As expected, Julia Gillard has announced her support for internal party reforms. But her discussion of Labor ideology was more interesting.
John Faulkner
Power Shots: Not-so-powerful Arbib … BlueScope’s bad timing … Katter on bro’s stand …
Not so long ago Mark Arbib was Australia’s No. 1 political powerbroker. Paul Barry looks into why he comes in at number three. Also, fixing legend John Faulkner, bad bonus timing at BlueScope and Bob Katter responds to his brother’s stand on gay marriage.
What will lure people back to political parties?
Until parties empower their members and can convince them they can achieve something positive for society, voters won’t be interested.
Coup anniversary: where are they now?
Paul Barry and Matthew Knott look back at the main players in the Night of the Long Knives: where are they now?
podcast Canberra Calling: The Faulkner in the road podcast
This week, Crikey’s Canberra Correspondent Bernard Keane and Crikey editor Sophie Black analyse John Faulkner’s Wran lecture and what it means for the Federal Labor party.
Latham’s Media Watch Dog Watch: ALP types love to nude up
Gerard Henderson’s Liberals may keep their Collins Street clothes on, but let me assure you, the ALP has always been at one with nature, reveals Mark Latham.
Rundle: Labor’s half-existence won’t be fixed by an admin review
Labor, at is heart, for all the anti-intellectualism and pseudo-gangsterism that sometimes surrounds it, Labor is an existential party, or it is nothing at all.
Guy Rundle: Faulkner’s Seinfeld moment — it’s all about nothing
John Faulkner’s Wran oration — described as the “speech of his life” — is, in fact, his Seinfeld moment: it is a speech about nothing. Labor’s problems go much deeper.
Faulkner’s pessimism is justified
John Faulkner’s criticism of Labor is a plea from a party elder pessimistic about the chances of his party reforming itself.
Political snippets: Rudd’s memory loss regarding John Faulkner
Short term memory loss is a helpful attribute for a politician.
Party values must prevail over polls, implores John Faulkner
In a stinging criticism of the government’s poll-driven and focus group obsessed culture, Labor Senator and party elder John Faulkner delivered a powerful message imploring Labor to reassess its core principles at this year’s Neville Wran Lecture.
Pollies grumble at writers’ fest: ‘good govt and ALP are strangers’
Can the ALP survive? And if so, what form will it be in? There was huge interest in this topic at the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
Bitar’s email bombshell on the ‘Lindsay test’
ALP national secretary Karl Bitar sent a private email to Kevin Rudd chief-of-staff Alistair Jordan demanding that “every policy and announcement must pass the Lindsay test”, according to a footnote in the secret section of Bracks-Faulkner-Carr review examining Labor’s 2010 election campaign.
The political donations data is nowhere near the full picture
The material released this week by the Electoral Commission only gives a partial picture of who is funding our political parties.
Political donations give and take
The Australian Electoral Commission released political donations data today for 2009-10, giving us an insight into what political parties received from donors between 7 and 19 months ago.
Come in Spinner: Year-end leadership, reform agenda round-ups
As the annual political round-ups start to roll out it is fascinating to watch how they are all obsessed with leadership and activity.
Filthy funding and the deterioration of democracy
Over the last decade political donations have gradually eroded the integrity of Australian democracy. Despite rumblings from John Faulkner and Malcolm Turnbull, electoral funding reform has gone off the agenda. Time to bring it back, says Lee Rhiannon.
Mungo MacCallum: Mungo: Timor solution a stuffed-up version of whatever it takes
Timor Leste is a horribly cynical choice, and still would be even if the negotiations had been sensibly handled and the government and populace had shown themselves willing.
Rundle: Goodbye Faulkner and the Labor Left
With the resignation from the Ministry of John Faulkner, a great part of what was left of the Left has left the centre of the ALP. Guy Rundle charts its demise.
Wright: Bye bye thick-rimmed Labor machine man
For many years John Faulkner has been the wise owl of the ALP, a man who prides himself in keeping confidences. After such a rich history it’s hard to see him sitting idly on the backbench, writes Tony Wright.
Faulkner’s departure further depletes Labor’s store of experience
John Faulkner’s retirement to the backbench will continue the Labor talent drain as party veterans call time on their careers.
Political snippets: Julia should try outer space
If Julia Gillard spent just a little time in the outer with her club’s working-class supporters, she might not make such ridiculous statements about the nature of their attitudes to race.
Australia being misled about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project is bleeding money, and for no good reason. Defence blogger Eric L. Palmer weighs in.
