Preferences are the auxiliary batteries of politics. They give an extra boost to supplement parties’ and candidates’ primary power supplies. Their bestowal or denial can make the difference between political…
- Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has ruled out concluding any minority government agreements with the Greens or independents but said whether Labor denies the Greens preferences is a matter for the ALP organisation…
Former ministers – those who backed Julia Gillard - are very “former” in this campaign. Some of them, such as Greg Combet and Craig Emerson - are heading for post-parliamentary life. Senator Stephen Conroy…
Tony Abbott is asking a lot of voters who have political memories when he asks them to take at face value his line that “the GST won’t change, full stop”. What immediately springs to mind is John Howard’s…
The Coalition is now under pressure to get out its policy costings, following the release of the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which shows virtually no change in key figures since the government’s…
There would be no change in the GST under an Abbott government, opposition frontbencher Christopher Pyne said tonight. This was despite the GST being included in a Coalition government’s proposed taxation…
John Howard’s old seat of Bennelong as Australia’s Silicon Valley? That’s the pitch by Labor’s candidate Jason Yat-Sen Li. Labor is mostly in defensive mode in NSW but it is also on the hunt for a couple…
Australian politics is becoming too “presidential”, in the view of participants in our Eden-Monaro focus group. And, they believe, this election has been going on too long. In their first discussion since…
It’s all in the eyes and ears of the beholders and listeners. The popular media saw Kevin Rudd with notes when the debate’s rules of engagement banned them. The gay marriage lobby heard that there would…
Tonight’s debate was not a debate. It was a joint news conference and a dull one at that. There was not the head-to-head exchanges and jousting that a genuine “debate” requires. There was no knock out…
In Melbourne the “Indi expats” number about 30. They include nieces and nephews of Cathy McGowan, independent candidate for the north east Victorian seat, and relatives of family and friends. The “Indi…
Today’s Nielsen poll has the Coalition in front, leading Labor 52-48% on a two-party vote. As Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott prepare to go head to head in an hour-long debate at the National Press Club tomorrow…
When leaders take on media moguls, it always makes for a spicy story. When the characters are Kevin Rudd and Rupert Murdoch, one hangs out for the next episode. In the Labor camp, a few people must be…
Kim Williams has resigned as chief executive of News Corp Australia, in a move that has shocked the media industry. Williams, who has held the post only since December 2011, gave no reason publicly. But…
This first campaign week, at least so far, has been nobody’s child. It has seen plenty of activity, spending and scares, the Murdoch factor, and Peter Beattie’s spectacular re-entry. But neither Kevin…
Kevin Rudd has done well to recruit Peter Beattie. Just as Bob Carr was a good catch for Julia Gillard. There is nothing wrong with a bit of recycling in politics, provided that, as with other products…
Opposition leader Tony Abbott says he has never discussed the National Broadband Network with media proprietor Rupert Murdoch, after prime minister Kevin Rudd challenged him to reveal any conversation…
There are only 150 seats in the House of Representatives. You would think it would not be beyond the wit and wisdom of the major parties, which fight to be the government, to choose good, or at least appropriate…
The other day Greens leader Christine Milne noticed a tweet saying “Get out of the way Christine and leave it to the big boys”. “I just thought to myself, that is so symptomatic of the certain element…
Tony Abbott says his $5 billion company tax relief can be paid for out of the $17 billion cuts he has already announced, but the government is conjuring up a bigger, broader GST being needed under a Coalition…
Opposition leader Tony Abbott will promise business a 1.5% company tax cut from July 1 2015, at a cost of $5 billion over the budget period. Abbott will say the measure will further help Australian businesses…
It’s hard to imagine Rupert Murdoch sitting on Twitter, isn’t it? But tweet he does and today Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his deputy Anthony Albanese tweeted back. For “tweet” and “tweeted” in that sentence…
The interest rate drop of 25 basis points to 2.5% - a new half century record low – will be a relief to mortgage holders focused on cost of living, an issue biting in this election. It’s positive news…
When you want to avoid an exam you need a really good excuse. There was no way Tony Abbott would ever have accepted the invitation to debate Kevin Rudd on Sky tonight. But as it happened he was able to…
Kevin Rudd spent $650 million today - $450 million in the afternoon for out-of- hours school care, after $200 million in the morning for the car industry. Not a bad effort in a campaign where money is…
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