Why celebrities are taking over politics
The celebritisation of democracy is trivialising serious issues that affect us all.
Forget Oprah: Contenders for Australia's next female PM
The US is buzzing about Oprah for president. But where's Australia's next female leader? Are they even in Parliament yet?
A wish list for #auspol in 2018
As Australian politics contemplates the year ahead, here is a wish list for how it should approach 2018.
Tony Abbott to quit in 2018, and other Malcolm Turnbull dreams
Malcolm Turnbull can be increasingly confident of leading into the next election, but it could all end rather quickly if he pulls the wrong rein.
The winners and losers of #auspol in 2017
What a wild ride you were in federal politics, 2017. Here are some of the names that made the year such a special brew of stuff ups and historic change.
Ten moments that defined federal politics in 2017
From *that* phonecall with Trump, to Dastyari's final dash. Federal politics has been full of surprises in 2017.
Winners and losers of a year of uncertainty
Bill Shorten would have felt a clear winner, but his stocks sank quickly.
Dangers in Scott Morrison's corporate tax argument
Scott Morrison's warning that as Australians loaf about on their summer holidays, companies headquartered overseas would be fixing to scarper because of our uncompetitive company taxes, was either political hyperbole, or a clear and present danger to prosperity.
Have yourself a merit little Christmas: Turnbull's reshuffle a logic-free zone
Two Queenslanders leapt from the backbench, straight into cabinet. It's not a joke that many press gallery journalists had to Google these guys when their names were read out by the Prime Minister on Tuesday afternoon.
Talented women brushed as Malcolm Turnbull lets the Nationals run amok
Now we have a frank explanation of how power is really apportioned within the Coalition: geography.
Christmas cheer for Morrison but voters remain a new year challenge
A stroll through the national accounts as the calendar year ends reveals a country steadily putting its finances back into shape after a decade of global upheaval, and the massive stimulatory spending used to tame it. And it shows an unpopular Coalition government unaccustomed to seeing much luck, suddenly standing knee-deep in the stuff.
Malcolm Turnbull's confidence rolls on, just like the economy
Malcolm Turnbull has had his share of bad luck but, of late, his fortunes seem to have changed.
The PM just lost his 25th Newspoll in a row - but should he lose sleep over it?
If Malcolm Turnbull does notch up 30 unfavourable Newspolls in 2018, it's most likely nothing at all will happen.
Why the Bennelong result was exactly what Australia needed
Courtesy of a strong(ish) result in Bennelong, Malcolm Turnbull's Christmas just went from nervous to relaxed.
Bennelong: the end of Malcolm Turnbull, or start of something new?
Malcolm Turnbull's year-of-living-dangerously ends today. Probably. Or a worse one begins.
Want a Trump-Russia case here? Keep politicising foreign interference
Beijing's strong reaction to Australia's foreign political interference debate reflects the fact it is being increasingly called out on its activity, both here and around the world, and is hating the attention.
Truth the first casualty in the Bennelong byelection
Christmas is a time for peace on earth and good will to all people except, it seems, in the Bennelong byelection.
Are we there yet? There's one thing driving Bennelong voters mad
Daily robocalls. Endless sponsored Facebook posts. Junk mail by the tonne. Never has anyone cared so much about the voters of Bennelong.
Tensions high before final offensive in battle for Bennelong
Bennelong – which sits in the heartland of suburban Sydney – is an electorate that matters terribly for symbolic and very real political reasons.
Bennelong voters say yes to China curbs but no to tax cuts
Looking through the numbers in this ReachTEL poll reveals the issues behind this contest, although some findings confound as much as explain.
Halting the tax havens
Many Australian business already doing the right thing will welcome greater transparency.
Nine political issues that sum up 2017
It's been a year the federal Coalition will probably try to forget.
Wunderkind Dastyari's fall over China links has a silver lining
Ironically, the manner and timing of Sam Dastyari's departure has achieved a number of things.
Turnbull risks his majority in bid to wound Shorten
The Turnbull government is now so eager to capitalise on Bill Shorten's acute pain over the Sam Dastyari affair, that it has dialled up its anti-Beijing language to eleven.
Happy hour as political divisions dissolve in tears of joy
Rainbow coalition? It felt like the term was designed for this particular moment.
Same-sex, new country: Axe falls on a pointless discrimination
Like it or not, history will show it was the Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who presided over a renovation of the nation's outdated and discriminatory marriage law.
'The dog ate my citizenship papers': And other excuses Australia is sick of hearing
Citizenship declaration process that was supposed to clear up the section 44 mess simply ushers in a new uncertainty.
If you're promised a tax cut this Christmas, read the fine print first
So now they can afford a tax cut? Just months ago they had to push tax rates up.
Between Dastyari and dual citizenship, is Shorten's bull run ending?
Bill Shorten should be a lot happier. But storm clouds are gathering.
The Summer of Love, when we lost a PM to the sea
Harold Holt plunged into the turbulent waters of Victoria's isolated Cheviot Beach on December 17, 1967.
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Campaign highlights - and lowlights
The hurly-burly of the 2016 election campaign, as seen through the eyes of Fairfax reporters and photographers.