“Disunity is death” – like all cliches it’s just as likely to be wrong if applied in the wrong context. Today’s Newspoll provides arguable proof that the Liberal Party leadership tussle might actually be helping the government. There are a number of possible explanations for the poll result. One is that the positive move to […]

According to the AC Nielsen survey in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, 46% of Australians believe Peter Costello’s story on the leadership deal compared to 35%who believe Howard, yet 63% prefer Howard as prime minister compared to only 25% for Costello. It’s the relationship between these two figures that explains why the deal was no deal. […]

Still trying to come to grips with the Costello Follies, which he appears to be determined to keep alive. I’m having trouble working out who wins out of all of this. John Howard doesn’t, because he always had Costello where he wanted him. Costello doesn’t, just look at the quotes coming out of the Liberal […]

When will Peter Costello resign? This afternoon’s press stories make this necessary, but difficult for him to achieve with dignity or credibility. You cannot effectively say that the Prime Minister lied, as Costello does in this report and this one, and stay in your job as 2-I-C. At any rate, not if you’ve got it […]

What a classic quote: “Well it makes you wonder, doesn’t it, why a person like McLachlan would carry around some notes in a diary for 12 years and then produce them. I mean Ian McLachlan is not known for opening his wallet, let alone his diary.” – Liberal backbencher Alby Schultz commenting on the latest […]

The early release from jail of militant Indonesian Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir always sat oddly with Howard’s proposed amendments to The Migration Act. If the reason for changing the law was Indonesian affront at DIMIA’s decision to give refugee status to 41 out of 42 West Papuan refugees, what would Indonesia give to assuage […]

I’ve been a bit neglectful of this blog for a couple of weeks. It’s not atypical of the “blogosphere” – the infatuation is definitely wearing off for many of the bloggers we feature in The Domain, at least measured by volume of postings. So, I think it’s about time that this blog became a bit […]

Has anyone else been struck by the way that Oppostion Foreign Affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd has lingered in Dili and always appears to be available for live media crosses? Reminds me of the appearances at Beaconsfield of Bill Shorten. Shorten made himself into the de facto spokesperson for the miners as well the employers, and […]

It’s now official – the Liberal/National merger is dead. The state Coalition pollies had a first chance to kill the merger Monday at their joint party-room meeting. They missed and allowed their leadership team to claim that they had unanimous support for the proposal (whatever the proposal was supposed to be). Yesterday the phones started […]