Maverick LNP MP Peter Slipper has found himself in the middle of a parliamentary battle, after his leader Tony Abbott said today any candidate from his side of the house for the speakership would be expected to resign from the party.

Sandra Eccles' lobbying efforts have helped keep the Australian steel industry on life support.

Few occupations are as shrouded in mystery and stigma as lobbying. The very word conjures up images of Panama hat wearing ex-pollies, winks in the corridors of Parliament House and deals stitched up over long, boozy lunches.

Canberra royalty descended on the Great Hall of Parliament House last night for a state dinner welcoming the arrival of US president Barack Obama. So who showed up? Here's a few names to get you started: Demetriou, Ridout, Kearney.

Andrew Bolt trawls through Peter Roebuck's past, Piers Akerman takes an interest in Papua New Guinea and Janet Albrechtsen gives a backhanded compliment to Julia Gillard.

The answer to Julia Gillard’s woes could be right on the tip of her tongue. If a weekly radio address works for the US president, it could work on the PM’s popularity too.

Clover Moore has been lord mayor of Sydney for the past seven years and a Sydney MP since 1988. And she's done it on her own, after entering community politics in 1980 to get more parks in Redfern.

Mike Rann has attacked the factional bosses in South Australia who dumped him as state premier, and confirmed that his removal involved some of the same people who knifed Kevin Rudd as leader in June 2010.

Ian Chubb has only been chief scientist for five months, but he's already shaping up as a more outspoken and influential advocate than his predecessor, Penny Sackett.

Much attention has been paid in recent days to Kevin Rudd's TV appearances, press conferences, and visits to schools and shopping centres, but not to his opinion writing.

The unfortunate plight of a 14 year-old held on drug charges in Bali may well warrant a direct telephone call from the prime minister herself, but The Power Index can't help but speculate if there's a bit of a power play going on in the higher rungs of government over the situation.

The man most responsible for protecting Australia from a terrorist attack is not your typically dour spook.

The Federal Opposition has seized upon a Freudian slip by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to fuel further speculation about the future of Julia Gillard's leadership.

Julia Gillard's latest Blair government appointee may just be the man to see her better coping with the relentless 24/7 news cycle, given his extensive experience under difficult circumstances.

It's no surprise that he's our most powerful Money Mover. But he doesn't really deserve to be.

Australia has done the double and scored another 'World's Greatest Treasurer' award from the UK magazine Euromoney. And wait for it, only Slovakia and Russia can match our feat of being two-time winners.

Vegemite has scored itself another bout of international infamy after foreign minister Kevin Rudd was forced to bring out the might of ministerial intervention to get his breakfast through US Customs on Sunday.

Bill Shorten recently called Julia Gillard the most emotionally intelligent person he knew. Perhaps, the $650,000 her department has reportedly spent on training workshops since the night of the long knives, might explain why.

Could Australia have another World's Greatest Treasurer on its hands with Wayne Swan? Don't tell Paul Keating, but it seems the answer is 'Yes'.

The Gillard government may well be able to pull a rabbit out of a hat when it comes to defending itself against the conservative backlash regarding the carbon tax.