Shaun Carney
Shaun Carney is associate editor of The Age. He is the author of books on industrial relations and the life of Peter Costello, and has been commended by the Walkley Award judges for his political columns.
Aggression pays in king hits on Labor
Shaun Carney Don't expect any gentler, kinder politics. The ALP is on the canvas and Tony Abbott isn't likely to change tactics now.
A perfectly timed punch
Shaun Carney Going sour on those in power is nothing new - but in 2010 it coincided with an election.
Unmasking voter despair
Shaun Carney The structures that have underpinned Australian politics are fractured.
Success undersold
Shaun Carney Labor learnt how to be good economic managers, now they have to learn how to sell the good news to the electorate.
No time for big pictures
Shaun Carney Voters are right to yearn for more, but it's wrong to see the past as a golden age.
A shot at the title
Shaun Carney After winning the Liberal leadership by one vote, it's remarkable that Abbott is within striking distance of The Lodge.
No time to run out of puff
Shaun Carney An election campaign is more marathon than sprint, and it's the finish that counts.
Abbott happy to feel the love in a seniors moment
Shaun Carney Tony Abbott once described himself as the political love child of Bronwyn Bishop and John Howard. Yesterday, he drew himself close to the maternal bosom.
Let us entertain you
Shaun Carney Our leaders are expected to juggle voters' personal policy obsessions while putting on a show to rival MasterChef.
The time bomb that could go off under Gillard at any tick
Shaun Carney The Labor Party's election campaign effort is, at best, one more traitorous leak away from collapse.
PM's people power
Shaun Carney Gillard wants to take climate policy beyond the political arena and use the weight of public opinion to get it through.
Abbott the naysayer chokes on a yes
Shaun Carney Tony Abbott has had some bad days when he really, really didn't need them, right at the start of his formal attempt to convince Australian voters he is a substantial enough figure to deserve being...
Dawn of a ruthless new era
Shaun Carney This will be only the second election in the past 50 years in which neither of the prime ministerial contenders has prior experience of leading their parties through a campaign.
Back in the game
Shaun Carney Labor’s switch to Gillard has made it competitive, but you wouldn’t put your house on it winning the election.
PM sings of working class hero
Shaun Carney It has taken almost 20 years, but at long last the Labor Party appears willing to fully absorb and re-embrace the phenomenon that was Bob Hawke.
Gillard's gamble
Shaun Carney Just another ALP backflip or an early political master stroke? Voters could judge as soon as in eight weeks.
Politics as guerilla warfare
Shaun Carney It's not pretty, but knocking off your leader is nothing new - just ask Tony Abbott.
PM opens up the tent
Shaun Carney Julia Gillard has learnt from Rudd's mistakes, outlining plans to be more inclusive and to consult her colleagues.
How pride in his brilliance came before the fall
Shaun Carney Rudd's fall from the prime ministership was spectacular and unprecedented, a plunge so precipitous that it is difficult to comprehend.
Hell hath no fury like a deputy scorned
Shaun Carney Bit by bit during the past two months, Kevin Rudd squandered his authority as Prime Minister. But he could always rely on his deputy, Julia Gillard, to back him - until yesterday, when a newspaper...
