Australia has a proud history of protest, but protesters have too often been met with violence. Politicians set the tone by how they talk about our democratic right to protest. More from me on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog: live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

Most power-sharing agreements between major parties and minor parties/independents are public -- So why is the Coalition Agreement secret? @skyelark.bsky.social on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog live.thepoint.com.au?post=928adea...

Nationals have for many years held what were thought of as the safest starts in the country, with One Nation preferences helping ward off Labor. One Nation's rise is a another reminder that there are no safe seats. On @thepointau.bsky.social live blog live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

With the Victorian state election less than a year away, here's five ways to strengthen democracy in the state: On @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...

My take on the politics of the week -- for the @australiainstitute.org.au newsletter. If you want regular updates straight to your inbox, sign up on the website: nb.australiainstitute.org.au/subscribe

Let's get this straight. Adani donates $600k the Qld LNP before election. After the election, Qld LNP ends legal action over $400 MILLION in unpaid royalties. Dodgy, dodgy, dodgy. Thread. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Why are we still going on about the "friendless" FOI bill? Isn't it doomed? When even the Liberals tell us "Never say never", it would be a mistake to let up now. More from me on The Point live blog. live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

It's not just about federal politics - the South Australian election is less than two months away. Four things to watch for, on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog. live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

Loopholes in Victoria's political donation laws mean the major parties receive uncapped gifts from their fundraising arms while donation caps apply to everyone else. @browne90.bsky.social #auspol

This is a WILD case for those following along at home. Seems the Government agrees their own donation laws are unconstitutional(!)

Albanese Government dragged out the 30-day freedom of information process for another 120 days to disguise how flimsy their arguments are. Now we have the docs, there's nothing in them to support the Govt's push to limit freedom of information rights. live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

The Nationals are the party of the bush, making Liberals the party of the city, right? In fact, Libs have lost most of their metro seats -- so One Nation's rise in the regions threatens the Libs as much as the Nats. @skyelark.bsky.social on @thepointau.bsky.social live.thepoint.com.au#732cfc1bdd

Sussan Ley has apparently escaped leadership challenge today -- Breaking a pattern of summertime "libspills" that have already made Ms Ley the second-most senior Liberal opposition leader in the country. More on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog: live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

Two former independent candidates are at the High Court today, arguing that loopholes in Victoria's donation laws unfairly benefit the major parties. Has implications for unfair and rushed federal and SA laws. On @thepointau.bsky.social live blog -- live.thepoint.com.au?post=4eaadbf...

“Last year, Labor, Liberal and the Nationals voted together to dramatically increase taxpayer funding – to the extent that when the next election comes around, the taxpayer will be funding over half of the cost of major party election campaigns.” - Bill Browne Read more: https://theaus.in/45Lcjbb

“In Australia, it’s perfectly legal to lie in a political ad. And thanks to taxpayer funding of election campaigns, you could be the one paying for the ad that lies to you," writes Bill Browne from The Australia Institute. Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4kn5u5S

Adding fuel to the fires. My cartoon in today's @theageaustralia.bsky.social

Politicians don't always want power -- being forced to do something or blocked from doing something can be a great excuse to get what you want without copping the fallout. More from me in @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

As @parkermolloy.com asks in this brilliant piece, “What part of this was hard to see coming?” In the Australian context, pretty telling that it was @aunz.theconversation.com that had the space for that kind of evidence-based analysis. www.readtpa.com/p/this-is-li...

The Nationals only won NSW and Vic Senate seats thanks to joint ticket with Libs -- SMH reports this is not lost on Libs who now only have to win two seats, not three. www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Countries including UK, Norway, NZ and South Africa called on Australia to implement an Australian Human Rights Act last night. They heard 150+ Australian orgs calling for human rights at the heart of our laws so everyone can enjoy their rights. Support a Human Rights Act: humanrightsact.org.au

If you think coal and gas corporates like Woodside, Chervron, INPEX and Glencore, who are fuelling these disasters should pay the costs…instead of YOU! Support @ausinstitutearchi.bsky.social call for a Climate Disaster Levy on fossil fuel exports👇 nb.australiainstitute.org.au/climatedisas...

Native forestry logging in NSW in breach of environmental regulations "will continue except when it is interrupted by community initiatives and citizen science" writes Bob Debus, former NSW Enviro Minister. thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

Credit where credit is due - the SA Department for Energy and Mining has changed its processes to remove any ‘threat’ in its #FOI determination letters not to publish decision letters. 💪#saparli

A hundred-year history of the Nationals (or their predecessor) influencing who leads the Liberal Party (or its predecessors). From @benraue.com www.tallyroom.com.au/64146

The non compete is what separates the Coalition from other parliamentary coalitions that are ad hoc between parties that do compete with each other but agree to a set of rules to make governing together viable in the Parliament the voters gave them.

Seems like a good time to share my explainer -- what is the Opposition and who decides who the Opposition Leader is? On @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...

"I don't think the government knows what the consequences of this legislation are, let alone the rest of us." @browne90.bsky.social, @amyremeikis.bsky.social & @ebonybennett.bsky.social discuss Australia's new hate laws & this week's emergency sitting of parliament. #auspol 🎧 theaus.in/4qVYWx4

Big night in the Senate last night. If you want to catch up on what happened in the Senate, as it happened, @amyremeikis.bsky.social was live blogging to the very end, catch up here: live.thepoint.com.au

The rushed gun control/hate speech bill (to be split) was considered over just a couple of days by a committee that excludes independents and minor parties. Minor party representatives are being asked to vote on laws they didn't get a chance to review. live.thepoint.com.au?post=85c7c31...

On @thepointau.bsky.social live blog, Jack Thrower explains what media gets wrong on protests: A protest is not just an expression of opinion (unlike an op-ed): it is a political tactic aimed at achieving a political objective (a change to government policy). live.thepoint.com.au/2026/01/the-...

Do the sensational claims about One Nation's polling hold up under scrutiny? In @thepointau.bsky.social , I explain what "two-party preferred" means and what it's used (and misused) for. thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...

ChatGPT is a scapegoat. It may lift the quality of work of the worst students, but universities were already giving poor work a passing grade. It is the universities who broke trust first -- not the students. On @thepointau.bsky.social -- thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

Good argument from Clare Armstrong: "Whether or not the Coalition's concerns are legitimate, almost all are the result of their decision to push Labor to move quickly." www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

“What makes the travel expenses media pile-on particularly unjust is that Minister Wells was in the United States explaining and promoting a policy that the media campaigned for." - Bill Browne, The Australia Institute Read Bill Browne’s full piece on The Point: thepoint.com.au/opinions/lab...

Read more about the changes to South Australia's political donation laws ⤵️ australiainstitute.org.au/post/south-a...

A South Australian MP facing serious allegations could access $100,000 in taxpayer funds following changes to state political donation laws. "It's a very crude, blunt object which doesn't necessarily allocate funds based on current popular public support." @browne90.bsky.social #auspol

In @thenewdaily.bsky.social How govts can out-manoeuvre big tech: Draw on popular support. Follow through on enforcement. Don't wait for multinational agreement. Earn trust. Do the work of convincing the public. Australia’s experience matters for the world. www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2026...

It was always known that an MP facing serious allegations would be eligible for taxpayer funding. SA Govt rushed these donation laws, avoiding a multi-party inquiry that would have tested for constitutionality, fairness, value for money. Thomas Kelsall for ABC: www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Letting property developer make political donations could "increase corruption risk", according to the Crime & Corruption Commission. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

The Internet is not a lawless Wild West, and over the last five years Australia has been at the pointy end of tech regulation. Lessons from news media bargaining code, eSafety, Misinformation Bill and the (fraught) social media age ban in @thepointau.bsky.social. thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

What do the Liberals and Nationals get out of the Coalition Agreement? Barnaby Joyce’s defection late last year raises an uncomfortable question: are the Liberals being taken for a ride? thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...

Increase in the size of Parliament, with more senators and MPs, a live possibility. ABC News elections chief @caseybriggs.com flags as something to watch for 2026. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

"Public servants had admitted to witnessing but failing to report at least 554 instances of corruption, including nepotism, fraud, cronyism and conflicts of interest." Adds to 1,000s of incidents that have been reported to the NACC. From @paulkarp.bsky.social www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Observations from @rodcampbell.bsky.social on weakening mining lobby pair nicely with this @australiainstitute.org.au research showing Aus govts increasingly willing to defy corporate lobby groups. australiainstitute.org.au/report/trade...

Last week on @thepointau.bsky.social I IDed five ways to strengthen democracy in Victoria. Labor Govt has been forced to move a little on one of these already: making political donation laws more fair. Thanks to High Court challenge on political speech grounds. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

The parliamentary committee inquiring into the 2025 federal election wants to hear from you! Deadline extended to 28 Feb 2026 to hear from more members of the public. www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...

Kerry O'Brien's warning that Labor wants to make it easier for govts to flout freedom of information laws confirmed. Fact check for @thepointau.bsky.social by @skyelark.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/factchecks/2...

Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a govt is to lose a vote -- sparing that govt from the disastrous consequences of its promises. From me on @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...

One year out, these five policies to strengthen Victoria's democracy could define next year's state election campaign: new from @browne90.bsky.social on The Point #auspol thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...