Australia's independent MP Rob Oakeshott is now keen to become speaker of the House of Representatives. Audio

The election lead in Australia continues to see-saw with Labor currently having a slight edge over the Coalition. Audio

The powerbrokers behind the Australian election are converging on Canberra to begin coalition talks. Audio

The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has been forced to defend her actions after an apparent leak from within her own camp. Audio