Former prime minister John Howard has lent his support to a damning new report on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

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.

Harry Jenkins' surprise statement announcing he would be stepping down as Speaker of the House of Representatives this morning carried a pointed line: I go placidly with my humour intact.

Greens MP Adam Bandt has received a publicity boost as one of GQ Australia's 'Men of the Year', taking out the men's mag's award for 'Politician of the Year'.

He ran on a platform of faster coffees, pizzas and gelato, but it wasn't enough for Labor heavyweight Joe Tripodi as he failed in his bid to win presidency of the 27,000-member Club Marconi in south-western Sydney.

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.

Who are the people most effective at lobbying politcians to get their way? We're counting down the Top 10 Most Powerful Lobbyists. Here, Matthew Knott presents the shortlist.

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.

Nick Greiner has done it again: for the third time in a fortnight the former Liberal premier has told Barry O'Farrell how to run the state.

A stoush is brewing within the Labor Party over the controversial issue of same-sex marriage, as supporters of both sides prepare to air their views at the National Conference next month. So who's saying what on which side?