The state of budget-balance fetishism in Australia means political leaders promise to balance the budget, no matter what.
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A new study looking at the social media interactions of Australian political journalists finds that they are often talking among themselves.
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'.
The firestorm over foreign donations was set alight by former Senator Sam Dastyari, whose links to donors with Chinese links prompted him to quit parliament.
The Nationals now have their first Tasmanian senator since the Tasmanian tiger was last sighted, but that does not greatly reduce the challenges the government faces in passing legislation.
More than 180 individuals have moved between senior public service roles and the fossil fuel industry in Australia over the past decade - providing a golden escalator for former senior politicians.
One of the best ways to shape public policy is for experts to submit detailed, technical information through the public comment process.
Just a handful of federal members of parliament represent hundreds of Australia's threatened species.
Australians are likely to vote for longer parliamentary terms. They want fewer elections and are dissatisfied with politics.
Bernardi’s defection from the Liberal Party this week is less important in itself than what it says about a wider trend towards a fracturing of Australian politics.
The president manages more than 200 organizations that make up the federal government. A survey of 3,500 federal managers shows they struggle with recruiting and retaining skilled workers.
The Prime Minister seems to be less resistant to changing the wording of 18C, after much campaigning on the topic from within his own party.
Freedom of speech does not mean you can say anything to anyone, regardless of the damage it does – an important consideration in the debate over a same-sex marriage plebiscite.
Australia’s national politicians again need to step up and lead the way on the inevitable process of national and global democratic innovation.
There have been policy issues in recent Australian history considered too important for playing party politics. Sadly, those days are long gone.
Five months into his prime ministership, it is difficult to know what Malcolm Turnbull really stands for, and his government risks paralysis as a result.
Despite all the media coverage, don't expect any clear decisions on national tax reform on Friday. But we should see more progress on other issues, including domestic violence and violent extremism.
If Anthony Albanese becomes Labor leader, Australians will have the strongest ideological and stylistic contrast in major party leaders since Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke 33 years before.
In leadership contests in particular, the media’s role is often markedly different from the competition between parties.
So far, Tony Abbott has failed to position himself as anything more than an opposition leader who has been given power and is unsure what to do with it.
Top contributors
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Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
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Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University
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Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Monash University
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Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, Monash University
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Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Adelaide
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Senior Lecturer in Australian Politics, Monash University
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Professorial Fellow in Human Security, La Trobe University
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Honorary associate, School of Social Sciences, UNSW
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Senior Lecturer, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University
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Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney
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Doctoral Candidate, Australian National University
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Honorary Research Associate, School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University
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Honorary Research Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University
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Annabelle Lukin is a Friend of The Conversation.
Associate Professor in Linguistics, Macquarie University
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Principle Research Fellow, Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith University
