National affairs
10 October 2013
The Labor leadership contest might have annoyed some factional warlords, but it’s helped the party to avoid messy post-election recriminations, writes Frank Bongiorno
National affairs
8 October 2013
The Greens face some of the challenges that effectively killed the Democrats, write Narelle Miragliotta and Robert Simms. But important differences between the…
National affairs
30 September 2013
Four years after the civil war ended, many Tamils have no expectation of peace or safety in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, reports Emily Howie. This is what drives…
National affairs
26 September 2013
Australia is best served when former prime ministers leave parliament with dispatch, writes Paul Rodan
National affairs
17 September 2013
The new government’s aged-care decisions suggest it will prioritise providers over consumers, writes Lesley Russell
National affairs
11 September 2013
Tony Abbott might have pledged in blood to repeal the Australian carbon pricing scheme, but what’s likely to happen once the obstacles are clear? Fergus Green…
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
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
6 September 2013
Opposition to vaccination has something in common with well-funded anti-science lobbies, writes John Quiggin, but its roots in genuine confusion mean it should be handled…
National affairs
4 September 2013
Labor’s response to the Coalition’s argument that it was profligate during the financial crisis has been disastrously inept, argues Peter Brent
National affairs
3 September 2013
The immigration department is months behind in answering questions from Senate estimate committees – questions that would provide vital information about the…
National affairs
2 September 2013
Reef Rescue needs to focus on measures that really do improve water quality, says Amanda Cornwall. That means learning from other successful schemes
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
29 August 2013
Gonski has come to symbolise a sense of social decency, writes Dean Ashenden. But how much “Gonski” is left in the plan, and how will it look after the election?
National affairs
28 August 2013
Without a change in policies, an ageing population is likely to reduce housing affordability and increase inequality, writes Peter Mares
National affairs
21 August 2013
Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey think that New Zealand’s economic policies have worked well. They’re wrong, writes John Quiggin
National affairs
20 August 2013
So far, healthcare has gone missing in the election campaign, writes Lesley Russell
National affairs
15 August 2013
Shareholders might be wise to worry about Rupert Murdoch’s “gifted tabloid editor,” writes Rodney Tiffen
National affairs
14 August 2013
Wrong candidates get chosen for reasons that vary between parties big and small, writes Paul Rodan
National affairs
8 August 2013
Labor failed to take the opportunity to make historic changes to campaign finance disclosure, writes Brian Costar
National affairs
6 August 2013
The problems go back to 2007, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
1 August 2013
Over one hundred people died in the waters between Indonesia and Christmas Island on 21 June 2012 after repeated calls for help. This week’s coroner’s report calls…
National affairs
31 July 2013
What would a sustainable regional approach look like? Anne McNevin outlines the main features – and benefits – of an alternative to the Labor–Coalition…
National affairs
30 July 2013
Would Australia’s new whistleblower laws protect Edward Snowden, asks Gabrielle Appleby
National affairs
25 July 2013
Both the government and the opposition are focusing on the wrong problem, writes Anne McNevin
National affairs
22 July 2013
Two cases from Europe show that there are other ways of understanding irregular migrants, writes Klaus Neumann
National affairs
15 July 2013
It may be that school policy can learn more from the Australian Football League than from Shanghai or Finland, says Dean Ashenden
National affairs
12 July 2013
Means testing is all very well, says Ian McAuley, but do we need private health insurance at all?
National affairs
5 July 2013
It’s time for the federal government to take seriously the shortage of affordable housing, writes Harold Levien
National affairs
2 July 2013
The foreign minister’s tough talking on asylum seekers doesn’t fit with the facts, writes Peter Mares