The attack on Helen Haines must change how Australia does politics
Australia needs a politics that can withstand fierce disagreement without making cruelty a form of entertainment or intimidation a condition of public service. Helen Haines should have been able to go to work and return home safely. That is the starting…
Clash of the Titans: Hastie, Ben Roberts-Smith and One Nation
Andrew Hastie deserves credit for standing by his sworn evidence in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case. One Nation’s attacks have exposed a disturbing idea of loyalty: that protecting a celebrated soldier’s reputation should matter more than a…
Georgia Tree Secret Harbour by-election: lessons for Labor
Standfirst: The Georgia Tree Secret Harbour by-election was a difficult contest and a sharp wake-up call for Labor. The party campaigned hard, but early message control, questions about residency and wider economic frustration made it harder for voters…
To Strike or Not to Strike: When Student Protests Becomes a Real-World Lesson in Democracy
Students were told they should be in classrooms rather than protesting Pauline Hanson. But when young people peacefully engage with politics, scrutinise elected representatives and speak about decisions that will shape their future, are they stepping…
The Ten Commandments vs One Nation: Does the Party Practise the Christian Values It Appeals To?
One Nation often presents itself as a defender of traditional Australian and Christian values. That makes the Ten Commandments a useful ethical test—not because a political party should behave like a church, but because a movement invoking traditional…
Pauline Hanson’s media ban is all about controlling the story, not demanding fairness
By excluding journalists from the ABC, Guardian Australia and The Age, Pauline Hanson is not merely protesting unfavourable reporting. She is restricting the public’s access to scrutiny and creating an environment where political claims can be presented…
One Nation’s Secret Harbour Candidate Faces Questions Over Drug Use, Speeding Video and Party Vetting
Luke Herdegen says his troubled past is a story of recovery rather than a reason to reject him. That may be true, but voters are still entitled to ask what One Nation knew before selecting him and whether its law-and-order standards are applied…
When Vibes Trump Policy, Hanson and other populist leaders get the Upper Hand
Populist leaders often win support by making voters feel seen, angry and aggrieved, even when their policies are vague, contradictory and are highly unlikely to solve the problems they describe, instead often making them worse. Politics is supposed to…
Pauline Hanson Says She Stands Up for Women. Her Words and Votes Tell a Different Story
Calling domestic violence a “two-way street” risks reinforcing the shame and self-blame that already keep victim-survivors silent. Pauline Hanson has generated justified criticism after describing domestic violence as a “two-way street” during a Brisbane…