Labor has a long history of factions. What is distinctive about them now is how professionally they operate, as two powerful machines of control in an alliance of mutual convenience
In this podcast, Michelle Grattan canvasses the New South Wales election with the ABC's chief election analyst Antony Green, Professor Andy Marks from the Western Sydney University, and the ABC's NSW state political reporter Ashleigh Raper
A recent NSW Resolve poll gave Labor 43% of the primary vote, and the Coalition just 30%, though the major party leaders were tied for preferred premier.
Michelle Grattan says the announcement of extra money for drought-stricken farmers “won’t be enough” to alleviate pressure on the government on the issue of drought.
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Jodi McKay and Anthony Albanese have announced an inquiry into the head office of the NSW ALP, following shocking revelations about scandals in the handling of donations.
Nine’s fundraiser for the Liberal party left journalists appalled, as they should have been.
Julian Smith/AAP
While the Liberal party reaped mega dollars at Nine’s Monday fundraiser, Nine and its chief executive faced a backlash from staff at the company’s recently acquired former Fairfax newspapers.
Australia-China relations, crucial as they might be for Australia’s economic wellbeing, may get rougher.
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Michelle Grattan discusses the increasing strain on the Australia-China relationship following the arrest of Dr. Yang Hengjun, and the government’s draft religious discrimination legislation.
As crucial as the Australia-China relationship might be for Australia’s economic well being, the indications suggest the ups and downs may get rougher.
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Australia is being very explicit in response to concerns about China at the moment, increasingly prepared to put aside the imperatives of diplomacy when necessary.
Sam Dastyari advised Murnain to go to the party’s lawyer as donations from property developers are illegal under the NSW law.
Joel Carrett/AAP
The NSW Labor party’s general secretary Kaila Murnain was suspended on Wednesday night after sensational evidence about an alleged $100,000 donation from Chinese property developer Huang Xiangmo.
It’s a fight for a rapidly vanishing centre, which will make passing bills difficult for whoever wins.
Chris Pavlich/Dean Lewins(AAP)
Mark Latham in the upper house? A Coalition minority government? The NSW election is nearly upon us, and it’s going to be a wild ride
It's worth keeping an eye on the NSW election outcome. It may end up telling us a lot about how global political themes, like the erosion of centrist politics, are playing out here in Australia.
Sam Dastyari leaves parliament but insists he is a patriotic Australian.
AAP/Ben Rushton
Bill Shorten’s reference to party reform was once-over-lightly when he addressed the NSW ALP conference on Sunday. Shorten said Labor had to “rebuild as a party of members, not factions”. Members had to…
It seems things are not yet bad enough in the Labor Party to make significant reform, such as John Faulkner’s proposed changes to preselection, likely.
AAP/Daniel Munoz
Labor senator John Faulkner does not anticipate that his moves to reform the party’s preselection processes will succeed at this weekend’s NSW State Conference. Faulkner is hoping to have the rules changed…
Senator John Faulkner is a voice for Labor Party reform.
AAP/Daniel Munoz
Labor Party guru senator John Faulkner has called on the NSW ALP to “front up and apologise” for the corruption that has tainted state politics – and to embrace reforms to prevent it ever happening again…