Party insiders argue that elections ought to be like AFL grand finals – only two teams are on the field. Independents and single-issue candidates are more attracted to the model of a horserace or Olympic sprint. All voting systems have inbuilt anomalies, however.
If the government takes a cue from what worked this week, and extends it to land clear messages on the things that matter most in election campaigns – jobs, wages, tax and cost of living – it could just make retaining majority government possible.
The claims that Treasurer Jim Chalmers is ‘at war’ with the Reserve Bank of Australia are becoming ridiculous and irresponsible. Initiated by the opposition and shamelessly supported by the Coalition’s media arm, the Murdoch media, the specious campaign comes at an important time in the conduct of monetary policy.
Dutton has announced, on several occasions, that he is developing a strategy to win back the teal seats but has not actually moved to improve the Coalition’s policy commitments in the three areas that cost it dearly at the last election.
There is no logic to this statistical closet. No one in the queer community is asking for it – in fact, they are asking for its opposite. All it does is abandon another part of society to Labor’s cowardice.
Albanese’s declaration ... that ‘the government is not for turning’ on the CFMEU clean-out evoked the defining quote of the late British Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher. He has gone from fighting Tories to quoting them.
In no way do I discount people’s genuine concerns about youth offending. But safe, cohesive communities will only be achieved when we ensure that every child’s basic needs are met … Protecting children’s rights and fostering community safety are not conflicting goals.
The last words Linda Burney spoke in the House of Representatives were in Wiradjuri, the language of her people. “I am proud to be Wiradjuri,” she said. “This has been a great journey. Thank you. It’s been an honour. We will make progress when we all work together. We have a strong and bright future.”
To stare into history is to stare into a rippled pool and see only a distorted image of ourselves. There is too much of it to change that which we cannot change.
Dutton is a master of the malign narrative. Under his leadership, enough fear-based narrative trips and twists weave through immigration policy and administration to keep journalists in train and Labor on the defensive.