The dangers of centrism in a time of crisis
In the fight against slavery, abolitionists eventually prevailed over slave owners. The long fight was not won in the sensible centre, but by “radical, democratic” absolutists who risked their lives in the fight to save the lives of others. It scares me to think how the ABC, or indeed most of the world’s media, would
Want to lift workers’ productivity? Let’s start with their bosses
Business representatives sit down today with government and others to talk about productivity. Who, according to those business representatives, will need to change the way they do things?
Tasmanians are still in the dark about what is being done to prevent the Maugean skate’s extinction
Latest decision on salmon farming almost certain to be catastrophic for endangered species, writes Eloise Carr
Give free rein to our worst instincts and we all risk sinking
Most children with Eastern European relatives will learn this lesson young; a scorpion wants to cross a river but it can not swim. It sees a frog about to get into the river and pleads with it for a ride.
‘Right moment’? Australia risks losing power and respect on Gaza
There used to be a myth that News Corp could make or break governments.
This carbon policy has been a spectacular failure. Let’s put this zombie in the ground for good
Like a reanimated corpse from The Walking Dead, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the boondoggle “technology” that just wont die. As a way for governments to piss public money up the wall, CCS is incredibly effective. On almost every other front, it’s a spectacular failure.
It will take more than process to win crossbench support to govern
It’s pleasing to see a real competition emerging for government in Tasmania the state election a fortnight ago. The Labor Party is finally off the bench and in the game – making a play for crossbench support to form government after refusing the last two opportunities to do so. So far, negotiations are focusing on
July 2025
The disempowerment of the ‘consumer’ in public services
We are all consumers. Every one of us.
June 2025
Anthony Albanese can restrict gas exports and save the Tomago aluminium smelter
Taxpayers are being asked to hand over billions to multinational mining giant Rio Tinto to help keep its Tomago aluminium smelter open – again.
Australian CEOs are still getting their bonuses. Performance doesn’t seem to matter so much.
Almost all of Australia’s top chief executives are, according to their boards at least, knocking it out of the park in terms of performance.
The system is working, but big parties must heed voters and engage with minor parties
Tasmanians keep voting for a power-sharing parliament over the wishes of the major parties.
Hearing voices: why the Nats should be watching their backs
The community independent movement did not begin in Sydney or Melbourne, but in the bush.
Australians should be proud of our preferential voting, but there is an alternative
A record number of Australians voted for independents and minor parties at the most recent federal election election.
May 2025
The rise of early voting in Australian elections
Are voters missing out on more than their democracy sausage?
Coalition’s on-again, off-again ‘situationship’ has even those closest baffled
If anyone knows what is going on in the National party, could you please stand up? Interested parties in the Nationals would love to know.
Why Dutton’s ‘one tune’ division and animosity didn’t work for Australians
Friends, Australians, countrymen, we come to bury Peter Dutton, not to praise him.
Australia rejected the Dutton-Murdoch agenda, now we’ll see if Labor does the same
We are about to see who the Australian Labor Party really is, in 2025.
Knee-jerk anti-Chinese redbaiting in Australian elections
In the final days of the campaign, independent MP Monique Ryan and Labor’s housing minister Clare O’Neil faced questions about the support of the Hubei Association for their respective campaigns.
More senators for the ACT: Unity ticket, bar one
A four-way debate on ABC Radio Canberra on 1 May produced a rare moment of unity between election candidates. The main candidates for the ACT’s two senate seats agreed that Canberra needs more senators.
Election entrée: Dark money and your money pay for most of the political ads you’re seeing
At this stage of the election, you have no doubt seen plenty of political ads.
April 2025
Election entrée: Longest wait for results
After the 2010 election, independent crossbenchers negotiated for 17 days with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to decide who to support.
Election entrée: Feel the election campaign has dragged on? It could have been longer
Election campaigns come and go, but some go faster than others.
Election entrée: Preference pile-ons
Last election, independent Kylea Tink won the seat of North Sydney on a primary vote of 25%.
Election entrée: more than one in four people living in Australia don’t get counted in elections
Australians are rightfully proud of compulsory voting, which ensures widespread participation in elections.
Election entrée: think three-year terms are too short? Spare a thought for generations past.
Complaints about the brevity of three-year parliamentary terms are common in Australia.
Election entrée: Early voting in Australia
A cornerstone of the Australian election experience is tucking into a democracy sausage after casting your ballot on election day.
Election entrée: Speakers from other parties
Every Australian parliament – federal, state and territory – has had a speaker from a party other than the one in government at some point.
Election entrée: Things that are only milestones in the post-war era
For many journalists, the past – specifically the past before 1945 – is a foreign country. Election coverage is replete with references to “firsts” or “milestones” that assume that Australian history began in the post-war period. But a longer view would help us better understand the political processes around us. Journalists described the 2010 federal
Election entrée: Surprising preference flows
In the 2022 election, the count in the seat of Brisbane was on a knife edge.
Election entrée: Australia is a world leader in electing Independent MPs
Independent MPs are not new to Australian politics.
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