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Sean Kelly is author of The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison, a regular columnist and a former adviser to Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.

Who knew? Governments do better when they actually govern

Who knew? Governments do better when they actually govern

Rather than talking about policies that may never be, Labor was able to spend the week talking about tax cuts, wage rises and power bill rebates taking effect.

  • by Sean Kelly

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Dutton’s nuclear non-policy sets a new low for political debate

Dutton’s nuclear non-policy sets a new low for political debate

The opposition leader called it “bold” and “visionary”, but his policy seems born of cowardice – namely his refusal to confront divisions on climate in the Coalition.

  • by Sean Kelly
Why Dutton’s energy switch may help Albanese keep Labor’s lights on
Opinion
Renewables

Why Dutton’s energy switch may help Albanese keep Labor’s lights on

Time is not on Peter Dutton’s side as the prime minister moves to more solid ground on climate policy.

  • by Sean Kelly
A play called Julia made me furious – about the national debates we keep stifling
Opinion
Racism

A play called Julia made me furious – about the national debates we keep stifling

We need to talk about misogyny, racism and much more. It doesn’t help when even the ABC is intimidated.

  • by Sean Kelly
As Albanese beats around the bush, Dutton’s delusions are taking root

As Albanese beats around the bush, Dutton’s delusions are taking root

Everyone’s avoiding the difficult issues, and that’s good news for Peter Dutton and his simplistic “policy” solutions.

  • by Sean Kelly
Amid the ugly Middle East debate, we’ve lost sight of the obvious

Amid the ugly Middle East debate, we’ve lost sight of the obvious

One wonders how many of those making the Israel-Hamas equivalence point, including quite a few in the press, had taken 10 minutes to read the ICC prosecutor’s statement.

  • by Sean Kelly
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Dutton’s grim picture is close to reality, but his migration schtick isn’t the solution

Dutton’s grim picture is close to reality, but his migration schtick isn’t the solution

In treating migration as his golden leadership goose, Peter Dutton is making a classic political mistake, which is to identify your strength and then over-emphasise it.

  • by Sean Kelly
Both Albanese and Dutton believe they’re on the right track. But one of them must be wrong

Both Albanese and Dutton believe they’re on the right track. But one of them must be wrong

The difficulty in politics is that at some point – and you never know when – the risk calculus flips. Tomorrow’s budget might tell us if we’re there yet.

  • by Sean Kelly
The art of good government: Slow and steady won’t win Albanese the race

The art of good government: Slow and steady won’t win Albanese the race

As the nation confronts serial crises, the Albanese government needs to operate at two speeds: swift and targeted – then slow and sustained.

  • by Sean Kelly
Scott Morrison has broken an Australian taboo, and we should be grateful

Scott Morrison has broken an Australian taboo, and we should be grateful

That the former prime minister was an active participant in our toxic political culture should not make us less sympathetic to his own difficulties.

  • by Sean Kelly
Actions speak louder, but without words we can’t see the full horror
Opinion
Crime

Actions speak louder, but without words we can’t see the full horror

Language can help us see things as if for the first time. When it fails, though, the problem does not really lie with language but with us.

  • by Sean Kelly

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/by/sean-kelly-h1d26a