Latest
The teals play the long game with integrity
They know the best opportunity for reform may come after the next election – when the major parties could be forced to negotiate for power with crossbench.
- Ronald Mizen
After a brutal year, there’s everything to play for
Peter Dutton is flying high and Anthony Albanese needs his mojo back after the Voice defeat. But, for both, the path to the next election looks perilous.
- Phillip Coorey
Voters feel everything is getting worse except China relationship
Cranky voters believe everything from wages to the economy, energy bills and the behaviour of politicians has deteriorated.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Dutton’s political tactics are no governing agenda
The problem for the country with the Coalition’s approach of opposing much and proposing little is that the political heat is not being put on Labor to genuinely revamp its policy approach in the new year.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Anthony Albanese
Labor is polls apart from Christmas last year
The government has lost every significant advantage it held this time last year.
- Phillip Coorey
This Month
Labor takes a hit on immigration, cost of living
November’s High Court ruling on the permanent detention of non-citizens appears to have cost Labor politically.
- Phillip Coorey
Labor loses lead, PM’s ratings slump: poll
Labor has lost its lead and would be pushed into minority government if an election were held today, according to The Australian Financial Review/Freshwater Strategy poll.
- Phillip Coorey
Queensland a fight on two fronts for Labor: Chalmers
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the most senior federal MP from Queensland, says the Albanese government will need to win over Greens voters and fight “the old enemy” at the next federal election.
- Phillip Coorey
Labor luminaries farewell ‘cherished’ MP Peta Murphy
Anthony Albanese and Julia Gillard were among mourners at a funeral service for MP Peta Murphy, who died of cancer.
- Andrew Tillett
We’ll be back in election mode on the other side of Christmas
Three-year terms mean that the government, after just 20 months in power, will start pulling down the new policy shutters, with the opposition dialling everything up to 11.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why Dutton feels confident in attack mode
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is using every opportunity to target the Labor government, confident that he is ending this year with the political momentum rather than Anthony Albanese.
- Jennifer Hewett
Talk builds about Frydenberg political return
Josh Frydenberg and his supporters have commissioned a poll of voters in his former seat of Kooyong, fuelling speculation about his return to federal politics.
- John Kehoe
November
Parliament needs more politicians, committee finds
A federal committee recommends capping campaign spending and cutting the threshold for reporting political donations, as well as more Senators for ACT and NT.
- Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Political leadership
The government’s not in control and voters are not listening
Chris Bowen’s energy changes show the government still has fresh ideas on things that will affect voters. But will they notice?
- Laura Tingle
Michelle Rowland has a gambling (industry) problem
In politics, where being seen to do the right thing is just as important as actually doing it, Michelle Rowland has left herself exposed.
- Ronald Mizen
October
Major parties, teals squabble over NSW redistribution
The major parties and teal independents are at loggerheads over a pre-election redistribution of federal electorates in NSW that could help decide the outcome of the next election.
- Phillip Coorey
Election boss Tom Rogers on how social media changed democracy
The Australian Electoral Commissioner, fresh from delivering the Voice referendum, explains why taking risks and having a crack is the best career advice.
- Ronald Mizen
Mundine still wants second referendum after Voice defeat
No activisit and chairman of regional copper explorer Fuse Minerals says voters needed time to heal after the referendum campaign.
- Tom Richardson and Tom McIlroy
September
- Opinion
- The AFR View
The challenges chipping away at the PM’s power
If the Voice goes down on October 14, Anthony Albanese will have to turn his full attention to grappling with the inflation and cost of living issues.
- The AFR View
The power of data: Why polling is more accurate since Brexit and Trump
Pollsters were wrong about our federal election, Britain leaving the EU and Donald Trump’s victory. But if you don’t trust such survey results, think again.
- Samantha Hutchinson
Voice support falls as frustration and familiarity rise
The more voters “learn” about the Voice, the less they support it. Many also feel it is a distraction, the latest AFR/Freshwater Strategy Poll shows.
- Phillip Coorey
Support for Labor, Albanese, Voice slides
The latest AFR/Freshwater poll shows Labor’s vote falling and backing for the Indigenous Voice to parliament dropping to 33 per cent as voters become more aware of the proposal.
- Phillip Coorey
Libs wary of booby traps in campaign finance reform proposals
The Liberals say the rules must not enable Labor to use union money to gain an unfair advantage.
- Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- Donald Farrell
PM move on campaign finance reform has teals worried
Independents suspect proposed campaign spending caps are designed to preserve the two-party system.
- Phillip Coorey
- Analysis
- Carbon challenge
Nationals already back Labor’s net zero – they just don’t know it
David Littleproud is adamant the Nationals oppose Labor’s 2030 emissions target while backing Australia’s Paris commitments. Both can’t be true at once.
- Jacob Greber
