Barnaby Joyce praising Canberra? It’s a reminder of the mixed feelings evoked by the national capital, writes Norman Abjorensen.

Although he’s largely unknown outside the ACT, Jon Stanhope is one of Australia’s most intriguing political figures, writes Norman Abjorensen.

Referendums promised by Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott are fraught with political risk, writes Norman Abjorensen.

Norman Abjorensen, co-author of Australia: The State of Democracy, runs a tape-measure over the nation’s democratic institutions and practices.

AFTER THE LABOR GOVERNMENT, the organisation facing the biggest test in the Queensland election was the new conservative hybrid, the Liberal National Party. It had polled well in the lead-up to the election, but in reality the swing it needed - in the vicinity of 8 per cent - was always on the outer margins...