If a politician’s entitlements annoy a voter, then an ex-politician’s entitlements must annoy a voter more, writes Stephen Bartos, governance expert and director of Sapere Research Group.
Gough Whitlam
Latham’s Henderson Watch V: Murdoch sympathiser, chancellor of the check-checker
Gerard Henderson’s right-wing salon, The Sydney Institute, is riddled with conflicts of interest, writes former Labor leader Mark Latham.
Wright: You call those gaffes? THESE are gaffes
Abbott and Gillard’s recent gaffes on the international circuit pale in comparison to past blunders - including Malcolm Fraser’s rendition of I Like Aeroplane Jelly and Gough Whitlam’s declaration that “trade is so f — -ing boring,” says Tony Wright.
Debate: should Quentin Bryce have to step aside?
Peter Faris QC and barrister Greg Barns debate the topic: Quentin Bryce must step aside.
Political snippets: Gillard lets Whitlam down
Julia Gillard’s approach to asylum seekers reminds us of one thing: for most of its history a consistent thread in Labor Party policy was a fear of coloured migrants.
Megalogenis: It’s time! Rudd turns into Whitlam
It’s a terrible time for tax reform, writes George Megalogenis. Federal spending is up, revenue is low and rather than slashing spending our PM has introduced a national hospital plan. Do we need a financial crash?
Political snippets: A victory for style over substance in the ALP
A Peek Frean has triumphed and holds the top political job in the nation, save the Department of Climate Change, and why Gordon Brown needs Mark Plunkett.
Sheridan: Stop the boats!
The old Howard classic “We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come” is still the best refugee policy for this country and Kevin Rudd is slowly realising it, writes Greg Sheridan.
David Smith: Malcolm Fraser is lying about the Whitlam dismissal
Malcolm Fraser’s account of what then Governor General John Kerr said to him on the morning of 11 November, 1975, is not true, says Kerr’s former secretary David Smith.
The conflicted role of the Governor-General
The role of the Governor General — Australia’s head of state — is pretty low key in Australia these days. But Australia should look to Canada’s recent constitution woes as it looks towards the possibility of a republic.
Turnbull invokes a Menzies manoeuvre by crossing the floor
Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to cross the floor of the House of Representatives is no big deal, particularly when his party is in Opposition, writes Rob Chalmers.
Mungo MacCallum: Greens and climate change … welcome back to the real world
So with a great (self-trumpeted) fanfare, the Greens have returned to the climate change debate — and about bloody time.
What’s your favourite political childhood memory?
Whether it be your childhood crush on Bob Hawke, a poem penned in primary school for Gough Whitlam or a secret fondness for John Howard, join in the discussion at Larvartus Prodeo about your earliest political memory.
Costello: Early election a gift to the Greens
PM Kevin Rudd doesn’t really want a double dissolution, because he’d prefer the Opposition to pass the ETS scheme and share the blame of future problems, writes Peter Costello.
Mungo MacCallum: Rudd making the best of the available talent
Some sage advice for politicians: not all the good people in the House sit on one side, and the enemy is often the people sitting around you.
Investigation will expose the blood on Whitlam’s hands
An investigation into the Balibo Five wont reveal anything we don’t know about Indonesia’s culpability in the matter — but it will expose the Whitlam government’s bureaucratic bungling both before and after the murders, says Geraldine Willesee.
Political snippets: A Whitlam rethink
Richard Farmer rethinks Gough Whitlam’s contribution to Australian life, is willing to pay more to keep smoking, and looks at himself in cartoon form.
Crikey Says: Dear diary: by Kevin Rudd
So what exactly does PM Kevin Rudd think of Brendan Nelson quitting and forcing a byelection? Luckily, Crikey has access to Rudd’s diary, thanks to The Oz…
It’s Time: Turnbull needs to change
If Malcolm Turnbull wants to make his place in political history, then he should look for historical inspiration from, perhaps surprisingly, Labor giant Gough Whitlam, writes Nick Dyrenfurth.
Henderson: Balibo no historical document
The film Balibo should not be represented as historical fact, as it’s criticism of Australian government and institutions is unjustified, writes Gerard Henderson.
The art of the opposition: focus on the government
History says Kevin Rudd will serve two terms. If the opposition wants to be a suitable alternative for voters, they need to make the government the issue, not themselves.
Labor’s big show not just for true believers
ALP conferences aren’t as wild as the days of Gough Whitlam, but they are appealing to a different crowd now. “Labor might have got boring, but it has got better”, writes Christian Kerr.
Mungo MacCallum: Calling for a government restructure to address Aboriginal issues
The one size fits all approach of the intervention is plainly inappropriate to societies as diverse as Indigenous Australia, writes Mungo MacCallum.
A brief history of props in Federal Parliament
Politicians from both sides have a long democratic tradition of treating Parliament contemptuously.
