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.
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten were plenty snarky with one another during the debate, but otherwise stuck mainly to their scripts.
Nic Ellis/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.
Labor’s campaign communications are organised around the word ‘fair’, while the Coalition is focusing on ‘strength’ and ‘security’.
Daniel Pockett and Mick Tsikas/AAP
There are generally two kinds of federal election: one when the government is returned; the other when it is defeated. History tells us the former is far more common.
Scott Morrison visited the Governor-General early Thursday morning.
AAP/ LUKAS COCH
Scott Morrison has called the election for May 18. Labor remains the campaign favourite, having had a long-term consistent lead in the polls.
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?
This Newspoll has the narrowest Labor lead since Scott Morrison replaced Malcolm Turnbull.
Joel Carrett/AAP
While the budget appealed to the Coalition’s perceived strength on overall economic management, wage growth and climate change are likely to be important during the election campaign.
Three words, so much mileage: Tony Abbott’s anti-carbon tax refrain has been a fixture on the policy landscape for years.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
We’ve been here before. In fact we’ve been going round in circles on climate policy for decades, while the temperature (of the debate, as well as the planet) climbs ever higher.
It is unlikely the Turnbull-Morrison Coalition government will be remembered for any significant reforms.
Lukas Coch/AAP
It’s your money they’re spending in this election-eve budget. Here’s how we’re covering the story.
The Conversation5,73 Mo(download)
The Conversation's editors and experts are off to Canberra for budget lockup at parliament house next Tuesday. They'll have early access to what the government plans to do with our money this year.
Only the law can hold internet companies criminally accountable.
from www.shutterstock.com
With new laws proposed, Australian leaders now seem prepared to move beyond just blaming technology for its role in online violence and extremism.
Morrison warned against those who wanted to run scare campaigns as a result of the announcements, saying they would be taking Australians for mugs.
David Mariuz/AAP
The overhaul of the program comes after pressure from various quarters including conservative Liberals for immigration to be lowered, and the government talking up the need for ‘congestion busting’.
There are better ways for politicians to address defamation concerns than through the courts.
AAP/Ellen Smith
When the media genuinely behave badly, this should be called out by politicians. But doing so through the courts is not a good idea, nor conducive to democracy.
Participants in Melbourne’s International Women’s day rally in Melbourne marched from the State Library to Parliament House.
Ellen Smith/AAP
From the prime minister’s public comments to Australia’s diplomatic behaviour, there is considerable room for improvement if we are to be “fair dinkum” about gender equality.
The Coalition government has had another rocky fortnight, and the polls show it is behind on a two-party preferred basis.
AAP/Dean Lewins
Weak economic data and sluggish wages have contributed to the Coalition’s poor showing in the latest Newspoll, which gives Labor a 54-46 lead on two-party preferred.
The funding gap between the most and least well-off schools has grown over the last ten years.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Schools funding doesn’t pass the playground test of fairness: state schools get less government funding than governments themselves say the schools need.
Linda Reynolds was today sworn in as defence industry minister and promoted into cabinet.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The prime minister is remaining stoic about the loss of a batch of ministers ahead of this year’s election, but in truth it points to the Coalition’s dim chances of re-election.
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University