Jessica Rudd’s follow-up to her debut novel will continue the personal and political dramas of her protagonist Ruby, but it’s unlikely to feature a female PM sinking in the polls, nor a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Party reform is the name of the game in the battle for the ALP national presidency, with all six candidates vowing to hand more power over to grassroots Labor members if elected.

Watch out Peter Garrett: another bald, outspoken rock star has his sights set on Parliament House. And he's determined to bring Julia Gillard's government – and her carbon tax – down.

Andrew Bolt was found guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act, Julia Gillard hired a former Tony Blair enforcer, and Paul Howes helped launch a new left-leaning think tank: this is The Power Index's roll call of people who mattered this week.

Author Susan Mitchell is sure to gain attention with a fiery new book that blasts Tony Abbott as a misogynist and right-wing extremist.

Hip hip, hooray! It's a big milestone for Julia Gillard today. No, she hasn't managed a Lazarus-esque turnaround in the polls. It's the Prime Minister's 50th birthday.

Julia Gillard was amongst friends yesterday, as she joined union heavy hitters at a Melbourne lunch organised by the Industry Super Network.

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.

When more than a million people tuned in to watch Nine's coverage of the NRL finals last Friday night, it's doubtful they were expecting to be drawn into a Canberra bunfight.

Could the creation of yet another left-leaning think tank be the answer to Labor's identity crisis? Outspoken union boss Paul Howes certainly hopes so.