CommentA big tick for Turnbull’s tenure
Peter van OnselenThe high response rate to the SSM postal survey will go a long way to quashing predictions the issue would sink the PM.
CommentNo say over our own data
Peter van OnselenPolitical parties can collect data about us without consent because they have exempted themselves from privacy laws.
Senate reform without the pain
Peter Van OnselenAbbott is right but there are better ways to improve the system.
Sticking with Turnbull only option
Peter van Onselen Contributing EditorChanging leaders is just not an option for the under-performing Coalition government.
COMMENTParadox of popularity poll
Peter van OnselenThe Coalition’s problem is to work out how to use Turnbull’s preferred PM standing over Shorten to help lift the party vote.
?No’ gives a debating masterclass
Peter van OnselenArguments against same-sex marriage are misleading.
CommentFacts distorted in energy wars
Peter van OnselenThe debate over renewables and coal is distorted by government intervention and contradictory use of “facts” on both sides.
We need to talk about immigration
Peter van OnselenI’m not wedded to Dick Smith’s campaign but the issue is too important to ignore.
Opinionistas same as politicians
Peter van OnselenThe commentariat too tends to peddle prejudices as irrefutable fact.
CommentSad fantasy of Abbott loyalists
Peter van OnselenTony Abbott’s backers, like Hiroo Onoda who fought for decades after World War II ended, should accept the battle is over.
COMMENTTick-tock: 11 Newspolls to go
Peter van OnselenThe simple fact is if Malcolm Turnbull hits the magic 30, he won’t be able to brush off questions as to why he shouldn’t consider his position.
CommentSSM slippery slope a lazy debate
Peter van OnselenFirst wave of advertisements against SSM laws have relied on the slippery slope argument, a tired and lazy debating point.
Rocky road to electoral defeat
Peter Van OnselenThe Coalition’s woes at every level add up to an intractable mess.
COMMENTPM’s uptick a dead cat bounce
Peter van OnselenThe disdain the public feels towards the political class was on display in yesterday’s Newspoll figures.
Audit will end citizenship mess
Peter Van OnselenThe Greens’ proposal for an independent audit of parliamentarians’ citizenship status should be adopted.
Coalition MPs hoist own petard
PETER VAN ONSELENBy pushing for a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, conservatives may have signed their own political death warrant.
Hard to damage Bill’s four pillars
Peter Van OnselenThe Opposition Leader is proving an elusive target.
commentBest bad news for PM in ages
PETER VAN ONSELENThe challenge for Malcolm Turnbull is to morph his personal Newspoll numbers into support for his government.
CommentMore a scrimmage than war
Peter van OnselenOpponents of Malcolm Turnbull won’t get what they want from today’s emergency partyroom meeting: all-out war.
PM may have to go postal
Peter van OnselenThe government has managed to paint itself into a corner on same-sex marriage.
CommentRise of the new ?bed wetters’
Peter van OnselenIrony doesn’t get much better: the conservatives who attacked the move to knife Tony Abbott now claim Turnbull must go.
The cons of four-year terms
Peter Van OnselenThere is nothing to recommend this foolish notion of lengthening the tenure of our politicians.
ANALYSISTurnbull has one arm tied
Peter van OnselenThe Labor movement is better funded than the Liberals, right at a time when corporate donations are drying up.
COMMENTEnvironmental soul will live on
Peter van OnselenWhile a polling slump is to be expected, it’s unlikely this week’s events will bring the Greens to their knees.
COMMENTShorten borrows Hawke script
Peter van OnselenBill Shorten’s promise to fix inequality is little more than a clever reframing of Bob Hawke’s plan to ensure no child would be living in poverty.
SSM vote will hurt right
Peter Van OnselenTaking the issue of same-sex marriage direct to the people may come back to haunt many on the right of politics.
COMMENTDo the reactionaries rule?
Peter van OnselenThey are destroying the party Menzies founded as a centrist organisation.
PM faces premature pressure
Peter van OnselenIs Malcolm Turnbull the glass half-full or glass half-empty sort?
