Dutton’s tightrope

Peter Dutton has not steered the Coalition to a new course after their heavy election defeat, preferring to maintain party unity and wait for Labor to falter.

Labor refreshes foreign policy

Over a hundred days into Labor’s Federal term, have there been changes of style or substance in Australia’s foreign policy?

Celebrating Australian democracy

In seeking to safeguard our democracy, we must consider the extent to which Australians’ long-standing apathy about our democratic system allowed Morrison to treat it with such contempt.

Cabinet of curiosities

Given the informality and flexibility of cabinet government, it would be counter-productive to codify these conventions. But there’s a strong case for them to be restated – as they have been in the solicitor-general’s advice.

Access without insight

The publication of “Plagued” by Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers, is destined to become a classic study of the perils for journalists in writing books about current political events.

Shutting the trough

It’s time to take the pork off the table. Better processes and oversight of grant funding would help safeguard the public interest from political self-interest.

A crisis of accountability

The problem with the secret ministerial appointments, which were not communicated to the cabinet of the day, relevant ministers or the public, is that our system of government depends on transparency and trust.

Should Morrison resign from Parliament?

Liberal frontbencher Karen Andrews isn’t alone among her colleagues in believing Scott Morrison should quit parliament in the wake of the ‘secret minister’ scandal.

One man committee

Scott Morrison’s secret appointment of himself to a string of government ministries was not illegal, but did flout the conventions of how cabinet government, ministerial accountability and administrative transparency should work.

Will the teals take seats in NSW?

Although part of the federal teal success was due to “strategic” voting by some Labor supporters, victories for state community candidates in Victoria and NSW would reinforce the message that Liberal supporters are migrating to a new political force.

Restoring faith in pubic appointments

Handpicked political appointments to public institutions and plum jobs have undermined public faith in the system, and cost several high powered people their jobs in recent times.

Jobs for the boys

A new Grattan Institute report shows that political appointments are common at state and federal levels and reveals the costs all Australians bear when governments choose mates over merit.