Given newspapers’ continued role as the main provider of new news every day, and the amplifying effect of social media, their potential to influence the body politic remains substantial.
In an election full of drama, it is still remarkable that media speculation on Sunday was not about whether Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership might be shaky but the possibility of a challenge to Bill Shorten.
After counting into the early hours of Sunday morning, the Australian Electoral Commission currently has Labor leading in 72 of the 150 seats, with the Coalition ahead in 66.
Malcolm Turnbull is considered favourite by both sides of politics to lead his party to victory on Saturday but the opinion polls continue to bring uncertainty.
After the tumult of the Rudd-Gillard years, Bill Shorten has steered his party back to traditional Labor policy ground and made it an unlikely serious contender in this election.
Natalie Mast speaks with 'Poll Bludger' William Bowe in the final week of the election campaign to break down how the major parties have faired and which seats could decide the election.
Bill Shorten has linked Brexit back to inequality and people being marginalised, in a counter to Malcolm Turnbull’s call for stability in the wake of the British vote.
By continuing to see policies that affect women in economic rather than social terms, both major parties are offering little in the way of improved gender equity.
Malcolm Turnbull is overwhelmingly more trusted than Bill Shorten to lead the country in the final round of Indi focus group research among ‘soft’ voters in the seat.
Voters judge political parties as best we can. But the way political narratives are presented – with their heroes and villains, twists and triumphs – rewards archetypes rather than nuanced reality.
If we are to have a mature and sensible debate on Indigenous recognition, we must be more willing to embrace difficult issues and diverse perspectives.
Experts in the UK, US, India, Indonesia and NZ explain how Australia’s election is playing out abroad and what’s at stake for our neighbours and allies.
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University