Wes Mountain/The Conversation

Federal Budget 2018: a state‑by‑state spending analysis

With a federal election looming within a year, our panel looks at what each state and territory has been handed in the budget - and why it matters.
There are five women in the Turnbull government cabinet, making up just 24% of members. AAP/Mick Tsikas

How the Liberals can fix their gender problem

Setting targets is one way to attain more female MPs, but it must be accompanied by cultural change.
Brexit and the election of US President Donald Trump represented seismic shifts to the established political order. Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Understanding populism: how leaders can better sell economic reform

While populism is considered a threat to democracy, there are in fact lessons our leaders can learn from the experience of populism in other countries.
Are NSW citizens adequately engaged in the policymaking process? AAP/Joel Carrett

Reimagining NSW: how good governance strengthens democracy

Good governance is the right thing to do, and boosts the legitimacy of decision-making. If moral chivalry doesn’t appeal, here are two more reasons: it’s cost-efficient and delivers better solutions.
‘Four more years’ for NSW Premier Mike Baird, which the crowd chanted as he arrived at the Liberals’ election night party. AAP/Nikki Short

Baird’s back in NSW: experts react to the Coalition win

Mike Baird’s Liberal National coalition has been comfortably returned to government in New South Wales, despite a 9% statewide swing against it on the two-party preferred vote.
NSW premier Mike Baird has suggested moving to the full public funding of election campaigns in response to the stunning revelations at the state’s ICAC hearings. AAP/Alan Porritt

Public funding of election campaigns won’t end improper influence

The revelations concerning the sorry state of political finance in NSW continue to be aired at public hearings of the state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Both the Liberal and Labor…
Arthur Sinodinos stepped aside as a minister in the Abbott government in the lead-up to his appearance today at the ICAC inquiry. AAP/Daniel Munoz

Parties, money and their masters: who do office holders serve?

It’s hard not to be disturbed by the allegations emerging from the inquiry into Australian Water Holdings (AWH) by New South Wales’ Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The proceedings have…
ICAC has found Eddie Obeid (pictured at an earlier hearing), his son Moses and former NSW mining minister Ian Macdonald engaged in corrupt conduct. AAP Image/Paul Miller

ICAC calls for criminal charges against NSW ALP kingmakers: the experts respond

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today found NSW Labor powerbrokers Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid, and his son Moses Obeid, engaged in corrupt conduct and has recommended criminal…
Kevin Rudd is back as prime minister. But can he change party rules to prevent leaders being ousted as he was in 2010? AAP/Dan Peled

Labor in vain: will the Rudd party reforms work?

Today, a specially convened meeting of the Labor caucus will decide on proposed changes to how the party selects its parliamentary leader. The politics of leadership in Australia have been described as…
Julia Gillard claimed a definitive victory this morning: now the hard work begins. AAP

Gillard vs Rudd: the best of The Conversation’s coverage

From Kevin Rudd’s surprise resignation last week to this morning’s galvanising ballot, The Conversation has kept you up-to-date with analysis from Australia’s foremost academic political analysts. Just…

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