The job of leading the country has undoubtedly grown more challenging in the past quarter century. But much of that has been brought on by the leaders themselves.
- Emeritus Professor of Politics, Monash University
The federal Liberal Party has not had a leader from Victoria since 1990. It says a lot about its electoral slide and its shift to the right.
It also saw a strong repudiation of ‘Duttonism’ – a Frankenstein version of ‘Howardism’.
Albanese’s prime ministership has been slow but steady. If he’s re-elected, he will need to give Australians a more ambitious plan for the country.
Ten political observers nominate their favourite books about the hustings hustle.
We’ve been here before - a state Labor government on the nose, a federal election looming, and federal Labor desperate to minimise the damage in Victoria.
What do the weekend byelection results in Victoria tell us about Peter Dutton’s prospects in one of Labor’s strongest states?
Peter Dutton’s position on pro-Palestinian protestors may be particularly aggressive, but it is not out of step with his party’s traditions.
While there have been moves to making voting optional in Australia, voters have consistently expressed their support for it being compulsory.
In assessing Morrison’s prime ministership, several factors need to be taken into account. On many of them, his record is poor.
Arguably, the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison era represents a nadir when it comes to the history of Australian national leadership.
Former Labor Leader and Governor-General Bill Hayden has died aged 85. Hayden is remembered for his role in establishing Medibank (later Medicare) and for leading Labor’s recovery after 1975.
The vote demonstrated that the project of progressive politics in Australia remains brittle.
If the referendum is lost of October 14, the prime minister will have to quickly pivot to the role of healer-in-chief.
An activist premier, a gifted political communicator and a hard man of politics, Dan Andrews has been an enormously consequential leader and one of national significance.
In the US, presidents can serve a maximum of two terms or eight years. Should a limit be placed on political leaders here?
In years gone by, former prime ministers were often trusted confidants to their successors. Not so these days, when the trend has been for former leaders to make a swift exist from the parliament.
Love him or hate him – and there are plenty in each camp – Daniel Andrews has become one of the most significant state premiers in modern history. The month, he may win yet another term.
Anthony Albanese exhibits many of the traits of previous successful Australian prime ministers.
The hardest thing for an ageing government is to remake itself. On balance, last week’s developments in Spring Street represent the first step towards Victorian Labor performing that elusive feat.
Australia’s prime ministers in recent years have not stayed in office for long. If the Australian public can be patient, Albanese’s style may offer greater longevity.
Unlike many politicians, Albanese does not appear to harbour a sense of entitlement to the top job - and his journey there has been a long one.
The opposition leader is straddling a middle ground: he is not disliked as his predecessor was, but voters also do not have a clear sense of who he is and what he offers.
In a survey sure to provoke debate, 66 political scientists and historians ranked Australia’s second world war prime minister John Curtin as the finest leader we’ve had.
There are three measures for assessing whether public policy is successful, and the Coalition has been found wanting on all three. But there is one policy area that is an even bigger disaster.
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