30 May 2014
The electoral victory of UKIP, an anti-immigrant and anti-Europe party, redraws Britain’s political map, says David Hayes
National affairs
22 May 2014
Poorly judged preselections are a problem for both major parties, writes Paul Rodan, and the electoral implications are becoming clearer
Podcasts
16 May 2014
Senate voting needs to be simpler and more transparent. Brian Costar talks to Peter Clarke about a plan to fix the system, and looks at the politics of the federal budget
National affairs
4 March 2014
Are new rules needed to stop multiple voters from undermining Australian elections? Not according to the local and international evidence, writes Jennifer Rayner
International
4 February 2014
The United States isn’t the obvious place to look for ideas about how to clean up political funding. But Graeme Orr found a New York agency that can teach us a lot…
National affairs
24 December 2013
Like his recent predecessors, Tony Abbott came to office without a clear mandate, writes Peter Browne. That’s turned out to be bad politics and bad for the Liberal Party
Books & arts
28 November 2013
How did an unelected campaign consultant come to exercise such influence over Labor’s 2013 campaign, asks Stephen Mills
National affairs
27 November 2013
The politics of the ageing electorate is complicating government responses to the ageing society, writes Rodney Tiffen
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
2 October 2013
The contrast with Kevin Rudd couldn’t be starker, yet the Anglophile PM might have a certain edge, writes James Leibold in Beijing
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
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
International
16 September 2013
Like Australia, Germany has seen a shift in the political middle ground. But there, it’s ended up in an intriguing place, writes Klaus Neumann
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…
Essays & reportage
10 September 2013
The electorate of Indi has been changed forever, write Cambell Klose and Nick Haines from Cathy McGowan’s campaign
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
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
Books & arts
2 September 2013
It’s time for harder thinking about Labor’s strengths and weaknesses, says Frank Bongiorno
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
International
28 August 2013
Britain’s media coverage of Australia’s election is lively but limited, finds David Hayes
Essays & reportage
26 August 2013
In many ways the opposition has already won this election by shifting the political middle ground, writes Dennis Altman
Essays & reportage
23 August 2013
Political bloggers brought a new rigour to interpreting the polls
Podcasts
20 August 2013
Peter Clarke talks to Fact Check presenter John Barron about the ABC’s newest project
Essays & reportage
20 August 2013
Has Labor’s campaign taken a fatal turn? History shows that divided control of campaign messages can be a disaster, writes Stephen Mills
National affairs
20 August 2013
So far, healthcare has gone missing in the election campaign, writes Lesley Russell
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