menu_open Columnists
Michelle Grattan

Michelle Grattan

The Conversation

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Albanese rejects push from Special Minister of State Don Farrell to expand size of parliament

Albanese rejects push from Special Minister of State Don Farrell to expand size of parliament

The Prime Minister has killed off a plan for a bigger parliament.

latest 8

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Government slashes fuel excise, heavy vehicles charge for 3 months at cost of $2.55 billion

Government slashes fuel excise, heavy vehicles charge for 3 months at cost of $2.55 billion

Halving the fuel excise will cut the cost of fuel for motorists by 26.3 cents a litre.

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: Andrew Hastie calls out Trump’s war strategy

View from The Hill: Andrew Hastie calls out Trump’s war strategy

He said he had a “visceral” reaction to Trump’s criticism of US allies not stepping up in the war with Iran.

previous day 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Albanese govt struggles in ‘stress test’ of Iran war

Albanese govt struggles in ‘stress test’ of Iran war

Crises “stress test” governments and countries. Memories remain vivid of Covid, which put immense pressures on the Australian economy, the...

saturday 10

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

Albanese gives tit‑for‑tat response to Trump’s criticism of Australia over Iran war

Albanese gives tit‑for‑tat response to Trump’s criticism of Australia over Iran war

The prime minister has responded by saying there had been no request that Australia had not agreed to.

27.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Albanese government struggles under the 'stress test' posed by Middle East war

Albanese government struggles under the 'stress test' posed by Middle East war

Crises "stress test" governments and countries. Memories remain vivid of COVID, which put immense pressures on the Australian economy, the...

27.03.2026 10

The Examiner

Michelle Grattan

Albanese government struggles under the 'stress test' posed by Middle East war

Albanese government struggles under the 'stress test' posed by Middle East war

Crises "stress test" governments and countries. Memories remain vivid of COVID, which put immense pressures on the Australian economy, the...

27.03.2026 10

Canberra Times

Michelle Grattan

Grattan on Friday: Albanese government struggles under the ‘stress test’ posed by Middle East war

Grattan on Friday: Albanese government struggles under the ‘stress test’ posed by Middle East war

The Albanese government faces problems on several fronts as the Iran War drags on.

26.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Rory Medcalf on Australians’ growing national security fears

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Rory Medcalf on Australians’ growing national security fears

The security expert says there’s been a ‘disturbing’ rise in Australians’ anxiety about national security over the past two years.

23.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: Albanese could learn from Malinauskas’ masterclass in messaging

View from The Hill: Albanese could learn from Malinauskas’ masterclass in messaging

With the rise of One Nation and growth of grievance politics, what Labor leaders choose to say to those alienated voters will be key

23.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

SA election result will send shivers down Taylor’s spine

SA election result will send shivers down Taylor’s spine

As he looks to his own coming wrestle with One Nation in the May 9 Farrer by-election, Angus Taylor can only take from Saturday’s South Australian...

23.03.2026 10

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: One Nation’s performance in SA will send shivers down Angus Taylor’s spine for Farrer campaign

View from The Hill: One Nation’s performance in SA will send shivers down Angus Taylor’s spine for Farrer campaign

Taylor is in desperate need of a strategy to counter One Nation.

22.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Chalmers wants to turn uncertainty into reform

Chalmers wants to turn uncertainty into reform

When he talks about the May 12 budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers always stresses that what’s done on things like the capital gains tax discount will be...

21.03.2026 10

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

Chalmers is trying to make economic uncertainty a springboard for reform

When he talks about the May 12 budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers always stresses that what's done on things like the capital gains tax discount will...

19.03.2026 10

The Examiner

Michelle Grattan

Chalmers is trying to make economic uncertainty a springboard for reform

When he talks about the May 12 budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers always stresses that what's done on things like the capital gains tax discount will...

19.03.2026 20

Canberra Times

Michelle Grattan

Grattan on Friday: Chalmers is trying to make economic uncertainty a springboard for reform

In a time of economic uncertainty, just how bold will Jim Chalmers be? Or how bold will Anthony Albanese let him be?

19.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Albanese government appoints fuel coordinator as ACCC investigates major suppliers’ conduct in regional Australia

After a national cabinet meeting on Australia’s fuel supply, leaders were quick to reassure there was no current shortage.

19.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Chalmers says latest Treasury modelling shows Australia’s inflation could reach 5%, as national cabinet meets on fuel

Australia’s inflation rate could peak in “the high 4s or even higher” this year, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

18.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Capital gains tax discount ‘skewed’ housing towards investors: Senate inquiry

The committee said it had consistently heard that the current design of the discount “can distort decision making and incentivise tax planning”.

17.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Politics with Michelle Grattan: why Farrer is a key test for One Nation vs the Coalition

Ahead of the May 9 by-election, hear from candidates and locals about the early frontrunners to win Farrer – long held by former Liberal leader...

16.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Canavan brings back McCormack in Nationals frontbench shake up

The new Nationals leader promotes a ‘posse of patriots’ to the Coalition front bench.

16.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

No mistake, Richardson resignation is a blow to PM

By personality and at his stage in life, Dennis Richardson is a man who, on occasion, stands on his dignity. Richardson, 78, has a stellar public...

14.03.2026 20

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

Dennis Richardson's exit puts anti-Semitism royal commissioner under more pressure

By personality and at his stage in life, Dennis Richardson is a man who, on occasion, stands on his dignity. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Login...

13.03.2026 20

The Examiner

Michelle Grattan

Dennis Richardson's exit puts anti-Semitism royal commissioner under more pressure

By personality and at his stage in life, Dennis Richardson is a man who, on occasion, stands on his dignity. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Login...

13.03.2026 20

Canberra Times

Michelle Grattan

Grattan on Friday: Dennis Richardson’s exit puts antisemitism royal commissioner under more pressure

Dennis Richardson leaving the Royal Commission has raised eyebrows and raised more questions about the commission and it’s scope.

12.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Canavan v Joyce as Nats choose radical leadership

Matt Canavan was once Barnaby Joyce’s staffer, and later his closest ally and most vociferous spruiker. Not to mention his best political friend....

12.03.2026 30

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: it’s now Canavan v Joyce after the Nationals opt for the radical leadership option

The Nationals have chosen a hard-line leader for their existential battle against One Nation.

11.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Scramble to elect leader after Littleproud quits

David Littleproud’s decision to quit as Nationals Leader on Tuesday came as a shock to colleagues and follows a period of extreme turbulence for...

11.03.2026 20

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: David Littleproud quits as Nationals leader, declaring ‘I’m buggered’

The Nationals leader quits after an extended period of turmoil for his party and the Coalition.

10.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Middle East war set to push inflation higher than forecast, warns RBA deputy governor

The Reserve Bank’s Andrew Hauser told The Conversation’s podcast inflation is likely to be higher than projected before the war in the Middle East...

10.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

5 members of Iranian women’s soccer team defect, Australia deploys RAAF plane and missiles to Gulf

News of the defections came as the government announced the deployment, in response to requests from the region, of an E-7A Wedgetail to the gulf.

10.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Would Labor support the Iran war in opposition?

When Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed federal parliament on Thursday, his well-crafted speech had one gaping hole. It did not mention the...

07.03.2026 20

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

Would Labor be supporting this war if it were in opposition?

When Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed federal parliament on Thursday his well-crafted speech had one gaping hole. It did not mention the...

06.03.2026 40

The Examiner

Michelle Grattan

Would Labor be supporting this war if it were in opposition?

When Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed federal parliament on Thursday his well-crafted speech had one gaping hole. It did not mention the...

06.03.2026 30

Canberra Times

Michelle Grattan

Politics with Michelle Grattan: South Australian election special

Labor is expected to be returned in power in a landslide. But the election is also the first test of One Nation’s ability to turn its surging...

05.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Grattan on Friday: would Labor be supporting this war if it were in opposition?

In 2003, Labor was strongly against the Iraq war. But more than 20 years later and in power, Albanese has had to do a different sort of political...

05.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Farrer byelection will be on May 9

The byelection for the regional New South Wales seat of Farrer, vacated by former opposition leader Sussan Ley, will be held on May 9.

05.03.2026 30

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Mark Carney highlights areas of Australian‑Canadian cooperation as middle powers

Addressing the federal parliament, Carney once again pressed his now familiar argument for middle power activism as the old world order disintegrated.

05.03.2026 30

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Commercial flights will be your best way out of Middle East, Wong tells stranded Australians

The government has deployed six “crisis response” teams to the Middle East to help deal with the overload caused by the huge number of Australians...

04.03.2026 30

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: Leaked election review slates Dutton while highlighting Liberals’ longer term intractable problems

The Liberal Party’s federal executive decided on Friday to bury its election review. But it was unable to cremate it.

03.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Liberals’ former immigration spokesman Paul Scarr crosses floor to support Hanson Muslim censure

The Senate chose to censor Senator Pauline Hanson over her comments on Muslims.

02.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Bipartisan support for US attack on Iran, but Greens say it is ‘abhorrent’

The Albanese government has backed the American strike on Iran, while confirming Australia was not given prior warning.

02.03.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Bipartisan support for US attack on Iran, but Greens says it is ‘abhorrent’

The Albanese government has backed the American strike on Iran, while confirming Australia was not given prior warning.

01.03.2026 30

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

PM celebrates caucus unity, but does have a cost

In the furore about the fate of the ISIS brides, one would have expected we might have heard some strong advocates from the Labor left in caucus...

27.02.2026 20

The New Daily

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: Ley formally resigns, tells Taylor it’s ‘vital’ he holds Farrer

Deposed Liberal leader Sussan Ley formally resigned from parliament on Friday – and sent a blunt challenge to her successor, Angus Taylor.

27.02.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Albanese celebrates caucus unity, but it can come at a cost

In the current furore about the fate of the ISIS brides, one would have expected we might have heard some strong advocates from the Labor left in...

27.02.2026 10

Canberra Times

Michelle Grattan

Grattan on Friday: Albanese celebrates caucus unity, but it can come at a cost

The ISIS brides story is the latest instance of how the Labor caucus, and particularly the left, has mostly taken a vow of public silence.

26.02.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Modern multicultural Australia must strengthen the ties that bind our diverse groups: Julian Hill

In a speech on Wednesday to the McKell Institute Julian Hill says progressives shouldn’t fail to acknowledge that concerns over migration are real.

25.02.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Geoffrey Watson calls for a royal commission on the CFMEU scandal

The anti-corruption expert says Victoria’s Labor government was willing to ‘deal with the devil’ on its Big Build projects – at the cost of...

25.02.2026 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

View from The Hill: Chris Minns makes sense on ISIS brides’ children, while opposition adds to scaremongering

Chris Minns provides clarity on the issue of ISIS brides while the government and opposition tie themselves in knots.

23.02.2026 250

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan