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National affairs 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
National affairs Anthony Whealy 20 May 2015 ICAC risks becoming a toothless tiger if the recommendations of a NSW government review don’t restore all or most of its powers, argues a former Appeals Court judge From the archive Stephen Mills 20 May 2015 Michael Cooney’s account of his years as prime ministerial speechwriter helps explain what went wrong National affairs Savitri Taylor 14 May 2015 Has Australia cut itself adrift from international law? Savitri Taylor looks at the implications of recent refugee-related legislation National affairs Tim Colebatch 13 May 2015 It’s the kind of budget Australian governments release when things aren’t going so well, writes Tim Colebatch. But its shaky assumptions could easily rebound…
David Hayes 9 May 2015 A purgative election has cleared the way for even bigger contests to come, says David Hayes
National affairs Peter Brent 7 May 2015 Despite the policy differences, the Greens have important things in common with the major parties, writes Peter Brent International 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 David Hayes 6 May 2015 An odd election campaign ends with nationalists becoming unionists and radicals conservatives, writes David Hayes National affairs 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 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
National affairs Shiro Armstrong 28 April 2015 The evidence shows that trade deals struck primarily for political reasons can cause significant economic damage, writes Shiro Armstrong National affairs Michael Gill 23 April 2015 Inflated expectations are the baggage of Australia’s recent resources boom, writes Michael Gill. They’re starting to look like a burden Books & arts Brett Evans 23 April 2015 Books | Tony Windsor made an indelible mark on federal politics, writes Brett Evans. And he might be considering a comeback Books & arts Sara Dowse 20 April 2015 Books | Sara Dowse reviews the autobiography of the former Queensland premier
Essays & reportage John Edwards 14 April 2015 Fixing the federal budget might not be as hard as we think, argues John Edwards. And the Intergenerational Review shows we have the breathing space to choose how to do it
National affairs Tim Colebatch 13 April 2015 The new rules sought by premier Colin Barnett would have cost the state $7 billion during the boom years, writes Tim Colebatch. Is this an attempt to make the current… National affairs Peter Brent 2 April 2015 Unexpected wins in 1993, 1998 and 2001 have distorted the way we interpret election results, writes Peter Brent. The effects are still influencing how political players… National affairs 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 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
Podcasts Peter Clarke 23 March 2015 Down to the wire? In this fifteen-minute podcast, Peter Clarke talks to psephologist Peter Brent about this Saturday’s NSW election and the federal…
Essays & reportage Margaret Simons 23 March 2015 “There was nothing before Oxford, really,” says Malcolm Fraser in this extract from his political memoirs, written with Margaret Simons National affairs 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 John Quiggin 15 March 2015 This secretive agreement is less about free trade than about protecting American interests, writes John Quiggin. But there’s a glimmer of a chance it won’t proceed National affairs 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 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
Books & arts Sylvia Lawson 27 February 2015 Cinema | Sylvia Lawson reviews the Oscar-winning Citizenfour National affairs Peter Brent 26 February 2015 John Howard had an enormous stroke of luck, writes Peter Brent. To realise that is to recognise that imitating him is counterproductive National affairs Tim Colebatch 24 February 2015 Elections in Victoria and Queensland have caught the pollsters wrong-footed, writes Tim Colebatch. Are unexpected preference flows making Australian elections harder to predict? National affairs Brian Costar 23 February 2015 Campbell Newman’s premiership was an object lesson in the dangers of untrammelled power, writes Brian Costar. Queensland needs an upper house to keep governments…