A year is forever in politics. So six months must be a very long time indeed. In that time the Coalition’s fortunes have shifted dramatically – from a facing a humiliating rout at the next election to being in the hunt.

Government is considering another round of public consultation on its controversial internet filter plans, this time to fine tune the transparency and accountability measures attached the complaints-based blacklist scheme.

The Rudd Government's proposed telecommunications reform legislation has given Steve Fielding the opportunity to make a hero of himself in front of 1.4 million Telstra shareholders – by voting against it.

With the support of the Greens, the Government has narrowly defeated a motion that would have further delayed any debate on the telecom reform bill until Communications Minister Stephen Conroy had tabled the $25 million implementation study in the national broadband network project.

Shadow Attorney General George Brandis has stepped up Opposition attacks over the appointment of a former Labor political staffer to a $450,000-a-year role within the NBN Company, calling it a "rolled-gold example of jobs for the boys."

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has conceded he suggested to the NBN Company that it look at possibly hiring Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's former chief of staff Mike Kaiser – the man now at the centre of a $450,000-a-year 'Labor Mates' row.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has been accused of misleading the Senate over the progress of the original National Broadband Network RFP, a process that cost $30 million and was ultimately cancelled, having failed to deliver a value-for money provider.

In his first official statement since being appointed shadow communications minister, Tony Smith has picked up where Nick Minchin left off – hammering government for its lack of detailed planning for the $43 billion national broadband network.

Former Howard Government parliamentary secretary Tony Smith has been promoted to the frontbench as shadow communications minister in Opposition leader Tony Abbott's reshuffled shadow cabinet.

The first time I met Barnaby Joyce – at a pub near Old Parliament House in early 2005 – he was in Canberra preparing to take up the Queensland Senate seat he secured at the 2004 election.