News of the day

Throughout 2011 the Gillard government faced challenges on both the international and domestic fronts. On the international stage the government grappled with the possibility of a second global financial crisis, while also weighing up the benefits of Australia’s continued involvement in Afghanistan. At home, the landslide defeat of Kristina Keneally’s government in New South Wales demonstrated the slump in Labor’s electoral fortunes. Allegations of misuse of a credit card by Labor backbencher Craig Thomson threatened to bring down Labor’s minority government. As the year came to a close, debate ranged across a diverse set of topics including tax reform, plain packaging for cigarettes and poker machines.

Flood

Alan Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald,

News From the Front

Mark Knight, Herald Sun,

2011 A look forward

Andrew Weldon, The Age,

Bear Market

Warren Brown, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney),

Two Speed Economy

Peter Nicholson, The Australian,

Fracking

Judy Horacek, The Age,

Bruce Highway Promises

Harry Bruce, Townsville Bulletin,

Incite/Insight

Reg Lynch, The Sun-Herald,

Shock Jock Offensive

Eric Löbbecke, The Australian,

Two Tramps

Michael Leunig, The Age,

Pain Packaging

Andrew Dyson, The Age,

No Jackpot

Paul Zanetti, Syndicated,

Taliban Gillard and Smith

Alan Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald,

Thomson Credit Co

Glen Le Lievre, The Sydney Morning Herald,