National affairs
3 February 2015
Australia’s conservative parties have always struggled to balance their priorities with the need for broader electoral appeal, writes Norman Abjorensen.…
National affairs
15 December 2014
One hundred years ago Joseph Cook made a mess of being prime minister. The parallels with today are striking, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
9 December 2014
A lean field of leadership contenders could help the prime minister hang onto his job, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
18 November 2014
In the long run, the enemy of my enemy isn’t always my friend, writes Norman Abjorensen. It’s a mistake that’s proving costly for the Liberals
International
21 October 2014
Can the G20 hope to make measurable progress in the fight against corruption? Norman Abjorensen looks at the story so far
National affairs
12 August 2014
Labor and the Coalition are caught between vying for the middle ground and differentiating themselves in the political marketplace. Behind it all, there’s one vital…
National affairs
14 May 2014
This week’s budget raises the question of whom the Liberal Party now represents, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
10 September 2013
Despite the pundits, it won’t be business as usual under the Coalition, says Norman Abjorensen. But the Senate will determine much of the style and rate of change
National affairs
6 August 2013
The problems go back to 2007, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
25 June 2013
They aren’t always right in the national capital, but they are this time, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
31 January 2013
For more than a quarter of a century, short election campaigns have been the norm, writes Norman Abjorensen. Julia Gillard’s announcement recalls longer, and…
National affairs
7 November 2012
If it’s true that a country gets the politicians it deserves, then Australia is in a bad way, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
28 October 2012
Two key figures in the postwar development of the Labor Party never met, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
4 September 2012
It looks likely that the Greens will still hold the balance of power in the Senate after the next election. Norman Abjorensen looks at the numbers and asks: how would…
Books & arts
12 June 2012
Norman Abjorensen reviews Mungo MacCallum’s The Good, the Bad and the Unlikely: Australia’s Prime Ministers
National affairs
24 May 2012
A rancorous twenty months in federal politics has overshadowed the legislative achievements, argues Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
8 May 2012
Was it the economics or the politics of John Hewson’s Fightback! strategy that failed, asks Norman Abjorensen
8 April 2012
The big powers were on the minds of ASEAN leaders meeting in the Cambodian capital, writes Norman Abjorensen in Phnom Penh
National affairs
5 April 2012
The Liberals have displaced Labor as Australia’s tribal political force, writes Norman Abjorensen, and that makes Malcolm Turnbull an odd person out
Books & arts
22 March 2012
Norman Abjorensen reviews a new biography of the enigmatic Rick Farley
National affairs
4 March 2012
The transition from state to federal politics is rarely smooth, writes Norman Abjorensen. But Bob Carr could be one of the exceptions
National affairs
27 February 2012
By challenging – and decisively losing – Kevin Rudd has at least done Julia Gillard a favour or two, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
23 February 2012
Julia Gillard has finally explained the events of mid 2010, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
15 February 2012
Has Kevin Rudd changed enough to justify a return to the Lodge, asks Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
8 February 2012
Can the opposition leader maintain momentum, asks Norman Abjorensen
30 November 2011
Last week’s election helps illuminate where Morocco fits into the Arab Spring, writes Norman Abjorensen
10 November 2011
Governments need to enlist civil society in the fight against corruption, writes Norman Abjorensen in Marrakesh
Books & arts
2 September 2011
Norman Abjorensen looks into the mind of the Australian voter
National affairs
26 August 2011
The real achievements of the Gillard government are being overshadowed by Labor’s ineptness, argues Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
21 July 2011
A week might be a long time in politics, but two years mightn’t be long enough, writes Norman Abjorensen