Known unknowns – including the Nick Xenophon team’s election-day performance – make a precise prediction difficult. But the evidence points mainly one way AS THIS extended election campaign nears its (possibly merciful) end, there is a commentariat consensus that Labor, while making some gains, will fall short of a win. The magnitude of the gains...

As the election campaign gets under way, a visiting political scientist reflects on four sometimes-surprising months in the national capital One of my first and strongest impressions of the differences between Canadian and Australian politics came, of all places, in the parliamentary gift shop in Canberra. As one of the small but hearty group of...

By taking the initiative on the dreaded three-letter word, Labor has scored an important win Federal Labor has released its climate change policy for the election, or at least an outline, and in one crucial respect the opposition can declare mission accomplished. Its big win was in the battle over terminology. Leader Bill Shorten and...

Across the globe voters are losing faith in political parties - from both the left and the right. But why do we have parties and was there ever a time when politicians were independent and not bound by party rules? Guests Stephen Ingle - Professor History and Politics at Sterling University David Karol - Associate...

The PM knows that voters have a simple question in mind when they enter the polling booth THE LATEST edition of Tony Abbott’s “no sniping” tour, on Monday night, saw the former prime minister explain to Sky News that it’s “very easy” for him “to campaign for the Turnbull government.” That’s because the Turnbull government...