New polling confirms that being in charge has a powerful influence on voter perceptions, writes Peter Brent.

Liberal Rule avoids the shortcomings of The Howard Years, but has flaws of its own, writes Peter Brent.

New recommendations for electoral reform are a step in the right direction, but the pace continues to be slow, writes Peter Brent on our partner website, INSIDE STORY

As Peter Costello’s fortunes show, politics can be a matter of being in the right place at the right time, writes Peter Brent on our partner website, INSIDE STORY.

THIS WAS THE WEEK the federal Labor Party lost its swagger. As the tragedy on the boat now known as SIEV 36 played out, a nasty déjà vu returned, along with a haunting question: is the party fatally estranged from middle Australia on these questions of “values”? Are they back to 2001 and Tampa? Some...