The mainstream media clearly dislike the new political paradigm. This is what you get when you mess with them.
Bernard Keane on the Federal Election 2010
Crikey’s Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane provides the best news, analysis and commentary on the 2010 Federal Election
Julie’s safe: the pro-competition party rejects a leadership contest
Andrew Robb probably wouldn’t have toppled Julie Bishop - but it’s funny how parties change their tune on such matters for political convenience.
The class of ’10: the outsourcing of politics continues
The professionalisation of federal politics continues apace with more than half of the new MPs and senators elected on August 21 being former staffers, party operators or former or serving politicians.
Julia’s chance to fix Labor and pursue New Politics
Julia Gillard has been handed an opportunity to fix Labor’s problems while pursuing a new agenda forced on her by the hung Parliament.
If the Liberals want to blame anyone, look at the Nationals
If there’s anyone to blame for Tony Abbott failing to get over the line, it’s the Nationals. Abbott himself performed far better than expected and deserves credit, but he has let down by the long-term failings of the Nats.
And now, let the wild rumpus start
Canberra has never seen anything like it. Three men sent everyone in Parliament House into a spin as they determined the next government.
The future of the House of Reps
If you want a glimpse of what the new, improved House of Representatives will be like, check out Senate Question Time, if you can stay awake.
Lessons from the last days of the Labor government
Before we focus on the new government, we should recall some of the lessons of recent months which may have been forgotten in the obsession with a hung parliament and a new government.
The Oz has trouble keeping its story straight
According to The Australian, the mining tax will either have too much effect on the mining industry, or not enough. Either way, of course, a partisan Treasury is to blame.
Essential: voters expect another poll
Voters expect to return to the polls within 12 months, according to the latest Essential Report poll, with Greens voters the most likely to reconsider the vote they cast a fortnight ago.
The myth of governmental
competence
Contrary to its claims of administrative competence, the Coalition had a series of costly blunders when in Government.
The hypocrisy of costings
This week we were reminded once again that Tony Abbott is an economic lightweight. The Coalition “costings blowout” may be overstated, but its hypocrisy is much worse.
Bob Katter, energy corridors and conflicts of interest
Bob Katter has been spruiking an “energy corridor” project for nearly 18 months, but has only once mentioned that a relative is at the centre of it. Bernard Keane and Wendy Bacon report.
Why this will be a great election to win
The mining boom and a surging economy means this will be a good election to win, even if the Coalition’s costings have big flaws in them.
Greens-Gillard deal: who wins?
What the Greens will have secured if Labor is able to hang onto office is, in effect, an all care and no responsibility role in a Labor Government, giving the Greens many of the benefits of incumbency without any of the responsibilities.
Essential: Australia is neatly divided
Most voters had already made up their minds how to vote when the campaign started, this week’s Essential Report shows. Those who didn’t appear to have swung heavily to the Coalition.
Wilkie, the pokies and the need to Do Something
Not for Andrew Wilkie: this business of establishing the Government’s fiscal position and identifying the impact of election commitments on the Budget before entering substantive negotiations with the major parties.
A parliamentary budget office — great idea, but don’t get carried away
A Parliamentary Budget Office is a good idea, but it should be done properly and don’t expect it to settle any arguments.
Does WHK Horwath tell third parties they should seek independent advice on reports?
The auditing firm at the centre of the Coalition’s costings debacle normally warns third parties not to rely on its reports, recommending they obtain independent advice.
Common sense from independents has conservatives deeply unhappy
Against expectations, the rural independents have made a strong start in their quest for political and economic stability. And conservatives don’t like it.
The red and blue: the real story of post-election briefings
There’s nothing especially sacrosanct about the post-election briefings handed to ministers. They’re the bureaucracy’s effort to get ministers up to speed on what they need to do.
The Coalition is scared of scrutiny
Tony Abbott’s disastrous press conference in Canberra last night - following the three amigo independents’ request for Coalition Treasury costings - is putting his chances of securing the Prime Ministership in danger.
Forget the love-in stuff — independents could bring a revolution in accountability
The three independents have issued an extraordinary list of demands to the major parties that could revolutionise federal politics.
Independents’ day makes life difficult
The press gallery is desperately trying to predict the winner from the hung Parliament. It might be better off trying to work out why voters delivered it in the first place.
Pandering to the outer suburbs didn’t work
While the parties focused on trying to appeal to a minority of swinging voters, the rest of the electorate had other ideas — quite a few of them.
