The Latest Breaking News from Joh BjelkePetersen

John Owen Stone AO was a legendary leader of the Commonwealth Treasury. He was secretary (departmental head) from January 1979 to September 1984 but was an intellectual driving force before then as deputy secretary from 1971 to 1978.

The former life member says his support of those voicing ‘trans-critical’ views is a matter of free speech – but others say it’s a question of what values the party supports

Reforming with Nationals could be very difficult once deep policy divergences set in and are openly debated, MPs say

I remember seeing footage, several years ago, of a jubilant Malcolm Turnbull, then prime minister and Liberal leader, speaking in Tamworth to loyal members of the National Party. These were the rank and file who had spent weeks stumping for their man in New England, Nationals leader and deputy prime…

The Nationals are now a minor party – here’s what’s changing, from question time allocations to salaries

Political parties are integral to the Australian political system, yet also largely absent from the Commonwealth Constitution itself. They are not entirely absent: a constitutional amendment in 1977 – secured, as required by law, through a referendum – ensured that a casual vacancy for the Senate would be filled by…

More than 30 new laws passed in Senate marathon including social media ban; Russian president says US president-elect is ‘intelligent’

Retiring criminal lawyer Terry O’Gorman, who famously took on Joh Bjelke-Petersen, is withering about David Crisafulli’s new law and order crackdown

The last time the National Farmers’ Federation marched on Canberra politicians were carefully controlled.. This time the agenda looks more useful for politicians than farmers