Polling day has been set for May 3. The shadow campaign is over and the real one has begun.

The media plays a crucial role in this process as it determines how the debate proceeds. As journalists, can we live up to our high-minded rhetoric about serving the public? Or will we take the easy road and focus on whatever can attract the most attention?

At The Conversation, we want to report on what matters most: the policies that can make Australia better. That’s why we've launched a policy tracker that lists the key promises across all areas of government. It will be updated throughout the campaign so you can make clear comparisons and informed decisions.

Behind the scenes we have a brilliant team working on our coverage. Our work is led by Politics Editor Amanda Dunn and written by Australia’s leading academics. If you’re looking for scrupulous impartiality and deep knowledge, there’s none better than the University of Canberra’s Michelle Grattan, or our brilliant University of Melbourne Psephologist Adrian Beaumont. Our policy coverage is led by our newly appointed Public Policy Editor Alison Carabine.

This team will be backed up by dozens of experienced editors with subject-matter expertise, and many more academics who will analyse the evidence and help you understand what the politicians are promising to do and whether it’s likely to work.

Finally, one thing we hope can set us apart is our determination to talk about the things that matter most, rather than let politicians frame the agenda to suit their interests.

With that in mind, we are conducting a Set the Agenda survey in which we ask you to help us shape the coverage by telling us what matters most to you. Please fill out the survey as soon as you can.

Thanks for supporting quality independent media. We look forward to providing you with the information you need to make an informed decision on election day, whatever that decision may be.

Misha Ketchell

Editor & Executive Director

 

Policy tracker: how will Labor, the Coalition, the Greens and the independents make Australia better?

Alison Carabine, Public Policy Editor, and The Conversation Digital Storytelling Team

Your guide to the major policy issues of the 2025 election

Best reads this week

Why is the US group chat on Houthi attack plans so concerning? A military operations expert explains

Jennifer Parker, Australian National University

Top US officials discussed plans to strike Houthi rebels on an unclassified platform with a journalist. Here are 3 questions answered by a former ADF operations specialist.

Are labels like autism and ADHD more constraining than liberating? A clinician argues diagnosis has gone too far

Nick Haslam, The University of Melbourne

A staggering rise in the prevalence of many medical conditions and the cultural attention we pay them is the subject of a new book, The Age of Diagnosis.

Why isn’t there an opposition leader to unite Democrats in the US?

Samuel Garrett, University of Sydney; Ava Kalinauskas, University of Sydney

Many other democracies have is a central figure to lead the opposition party – and deliver a counter-narrative to the party in power. It’s different in Washington.

Why Muslims often don’t celebrate Eid on the same day – even within one country

Zuleyha Keskin, Charles Sturt University

There are two major Eid celebrations each year. One marks the end of the month of Ramadan, while the other takes place during Hajj.

Lawmakers worldwide want to talk to the Meta insider whose memoir is a US bestseller – after Zuckerberg took her to court

John Hawkins, University of Canberra

Meta has obtained a court order to stop former senior employee Sarah Wynn-Williams from discussing her memoir – despite its new commitment to ‘free expression’.

The search for missing plane MH370 is back on. An underwater robotics expert explains what’s involved

Stefan B. Williams, University of Sydney

The search will involve a new fleet of underwater robots that can operate independently at depths of up to 6,000 metres for up to 100 hours at a time.

TC Weekly podcast

Politics with Michelle Grattan: It’s on – tracking policies and truth in advertising in the 2025 election

Amanda Dunn, The Conversation; Ashlynne McGhee, The Conversation

After months of speculation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dissolved parliament and called a federal election for May 3. Michelle Grattan speaks with political editor Amanda Dunn about the close…

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor on tax top-ups and budget bottom lines

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

On this podcast we are joined by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor to talk about the budget.

Our most-read article this week

Trouble at Tesla and protests against Trump’s tariffs suggest consumer boycotts are starting to bite

Erin O'Brien, Griffith University; Justine Coneybeer, Griffith University

If Donald Trump appears deaf to the protests of other governments over his policies, he may still hear the voice of corporate America should consumer boycotts spread.

In case you missed this week's big stories

 

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