Michelle Grattan

Michelle Grattan is one of Australia's most respected political journalists. She has been a member of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery for more than 40 years

She was the former editor of The Canberra Times, was Political Editor of The Age and has been with the AFR and The SMH.

Michelle is currently an academic at the University of Canberra and as Associate Editor (Politics) and Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation.

Cyber Security
Cyber security

The Australian government is ramping up its cybersecurity response after the Optus and Mediback hacks

- February 27, 2023 2 MIN READ

The federal government is further stepping up its efforts to improve Australia’s protection against increasing cyber threats, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday announcing the establishment of a Coordinator for Cyber Security. The aim is to “ensure a centrally coordinated approach” to the government’s cyber security responsibilities. This would include coordinating and “triaging” action… Read more »

funding
Politics

The election bribes budget: cash sweeteners for voters to stick with the Coalition

- March 29, 2022 3 MIN READ

When Josh Frydenberg says his key cost-of-living budget measures are “temporary” and “targeted”, he’s precisely right, though the reasons are more opportunistic than he’d spruik publicly. He says it’s all about giving help when it’s needed while not baking in long-term spending. But actually, and equally, the measures are aimed squarely at the imminent election,… Read more »

Politics

BUDGET: Petrol excise cut by 22 cents, $420 cash splash for lower paid, $2bn for women, more parental leave

- March 29, 2022 3 MIN READ

The Morrison government’s election budget halves petrol excise for six months and gives handouts to taxpayers, pensioners and welfare recipients in a cash splash aimed at clawing back votes. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who unveiled the giveaway budget in Parliament House on Tuesday night, has been able to juggle big spending with a reduced deficit thanks… Read more »

pollenizer
Politics

The Australian government is giving the CSIRO’s VC arm, Main Sequence Ventures, an extra $150 million as part of a $2 billion research commercialisation plan

- February 1, 2022 3 MIN READ

Scott Morrison will continue to tip out large dollops of money when he addresses the National Press Club on Tuesday, with his theme “building national resilience”. He will announce the government will fund a $2.2 billion Research Commercialisation Action Plan, which includes about $2 billion in new money The centrepiece is a 10-year $1.6 billion… Read more »

Australian Parliament House
Politics

Australian MPs are looking at the impact of Big Tech on mental health

- December 1, 2021 3 MIN READ

The Morrison government is setting up a parliamentary inquiry to put big tech companies “under the microscope” over dangers posed to people’s wellbeing by toxic material on their sites. In its latest strike against big tech, Scott Morrison said the move built on the weekend announcement that the government would legislate “to unmask anonymous online… Read more »

electric vehicle
Politics

The Morrison government’s new EV policy avoids subsides and an end date for petrol vehicles

- November 9, 2021 3 MIN READ

After demonising Labor’s policy on electric cars before the 2019 election, the federal government has put electric vehicles at the centre of a new “Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy” to be released by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday. The policy puts another A$178 million into the government’s future fuels fund, bringing it to $250… Read more »

prime minister Scott Morrison
Business

PFIZER PHASING: It’ll take longer to be fully vaccinated in NSW after Premier fails to convince other states to divert doses

- July 24, 2021 3 MIN READ

Pfizer doses in NSW will be spaced out to enable more first jabs to be administered quickly, as the Berejiklian government on Friday declared the Sydney COVID crisis a “national emergency”. But the plea by the state for Pfizer doses to be diverted to Sydney as part of a refocusing of the national vaccine program… Read more »

Gaming, gamer
Politics

The federal budget’s $1.2 billion digital strategy includes a 30% tax offset to boost the video games industry

- May 6, 2021 2 MIN READ

More than $500 million of a $1.2 billion digital economy strategy in Tuesday’s budget will be spent on overhauling the federal government’s myGov and My Health Record sites. The initiatives, to be announced by Scott Morrison on Thursday, include $200.1 million for myGov, which is the main portal for people to access government services online.… Read more »

electric vehicle
Politics

Labor’s new energy policy will offer discounts on electric vehicles and ‘community batteries’ to store solar power

- March 31, 2021 2 MIN READ

Anthony Albanese will promise a Labor government would deliver a discount to cut the cost of electric cars and install community batteries, in modest initiatives costing $400 million over several years. The announcement, to be made Wednesday, comes as Labor debates its platform at a “virtual” national conference involving some 400 participants. At present only… Read more »

Politics

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is pushing for more protections for gig economy workers

- February 10, 2021 3 MIN READ

Anthony Albanese will risk a backlash from employers when he releases an industrial relations policy promising a Labor government would substantially increase the legal rights and protections for Australians in insecure work. Wednesday’s policy unveiling will ensure industrial relations is a major political battleground in coming months, with the opposition already declaring it will vote… Read more »

Politics

Budget 2020: Treasurer says ‘we have your back’ as income tax cuts kick in early

- October 6, 2020 4 MIN READ

Accelerated tax cuts, cash splashes for pensioners, massive incentives for business to invest and a subsidy to hire unemployed people are the centrepieces of the Morrison government’s COVID-19 budget. More than 11 million taxpayers will get a tax cut backdated to July 1, giving lower and middle-income earners tax relief this financial year of up… Read more »

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