William Bowe
Editor of The Poll Bludger @PollBludger
William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, is one of the most heavily trafficked forums for online discussion of Australian politics, and joined the Crikey stable in 2008.
Australia needs a practically minded leader with a sensitivity to bread-and-butter issues -- if only our parties had the ingenuity to produce them.
The Labor Party is uncompetitive in the south-western WA seat of Vasse, but the Nationals and Liberals are giving it all they've got.
Tony Abbott's personal approval ratings have been enjoying a boost ever since international conflicts distracted from domestic issues. Interestingly, both men and women have bought the tough-guy shtick.
The unfortunate death of South Australian state independent Bob Such has triggered a byelection in the seat of Fisher. This presents a make-or-break opportunity for the SA Liberals.
Tony Abbott has managed to reduce the size of swings against his party in some key seats but, in Queensland, Campbell Newman's unpopularity continues to hurt the federal Coalition.
Senator John Faulkner's call for reform of the Labor Party does not shy away from the party's largest ally -- trade unions.
Proposed changes to the preferential voting system could just create an even bigger, even less manageable Senate crossbench for the Abbott government.
After a brief honeymoon period, the Palmer United Party has suffered a steady decline in its polling results since July. To recover lost ground, Clive will need one hell of an ad blitz in the lead up to Queensland's 2015 election.
In his own seat of Ashgrove, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's primary vote is in the doldrums. Will the LNP lose its leader at the next election?
The Australian Electoral Commission is investigating whether supporters of Independent MP Cathy McGowan used unscrupulous "enrolment transfers" to inflate her votes.
