Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce found his political future under challenge this week with the gunshot announcement from former MP Tony Windsor that he would try to ride back into his old seat of New England.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan peer into the dangers awaiting Joyce in facing the veteran Windsor, who will run hard on “people power” and disenchantment with the major parties. Meanwhile, similar dynamics are expected to play out in the seat of Indi, where Sophie Mirabella will wrestle with popular independent MP Cathy McGowan.
And while politicians on all sides hurtle towards a possible early election, the government still finds itself without a higher education policy.