Pre-poll votes within the first 24 hours were almost double the number at the same stage in 2016. That could hurt some minor parties who traditionally spend big in the last few weeks of a campaign.
Political advertising has moved away from traditional media and is now more prevalent on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.
AAP/ALP/Liberal Party/GetUp!/Australian Youth Climate Coalition
After the backlash against the formal Labor-Greens alliance under the Gillard government, Shorten is anxious to keep maximum distance between the ALP and the minor party.
Anti-Vietnam War protesters march from the US Consulate to Hyde Park in Sydney in 1966.
State Library of New South Wales/Wikimedia Commons
Labor Leader Arthur Calwell tried to leverage public opposition to conscription to gain support during the 1966 election, calling it a “sinister word” for Australians. The tactic failed.
Coalition leader John Hewson had trouble selling his economic policy platform to the electorate.
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All the polls suggested the Keating government would be finished at the 1993 election – until Opposition Leader John Hewson launched a 650-page policy document called “Fightback!”.
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.
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?
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
So far immigration has not had a prominent place in the campaign, but Scott Morrison will try to change that on Sunday.
Before Australia elects a new PM to manage the country’s foreign relations, it’s vital to have a bigger debate on foreign policy, so voters know how each candidate would lead.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
There have historically been few key points of difference on foreign policy during elections. Despite daunting challenges on the global stage, this year’s election campaign looks to be much the same.
Religious beliefs about hierarchical gender roles can influence attitudes towards family and domestic violence.
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Women experiencing family and domestic violence within faith communities can face attitudes and practices that encourage them to stay in relationships with their abusers.
Most Australians have had enough of the opportunistic point-scoring that characterises politics today and want leaders who put the public interest first.
Mick Tsikas/Lukas Coch/AAP
According to a new survey, nearly a third of Australians believe the Coalition shows no ‘leadership for the public good’. Labor fared little better.
With the election season now under way, Labor has retained its lead over the Coalition in the latest Newspoll, though Bill Shorten’s approval rating has not improved.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Neither party got a bump from the official start of the federal election campaign, with Labor retaining its 52-48 advantage in the latest Newspoll.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann was questioned on Monday by Labor Senator Penny Wong about the Coalition government’s expenditures on pre-election advertising.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Both the Liberals and Labor complain about government advertising when they’re in the opposition. So why hasn’t anyone tried to better regulate the system?
According to new research, the ABC stands to lose A$783 million in total funding by 2022, unless steps are taken to reverse budget cuts.
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Yes, the ABC received A$43.7 million to continue funding its ‘enhanced news gathering’ operation in the 2019 budget, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to how much it stands to lose.
Hanson stood by her chief of staff James Ashby and Queensland senate candidate Steve Dickson.
Dan Peled/AAP
With this week’s revelations about the extraordinary visit to the US gun lobby by One Nation’s James Ashby, and Steve Dickson, Morrison’s shilly-shallying became untenable.
O'Sullivan said the Queensland Nationals would not give up.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
O'Sullivan rejected Morrison’s Monday argument that it would be
impractical for the federal government to underwrite a coal-fired
project in Queensland because the Palaszczuk government would veto it.
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University