Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation and Tilly Gwinner, The Conversation
‘Labor will win this election. I think that’s virtually unquestionable’: political scientist Andy Marks on #AusVotes2019 and the key issues in NSW
The Conversation, CC BY34 MB(download)
We are but a few weeks from a federal election, and the way the political wind is blowing may depend on what state you're in.
Many behaviours associated with coercive control are not yet criminal in Australia, even though the impact on victims is profound.
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New laws in the UK have led to convictions for a range of deplorable behaviours used to control partners in relationships. It’s time Australia reconsidered introducing such legislation here.
Subscriptions for digital content are considered an important part of revenue for newspapers.
from www.shutterstock.com
New Zealand’s largest general newspaper has launched a paywall this week, with likely repercussions for other media organisations and readers.
Arthur Caldwell almost defeated Robert Menzies in the 1961 federal election, dominated by debate over the economy and unemployment.
National Archives, National Library of Australia, Wikimedia
In 1960, Harold Holt, the then-treasurer, urged the government to abolish import restrictions, resulting in a minor recession. This nearly swung the election in the ALP’s favour.
If Labor is relying on a surge of younger voters to deliver it victory then its hopes may be misplaced.
AAP/Craig Golding
Yes, youth voter enrolment is at an all-time high, but an ageing population means an ageing voter base.
A tribunal will decide Thursday if Rugby Australia has the right to terminate Folau’s contract over his controversial social media posts – a dispute that raises questions about free speech, religious freedom and human rights and discrimination law.
Paul Barkley/AAP
Folau has sought a full code of conduct committee hearing to decide his future with Rugby Australia. Depending on how the tribunal rules, the case could be heading to federal court next.
The Seven West Media debate was the first in a series of debates the two leaders will participate in.
SEVEN/AAP
Perched uncomfortably on their stools, with questions coming from two journalists and audience members, both leaders had tried to prep to the nth degree, although Shorten had a couple of lapses.
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten were plenty snarky with one another during the debate, but otherwise stuck mainly to their scripts.
Nic Ellis/AAP
The latest Newspoll shows a further tightening on two-party preferred, but was making some strange assumptions about the slow of preferences.
Australian Prime Minister Stanley Bruce and Prime Minister-elect James Scullin hold a private meeting a day before Scullin takes office in 1929.
Wikimedia Commons
Only twice have Australian electors chosen to vote out a sitting prime minister. Both times, industrial relations was the key. What can we learn from that?
Early voting is convenient for voters, but is three weeks of it too long?
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Australians now have effectively 17 election days. This means parties change how they campaign – and many people cast their votes without being fully informed.
Paying for petrol in Brisbane in 1949 using what are likely petrol ration coupons.
State Library of Queensland
Historians attribute the Coalition’s election victory in 1949 to issues like bank nationalisation and the Communist Party. But the decisive issue was petrol rationing.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten visited Salamanca Markets in Hobart on Saturday.
Darren England/AAP
Apart from the debate about debates, Friday’s campaign argy bargy centred on the Liberals’ preference deal with Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, due to be announced by Palmer on Monday.
Week two of the federal election campaign has just flown by.
AAP
Clive Palmer was in the news this week after the Newspoll that showed that his United Australia Party could change the result in marginal seats in several states.
Prince William visited Al Noor mosque in Christchurch and met survivors of the attack.
Joseph Johnson/AAP
Hanlie Booysen, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand’s response to the Christchurch mosque attacks is seen as a new way of reacting to violent extremism. The challenge now is how to translate domestic cohesion into foreign policy.
Some children in New Zealand live in such hardship that they don’t have a good pair of shoes and have to put up with feeling cold.
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Michael Fletcher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
The New Zealand government has set targets for reducing child poverty, but with hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty, this goal remains a challenge.
The integrity of Australia’s election process is under unprecedented pressure during this election.
Wes Mountain/The Conversation
Last June Morrison on Palmer’s renewed political push Australians would say “the circus doesn’t need another sideshow.” Well, the sideshow’s here and the Liberals are grabbing a prize from the wheel.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Sri Lanka bombings – a clear signal the group is reforming in other parts of the world after its defeat in Syria and Iraq.
M.A. Pushpa Kumara/EPA
The deadly Sri Lanka attacks show a return to the coordinated, sophisticated strikes employed by al-Qaeda in the 2000s, focusing on soft targets with vulnerable institutions.
Support for Clive Palmer’s UAP in recent polls is likely overstated.
AAP/Dave Hunt
Caroline Fisher on the spin machines of #AusVotes19
Fisher says there has been "a real attempt to soften" Morrison through candid selfies. In contrast, Shorten has opted for more professional shots which portray him "in a more prime ministerial light".
