The Latest Breaking News from Bob Hawke

This essay is longer than our usual articles, so please set aside a little extra time to read and enjoy.

Industrial relations issues were front and centre when federal Labor last won office from opposition in 2007. The backlash against John Howard’s “Work Choices” reforms cost both his government and his own seat. Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard’s detailed “Forward with Fairness” policy provided a blueprint for the Fair Work…

Political commentators often use the idea of a political spectrum from left to right as shorthand for understanding political ideologies, parties and programs. Derived from the arrangement of the National Assembly in the French Revolution, it has been a remarkably resilient form of political shorthand.

Labor has inherited an economy with a pretty full “head of steam”.

Labor’s successful bid for government – only its fifth victory from opposition since the first world war – was based on an experiment that no one could have known would work.

Scott Morrison will order “well paid” public servant bosses to make $2.7 billion in cuts to help the government claw back its trillion-dollar debt.

In a speech to WA business leaders, Anthony Albanese has said he will aim to invoke the leadership of previous prime ministers from the state.

He's set to be the next Australian Prime Minister. So who is Anthony Albanese? Paul Strangio, Professor of Politics at Monash University, profiles a man on the cusp of history.

Today we are running two longer articles looking at the men who are vying to be the next Australian prime minister. You can read Michelle Grattan’s profile of Scott Morrison here.

On May 21, voters in Melbourne's western fringe will be casting a ballot in a newly formed electorate for the first time. Traditionally a safe Labor territory, residents say the often-overlooked area needs federal government attention and investment.

In troubled times, people look for strong leaders – men and women who offer decisive action to address collective problems, and promise the capacity to deliver. They initially present as larger-than-life characters, and we’ve had our share of them: Robert Menzies, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and perhaps Kevin…