Only five years ago Helen Coonan, who is expected to announce her retirement from politics today, was one of the most powerful women in Australia.

Arthur Sinodinos is small, bald, round and friendly. A bit like Dr Evil, but far too nice. And while he's conservatively dressed and understated, like the banker he is, there's a real touch of style to his watch and cufflinks.

The man responsible for ending the possibility of Bob Katter abbreviating his new party's name to “Australian Party” is David Doe, a Melbourne-based video-game tester who has been highly active in the video games censorship debate.

Former Liberal Party fundraiser Michael Yabsley believes political donations should be banned.

Advertising gurus say the Minerals Council of Australia's decision to splurge on a new anti-carbon tax campaign is a waste of money.

He's only just been elected, but the new president of the Western Australian division of the Liberal Party, Geoff Prosser, knows a thing or two about fundraising.

Could a six-year old sex scandal really bring Julia Gillard's minority government undone? Liberal Party powerbrokers, aware that one by-election defeat would tip Labor out of office, believe it's a real possibility.

Forget the long hair, tight black jeans and cold beer, it was all about suits, ties and orange juice at Melbourne's inner-city rock mecca The Tote yesterday morning, as Victorian premier Ted Baillieu took to the club's famous sticky carpet to release a long-awaited report on the city's live music scene.

It’s the public stoush that keeps on giving: the former prime minister Paul Keating versus Australia’s oldest newspaper.

While some MPs are facing questions as to why they fail to call their electorates home, Kevin Rudd has reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Griffith with the ultimate statement: purchasing a block of land in Brisbane to build a second home just a short stroll away from his existing Norman Park house.