What does a democracy do when a dominant news media organisation goes rogue during an election campaign? In 2022, News Corporation is confronting Australia with this question once again, as it did in 2019…
From personally targeting the Victorian premier to railing against the compulsory use of masks or scapegoating a minority group, News Corp’s coverage has been not just biased but dangerous.
The gambling industry certainly holds an attraction for former politicians. Perhaps it’s all that money, and the attraction of staying in the game – even if at a peripheral level.
Malcolm Turnbull has taken ‘absolutely full responsibility’ for his criticised election campaign, and declared the Coalition must rebuild public trust in itself on the issue of Medicare.
Tony Abbott is being good in this campaign, certainly so far, even to the point of praising the government’s superannuation changes when, as prime minister, he was totally opposed to any reform. But his…
The momentum for a July 2 double dissolution has accelerated with Malcolm Turnbull opening the way to bring the May 10 budget forward by a week. “The budget will be in May,” he said on Tuesday, as he prepared…
It is hard to imagine the emotions of Tony Abbott or Peta Credlin as they read journalist Niki Savva’s indictment, in The Road to Ruin, of the former prime minister’s pig-headedness and his former chief-of-staff’s…
The pain in politics is not pretty. Most leaders relish imposing it on adversaries. But then, when they come to bad ends, as they often do, they bleed and vent. Tony Abbott’s anger and distress is clear…
Peta Credlin, former chief of staff to the former prime minister, has remained high-profile and defiant to the end. Despite her changed circumstances Credlin went ahead with a panel discussion at Tuesday’s…
As ministers jostle ahead of Malcolm Turnbull’s reshuffle for survival or advancement, attention is also on the future of Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane. Loughnane is husband of Peta Credlin…
Peta Credlin is in the classic “double bind” of all women in power: if they take charge, they transgress the gendered expectations that “female qualities” are best suited to a supporting role.
Former Liberal president Shane Stone has hit out at party treasurer Philip Higginson for his scathing correspondence complaining about party governance.
Tony Abbott’s leadership is now so fragile that he seems nearly beyond being able to rebalance himself. Abbott is the victim of leaks and general destabilisation, and the continued miscalculations by himself…
If, as Tony Abbott declared, good government started on Monday then, to borrow a Gillardism, it “lost its way” well before the week’s end. The days after Abbott’s “near death” experience provided no evidence…
Tony Abbott’s right-hand woman Peta Credlin is in an invidious position. Not only are many Coalition figures wanting her removed, but now Rupert Murdoch says it’s her “patriotic duty” to fall on her sword…
News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch has made an extraordinary intervention in the Coalition controversy over Tony Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin, declaring via Twitter that she must go. In a series of…
After getting a serious bollocking from Ray Hadley on Thursday, Tony Abbott told the Sydney shock jock that he’s determined to be “a better prime minister with a better government and a more effective…
Some barnacles are not, it seems, able to be removed – certainly not in time for Christmas. As the political year grinds to its end, the Prime Minister’s Office is under almost as much attack as that of…
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including the tension between Julie Bishop and Peta Credlin, the GP co-payment changes and Prime…
Julie Bishop and Peta Credlin had one significant parallel experience on the way to government. They both survived three Liberal leaders. Bishop was deputy to Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull and Tony…