National affairs
25 November 2022
Labor promised a more respectful, diverse and family-friendly parliament. Has it delivered?
National affairs
18 October 2021
Australia got a new president this week. But it’s not a name you might recognise
National affairs
22 June 2020
Have we been missing the prime cause of the leadership instability that set in ten years ago?
National affairs
11 September 2019
With the current system favouring gridlock, it’s time to look again at how both houses are elected
National affairs
8 May 2019
Election 2019 | New South Wales has some lessons for the Senate
National affairs
30 April 2019
A smaller crossbench and a few surprise wins are the likely result of the new voting system’s first half-Senate outing
National affairs
15 August 2018
At least Fraser Anning will be out of parliament by July next year
National affairs
3 July 2018
Viewed warmly on both sides of politics and in the media, the finance minister is playing a vital role for the government
National affairs
25 June 2018
In his first full national interview since taking his seat in the Senate, the low-key independent talks about Asia, the Uluru Statement and the unemployed — and why he still…
National affairs
21 May 2018
On the figures, a sympathetic majority in the upper house seems unlikely after the next election
National affairs
20 February 2018
How did Australia’s upper house evolve into a part-elected, part-nominated body?
National affairs
8 December 2016
Does New Zealand have a simple recipe for political success?
National affairs
18 November 2016
Malcolm Turnbull is just the latest victim of Australia’s political system
National affairs
3 November 2016
The composition of the Senate could rest on the complex issues raised by the cases of Bob Day and Rodney Culleton. And in the background is attorney-general George Brandis’s…
National affairs
14 October 2016
The government senators who grilled the solicitor-general might have done themselves, and George Brandis, more harm than they realise
National affairs
29 September 2016
Short of constitutional change, there’s one way to sort out a dysfunctional Senate – and we got a glimpse during the hung parliament
National affairs
16 August 2016
Rather than trying to make the Senate more like the lower house, we could do it the other way round, says Peter Brent
National affairs
3 August 2016
If the would-be senator for Western Australia is “incapable of being chosen,” he won’t necessarily be replaced by another One Nation senator, writes Tony …
National affairs
2 August 2016
Updated 7pm Wednesday | Results from three states confirm that the Coalition will need to be more flexible to succeed in government, writes Tim Colebatch
National affairs
1 July 2016
With the campaign almost over, Tim Colebatch surveys the latest polls and the likely distribution of Senate places
National affairs
14 June 2016
Now that early voting is under way, the likely impact of the parties’ preference allocations is clearer, writes Tim Colebatch
National affairs
3 March 2016
The government’s voting legislation has been significantly improved, writes Peter Brent. But that doesn’t mean we know how it will work in practice
National affairs
25 August 2015
Nick Xenophon is breathing down the Coalition’s neck in his home state, writes Clem Macintyre. In a tight federal election, the implications could be significant
National affairs
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
Podcasts
16 May 2014
Senate voting needs to be simpler and more transparent. Brian Costar talks to Peter Clarke about a plan to fix the system, and looks at the politics of the federal budget
National affairs
10 September 2013
Despite the pundits, it won’t be business as usual under the Coalition, says Norman Abjorensen. But the Senate will determine much of the style and rate of change
National affairs
9 September 2013
Changes to how senators are elected would improve transparency, make voting easier, and stop parties with scarcely any support slipping into the Senate, says Brian Costar
National affairs
3 September 2013
The immigration department is months behind in answering questions from Senate estimate committees – questions that would provide vital information about the…
National affairs
1 June 2011
Labor and the Coalition need to recognise that the Greens are part of political reality, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
30 March 2010
The states’ house has always been controlled by politics and parties, argues Norman Abjorensen