David Speers

Innes Willox says another net zero debate would "hobble" the Australian economy and undermine investment decisions.

The Liberals will need as much time as possible before taking on a prime minister determined to tidy up outstanding problems.

The Nationals remain wedded to nuclear while the Liberals are more divided.

It's a sign that cost of living alone isn't enough for the Coalition at this point to convince undecided voters to boot out a first term government.

The opposition leader is being cautious with his language as he doesn't want to turn off Chinese-Australian voters, as the Coalition did last election, but he also doesn't want to upset those on his right flank. 

The third week on the campaign trail will be critical, before the Easter break and the commencement of early voting, and polls suggest the contest remains tight.

Former prime minister John Howard says defence should never be used as a bargaining chip in negotiating exemptions from US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The opposition leader is trying to talk to two audiences: the pro-Trump supporters on his right flank, and the Trump-anxious voters in the middle. 

Politics is about principles and the opposition leader's decision to say no to a tax cut sends a signal. 

The Coalition has vowed to cut waste from the government bureaucracy after criticising Labor for growing the public sector. 

If two ongoing wars weren't enough uncertainty into which to deliver a federal budget, there's the precariousness of the Trump administration's trade agenda.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will join a phone hook-up tomorrow night to discuss a possible joint peacekeeping force for Ukraine.

The government is banking on voters appreciating that this time around with Trump is different.  

Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko calls the Oval Office showdown between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "big shock".

Donald Trump is determined to impose tariffs and linked to the trade threat is a requirement for allies to lift their defence spending.

The visit coincides with a major push by Australian superannuation funds to build their case for increased investment opportunities in the US, starting with a "super showcase" in Washington DC and New York.

The Coalition has blamed inflation on government spending. It remains unclear if it will hold the line and oppose further relief to struggling households 

Continuing to highlight Labor's past critique of Donald Trump carries political risk for the Coalition. Not least because it ignores what's really driving those encouraging Trump to apply tariffs to Australia.

Heads are best kept below the parapet for now, in what's already proving to be a more difficult environment to navigate than the first Trump presidency.

Labor will not try to negotiate the passage of the new laws, which would create a new federal environment protection agency, in the coming sitting fortnight. 

It's the start of the election year Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers were banking on and the reason why talk of an early poll, either late last year or at the very start of this year, was always misguided.

Before the last election, Anthony Albanese often talked about "kicking with the wind" in the final quarter. Now, he's talking about "leaving nothing on the field", even if he's leaving a few promises behind in the interests of improving Labor's election chances.

Albanese's consistency on trade and calls to stick with the Paris climate agreement suggest he's not scared of taking a different policy path to Donald Trump. That doesn't mean navigating the path ahead will be easy.

Peter Dutton is posing Trump's "are you better off" question in Australia and hoping to tap into the same anger over cost-of-living amongst working-class voters.

Fatima Payman's new political party may not be troubling Labor, but it still has plenty of other headaches to worry about.