Helen coonan


When minimal accountability and mind-numbing tedium reign in Canberra

This week, Senators are conducting Supplementary Budget Estimates for the whole week, rather than sitting. For the most part it’s a colossal waste of time and money.

Coonan throws a right hook at Essential Research

Essential Research is the Labor Party’s pollster just as Crosby Textor is considered the Liberal Party’s pollster,” reckons Helen Coonan, in the wake of yesterday’s woeful Essential figures. Too bad Newspoll reported pretty much the same thing, says Bernard Keane.

Who cares what the Opposition say?

The Coalition is finally learning that since they’re not in government, media focus is on personalities not politics. But what is their latest debt reduction strategy and is it a good plan?

Turnbull’s debt plan to cut $12b a year

Malcolm Turnbull tried to get some of the spotlight off his leadership by launching a “debt reduction strategy”, representing a major shift back toward the Coalition’s traditional rhetoric of small government.

Malcolm and Joe, shoulder to shoulder in the thick of it

Andrew Crook attended this morning’s “united front” press conference at Melbourne’s Treasury Place. What was it like? Who asked the hard questions about blackface?

Hockey’s economic bombast will hurt him

Joe Hockey yesterday committed a Coalition Government to slashing spending by more than $40 billion. Then he tweeted through Question Time, before insulting several world leaders.

Turnbull’s front bench: clash of the chihuahuas

When it comes to female ministerial representation, the conservative side has lifted its game. 7 of Labor’s 30 ministers are women, compared to 7 of 32 on the Coalition side, writes Bernard Keane.

The ABC gets off lightly at Senate Estimates

ABC Managing Director Mark Scott and the ABC had their easiest appearance at Senate Estimates for years, writes Glenn Dyer.

Howard and Coonan: Friends of the ABC?

With the election slipping away, Howard and Coonan have slithered up to the ABC audience and dangled $80 million for a new children’s digital channel, writes Glenn Dyer.