Labor Party
Is Julia Gillard the Peter Reith of the Labor Party?
John Passant Julia Gillard is the Peter Reith of the Labor Party. Of course she's more nuanced, more articulate and has more influence over the trade union movement than Reith.
Basic steps needed to rid this state of corruption
John Hatton When I announced my candidacy for the upper house at the state election in March, I said: ''NSW is a corrupt state.'' That statement went unchallenged.
Beware risks of change when political system is working well
Gerard Henderson How strange it is that the calls for greater accountability of elected politicians have been accompanied by scant attention in the media about what is on the agenda of the rural independent MPs and...
Telltale signs of a leader in election mode
David Rood What can be learnt from the saga that has been the 2010 federal election, to help decipher the state poll? You'll know John Brumby is in trouble if he starts talking about the risk Opposition Leader...
No need to be afraid of a tax on carbon
Fiona Armstrong The most significant policy issue in the deal struck between the Australian Greens and the Australian Labor Party was that of climate policy.
A chance to reform NSW Labor's worst gambling habits
Peter Hartcher Already, the new power of independents in Federal Parliament seems set to achieve one useful reform - encouraging some self-restraint on poker machine gambling.
Recent history will give Gillard no comfort for what lies ahead
Anne Summers As Julia Gillard tries to put in place a minority government, she must be hoping she can avoid the fate of two other prominent female political leaders: Kim Campbell in Canada and Tzipi Livni in...
Cheap charade by Labor's spin doctors stripped bare
Rodney Tiffen They were witless men, not faceless men. The Liberals' constant invocation of the faceless men who overthrew Kevin Rudd and installed Julia Gillard was good politics but bad history.
Brown the winner in hard-ball game
Michelle Grattan This might be a very 'old paradigm' view of things, but Bob Brown seems to have had a comprehensive win over Julia Gillard.
Kind and gentle no more than words
Phillip Coorey The last time Tony Abbott spoke of the need for a ''kinder, gentler'' approach to politics, all hell broke loose.
Public passion for a republic is waning
Paul Daley Polling shows more people now oppose a republic. Meanwhile, the Queen's representative Quentin Bryce is a pivotal figure in determining who should form a government after the election.
It's no tea party
Josh Gordon After a near-death experience, rebirth is the only way forward for ALP.
Proof there's something rotten in our planning processes
Mary Drost and Sonya Rutherford Delahunty's scorn of resident groups is just grist to the mill.
Mixed metaphors make more sense
Philippe Mora Apparently one is not supposed to mix metaphors but, forgive me, this last election defies logic. So in trying to describe it, I dozed on and off, like the Labor Party biting the hand that rocks the...
A perfectly timed punch
Shaun Carney Going sour on those in power is nothing new - but in 2010 it coincided with an election.
A chance to end the mindless allegiance of party discipline
John Hirst Parliament lost respect because members have to vote as automatons.
Nine steps to a political revolution
Andrew West Nathan Rees just doesn't get it. Last week, as the federal election campaign exhausted itself, the former NSW premier was giving evidence in the Independent Commission Against Corruption, as part of...
A hearty donation to the Greens leaves a bitter aftertaste
Lisa Pryor So anyway, electoral reform. Looks like something could actually happen if there is enough pressure from a loose, very loose, coalition of square glasses and Akubra hats in Parliament.
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.
Existential angst for a rudderless ALP gang
Martin Flanagan The Labor Party was formed around the same time, and from similar conditions, as the Collingwood Football Club.
