View from The Hill: the mud flies, but will the voters take much notice?

By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

In these scrappy days before the prime minister announces the election date, the mud and the personal insults are flying, despite the politicians knowing voters hate this sort of thing.

On Wednesday morning TV, shadow finance minister Jane Hume, usually reasonably restrained with her language, called Employment Minister Murray Watt “king grub” of the “grubbiest people you will ever come across” – a reference to Labor’s pursuit of Peter Dutton’s past share trading. As Watt remarked, “That’s quite an accusation”.

Hume was later on the warpath in a Senate estimates hearing,…

Read complete article

~	Renewable energy: rural areas can be the EU’s green powerhouse

~	New report skewers Coalition’s contentious nuclear plan – and reignites Australia’s energy debate

~	15 million South Africans don’t get enough to eat every day: 4 solutions

~	Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tom Rogers calls for national digital literacy campaign and more civics teaching

~	Church hymns and social beers: how Australia is reviving the magic of singing together

~	Victory for Kenyans Denied Citizenship

~	EU Should Address Modi’s Rights Crackdown During India Visit

~	Your super fund is invested in private markets. What are they and why has ASIC raised concerns?

~	Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction

~	The UK must make big changes to its diets, farming and land use to hit net zero – official climate advisers