KEVIN RUDD ended his first year in office much like John Howard ended his first twelve months in March 1997: still shiny, fresh and popular. It’s not that these new leaders have a special empathy with middle Australia or never put a foot wrong. It’s just that when a mistake is made it is ignored...

The Howard Years interprets the Coalition government through the prism of the present, writes PETER BRENT on our partner website, Inside Story.

Labor members want to repeal the Howard Government's electoral law changes. Coalition members want to retain them. It's time for a circuit-breaker, writes Peter Brent.

Who’s to blame for the sorry state of Question Time, asks Peter Brent.

This discussion paper examines the regional structure of the Australian Electoral Commission and argues that the existence of permanent District Returning Offices is wasteful and is holding back the adoption of world's best practice enrolment procedures.