In which I reply to Andrew's post in reply to Phil's post about Grant Robertson... I wrote this at the start of the week but have discovered a glitch that mean it never published!
Read MoreJulia Gillard
Is Shearer Gillard-esque? And if so, who's our Rudd?
No points if you guess the answer - it's pretty obvious. The real question is if and when the electoral maths could compell New Zealand Labour to follow the same path
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 27
Kevin Rudd takes back leadership of Australia; riots in China kill 27; Syria death toll reaches 100,000; Obama pushes for action on global warming; and more
Read MorePeople smugglers, asylum seekers, and Ozzie Rules
John Key opened Pandora’s Box when he revealed that Australia had considered using its navy to shepherd a boatload of asylum seekers to New Zealand, but nobody seems to want to look inside. It isn’t a pretty sight.
Read MoreGee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines
Is it OK to threaten to do a really bad thing if it means that you don't actually have to do it, even if you have to really be prepared to do it so as to make the threat work?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday November 9
China begins leadership transition; Julia Gillard refuses to meet Iranian leader; UN Secretary General discusses Mali crisis; Greece passes austerity bill; Puerto Rico votes to become an American state; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 11
US State Department reveals new details of Benghazi attack that killed ambassador; China's decision to pull out of IMF meeting "regrettable", says Japan; Julia Gillard accuses Tony Abbott of hypocrisy and misogyny; Netanyahu calls for early election in Israel; Russia to sell $4.2 billion of arms to Iraq this year; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 14
Egypt's president forces retirement of defense minister; Japanese economy slows; Julia Gillard backs report recommending asylum seekers heading to Australia be deported to detention centres in the Pacific; mayor-elect and campaign manager murdered in Mexico; Romney's running mate makes first solo campaign appearance; and more
Read MoreGillard v Rudd: understanding this fight to the death
With most of the difficult policy changes made, it seems Australian PM Julia Gillard is now tidying house. Opponent Kevin Rudd is being swept to the backbenches to clear the path to the 2013 elections
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 16
At least 70 killed in latest Syrian protests; Arab League to suspend Syria, despite foreign minister warning against "dangerous step"; Italy bond yields again top 7%; Gillard wants to sell uranium to India; Calls for Burmese political prisoners to be released; Libyan tribal tensions grow after Qaddafi; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 14
US approves free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama; trade agreements are expected to generate $13 billion in new exports for US; Julia Gillard drops asylum swap plan--will process asylum seekers onshore; South Korea will create task force to deal with crimes by US soldiers stationed there; Nigerian pleads guilty to US terror plot; Berlusconi calls for confidence vote in Italy; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 1
Rebels in Tripoli divided along geographic lines with no unifying leader; Libyan rebels rejected UN's offer of peacekeeping troops to help with transition; Australia's High Court blocked Julia Gillard's plan to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia; latest WikiLeaks release includes names of Australians linked to Yemeni terror groups; Hurricane Irene damage estimated at $7 billion; economic growth in South Africa slows; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 8
Obama proposes $50 billion spend to create jobs; $200 billion tax cuts part of Obama's plan; Gillard wins in Australia with the slimmest of margins; Myanmar's military leader visits China; Iran not participating with nuclear inspections; Afghanistan freezes assets of borrowers at Kabul Bank; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 2
Obama ends Iraq war stressing "huge price" paid by US as al-Maliki hails Iraqi freedom (+ analysis); Greens do deal with Gillard; Chinese manufacturing rebounds, easing Asian economic fears; Four dead as Hamas targets peace talks; and more
Read MoreFive things NZ can learn from Aussie elections
With the Australian election result still hanging in the balance, what can political strategists on this side of the Tasman learn? Five tips, plus the insight of one old man
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 7
Obama and Netanyahu finally meet after Gaza aid flotilla scandal; Israel to allow more consumer goods into Gaza; Thailand emergency rule extends to one-third of country; Julia Gillard proposes East Timor as centre for processing asylum seekers; Biden leaves Iraq following meetings; Somali president asks UN for help
Read MoreHow Kevin Rudd won and lost Australia
Rudd's remarkable run in power was driven by state politics, factions and Wayne Swan; and it was those same forces that brought him down
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday June 25
Obama says Afghanistan strategy will remain, but McChrystal is gone; strategists rethink Afghanistan strategy; China arrests 10 "hardcore terrorists"; Julia Gillard is Australia's first female Prime Minister; Iran is ready for fuel sanctions; G8 in Canada open to developing nations
Read MoreA fascinating Aussie election? Not an oxymoron
Political junkies take note--the leadership battle across the Tasman is about to get really interesting
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