National affairs
31 March 2017
With a Queensland election on the horizon, the party is still coming to terms with the size of the WA loss
National affairs
7 March 2017
The battle dividing the Liberal Party dates back to Labor’s electoral success during the second world war
National affairs
3 March 2017
By forcing Malcolm Turnbull to behave like Tony Abbott, the Nationals have gravely damaged the government. But Black Jack McEwen showed how that can change
National affairs
22 February 2017
Like his predecessors, Malcolm Turnbull needs to find his inner storyteller
National affairs
21 February 2017
Malcolm Turnbull will be the next victim of the growing gap between Liberal Party diehards and the election-deciding majority
National affairs
10 February 2017
The prospects aren’t good for Cory Bernardi and the parties of the disaffected Australian right
National affairs
8 February 2017
Cory Bernardi’s defection is unlikely to excite voters or inflict lasting damage on the government
National affairs
8 February 2017
This week’s events underline the fact that Liberals are still struggling with the question of how they can be more than simply an anti-Labor party
National affairs
19 January 2017
A remarkable drop in polling figures preceded Mike Baird’s resignation announcement today
National affairs
28 December 2016
Electorally speaking, Cory Bernardi is on the wrong Coalition faultline
National affairs
9 December 2016
The political year is drawing to a close with government increasingly in the hands of the Liberal Party’s most conservative MPs
Essays & reportage
23 November 2016
When the Coalition won the November 1966 federal election, the Labor Party had no alternative but to modernise
National affairs
18 November 2016
Malcolm Turnbull is just the latest victim of Australia’s political system
Essays & reportage
17 September 2016
Howard on Menzies makes for compelling viewing. But its flaws echo the shortcomings of Australia’s longest-serving prime minister
National affairs
9 September 2016
The push for “party democracy” among Liberals isn’t quite what it seems, says Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
5 July 2016
Robert Menzies mastered it, but this might be one of the skills Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t share with his long-serving predecessor, writes Norman Abjorensen
Essays & reportage
1 July 2016
He might have been an ardent admirer of the United States, but Harold Holt also brought welcome changes to Australia’s relations with the rest of the world, writes Paul Rodan
National affairs
1 June 2016
Like Malcolm Turnbull, John Gorton needed a solid win to cement his authority, writes Paul Rodan. And the parallels don’t end there
National affairs
31 May 2016
The polls suggest that a big win is out of Malcolm Turnbull’s reach, writes Norman Abjorensen. So what happens if he scrapes back into office?
National affairs
12 May 2016
There are seven reasons why the Coalition might think things are going well, writes Peter Brent. But the same goes for Labor
National affairs
22 March 2016
The PM knows that voters have a simple question in mind when they enter the polling booth, writes Peter Brent
Essays & reportage
18 January 2016
Robert Menzies’s name is synonomous with a long period of stability and prosperity. Does the legend match the facts?
National affairs
31 December 2015
The prime minister can take comfort from the fact that stormy political weather often blows over very quickly, writes Norman Abjorensen
Essays & reportage
23 December 2015
Circumstances propelled the gregarious John Gorton into the top job, but the party termites quickly got to work
Podcasts
18 December 2015
In the wake of the Ian Macfarlane affair, Peter Clarke talks to Brian Costar about Barnaby Joyce, Malcolm Turnbull and the balancing act that keeps the Coalition afloat
National affairs
15 December 2015
Tony Abbott’s transition is proving difficult for everyone, writes Peter Brent
National affairs
8 December 2015
What unites the group of Liberals who want to steer the party away from its roots? Norman Abjorensen profiles the ideas and the personalities
National affairs
6 October 2015
The party sometimes forgets that Liberal leaders have been most electorally successful when they’ve governed from the centre, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
21 September 2015
Malcolm Turnbull’s diverse career brings new qualities to the prime ministership, writes Frank Bongiorno. But he will need to be careful his larger-than-life…
Essays & reportage
19 September 2015
Malcolm Turnbull’s political trajectory hasn’t always been smooth. In the first week of his attempt to take on the sitting member at the 2004 election, he seemed to be in a…