Comment

Chalmers has taken it to the opposition by demonstrating the dramatic budget and inflation turnarounds achieved ... while delivering significant cost-of-living relief in a non-inflationary way.

Irrespective of the election outcome, Australia’s major parties would do well to study the dynamics of the Pat Cummins-led cricket team … Unselfish, inclusive leadership is the foundation of that really good side … It’s about playing off the front foot rather than endlessly playing catch-up …

The community independents movement is motivated by a shared sense that our democracy is not delivering the benefits it could or should. The offer of this movement is for each and every one to be the change, to turn up, speak up and step up.

It is not unusual for opposition leaders to perform better than they should in the polls. It’s a gentle way for voters to register their dissatisfaction. The surprise is that it’s true even for Peter Dutton.

Community independents have already made a very significant contribution to better government in Australia. They have pushed for climate targets and policy responses to achieve them, campaign funding and lobbying reform, gambling advertising reform and improved integrity and accountability in government.

Only a foolhardy politician on the cusp of an election year would insert themselves into the summer holiday rituals of the Australian populace. Better to let the voters enjoy the beach, the barbecues and the cricket than bombard them with anything that looks like blatant electioneering.

My concern of late has been the realisation that the far right is targeting boys and men in its campaign for power. I have observed how material on social media is exploiting men’s propensity to be protectors of their families, especially when they are led to believe there is an enemy at their door. Cue Dutton and a scary minority.

Anthony Albanese outlined his government’s first steps in a plan for universal childcare this week, and they were as sure-footed as any policy that has evolved through decades of setbacks. If Labor wins next year’s election, it will set up a $1 billion building early education fund. This is not a “cash splash”, as the Murdoch papers have described it.

The Christmas present I treasure most from childhood is a book of Greek myths. We didn’t have much and there were no grand gifts or holidays. Our cricket bat was carved out of a fence paling with a tomahawk.

It has been very rare for the Albanese cabinet to leak, but that changed this week. On Monday, December 9, a story emerged saying the prime minister had warned his senior colleagues that the Murdoch media was openly working to install Peter Dutton as prime minister.