The full list of articles published on this site.
6 July 2016 - Politics, Foreign Policy, Election, Environment, Social Policy, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
The weekend’s election result shows loud and clear - Australians want leadership that will demonstrate a mandate for equality and a fair go for all.
15 July 2016 - Politics, Election, Social Policy, Labor Party, Coalition
Australia is one of the world’s most successful multicultural nations.
14 July 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Coalition
The 2016 federal election is seen by many as an election where the highest number of women candidates stood for the two major parties: 59 for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and 44 for the Coalition.
13 July 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics
Australia’s 45th Parliament could have 43 women MPs sitting among its 150 members. But they are not equally split between the parties.
12 July 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
Regardless of whatever fist Malcolm Turnbull’s Coalition makes of approaching the new Parliament, arguably it is already too late. Too late for sound decision making, too late for sustainable public policy, and potentially even too late for democracy.
6 July 2016 - Politics, Election, Environment, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
Saturday’s election hasn’t made much clear yet, except that Malcolm Turnbull’s double dissolution ploy has failed dramatically, with key seats lost and an extremely problematic Senate predicted. And all this despite campaigning hard on the need for stability under a returned Coalition government.
12 July 2016 - Politics, Election
It may have taken just over a week but the result of the Australian election is now decided, with Malcolm Turnbull’s Coalition to form government.
10 July 2016 - Politics, Election
The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has formally claimed victory in the 2016 Australian federal election, eight days after the vote was held.
2 June 2016 - Politics, Election
‘Dog days.’ ‘The Greek road.’ Massively higher debt and declining real incomes.Call it what you will, but make no mistake: short of a miracle, this is where Australia is headed—irrespective of who wins the July 2 election.
4 July 2016 - Education, Health, Economy, Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition
With the election result still too close to call, one thing is clear from this partial count: there appears to be a move away from the major parties, particularly in the Senate.
29 June 2016
It's a cliffhanger! University of Melbourne experts analyse the trends behind the uncertainty
30 June 2016 - Campaign Video, Politics, Election, Social Policy, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
On Wednesday 29 June we held a "political insiders" panel discussion. Watch the video here:
5 July 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
If Australians have delivered a hung parliament, it is Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who will be calling the shots in advising the Governor-General, even if that means giving advice to give the other side a go.
4 July 2016 - Economy, Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Greens, Coalition
The prospect of a hung parliament increases the risk of Australia having it credit worthiness downgraded, Grattan Institute chief executive John Daley warns.
29 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
As the leaders make their final dash around the marginal seats at the end of a marathon election campaign, we've analysed 10 seats that are essential to understanding what will happen on Saturday.
21 April 2016 - Campaign Video, Liberal Party, Coalition
This ad was published by the Liberal Party of Australia and is part of Election Watch's campaign ad library.
25 June 2016 - Economy, Politics, Foreign Policy, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
The decision by British voters to walk out on European Union has sent economic and political shockwaves around the world.
1 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Greens, Coalition
Elections are fought and won on trust.
26 May 2016 - Health, Election
Australia has one of the world’s best health systems.
24 May 2016 - Politics, Election
24 June 2016 - Health, Economy, Labor Party, Liberal Party
Health is always a key factor in deciding which way to vote.
6 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Social Policy
According to US President Barack Obama, political discussion has deteriorated to the point where Republicans and Democrats simply don’t listen to each other.
18 May 2016 - Politics, Election
12 May 2016 - Politics, Social Policy
Changing the law sits with Australia’s MPs, not the people.
9 May 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party
In the contemporary political climate, it seems as though pundits have become incapable of giving their analysis without reference to opinion polls.
23 May 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Foreign Policy
The next Federal election is about nothing if not public policy. I don’t blame you for thinking, ‘Hello, Captain Obvious’. But let’s just take a moment to marinate on that.
27 June 2016 - Campaign Video, Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
Kevin O’Lemon, It’s Time, Whinging Wendy and now Fake Tradie – let’s face it, political ads can end up being one of the most interesting things you see during an election campaign.
30 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
What does it take to win government?
14 June 2016 - Politics, Election
The (early) polls are open! Voting started Tuesday 14th June for anyone eligible to vote before election day on July 2 – which, as it turns out, is a fair chunk of the electorate.
9 June 2016 - Economy, Foreign Policy
How much foreign aid do you think Australia invests annually?
15 June 2016 - Politics, Election
If the 2016 election campaign has left you wanting more power games, political intrigue, backstabbing and/or inspiring leadership, we know where you can find it.We asked the University of Melbourne’s political junkies for the 10 best shows for election campaign viewing.
17 June 2016 - Economy, Politics
Australia requires more stringent corporate tax enforcement, larger taxes on big inheritances and an end to negative gearing.
30 June 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Social Policy, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
Deputy New South Wales Opposition Leader Linda Burney is currently contesting the marginal seat of Barwon in inner-south Sydney. From 2003, Burney has represented the seat of Canterbury, and held many portfolios in the both the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet. After rising to become Deputy Opposition leader of the state, she has taken the logical next step to contest a federal seat – with one twist.
26 May 2016 - Economy, Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Greens
This week's ABC Four Corners program was yet another reminder of Australia's broken system for funding election campaigns.
8 April 2016 - Education, Health, Gender Watch, Politics, Labor Party
Most government policies these days look gender neutral. But in substance, government policy often has a different impact on women and men, in distributing benefits and burdens of taxes and spending. How can we ensure that taxing and spending supports women’s equality?
30 June 2016 - Campaign Video, Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
Kevin O’Lemon, It’s Time, Whinging Wendy and now Fake Tradie – let’s face it, political ads can end up being one of the most interesting things you see during an election campaign.
26 May 2016 - Politics, Election
For Australian politics to benefit from the breadth of capable potential candidates in Australia we need to review how we chose candidates.
4 April 2016
Vote Compass is a civic engagement tool.
1 July 2016 - Economy, Politics, Foreign Policy, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
University of Melbourne experts respond to Brexit.
22 June 2016 - Politics, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Election
Millions of foreign-born legal permanent residents living in Australia can’t vote; this is despite living, working, paying taxes and using public services like schools and Medicare.
1 July 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
As the longest campaign in recent memory has ambled on, all parties have struggled to sustain voters’ interests, and issues beyond Australia’s shores have shifted the election focus from change to consistency.
18 May 2016 - Politics, Election
Federal elections must be held every three years while, globally, 90% of countries have four or five-year terms.
23 May 2016 - Health, Economy, Politics
The Australian Labor Party has announced it will lift the Medicare rebate freeze if elected to office in the July federal election. What does this proposal actually mean for most of us?
28 June 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Election, Social Policy, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition
The number of politicians identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex or Queer (LGBTIQ) appears to be increasing.
4 May 2016 - Economy, Politics, Coalition
In case you’ve missed the three-word slogan, “jobs and growth” is the central message of the Coalition’s 2016 Budget, released just two months out from the federal election.
2 May 2016 - Politics, Election
Another big week in federal politics is underway, with the budget announced tomorrow.
20 May 2016 - Politics, Immigration, Election, Greens, Coalition
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s comments on ‘illiterate’ and ‘innumerate’ refugees taking Australian jobs sees us heading down a familiar path.
5 June 2016 - Education, Gender Watch, Economy
There’s one very obvious area of the Australian economy which, if addressed, can create the much desired “jobs and growth” and go a long way to address our budget black hole: the greater workforce participation of Australian women.
20 May 2016 - Politics, Foreign Policy, Immigration, National Security, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Greens, Coalition
29 June 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Election
23 June 2016 - Election
In 2015, more than 280,000 votes were received in the New South Wales election from a personal computer or mobile phone. This was the largest-ever binding election in Australia to use online voting.
28 June 2016 - Social Policy, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
Many of the issues discussed at this election are a bit like fast food: predictable, transactional, common; but lacking in substance for the long term.
22 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party
Well away from the noise and dust of the election campaign, a series of quiet rituals are taking place in the Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C), as staff prepare for the return of the serving Prime Minister – or the arrival of a new one.
14 June 2016 - Election
We recomputed the New South Wales local government elections of 2012.
8 May 2016 - Economy, Politics, Coalition
The Budget Papers tell Australians that everything is okay.
18 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
Australia’s first Facebook leaders' debate was sold as many of Malcolm Turnbull’s favourite things - innovative, agile, exciting. But the adjective that viewers are more likely to take away from it is awkward.
16 May 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Election
On Christmas Eve my best friend and I were celebrating the season by watching old music videos on YouTube. We were talking about Madonna and I said that I didn’t think she’d done anything particularly memorable since her 2000 song What It Feels Like For a Girl.
5 May 2016 - Economy, Social Policy, Coalition
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison recently handed down another budget deficit. This means that the government expects to spend more than it receives. This adds to Australia’s problem of returning to surplus.
30 June 2016 - Gender Watch, Economy, Politics, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Greens
Since the causes and experience of poverty varies between different groups of women and men, policy responses need to adopt a gender transformative lens to achieve maximum impact.
29 April 2016 - Education, Coalition
Australian school funding is in its deepest level of crisis in decades. Not only has the Coalition walked away from the landmark Gonski school funding reforms established under Labor, but it has also flagged the radical idea of cutting federal funding to public schools altogether.
10 May 2016 - Economy, Labor Party, Liberal Party
Negative gearing has no productive output, which makes it morally distinct from other sorts of investment and less obviously fair that people get money out of it.
28 April 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Social Policy
21 June 2016 - Education, Labor Party, Liberal Party
The Liberal Party has been unfairly derided over its attempt to reform Australia’s higher education sector.
8 May 2016 - Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party
Elections this year in Australia and the US will prove America has a greater share of "idiots" than Australia.
29 May 2016 - Politics, Election
Election debates tend to go one of two ways – they’re either a spectacular series of gaffes, or the performances feel scripted within an inch of life. What they should be, but rarely are, is a contest of ideas and, to give our politicians some credit here, an awful lot of effort goes into trying to achieve that.
7 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party
What's wrong with the following prediction? ‘Bill Shorten/Malcolm Turnbull led their party to a narrow win in the 2016 federal election and went on to lead Australia for two terms’.
12 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party
Here's a trick question. Just past the halfway mark of the eight-week federal election campaign, how many leaders' debates have taken place, or been scheduled, before the July 2 polling day?
21 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Greens
8 May 2016 - Economy, Politics, Election
The cost to hold a federal election has risen 15% on average since 1990. This year’s poll is predicated to cost taxpayers at least $227 million, or around $15 per voter.
17 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
Each week we're publishing a short video of where the leaders have been and what they've been doing on the campaign trail.
4 May 2016 - Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties
The federal election will be held on the 2 July. There are 150 lower house seats up for grabs. Many will be tight contests. Here are five key battles:
2 May 2016 - Campaign Video, National Security, Coalition
This ad was published by the Federal Government as part of its National Security Campaign.
23 June 2016 - Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Coalition
In about 1515, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote in The Prince: “I hold it to be true that Fortune is the arbiter of one-half of our actions, but that she still leaves us to direct the other half, or perhaps a little less.”
16 May 2016 - Economy, Politics, Election, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition
We’ve followed the leaders of the four established parties throughout the eight week campaign. To honour the countless kilometres trekked, Election Watch is giving special awards to the tiresome travellers.
26 May 2016 - Politics, Election
In a political system like Australia, where federal elections must be held every three years, what impact do they have on policy making, its processes, implementation and outcomes?
16 May 2016 - Gender Watch, Politics, Election
Australian parliaments continue to lag behind many Australian workplaces and other countries when it comes to participation by women.
6 May 2016 - Economy, Politics, Coalition
With the federal budget released, discussions about the size of the deficit have once again come to the fore. It can, however, be entirely appropriate for a budget to be in deficit.
9 June 2016 - Economy, Foreign Policy, Labor Party, Liberal Party
Benjamin Franklin wrote that in this world nothing is said to be certain but death and taxes.
16 March 2016 - Campaign Video, Labor Party
This ad was published by the Australian Labor Party and is part of Election Watch's campaign ad library.
8 April 2016 - Politics, Election, Coalition
Malcolm Turnbull has suddenly brought everything into sharp focus by giving the crossbench Senators an ultimatum:
8 June 2016 - Education, Health, Economy, Politics, Foreign Policy, Immigration, National Security, Election, Environment, Social Policy, Labor Party, Liberal Party, National Party, Greens, Coalition, Minor Parties, Independents
This election some of the fiercest competition between the two major parties has been the duelling over their respective 10-year plans/blueprints for the economy.
4 May 2016 - Economy, Politics, Coalition
Politicians of both major parties are obsessed with the number of public servants and addicted to abstract concepts such as productivity, some of which are not especially useful in many areas of public sector activity.
Independent, non-partisan analysis of election issues and policy by University of Melbourne experts
A library of the main policy documents along with expert analysis
A library of the main campaign videos and election ads
Special focus on women and the influence and impact of gender in the election
A free public debate on the Australian federal election hosted by the University of Melbourne
Take the survey to find out how your views align with party policies