The media chiefs expect to have the last word about the government’s plan for a print media watchdog – more poodle than pit bull – and a public interest test to prevent further ownership concentration…
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Predicting federal politics this week is like trying to guess the end of a dense and tortured thriller. One of the clues is today’s Nielsen poll, in which Labor trails 44-56% on the two party vote, unchanged…
Tony Abbott reminded his party room this week that it was the 20th anniversary of the “unloseable election”. In 1993 John Hewson, for whom Abbott worked at the time, was defeated in a poll that almost…
The ultimate judgment on Stephen Conroy’s extraordinary ultimatum to parliament – pass the media package next week or the government drops it - will depend on whether he gets his measures through. Crossbencher…
Bob Katter, the colourful federal crossbencher from Queensland, does have the strangest bunch of friends. He and Kevin Rudd – whom Katter would like to see back as PM – are thick as thieves. And then there…
After an immensely long labour, Communication Minister Stephen Conroy has produced a media policy mouse with a modest roar. That won’t stop the media companies and the opposition treating it as a lion…
Some pressure has been taken off the Prime Minister with today’s Newspoll, which shows Labor substantially narrowing the Coalition’s two-party lead and Julia Gillard significantly improving her better-PM…
After the latest state defeat for Labor, the tumbrel rolls on towards Canberra. Saturday’s West Australian election saw a swag of seats taken out in a landslide 6 per cent swing against the ALP, which…
Julia Gillard should have stuck to her stated intention of “governing” rather than “campaigning” this far from the election. Despite her claims, there is no way her western Sydney barnstorming could be…
Human Services Minister Kim Carr is doing the rounds of Australian universities to encourage researchers to dip into the honeypot of data which his department is making available. The material provides…
Julia Gillard’s pledge to put foreign workers at the back of the queue for Australian jobs is tapping into what Labor sources describe as the “economic patriotism” deeply embedded in the “battler” view…
Thirty years ago today, Bob Hawke’s government was elected. The former ACTU leader went on to become one of modern Australia’s best prime ministers. “Hawkie” won three more elections before Paul Keating…
“Western Sydney” embraces such a diverse collection of places, people and problems that Julia Gillard has to nuance her message as she battles to restore some faith among these disillusioned and doubting…
Mitch Hooke, whose Minerals Council of Australia helped kill Kevin Rudd’s prime ministership, is bowing out of the front line – but slowly. With the debate about the much-emasculated Gillard version of…
Suddenly, everyone seems to be unloading about the state of federal-state relations and the problems of the Council of Australian Governments. COAG, where the prime minister, premiers and chief ministers…
A Coalition government would reduce the regulatory burden on universities and encourage the growth of online learning, opposition leader Tony Abbott will tell a higher education conference this morning…
Next week the backroom boys from NSW Labor’s embattled Sussex Street HQ – or at least those dealing with the federal election – will relocate to Parramatta in Sydney’s west. The timing of the exit – pitched…
Today’s Newspoll brings yet another result pointing to a likely Gillard government wipeout and will predictably cause yet more leadership destabilisation. The 31% primary vote for the ALP virtually replicates…
Julia Gillard has set an April deadline for a breakthrough with the states for a new schools funding system. She reiterated on Friday that “the big test” would come when she met the premiers then and declared…
Sir John Kerr was the worst of Australia’s governors-general and his legacy was to delay the emergence of an Australian republic, former Labor minister Gareth Evans will tell a seminar today. Evans will…
Treasurer Wayne Swan will today promise to release the 2012-13 budget outcome “well before the election”, as part of measures to increase budget transparency and put pressure on the opposition over costings…
Greens leader Christine Milne faces her existential moment at the coming election. Her predecessor Bob Brown took the Greens to their present high point - nine senators and the sole balance of power in…
Bill Shorten is a powerbroker caught on the horns of a dilemma. He is seen as a key figure in Labor’s leadership battle. There are calls for him to step in, which could only mean deserting Julia Gillard…
The Labor caucus is still thinking about leadership, but Christine Milne and the Greens have given up spectacularly on Labor and Julia Gillard. In her shock tearing up of the Greens’ alliance with the…
If Tony Abbott becomes Prime Minister, what sort of Senate he has will be crucial for handling the carbon tax and much else. At present the Greens have the sole balance of power but if there was a strong…
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