• Defence and Security

    Defending ourselves


    Bill Sweetman |  April 19, 2025


    Donald Trump’s America is no longer a trusted ally or defence supplier, and so the allied nations which remain must focus on developing their own hardware to defend themselves against Chinese and Russian aggression.


  • Politics and Policy

    Enough is enough


    David Andrews |  April 19, 2025


    Australia has bent over backwards to survive the Trump 2.0 whirlwind, but at some point we’ll have to stand tall.


  • Politics and Policy

    Fear and loathing on the campaign trail


    Michelle Grattan |  April 19, 2025


    Phantasmagorical policy promises, TV meltdowns, gonzo journalists, the current Australian campaign may be dull but political campaigns were once the stuff of passion and high drama so the Conversation asked 10 experts to nominate their favourite book about the hustings.


Latest Story

  • Strongmen and super-daddies

    Blair Williams     |      April 18, 2025

    Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton’s adoption of particular masculine identities reveals not only how they want to be perceived but also how they envision the electorate, the nation, and its defining values.

  • The state of the states

    David Clune     |      April 18, 2025

    Politicians of all stripes are zig-zagging across the country to spruik their policies and achievements, and the places they choose to visit – or ignore – offer insights into their electoral priorities and strategy.

  • A brief history of hot cross buns

    Darius von Guttner Sporzynski     |      April 18, 2025

    Hot cross buns appear in your local supermarket on boxing day, but the tasty bun has long been associated with Easter, and perhaps dates back long before.

  • The last lap

    Stephen Mills     |      April 17, 2025

    The party leaders are approaching the final lap of the election campaign. With policy speeches delivered, and rival policies on housing finally released, the campaign has begun its final week, interrupted by Easter, before early voting starts.

  • One nation?

    Andrew Jakubowicz     |      April 17, 2025

    In the run up to the May 3 election, questions are being raised about the value of multiculturalism as a public policy in Australia.

  • Second debate – same result

    Andy Marks     |      April 17, 2025

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton continued to trade barbs and platitudes in their second televised debate, this time hosted by the ABC.

  • Focus on the housing crisis

    Rachel Ong ViforJ     |      April 16, 2025

    The housing crisis has prompted a series of housing promises from across the political spectrum, but Australia needs ideas that will actually work, rather than marginal handouts.

  • Whose Medicare?

    Jialing Lin     |      April 16, 2025

    MyMedicare is a scheme that encourages patients to register with a regular GP practice to improve their health but only about 10% of patients have signed up since its launch in October 2023.

  • Treating defence like it matters

    Marc Ablong     |      April 16, 2025

    The National Defence Strategy released in April 2024 warned that Australia’s strategic circumstances were rapidly deteriorating in the face of Russian and Chinese aggression, and the election of Donald Trump underlines the need for Australia to prepare to defend itself.

  • University protest clampdown

    Joo-Cheong Tham     |      April 15, 2025

    Australia’s major universities have imposed new restrictions on campus protests after a raft of anti-Israel demonstrations , so what does this mean for students, staff and democracy?

  • Dutton risks Pacific backlash

    Wesley Morgan     |      April 15, 2025

    Australia’s relationship with its regional neighbours could be in doubt under a Coalition government after two Pacific leaders challenged Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his weak climate stance.

  • The information insurgency

    Jacob Ware     |      April 15, 2025

    Democracies must highlight the virtues of their systems and rally against autocratic and authoritarian movements around the world by giving citizens the tools they need to protect themselves from disinformation.