Latest
- Opinion
- Opinion
Wong and Dutton leave Arabic and Islamic Australians feeling abandoned
Both major parties are wildly out of step with the views of people they must woo if they want to win the next federal election.
- Laura Tingle
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Hot US inflation delivers three warnings
The surprising data will give investors plenty to think about. But fading rate cut hopes will also have ramifications for politicians facing the ballot box.
- James Thomson
Teals warn Labor has ‘dropped the ball’ on small business
The independent MPs, expected to play a crucial role in next year’s federal election, also hit out at the Coalition for failing to support sensible changes.
- Patrick Durkin
- Analysis
- Political leadership
The era of majority rule is ending. Here’s what happens next
An ethnically diverse society – less amenable to political labelling – is leading a profound shift from the old two-party divide towards European-style minority government.
- Andrew Clark
Labor ‘working our tails off’ to avoid minority government
The federal government believes its endemically low primary vote is not permanent but a consequence of voters “sending us a message”.
- Phillip Coorey
March
- Analysis
- Steven Marshall
SA byelection could help Albanese avoid minority government
Anthony Albanese will redouble efforts to win the SA seat of Sturt to ward off replicating the unfolding mess in Tasmania.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Carbon challenge
Green policy car crash complicates Labor’s election outlook
A series of competing and interlinked priorities are colliding in Labor’s Senate, where all eyes are turning to the next election.
- Jacob Greber
‘Within a whisker’: Tasmania looks headed for minority government
Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he will deliver more cost-of-living relief to households in the first 100 days of a re-elected Liberal government, as candidates chase votes for Saturday’s state election.
- Tom McIlroy
Tasmanian election power pledges damned as ‘reckless’
Election promises by Tasmania’s major parties to curb sales of hydroelectricity to the mainland are reckless and will hurt the state’s budget, a respected economist says.
- Updated
- Tom McIlroy
Scrap private school religious discrimination rules, Labor advised
The government now has advice it sought from the Australian Law Reform Commission on how to deliver an election promise – but looks unlikely to proceed.
- Ronald Mizen
Devils in the detail: Election barbs traded on stadium cost overruns
In an election debate, Labor leader Rebecca White accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of failing to do due diligence on plans for an AFL stadium.
- Tom McIlroy
Australia’s long history of short governments
Extending the timeframe for politicians to remain in power has widespread support from government, business and unions. It’s voters that need to be convinced.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Opinion
Senate a sticking point for four-year terms
The conundrum that must be squarely faced is 1988’s defeated take-it-or-leave-it constitutional amendment that rolled in a shorter term for the upper house.
- Helen Irving
Resounding majority of AFR readers back four-year federal terms
Almost 80 per cent of The Australian Financial Review’s readers have backed calls to extend federal parliamentary terms to four years.
- Tom Rabe
The one thing John Howard says could get four-year terms over the line
Former prime minister John Howard and his one-time Labor rival Kim Beazley have thrown their support behind calls to extend the federal parliamentary term to four years.
- Tom Rabe
Dutton supports Albanese on four-year terms
The oppostion leader said he was prepared to discuss with the prime minister the introduction of four-year terms for federal parliament.
- Phillip Coorey
It’s the economy, Peter: What Dutton should take from Dunkley
Open hostility towards Scott Morrison in Victoria has been replaced with begrudging respect for Peter Dutton, MPs involved in the Dunkley campaign say.
- Tom McIlroy
February
Albanese kills early election talk, plans two more budgets
The PM said the 2025 budget would be brought forward to March, setting the scene for the government serving the full three-year term, rather than holding a snap poll before Christmas.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- Political donations
Labor rakes in $5m of ‘hidden money’ from big companies
Payments from gambling giants like Sportsbet, Tabcorp and pokies outfit Endeavour accounted for a chunk of Labor’s pay-for-access packages sold to companies.
- Ronald Mizen
Crossbench backs financial rewards for whistleblowers
Advocates say whistleblowers need stronger protections and better incentives to come forward, and big US-style rewards may be the key.
- Ronald Mizen
Peter Dutton’s tax dance, and nine other great reads
Welcome to the weekend. To start off your day, we’ve curated 10 great reads to enjoy.
Car-yard clash: Dutton takes aim at ‘ute tax’ on Dunkley trail
Cost-of-living politics overshadows the byelection race, which comes as the Treasury boss admits talk over the stage three tax reversal began in early December.
- Andrew Tillett
Dutton’s tax dance sets up election battleground
As the opposition leader scrambles to pull the Coalition out of Labor’s tax trap, Peter Dutton has guaranteed the battle for middle income earners is not over.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why the PM looks confident for the first time in months
The Labor government is as buoyed by its tax and industrial relations policies as the business community is aghast at the impact. But who’s listening?
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Opinion
Tax cuts reveal Albanese is brazen and cynical
After this, the suggestion that now is a good time to start a discussion about the development of a broad agenda for tax reform is naive.
- John Roskam
