Time to deliver

Labor made a lot of promises and spending commitments during the election campaign, so it’s now time to deliver results and achieve its housing, wages and other economic aims.

What’s the big idea?

After a modest list of achievements in its first term, Labor has the majority and political capital to pursue more ambitious goals in its second term, so what policy reforms should it take on?

Did Labor deliver?

Democratic governments across the globe tend to deliver roughly two-thirds of their promises, though most voters believe it is far fewer, so how did Labor do in its first term?

Labor needs a refreshed message

Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party’s hope of clinging to government in 2025 hinges on dramatically reshaping their pitch to voters more concerned about hip-pocket issues than broader economic messages.

Shorten’s plea for moderation

In his farewell speech to Parliament, Bill Shorten has declared himself ‘a proud moderate’ and that Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t be hostage to intolerant fringes.

Happy Christmas, Albo?

Halfway into its first term, the big question is whether the Albanese government is in a temporary bad patch, or at the beginning of a downhill slide.

One nation

Anthony Albanese will be taking nothing for granted in his relations with Labor state and territory governments and the premiers and chief ministers will know better than to expect too many free kicks.

Hard choices lie ahead

Labor faces an interconnected international polycrisis, encompassing Russia’s war in Europe, an aggressive China, climate change and the environment, energy, the continuing pandemic, a deepening geopolitical divide and dysfunctional global institutions with rising inflation, declining real wages and stagnant productivity at home.

Blue skies and deep waters

The Prime Minister and his Treasurer have proved their ability to handle the public since taking office, but whether the Federal government will prove as adept at handling the looming policy challenges facing Australia is the big question for 2023.

Labor has its work cut out

Labor came to power with a minimal manifesto but action is required to handle the parlous economy and deteriorating international situation it has inherited.

Albanese needs to walk the talk on Labor’s integrity issue

The Labor leader has campaigned relentlessly against the government on a range of integrity issues and so to soft pedal on his party’s own ‘branch stacking’ scandal smacks of double standards and a failure of leadership.

What now for Federal Labor?

Anthony Albanese is more popular than some of his predecessors, but voters also don’t have a clear sense of who he is and what he offers.