National affairs
The Xenophon phenomenon
Clem Macintyre
25 August 2015
Nick Xenophon is breathing down the Coalition’s neck in his home state, writes Clem Macintyre. In a tight federal election, the implications could be significant
National affairs
Another near death experience for Tony Abbott, or worse?
Peter Kennedy
25 August 2015
Canning might look like a safe Liberal seat on paper, but there are good reasons for the federal government to be worried, writes Peter Kennedy
National affairs
Abbott’s end game
Peter Brent
13 August 2015
His leadership again under threat, the prime minister is locked in a potentially terminal embrace with his party’s right, writes Peter Brent
National affairs
Love among the water hazards
Brett Evans
13 August 2015
Julia Gillard drew adulation at the Byron Bay Writers Festival, writes Brett Evans. It was another reminder of questions still hanging over the Labor Party
National affairs
The name game
Peter Brent
16 July 2015
With the next election on the horizon, the pressure is on to give Labor’s carbon policy a name that sticks
British Labour, a leap in the dark
David Hayes
12 July 2015
After five years in a bunker a wounded party faces a choice of exits, says David Hayes
National affairs
Why Bill Shorten and Labor can afford to ignore Rupert Murdoch
Rodney Tiffen
23 June 2015
With declining reach and influence, the Murdoch empire can no longer determine election results, writes Rodney Tiffen
National affairs
The invasion of the heavy hitters
Peter Brent
19 June 2015
Labor’s state election successes during the Howard era propelled ill-equipped party heavies into Canberra, writes Peter Brent. The Killing Season is showing us some…
Inside Sri Lanka’s rainbow revolution
David Corlett
15 June 2015
Having won the war against the Tamil Tigers and governed with an iron grip, Mahinda Rajapaksa seemed impregnable, reports David Corlett. But behind the scenes a movement…
Books & arts
Australia reconstructs
Hannah Forsyth
15 June 2015
Books | Stuart Macintyre’s history of Australia in the 1940s is a big book in the best sense
Essays & reportage
Is there an authentic voting experience?
Graeme Orr
1 June 2015
The electoral cycle is made up of rituals, both elaborate and everyday. Understand them and we will better understand democracy itself, writes Graeme Orr in his new book
National affairs
Is this the only leader less likely than Tony Abbott to win the next election?
Paul Rodan
29 May 2015
Opposition leaders generally get a positive swing at their first election, writes Paul Rodan. Bill Shorten will probably need more than that
From the archive
What Julia Gillard couldn’t give us
Stephen Mills
20 May 2015
Michael Cooney’s account of his years as prime ministerial speechwriter helps explain what went wrong
Two nations
James Jupp
12 May 2015
A different kind of British election yielded a familar result, writes James Jupp in Britain
Britain’s pencil revolution
David Hayes
9 May 2015
A purgative election has cleared the way for even bigger contests to come, says David Hayes
National affairs
Being Greens
Peter Brent
7 May 2015
Despite the policy differences, the Greens have important things in common with the major parties, writes Peter Brent
International
Hillary and the Republican posse on the road to the 2016 primaries
Lesley Russell
7 May 2015
The Republicans are entering a toxic period of jostling for the presidential nomination, writes Lesley Russell. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton faces no real challenger
Britain’s vote in the dark
David Hayes
6 May 2015
An odd election campaign ends with nationalists becoming unionists and radicals conservatives, writes David Hayes
Britain’s reckoning election
David Hayes
2 May 2015
A wary, data-driven, Scotland-focused contest gives voters no lead, says David Hayes
A kingdom for a vote
David Hayes
22 April 2015
Britain’s election is a blind date with destiny, says David Hayes
National affairs
The art of misinterpreting election victories
Peter Brent
2 April 2015
Unexpected wins in 1993, 1998 and 2001 have distorted the way we interpret election results, writes Peter Brent. The effects are still influencing how political players…
National affairs
At last, a politician we can trust?
Tim Colebatch
30 March 2015
Once the natural party of government, the Liberal Party has been performing badly across Australia for thirty years or more, writes Tim Colebatch. Mike Baird has shown…
Podcasts
The Baird factor, the Abbott factor, and the challenge for Labor
Peter Clarke
29 March 2015
The Coalition has won a convincing victory in New South Wales. Stephen Mills talks to Peter Clarke about the result and its implications
Podcasts
Coalition still ahead in New South Wales, still behind in Canberra
Peter Clarke
23 March 2015
Down to the wire? In this fifteen-minute podcast, Peter Clarke talks to psephologist Peter Brent about this Saturday’s NSW election and the federal…
National affairs
Back to base
Peter Brent
16 March 2015
Are the self-appointed consciences of the Liberal Party helping the government? Peter Brent doesn’t think so
National affairs
Small targets, small ambitions
Marija Taflaga
12 March 2015
Australia’s major parties have learned the wrong lessons from the failure of John Hewson’s 1993 Fightback! campaign and the success of John Howard’s bid…
National affairs
Thinking the once-unthinkable in New South Wales
David Clune
4 March 2015
Is a Labor victory possible? David Clune looks at what’s working in Mike Baird’s favour, and what isn’t
National affairs
How to stop the leadership turnstile
Peter Brent
26 February 2015
John Howard had an enormous stroke of luck, writes Peter Brent. To realise that is to recognise that imitating him is counterproductive
National affairs
Polls and preferences: the new challenge for election watchers
Tim Colebatch
24 February 2015
Elections in Victoria and Queensland have caught the pollsters wrong-footed, writes Tim Colebatch. Are unexpected preference flows making Australian elections harder to predict?
National affairs
Should Queensland go back to the future?
Brian Costar
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…
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