Podcasts
9 July 2013
From the Radio National archive, Terry Lane talks to Labor senator Jacinta Collins
Essays & reportage
1 July 2013
Targeting marginal seats is nothing new in politics, but the gambling industry has shown it can work for lobby groups too. James Panichi pieces together the story
National affairs
27 June 2013
The leadership vote only underlines the fact that the Labor Party is more or less broken, writes Frank Bongiorno
National affairs
25 June 2013
They aren’t always right in the national capital, but they are this time, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
7 March 2013
Do all Labor voters prefer the Greens to the Liberals? Do National Party voters opt for the Liberals if their own party isn’t running? What evidence we have suggests the…
National affairs
5 February 2013
Julia Gillard’s press club speech gave an insight into how Labor sees itself governing an anxious country in uncertain times, writes Frank Bongiorno
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…
Essays & reportage
29 November 2012
Not only was the 1972 election a watershed for Labor, it also created the modern political campaign
National affairs
28 October 2012
Two key figures in the postwar development of the Labor Party never met, writes Norman Abjorensen
Books & arts
8 October 2012
A sympathetic biography of Gough Whitlam also recognises its subject’s shortcomings
Books & arts
2 October 2012
Books | The political and the personal illuminate each other in James Button’s fine account of a year in Canberra
National affairs
5 September 2012
The government has at last come up with the outline of a strategy for reforming schools, writes Dean Ashenden. The worry is in what the prime minister didn’t say
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…
Essays & reportage
9 August 2012
Reports of Labor’s death have been grossly exaggerated, writes Dennis Altman
National affairs
24 May 2012
A rancorous twenty months in federal politics has overshadowed the legislative achievements, argues Norman Abjorensen
Books & arts
30 April 2012
A culture of entitlement helped undermine policy-making under four Labor premiers, writes Andrew West
National affairs
14 March 2012
A major constitutional crisis was narrowly avoided in Victoria, write Alistair Harkness and Brian Costar, but its cause hasn’t gone away
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
17 February 2012
William McMahon’s famously ill-starred prime ministership has been back in the news, not necessarily to the advantage of the federal Labor government. Paul Rodan…
National affairs
15 February 2012
Has Kevin Rudd changed enough to justify a return to the Lodge, asks Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
7 December 2011
The Labor conference exposed the party’s – and the government’s – weaknesses, writes Frank Bongiorno
National affairs
24 November 2011
Labor strategists helped to create the wrong kind of prime minister, argues Peter Brent
National affairs
18 November 2011
Party reform won’t solve Labor’s broader problem, writes Paul Rodan
Books & arts
18 November 2011
Labor’s search for meaning needs to go beyond the failures of the post-1996 party, writes Frank Bongiorno
National affairs
20 September 2011
Sixty years ago, H.V. Evatt successfully resisted strong public support for draconian anti-communist legislation, writes Frank Bongiorno. Is there a lesson for Labor in 2011?
National affairs
2 September 2011
Labor can’t win against the Coalition in a contest to crack down on boat arrivals, writes Peter Browne. It’s time for a rethink
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 August 2011
On the anniversary of the 2010 Australian election, Frank Bongiorno – just back from London – contrasts the challenges facing Britain and Australia