One of Scott Morrison’s more surprising claims during the election campaign was his assertion that elections aren’t popularity contests. He could scarcely have been wider of the mark – elections being, of course, the ultimate popularity contest. But he made a related observation that was much closer to the truth: that elections are about “you”, the voter.
Now that we the voters have made our choice, are we going to own the result? As Shaun Carney writes, a key task for Labor will be to ensure voters aren’t swayed by detractors in the Coalition and media who’ll argue against the new government’s legitimacy. Failing to do so will harm its ability to govern.
And what of the Liberals? Mark Kenny argues that Morrison’s “great electoral bungle” has left the party depleted and in disarray. The question now will be whether they are willing to hear the message the voters have shouted at them.
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Amanda Dunn
Section Editor: Politics + Society
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Shaun Carney, Monash University
Now that Labor has won and the Liberal Party has been severely wounded, its enemies will be baying for blood, so a first order of business will be to make Australian voters glad they elected them.
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Mark Kenny, Australian National University
Menzies’ party has been delivered a massive blow - complete with loud messages - from its traditional base. The question now is whether it will listen.
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Greg Barton, Deakin University
At this week’s meetings, Japan and India will be looking for signs that Australia is serious about Asia. The US will be reviewing its expectations about its AUKUS partner.
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Camilla Nelson, University of Notre Dame Australia
The message from the weekend was the things that really matter to women matter at the ballot box, too.
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Stephen Duckett, The University of Melbourne
Primary care and COVID will be the top two challenges for new government. But the likely ministers have strong credentials.
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Saul Eslake, University of Tasmania
Inflation, a slowdown in China and recessions in the US and elsewhere are big risks. Labor’s mandate is limited. It needs to build the case for an expanded one now.
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Paul Williams, Griffith University
The aftershocks of the 2022 federal election are likely to reverberate around the nation’s party system for years to come.
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John Phillimore, Curtin University
Labor holds the majority of Western Australia’s lower house seats for the first time since 1990.
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Catharine Coleborne, University of Newcastle
The Coalition government showed a disdain for the arts, humanities and social sciences. The plight of these disciplines requires action from the incoming Labor government on three fronts.
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Gregory Melleuish, University of Wollongong
This election seems to indicate a major division opening up between the city and the bush.
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Politics + Society
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Wes Mountain, The Conversation; Amanda Dunn, The Conversation; Liam Petterson, The Conversation
Explore the seats that changed hands, the make-up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the two party preferred vote in our 2022 federal election at-a-glance graphic.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The rout of Scott Morrison goes beyond the defeat of his government. It has left behind a Liberal party that is now a flightless bird.
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Zareh Ghazarian, Monash University
Once referred to as its ‘jewel in the crown’, Victoria has turned its back on the Liberal Party, taking with it some of its key MPs.
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Emma Lee, Swinburne University of Technology
Prime Minister Albanese’s victory speech commitment to the Uluru Statement brings new possibilities for First Nations peoples’ Voice to Parliament.
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Adrian Beaumont, The University of Melbourne
If Labor wins majority government, it can thank Western Australia, which turned away from the Coalition savagely.
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Ataus Samad, Western Sydney University
New research looks at the complex reasons a leader’s political career might end, from the perspectives of those who are no longer politicians.
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Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato
Ukraine is one of the world’s breadbaskets, but exports have been blockaded by Russia. Despite grave potential consequences in famine-prone countries, international law is largely silent.
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Health + Medicine
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C Raina MacIntyre, UNSW Sydney
Two cases of monkeypox have been reported in Australia. Resurgence of this virus could be due to the ending of smallpox vaccination.
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Peggy Kern, The University of Melbourne
Have you ever noticed tiredness and illness can make us feel close to the verge of tears? Here’s what’s happening in the brain.
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Hassan Vally, Deakin University
With the right training, dogs can sniff out more than 90% of COVID cases.
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Science + Technology
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Steven Tingay, Curtin University
What kind of evidence would we really need, before we could reasonably conclude alien contact had been made?
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Environment + Energy
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Anna Skarbek, Climateworks Centre; Anna Malos, Climateworks Centre
Labor’s climate and energy policies provide an important foundation for progress. But the crossbenchers, whether they hold the balance of power or not, will demand far more.
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Anna Hurlimann, The University of Melbourne; Geoffrey Browne, The University of Melbourne; Georgia Warren-Myers, The University of Melbourne; Judy Bush, The University of Melbourne; Sareh Moosavi, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
Australia’s policies prevent the necessary action to not only address cities’ contribution to climate change, but also to protect cities from its impacts.
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Education
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Jess Harris, University of Newcastle
The problem of insecure employment for academics came to a head during the pandemic. The neglect of this issue is eroding our intellectual capital along with education and employment opportunities.
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Arts + Culture
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Liz Giuffre, University of Technology Sydney
He is one of the biggest pop stars in the world. You don’t get there without your fans.
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Books + Ideas
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Roz Bellamy, La Trobe University
At Certain Points We Touch tells the story of a doomed relationship in a way that explores the parallels between writing and coming out.
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Business + Economy
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Jennifer Curtin, University of Auckland; Komathi Kolandai, University of Auckland; Oluwakemi Igiebor, University of Auckland; Suzy Morrissey, University of Auckland
Only by requiring state agencies to budget and plan for gender equity can genuine well-being be achieved for New Zealand’s women.
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Featured jobs
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Featured Events, Courses & Podcasts
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— Victoria, Australia — The Conversation Weekly Podcast
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— Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium, 140 Grey Street , South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia — Griffith University
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— Level 21, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales, 2007, Australia — University of Technology Sydney
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— Monash University Clayton and Online Webinar, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia — Monash University
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