Since when do one’s thoughts and beliefs constitute a punishable offence? asks Norman Abjorensen.
Risible
Queensland preference negotiations reveal the state of play
There are important implications of the number and range of seats in play in the House of Representatives contest for decisions about the allocation of preferences in the Senate, writes Mark Bahnisch.
Caretakers and carrying on
We keep on hearing from folk with friends at the upper levels of the bureaucracy, saying their mates have been told to prepare to go into caretaker mode – a sure sign, they swear, an election is looming.
Bloody chaos: that’s leadership the Liberal way
One thing quite uncontestable about the Liberal Party’s view of leadership is that is it is totally instrumental. A leader’s success is measured purely in terms of delivering electoral victories. But once that sniff of defeat is in the air, the past glories count for nothing.
Straight from the sausage factory: how a media story is made
Bismarck once compared the making of legislation to the manufacture of sausages – it was necessary if people had to eat, but fairly unpleasant to watch happening. The same might be said for the manufacture of partisan “news” – but watching it occur can be quite fascinating, writes Mark Bahnisch.
