Leaders are made, not born
The leadership of political parties is vigorously contested in all democratic nations. Party leadership processes are – or recently have been – underway in the United States, Britain and Canada, … Continue reading
Australian Government’s uneasy club of marginal House backbenchers
As if the Turnbull government’s upcoming troubles with the newly elected Australian Senate were not enough to worry about, their own House of Representatives backbench will present even more anxieties … Continue reading
Australian government will have difficulties with new Senate
With the probable make-up of the Australian Senate becoming clearer, the balance of power looks grim for the government. Almost all the cross-bench factions will be able to veto government … Continue reading
The likely make-up of the new Australian Senate
The shape of Australia’s new Senate is coming into view, and it does not look to be an easy chamber for the Turnbull coalition government. The overall position seems to … Continue reading
Senators will allocate terms of office to themselves
In August, when the newly elected Australian Senate first meets, the senators will face a task with an unusual degree of political and personal seat-interest. A decision must be made dividing … Continue reading
New senators will have unequal voter support
Some of the newly elected Australian Senators will need to brace themselves for a new form of abuse: being denounced as “unrepresentative ‘below-quota’ swill”, to paraphrase Paul Keating’s famous quote. … Continue reading
Australians elect a Parliament, but not a government
The dust is not settling quickly on yesterday’s Australian election. Australians have elected a Parliament, but not an executive government. But then, under Australia’s constitutional system the voters never do … Continue reading
Independents could win in divided communities
With polling suggesting that Australians will vote for minor parties and independents at record levels in today’s election, records may also fall for the lowest first preference vote that goes … Continue reading
Only 1 in 3 Australians will influence election of House
Australian voters will elect their national House of Representatives and their Senate this weekend. In electing the House – where governments are formed – around two-thirds of voters will have virtually … Continue reading
Brexit may lead to higher political engagement
The UK Brexit vote looks set to become one of the major world democratic events of the decade. While the event has dramatically divided the nation along lines of geography … Continue reading
On Elections 