The ties that bind
Tuesday, 22 April 2014 State of the parties 14 comments
This is moving towards something new: cutting any overt links to social groups and special interests and formalising the detachment of the political system from voters that is already there.
The phoney problem of policy
Monday, 4 March 2013 Key posts, State of the parties, Tactics 15 comments
What is more important is that Gillard and Labor, detached as they (like the Coalition) are, can be seen to relate to someone in society.
Denial – NSW edition
Thursday, 31 March 2011 State and federal politics 7 comments
It is now becoming clear what caused the collapse of the NSW Labor government. There was no one running it.
Dead horse flogged
Monday, 28 March 2011 State and federal politics 6 comments
The lack of options is why they are less wanting to talk about reconnecting with the electorate than preferring to retreat up their own safe seats.
No going back
Tuesday, 19 January 2010 State of the parties 14 comments
It will be a confusing year as the media mixes up the decay of the old for its revival, as it waits for the old comfortable parameters of the past to return.
Review of 2008 – Labor
Wednesday, 24 December 2008 Key posts, State of the parties Comments Off on Review of 2008 – Labor
It was the political assault on the old power bases of the party that was the underlying theme of federal Labor in 2008.
No revival, just decay – an update
Tuesday, 9 September 2008 Media analysis Comments Off on No revival, just decay – an update
By proposing a deal with Labor in the first place Grylls and Carpenter have already changed the old bi-polar landscape.
RIP NSW Right
Saturday, 6 September 2008 State and federal politics Comments Off on RIP NSW Right
Iemma’s fall and the rise of an unknown from the left mark the collapse of the national party’s most important faction over the last three decades, the NSW Right.
The mythical truisms of Australian politics
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 State and federal politics Comments Off on The mythical truisms of Australian politics
What seems to be one enduring legacy of the Howard era has been the decline in political commentary in this country.
Morris Iemma: Political maestro
Friday, 27 June 2008 Political figures Comments Off on Morris Iemma: Political maestro
Analysis of Iemma’s position suffers too much from seeing him as a victim of fate, rather than also, partly, a maker of it.