It has taken the best part of a year, but the full consequences of last August’s election have now played out. History tells us to expect the unexpected.
Steve Fielding
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of Steve Fielding. Crikey’s Steve Fielding coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
Parting shots: Fielding’s teary Senate farewell, plus Hutchins, Hurley
It’s that time of the six-year electoral Senate cycle again, where departing senators give their valedictory speeches outlining what they’ve accomplished and how their political dreams were crushed, delivered with a hefty dose of nostalgia, wisdom and a dig at their foes. We’ve been covering these speeches as they come out and in the current […]
podcast Canberra Calling: The night of the long knives redux podcast
This week, Crikey’s Canberra Correspondent Bernard Keane and Crikey editor Sophie Black look back at the 1 year anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s axing as Prime Minister at the hands of his own party.
Plebiscite a key to making Abbott’s life easier
The words of the NZ PM on emissions trading hinted at why Tony Abbott ran with a poorly-devised plebiscite stunt.
How Steve Fielding helped billionaires dominate media ownership
Steve Fielding retires from the Senate on June 30, but one of his lasting legacies will be the continuing flow of media deals triggered by John Howard’s liberalisation of foreign and cross-media ownership laws in 2005.
Pauline Hanson just falls short in NSW
Former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, running as an independent, narrowly lost to the Greens for the last position in the NSW election.
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.
Could Steve Fielding hold on? Crunching the Senate numbers
Steve Fielding’s path to Senate salvation could be much closer than the pundits are predicting. He could again could get lucky in Victoria — this time through a combination of below-the-line votes and yet-to-be-counted absentee ballots.
Crikey Says: Want disclosure independents? Then tell us who donated to your campaign
Who donated to Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter and Andrew Wilkie before the election that made them some of the most powerful individuals in the country?
Fake Fielding: I could Latham in the aisles just like Mark on the telly
Mark Latham used a be a politician but was now on the TV being a journalist and recommending that people vote for the Blank Party, and I am a politician, so maybe I could go on the TV, writes Fake Stephen Fielding.
Fake Fielding: Hey Hey I better get some election policies
Here was Tony Abbott getting to go on my favourite show in the world, Hey Hey it’s Saturday and I wasn’t. I’m an opposition leader, too, writes Fake Stephen Fielding.
Fake Fielding’s campaign diary: time for some focal grouping
In this revelatory insider’s account, Fake Stephen Fielding tells how he came to grips with his family 1st election slogan.
Crikey Says: These are the values which we hold dear
We want to know what you think about that oft-bandied-about term ‘Australian values’? Is it bunkum or is there something to it?
Fake Fielding: my nine-point contract with the nation
(Fake) Steve Fielding missed out on the Lodge, but he still has a plan to put the nation back on track. He’s consulted widely with his wife Susan on his Nine-Point Plan.
Crikey Says: The more things change…
Gosh, what a big week for women! From paid parental leave to behaviour “unbecoming of a chief executive to a female staff member”, it’s been quite the week.
Vote Last Steve Fielding
Steve Fielding’s buffoonery in the paid parental leave debate has given way to something altogether more offensive. Labor has a special responsibility to put him last this election.
Political snippets: Fielding makes the most of his fading 15 minutes
Senator Steve Fielding is becoming predictably more frenetic as his moment of truth approaches. Plus, a sensible Abbott, something to thank Getup! for and other political news of the day.
From the doors: Fielding shoots, scores!
Clichés are an important part of sporting life, giving 110%, full credit to the opposition etc — and three senators decided to celebrate with a few of their own today, reports Crikey doorsman Tiernan Kelly.
Market failure and the kamikaze syndrome
Australia’s financial planners and retail super funds currently resemble kamikaze pilots, desperately flying their planes into the superstructure of the SS Cooper Review, writes Jo-anne Schofield.
Political snippets: Try the Bolt and Fielding plan
Slowly the continued arrival of boatloads of asylum seekers at Christmas Island is becoming a difficult political for Labor. Plus, Rudd on public housing, the lone Joe Hockey and other political news of the day.
Daily Proposition: Bong smoking and bestiality at taxpayers’ expense
Family First Senator Steve Fielding slammed SBS TV show Wilfred because he didn’t “think taxpayers’ money should be used to finance film projects that display acts of bestiality”. Now I had to watch it.
Steve Fielding decides if you vote or not
It’s madness that politicians get to decide their own electoral regulations. Now, “wild-card” Steve Fielding has power over whether thousands of young people vote, writes Dominic Knight.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The Scientology inquisition
Crikey readers weigh in to the Senate debate over Scientology, whether Michael Atkinson’s driver really does iron all his garments and the Crikey climate change cage-match fights on.
