Abbott throws Joyce into fight over water use

BARNABY JOYCE has been ousted from the finance portfolio and Malcolm Turnbull snubbed in an Opposition frontbench reshuffle that has seen Andrew Robb return to shadow cabinet and given control of spending plans.

Minchin's departure may create an opening for Turnbull's return

MALCOLM TURNBULL is open to an invitation to rejoin the frontbench and bolster the Coalition's economic credentials after the resignation of the Liberal Party giant and factional power broker Nick Minchin left a gaping hole in the shadow cabinet.

Artists a 'soft target' as regulators tighten rules on child porn

ARTISTS are being used as scapegoats for the State Government's inability to stem the tide of child pornography, says a visual arts lobby group.

Thatcher to Fraser: let's buy island for refugees

FEARFUL of a public backlash against Vietnamese refugees, Margaret Thatcher asked Australia to help buy an island to resettle them, British cabinet documents from 1979 show.

Tsang decides to quit upper house six years early

HENRY TSANG has decided to quit his seat in the Legislative Council six years early, making way for the first Muslim representative in State Parliament, Shaoquett Moselmane.

Climate doubters confront Turnbull

MALCOLM Turnbull is struggling to contain his truculent party room, with about 10 MPs defiantly insisting they not be railroaded over the emissions trading legislation.

Climate hardliners stand firm

MALCOLM Turnbull is struggling to contain his truculent party room, with about 10 MPs defiantly demanding they not be railroaded over the emissions trading legislation.

A shape-shifter in the Lodge

Just when we think we're getting to know Kevin Rudd, he goes and changes again, writes Annabel Crabb.

Lure of the land of milk and honey

FOR most of Australia's 150,000 Jews, Israel glitters beyond the horizon. Special in their hearts, but a long way away. Yet for about 200 people every year, the lure of the first Jewish homeland in more than 2000 years is great enough to prompt them to leave Australia and migrate to Israel.

Brumby's dirty secret: brown coal for export

VICTORIA'S massive brown coal reserves look set to be opened up to export for the first time €” prompting claims the state is putting commercial opportunity ahead of its responsibility to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Plotters escape pay cuts for Rees punishment postings

NATHAN REES'S tough stance on disloyalty has been undermined by the revelation that the Lands Minister, Tony Kelly, has retained his full salary despite being demoted to the most junior minister in cabinet.

Karzai faces his date with destiny

WHEN he flounced onto the world stage in his braided coats of many colours in 2001, Hamid Karzai was hailed as the saviour of his traumatised nation. But battling to lock in a second term as president, he is now betraying the ideals for which so much Western blood and treasure has been spilt on the plains of Afghanistan.

The rise and rise of SBY

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's remarkable triumph this week in presidential elections augurs well for his country and Australia - as long as he is able to seize the moment.