Free Republic

IN January, Tony Abbott seemed finished as Prime Minister. But how things have changed. Now the leader under pressure is Labor’s Bill Shorten. Just ask his smiling deputy, Tanya Plibersek. The mischief began last week, with Shorten away and Plibersek acting leader. First, Plibersek declared Labor should now force its politicians to vote for gay marriage, rather than allow a conscience vote. Many Labor MPs were outraged. MPs — including devout Christians — who would feel morally obliged to vote against party policy could be expelled under Labor’s rules. Labor could split. Shorten, on his return, quickly rejected Plibersek’s bullying...

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that Tony Burke will take on the new role of minister for population. Mr Rudd says over the next 12 months the Government will be developing a strategy for managing Australia's population growth. He says the impact of population changes on regional Australia will be an early priority, and says population growth is expected to be slower over the next 40 years than it was over the past 40. "Our challenge is to make sure that we get our future population levels as right as possible," he said. "And against that analysis make sure...