The problem with modern elections is that they are designed to actively prevent community debate about the big issues. It is not an accident, it is not the media’s fault (well not entirely), and it is not the fault of new technology and the 24- hour news cycle. It is simply the consequence of two major parties that are determined to ‘stay on message’. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Imagine if all political parties had to put all of their policies on the table four weeks before the election. Imagine if rather than dribbling little bits and pieces of policy out day after day they instead had to put forward their entire policy agenda at the beginning of the campaign.
Related documents
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes | Between the Lines Newsletter
The Wrap with Amy Remeikis You didn’t have to be a political savant to see what was going to happen this week from the moment Sussan Ley decided to open the door to negotiations with Anthony Albanese on the hate group bill almost no one wanted. One of the first rules of politics is if
No signs of heat going out of Coalition’s summer of discontent
Sussan Ley started 2026 much like she ended 2025 – extending her tenuous hold on the Liberal Party leadership by politicising tragedy.
What’s the point of a gas exports tax?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia’s history, and why Australians are living with the consequences. He spells out the simple steps we need to take to fix it. This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July. Host: Richard Denniss,