National affairs
Moderate Malcolm
Norman Abjorensen
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
Getting down to business
Frank Bongiorno
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
The battle for Wentworth
Brett Evans
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…
National affairs
A little bit of Turnbull honesty might need to go a long way
Peter Brent
15 September 2015
The new prime minister brings with him a reputation for levelling with voters, writes Peter Brent. But how frank will he be now he has the top job?
National affairs
Seventy-two coups later, leaders seem less safe than ever
Rodney Tiffen
15 September 2015
Leadership coups have become an increasingly common feature of Australian politics, writes Rodney Tiffen, but the electoral results aren’t always encouraging
National affairs
Uneasy lies the head
Norman Abjorensen
15 September 2015
Tony Abbott, once a beneficiary of the new, brutally pragmatic treatment of prime ministers by their colleagues, became its victim, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
The by-election that won’t tell us much but means a lot
Peter Brent
28 August 2015
By-elections sometimes reflect important political trends, and sometimes they don’t, writes Peter Brent. So why are we watching Canning so closely?
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
Fighting old battles, losing the war
Peter Browne
14 July 2015
The Coalition has been fighting on the same terrain for nearly two years, writes Peter Browne, but it hasn’t shaken Labor’s lead in the polls
National affairs
The Liberal Party’s faction problem
Norman Abjorensen
6 July 2015
It’s not just Labor that suffers from the inordinate influence of a NSW right wing, writes Norman Abjorensen
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
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
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
Abbott’s epitaphs
Tom Griffiths
15 February 2015
Making sense of the premature passing of another elected prime minister will influence the fate of his successors, writes Tom Griffiths
National affairs
Can Abbott change?
Norman Abjorensen
12 February 2015
Other leaders have overcome bigger setbacks, writes Norman Abjorensen. But the signs aren’t good
National affairs
Thinking of dumping a prime minister? History isn’t encouraging
Rodney Tiffen
8 February 2015
Eighteen PMs or premiers have been forcibly removed since 1970, writes Rodney Tiffen. In just two cases, the result was a clear win at the following election
National affairs
Conservatives in crisis
Norman Abjorensen
3 February 2015
Australia’s conservative parties have always struggled to balance their priorities with the need for broader electoral appeal, writes Norman Abjorensen.…
Podcasts
Three elections and a hypothesis
Peter Clarke
22 January 2015
The Coalition lost in Victoria and looks like doing less well than expected in Queensland and New South Wales. Peter Clarke discusses why, and what it says about the…
Books & arts
Strategic omissions
Rodney Tiffen
8 January 2015
Books | John Howard’s view of the Menzies years is partial in important respects, but he offers a valuable perspective on an important period
National affairs
“He could never inspire devotion in his followers, nor the feeling that he was the essential man”
Norman Abjorensen
15 December 2014
One hundred years ago Joseph Cook made a mess of being prime minister. The parallels with today are striking, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Bragging rights
Peter Brent
11 December 2014
Being in government is a chance to make the case that you’re a world-class economic manager, writes Peter Brent. Labor forgot that fact and will keep suffering the results
National affairs
After Abbott?
Norman Abjorensen
9 December 2014
A lean field of leadership contenders could help the prime minister hang onto his job, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
More reasons why the Abbott budget is so hard to sell
Tim Colebatch
5 December 2014
The budget’s shortcomings don’t end with the fairness problem, writes Tim Colebatch
National affairs
Gap year
Peter Browne
28 November 2014
The polls are showing how far the Coalition has drifted from the mainstream, writes Peter Browne. The problems go back to well before the May budget
National affairs
What the Senate is telling us about big-party politics
Peter Brent
21 November 2014
The challenges of dealing with a fragmented Palmer United Party are a reminder that the major parties are struggling with low levels of primary support, writes Peter Brent
National affairs
Tiger by the tail
Norman Abjorensen
18 November 2014
In the long run, the enemy of my enemy isn’t always my friend, writes Norman Abjorensen. It’s a mistake that’s proving costly for the Liberals
National affairs
The GST trap
Peter Brent
30 October 2014
Opposing changes to the GST is unlikely to benefit Labor’s election prospects
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