Inside Story

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 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 It might say free trade on the label, but what’s in the tin? Tom Westland 1 July 2015 Big numbers have a tendency to take on a life of their own, writes Tom Westland National affairs The thorny politics of Indigenous recognition Peter Brent 26 June 2015 Referendums don’t bring out the best in the Australian political system, writes Peter Brent. But that shouldn’t stop us from picking our way through the minefield

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 International New Zealand’s conservatives take on disadvantage Tim Colebatch 25 May 2015 The NZ government sees economic as well as social benefits in breaking cycles of poverty and imprisonment. Although the policy has its critics, it’s worth watching, writes… National affairs How gay marriage fell victim to Labor’s Stockholm Syndrome Peter Brent 25 May 2015 A referendum on same-sex marriage would be a bad idea, writes Peter Brent. But the fact that the issue has got to this point says a lot about the Labor Party

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 National affairs Austerity ends, but where’s the vision? Tim Colebatch 5 May 2015 Victoria’s Labor treasurer might have echoed Tolstoy in his budget speech, writes Tim Colebatch, but the fine print doesn’t rise to the challenges facing the state National affairs Victorian Labor tries to build without borrowing Tim Colebatch 4 May 2015 This week’s Victorian budget has passed up the opportunity to borrow at historically cheap rates to fund essential infrastructure, writes Tim Colebatch