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politics
International
Margaret Thatcher, between myth and politics
David Hayes
12 January 2012
A sympathetic film portrayal of Britain’s most divisive modern prime minister fits a broader mood of reappraisal of her years in power, says
David Hayes
National affairs
All politics isn’t necessarily local
Andrew Lynch
10 January 2012
Closest to the people it may be, but local government is unlikely to make it into the constitution anytime soon, writes
Andrew Lynch
Books & arts
A dog of a pamphlet
Brett Evans
21 December 2011
A new series of short books is fighting the wrong kind of war, writes
Brett Evans
National affairs
Not drowning, waving
Peter Browne
16 December 2011
Rob Oakeshott still has a lot he wants to get done
Essays & reportage
The everyday politics of perpetual electioneering
James Panichi
8 December 2011
Must Australian politicians work “tirelessly” for their communities or face electoral oblivion?
James Panichi
looks for the middle ground
National affairs
The Labor way
Frank Bongiorno
7 December 2011
The Labor conference exposed the party’s – and the government’s – weaknesses, writes
Frank Bongiorno
International
The intimate megacity
David Hayes
7 December 2011
London’s mayoral election might be overshadowed in 2012 by royal and Olympic pageants, but it’s more revealing of the city’s heartbeat
A storm in a teacup
Norm Kelly
30 November 2011
Norm Kelly
in Wellington analyses the National Party’s election win
Books & arts
Washington’s alpha male administration
Dennis Altman
29 November 2011
Dennis Altman
reviews Ron Suskind’s account of Barack Obama’s presidency
National affairs
PM with a problem
Peter Brent
24 November 2011
Labor strategists helped to create the wrong kind of prime minister, argues
Peter Brent
National affairs
How Labor finished Bush’s uranium script
Andy Butfoy
23 November 2011
The debate over uranium exports to India has ignored the most important argument of all, writes
Andy Butfoy
National affairs
Labor’s shrinking core
Paul Rodan
18 November 2011
Party reform won’t solve Labor’s broader problem, writes
Paul Rodan
Books & arts
Why does Labor exist?
Frank Bongiorno
18 November 2011
Labor’s search for meaning needs to go beyond the failures of the post-1996 party, writes
Frank Bongiorno
National affairs
Political integrity: Victoria goes part of the way
Joo-Cheong Tham
9 November 2011
More reforms are needed to ensure the integrity of party fundraising and regulate lobbyists in Victoria, writes
Joo-Cheong Tham
National affairs
“Kerrigan Clause” may be no bar to Abbott’s pledge
Fergus Green
20 October 2011
An Abbott government may well be able to repeal the carbon tax without paying compensation to the holders of carbon units.
Fergus Green
explains how
National affairs
Time for an independent ombudsman
John Wood
20 October 2011
The events leading up to Allan Asher’s resignation highlight the need for the ombudsman to be free of government and departmental control, argues
John Wood
National affairs
A hundred years later, it’s time for another vital voting reform
Brian Costar
6 October 2011
Out of the clash of interests in federal parliament in 1911 came an enduring electoral reform, writes
Brian Costar
. An update is long overdue
Essays & reportage
Directors of the Liberals
Don Whitington
4 October 2011
Fifty years ago Australia’s major parties had limited resources and few staff. But one party had an edge over the other, writes
Don Whitington
in this essay first…
National affairs
Ghosts of politicians past
Fergus Green
3 October 2011
As the latest carbon price package makes its way through parliament,
Fergus Green
takes a trip down memory lane
National affairs
Tax reform: a world of opportunity
Josh Dowse
28 September 2011
The Henry Report spelt out a series of tax reforms that would increase environmental and social sustainability, writes
Josh Dowse
. It’s great ammunition for a…
Books & arts
The good, the bad, the ugly
Ramon Lobato
28 September 2011
Robert Manne’s new anti-Murdoch polemic paints a familiar picture of bias and bullying at the
Australian
, writes
Ramon Lobato
. So what else is new?
National affairs
Amid the panic, a sense of purpose
Frank Bongiorno
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?
Essays & reportage
News Corp and the hackers: a scandal in two parts
Rodney Tiffen
15 September 2011
With the Leveson inquiry into the British press starting work in London,
Rodney Tiffen
looks at what the phone-hacking scandal has revealed so far about media, politics…
Books & arts
Letters from home
Judith Brett
13 September 2011
Judith Brett
reviews Heather Henderson’s collection of letters from her father, Robert Menzies
Books & arts
What is the voter voting for?
Norman Abjorensen
2 September 2011
Norman Abjorensen
looks into the mind of the Australian voter
International
Delhi drift
Robin Jeffrey
31 August 2011
Deep political disillusionment in India won’t be solved simply by creating a new anti-corruption czar, writes
Robin Jeffrey
National affairs
Dark days
Norman Abjorensen
26 August 2011
The real achievements of the Gillard government are being overshadowed by Labor’s ineptness, argues
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Never so good?
Frank Bongiorno
21 August 2011
On the anniversary of the 2010 Australian election,
Frank Bongiorno
– just back from London – contrasts the challenges facing Britain and Australia
National affairs
Living on luck
Michael Gilding
17 August 2011
Michael Gilding
reviews Paul Cleary’s analysis of the Australian mining industry
England on trial
David Hayes
16 August 2011
Four days and nights of riotous disorder are a potent argument for social repair. But lack of agreement on fundamentals could soon prove fatal to the chances, says
David Hayes
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