The Victorian Liberals clearly remain the richest political division in the country. No one else can claim to own $50 million worth of shares.
National Party
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.
Election 2010: good reason why the Nationals aren’t in focus
There’s a good reason why election coverage doesn’t usually focus on the Nationals. As usual all the attention is on Liberals versus ALP, with this year a bit of extra coverage for the Greens.
Grattan: Can you tell the difference between the Nats and the Libs?
If Tony Abbott wins the election, then Nationals leader Warren Truss would become Deputy PM. As Liberal policies become more in line with the Nationals, it will become harder for the Nationals to differentiate themselves.
Grattan: What if our federal election result was like the UK’s?
With the 50-50 polling between Abbott and Rudd, a hung parliament is a possibility. So how would it play out? It’d be down to the Independents, two of whom are former Nationals, writes Michelle Grattan.
Bartlett: Hull follows Turnbull — Nats face a contest
Kay Hull, the Nationals MP for the seat of Riverina, has decided to call a day on her 12 years in Parliament. It may be the third safest Coalition seat in the country, but it could well generate a distracting contest between the Liberals and Nationals, says Andrew Bartlett.
Barnaby loses his balls
Barnaby Joyce appeared on Q & A last night, a shadow of his former self. The maverick has been reigned in, simply because he now has nothing to rebel against with the Abbott-led Liberals.
How many jobs will Barnaby cost Australia?
Barnaby Joyce’s buffoonery is given a free pass by the media, where other politicians would be skewered. But eventually his antics will start to have real-world consequences.
Maher: Joyce is the new Joh
Barnaby Joyce was in full flight at the National Press Club yesterday, mangling words, numbers and messages — but he did it with conviction. Sir Joh would’ve been proud, says Sid Maher.
Barnaby Joyce’s billion-dollar
stuff-up
Former accountant Barnaby Joyce has made a bumbling debut as Opposition finance spokesman, claiming he can find $3.2 billion in savings from $1400 million. Pure Poison has the goods.
graph pr0n 30 years of elections in 5 charts
The primary vote of both the Labor Party and the Coalition have been, on average, declining since 1977… but that’s only part of the story, reports Possum Comitatus.
Biggest problem facing Scullion as shadow indigenous affairs? His boss
New shadow Indigenous Affairs minister Nigel Scullion has a genuine opportunity to make meaningful progress for the nation’s most disadvantaged citizens. Let’s hope he doesn’t succumb to his poll dancing past.
Minister Barnaby Joyce?
Kevin Andrews approached Barnaby Joyce last week about a role on the front bench in the event of a leadership spill, reports Katherine Murphy. Andrew didn’t get the gig but role will Joyce play in the Liberal party’s future?
Grattan: Is this the end of the Coalition?
The Coalition is straining to stay together, as the Nationals — lead symbolically by Barnaby Joyce — try to forge their own identity separate to the Libs. But the Coalition would be better off staying together to fight Rudd, writes Michelle Grattan.
The growing force of Barnaby Joyce
Queensland is critical to federal politics, with a growing population and influential seats, but its parties are a mess. The Nationals criticise the Liberals, the Libs fear the power of the LNP and Barnaby Joyce is just looking after himself, writes Scott Prasser.
How to become a federal MP: the minor parties
Just what does it take to ascend to the lofty heights of federal parliament in a minor party? It seems that compared to the factionally obsessed Libs and Labor, the preselection process is a reasonably democratic one.
Quick, Nats: now’s your time to get out!
As ideological cracks grow deeper and MP numbers drop, being part of the Coalition is no longer working in the National Party’s favour. With the Liberal Party in disarray, now is the perfect time for the Nats to jump ship, says Jack the Insider.
Laying some Peter Dutton myths to rest
Peter Dutton is no great loss to the Liberal Party, and he wasn’t blocked by the Nats in McPherson. Apart from that, everything you’ve read about his preselection failure is true…
Taylor: Showdown in the old partyroom
It’s an old-fashioned shootout in the Coalition partyroom, with climate change policies at 12 paces. But will the Nats decide this town ain’t big enough for the both of them? asks Lenore Taylor.
Coorey: Time for Libs and Nats divorce?
The ETS scheme seems like the last straw for the Coalition relationship between the Liberals and the National Party, writes Phillip Coorey.
Bradfield, the land of true maverick conservatives
All 20 candidates in this Saturday’s Bradfield preselection must be pondering one major question: exactly what do local Liberal Party preselectors in a safe seat look for in a candidate?
