Charles Richardson
Psephologist and writer
Charles Richardson has contributed to Crikey since 2002, and was a ministerial adviser in the Kennett government and a former editorial manager at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney.
With a Prime Minister who is not just a woman, but a childless atheist as well, the Opposition and its media allies have had a field day.
As has now been pointed out many times, conducting a redistribution while an election campaign is under way is sheer madness.
One of the many things that worked in Labor’s favor in the 2007 election was the fact it did rather better than its opponents in the draw for ballot paper positions. The donkey could rule again, writes Charles Richardson.
One of the many things that worked in Labor’s favor in the 2007 election was the fact that it did rather better than its opponents in the draw for ballot paper positions and therefore in the donkey vote. This year it's much more even, writes Charles Richardson.
A week has passed so far without the sky falling in. A week, that is, since the international court of justice ruled that Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence was not contrary to international law.
If you've been wondering why the Coalition, despite its heavy defeat in 2007 and poor standing in the polls, still seems to set the political agenda on topics ranging from refugees to insulation to global warming, a case this week from the United States might provide some hints.
Every election, Labor and the Greens circle each other warily before signing up to a deal on preferences that turns out to amount to very little. But it's worth thinking about just how important those preferences might be this year.
The new Senate won't sit until July next year, but the election of 40 new members will be crucial to the balance of power in parliament. Charles Richardson examines the party's chances.
The strength of pro-war sentiment in the GOP was demonstrated by the angry reaction to Last week Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele's bid for the anti-war vote.
After the relentless nature of the attacks on her predecessor from the right-wing media, Julia Gillard must find it something of a relief that she is mostly drawing fire from the left. But some of the attacks lack a sense of perspective.
