Excessive parliamentary entitlements and unregulated private funding give enormous advantages to the major parties, argues Joo-Cheong Tham.

Family First’s preferences helped get Labor across the line, but the party needs a new strategy in this changing electorate, according to Anne Tiernan.

An effective national debut won’t necessarily counter the doubts raised by the party’s origins and backers, writes Haydon Manning in this profile of Family First.

As we face the challenge of an ageing society, John Howard’s promises to older voters are exactly what we don’t need, says Rodney Tiffen.

The taxpayer-funded Government Members’ Secretariat is doing party political work, according to former government adviser Greg Barns.