National Affairs
23 February 2015
Campbell Newman’s premiership was an object lesson in the dangers of untrammelled power, writes Brian Costar. Queensland needs an upper house to keep governments…
National Affairs
30 January 2015
The Liberal National Party forgot it was governing in the twenty-first century, writes Brian Costar. The results have been disastrous
Podcasts
27 September 2013
Peter Clarke talks to Brian Costar about why Cathy McGowan is likely to serve more than one term, why the Electoral Commission is under attack, and who should lead the Labor Party
National Affairs
9 September 2013
Changes to how senators are elected would improve transparency, make voting easier, and stop parties with scarcely any support slipping into the Senate, says Brian Costar
National Affairs
29 August 2013
“Leadership” is seldom the key determinant of election results, writes Brian Costar. The mistaken belief has damaged both major parties
National Affairs
8 August 2013
Labor failed to take the opportunity to make historic changes to campaign finance disclosure, writes Brian Costar
National Affairs
27 March 2012
Pundits are predicting a long period of opposition for Queensland Labor, writes Brian Costar, but Campbell Newman faces his own challenges
National Affairs
3 February 2012
References to race should be dropped from the constitution, writes Brian Costar, but the reason section 25 was included in the first place is more complex than some…
National Affairs
6 October 2011
Out of the clash of interests in federal parliament in 1911 came an enduring electoral reform, writes Brian Costar. An update is long overdue
National Affairs
19 August 2010
Brian Costar does the maths – and it’s not a repeat of 1931
National Affairs
10 August 2010
Australia votes in a fortnight but we won’t find out who made large election donations to the parties until early 2012. In this respect, we can learn something from the…
Essays & Reportage
22 March 2010
In Tasmania, Greens leader Nick McKim is pushing for Labor or the Liberals to strike a written agreement with his party in return for its support. Brian Costar and…
National Affairs
22 January 2010
With four elections in twelve months it’s likely that allegations about electoral fraud will surge in 2010. Brian Costar looks at two court cases that exposed a…
National Affairs
25 August 2009
On the back of an envelope, the figures look very interesting. But what’s in it for Labor, asks Brian Costar
National Affairs
14 May 2009
The Brimbank Council scandal illustrates all that’s wrong with party factions, writes Brian Costar
National Affairs
3 April 2009
Australia’s new electoral commissioner has puts the facts back into the electoral reform debate, writes Brian Costar
National Affairs
18 March 2009
Lawrence Springborg has a glimpse of the summit, but the polls suggest he won’t get there this time, writes Brian Costar
National Affairs
24 February 2009
The Queensland election is the first test for the new Liberal National Party, writes Brian Costar, and it has quite a fight on its hands
Correspondents
9 December 2008
What possessed senior police officers to raid the offices of a member of parliament without a warrant, asks Brian Costar in London