Succession

There’s everything still to play for in the 2025 election campaign, but a host of ambitious politicians are eyeing their chances of progression should their own leaders falter in May.

Fear and loathing on the campaign trail

The current Australian campaign may be dull but political campaigns were once the stuff of passion and high drama so the Conversation asked 10 experts to nominate their favourite book about the hustings.

Tweedle dum v tweedle dee

Uninspiring leaders, stressed voters and the shadow of Trump could make for an uncertain election campaign.

They’re off!

After weeks of speculation and false starts, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for a general election on the 3rd of May, with the cost of living shaping to be the central battleground

The straight bat budget

The Albanese government’s fourth budget is a pitch for the votes of a sour and alienated electorate, framed against a background of extraordinary international uncertainty.

Nothin’ but trouble

The head of ASIO has painted a gloomy picture of national prospects and international affairs as social strife and authoritarian aggression loom large on the agenda.

All aboard the caravan

The battle to contain antisemitism in Australia has seen some swift changes of political opinion as new laws are passed to punish antisemetic incitement and violence.

DeepSeek banned from government devices

The Albanese government is banning DeepSeek – the Chinese artificial intelligence model – from all government systems and devices on national security grounds.

Albanese on the back foot on antisemitism

Anthony Albanese points to the array of measures his government has taken to tackle the scourge of antisemitism but he can’t escape the impression of seeming perennially on the back foot and often lacking adequate empathy and sensitivity in dealing with the issue.

Antisemitism on the agenda

After months of rejecting calls to confront and combat the growing wave of antisemetic violence across the country, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has finally summoned a national cabinet meeting to discuss the problem.

Labor pledges 3 days of free child care

Anthony Albanese will promise a re-elected Labor government would guarantee three days of subsidised child care without people having to undertake an activity test.

Albanese must step up on anti-Semitism

Labor has been lukewarm in its condemnation of anti-semetic attacks and vandalism but despite the temptations posed by an approaching election, the parties need to unite behind combatting this scourge before social cohesion is further undermined.