Navigating the wilderness and dealing with government have a lot in common, as you may discover when Queensland changes government on October 26 and we face a federal election next year.  Federally, if Labor is re-elected, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will have to form a minority government with the Teals or, God forbid, the Greens.  […]

State Parliament sat for just three days in August. Amid the usual exchange of barbs and jibes, the State Government introduced and passed three Bills, each establishing a Commissioner. Perhaps only of interest to political or governance nerds, these pieces of legislation do more than just establish statutory authorities. They further demonstrate the fracturing of […]

One of my favourite songs at the moment is Stick Season, by the US artist Noah Kahan, which takes its name from the late autumn/early winter when the leaves have fallen in his home state of Vermont.  He describes it as “a really miserable time of year when it’s just kind of grey and cold”. As […]

SAS Group director Bernie Ripoll called last month’s federal climate “the winter of voters’ discontent.” From our perspective, the political winter is still well and truly here a month later. Federal politics has the Prime Minister caught in a whirlwind of over a dozen issues. To give you a taste, we have GDP growth, inflation, […]

Winter is traditionally a time to hibernate and take things a little slower. The sun is up later, as we are, and sets earlier. In politics, the winter break is normally a time to slow the pace, with politicians to be in their electorates and at home if not on an overseas delegation. But this […]

We find ourselves at the precipice of a heated and scrappy campaign, but for now, there is an eerie calm before the campaign proper starts. This gives you plenty of time to read our election brief, setting the scene for October’s poll. July saw the annual budget estimates take place, with the Opposition taking up […]

There’s a little-known but widespread pandemic that can overtake small sections of the population every three to four years. The most common warning signs of candidate-itis are feverish activity, difficulty sleeping, and permanently high anxiety levels. While there is no known treatment, the condition is demonstrated to end abruptly after election day. The SAS Group […]

I tend to do people’s heads in. It’s mostly unintentional, but sometimes for fun. I’m an Anglican priest and have been politically active since I was a kid. I grew up in the bush but have become urbanised with a ridiculous coffee order. I am a graduate of journalism, political science, theology, and the Australian […]

This period during the winter recess of Parliament can be a tough time for incumbent governments, particularly when its less than a year out from a federal election. During this time governments should be clearing the decks for an election,  be right on message, and out every day selling its achievements. For the Albanese Government, this […]