Russell Zimmerman, head of the Australian Retailers Association, is a passionate advocate for the retail sector. But his reaction to the High Court’s decision to dismiss big tobacco’s challenge against the Federal Government’s plain packaging laws is just plain silly.

South Australian opposition leader Isobel Redmond's grasp on her job appears sunk today by claims that key federal Liberal MP Jamie Briggs is behind moves to parachute in a replacement.

The Labor Party’s chances of pulling off a come-from-behind win at next year’s election took a big step forward yesterday with two expert panel reports, both of which would have been in line with the old dictum of 'never have an inquiry unless you know the answer first'.

Tony Abbott spent the weekend doing his brand of a listening tour by rolling up his sleeves up and helping renovate a school library in the small Cape York community of Aurukun.

David Gonski has only been chairman of the Future Fund for three months but already he's hit real trouble with the fund's surprising determination to invest in tobacco. The value of the fund's tobacco holdings in 12 different cigarette companies is $210 million -- up 40% on a year earlier.

The Olympics may soon be over but there’s more fun on the way. In three months time, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption will open public hearings into the granting of coal exploration licences in the Bylong valley, north east of Mudgee. And you can guarantee former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid will be leading the field.

Media policy statements from major party politicians should always be vetted against mogul-centrism, for that is their key purpose. Yesterday’s venture into media policy by Tony Abbott was no exception.

Conservative commentator Andrew Bolt is poised for victory in his crusade to repeal sections of Australia's Racial Discrimination Act after dinner buddy Tony Abbott committed to changing the law when the Coalition ascends to government.

For months federal Labor has been bouncing around in its corner, challenging the Coalition to come out and fight on the issue of industrial relations.

Wayne Swan has played the Bruce Springsteen card in a desperate government's last bid for electoral authenticity. But the Boss is a tired political ploy for power.