Our Team

Dennis Shanahan has been The Australian’s Canberra Bureau Chief, then Political Editor and now National Editor based in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery since 1989 covering every Budget, election and prime minister since then. He has been in journalism since 1971 and has a master’s Degree in Journalism from Columbia University, New York.

Latest

VIDEO ANALYSISNation

Dennis Shanhan has written on the election.

Where the 2025 election campaign will be won and lost | WATCH

Anthony Albanese needs more than a Rabbitohs win to become the first PM since John Howard to be re-elected in more than two decades.

Dennis Shanahan

COMMENTARYPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - March 27, 2025: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Time for one last salvo of cheers, jeers, insults and cliches

It wasn’t until the very last words of Anthony Albanese at the very end of parliamentary question time that it became absolutely clear that Thursday’s sitting was the last of the first term of the Labor government.

Dennis Shanahan

commentaryNation

## Strictly embargoed for Inquirer, March 8 ## 5 March 2025: Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton in front of red flags showing issues around Australia. Sources: Pexels, iStock and NewsWire. Artwork by Frank Ling. Ratio 4:3

Has Peter Dutton delivered the ‘speech of his life’ without actually delivering it?

Anthony Albanese’s declaration the election will be called ‘soon’ – and the expectation that soon will be Friday for May 3 – risks looking like a vote of no confidence in Jim Chalmers’ budget and panic at Peter Dutton’s reply.

Dennis Shanahan

COMMENTARYPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - March 26, 2025: Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Dutton unleashes inner Howard with excise cut

The Opposition Leader’s answer to Jim Chalmers’ $5-a-week tax cuts for 2026 will grab even more attention than Labor’s budget tax surprise and cost less than half as much.

Dennis Shanahan

CommentaryCommentary

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 26: Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during post budget media interviews at Parliament House on March 26, 2025 in Canberra, Australia. The budget is expected to return to deficit after two years of surplus, focusing on cost-of-living relief measures, including extended electricity rebates and increased healthcare spending, while also addressing economic challenges and potential voter concerns ahead of the upcoming federal election. (Photo by Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)

Labor starts tax-cut poll sales pitch on back foot

So far, Labor is on the back foot because its individual tax cut is too small, the total cost is too big and the money simply isn’t there.

Dennis Shanahan

COMMENTARYCommentary

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: AustraliaÃ¢â¬â¢s Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers his budget speech at Parliament House on March 25, 2025 in Canberra, Australia. The budget is expected to return to deficit after two years of surplus, focusing on cost-of-living relief measures, including extended electricity rebates and increased healthcare spending, while also addressing economic challenges and potential voter concerns ahead of the upcoming federal election. (Photo by Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)

Chalmers starts poll tax-cut war as reality lurks around corner

Jim Chalmers is convinced the economy is ‘turning the corner’ but the problem is that lurking around that corner is a gang of debt collectors, repo men and Trump tariffs.

Dennis Shanahan

COMMENTARYCommentary

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Treasurer of Australia Jim Chalmers speaks to the media as he arrives to deliver the budget at Parliament House on March 25, 2025 in Canberra, Australia. The budget is expected to return to deficit after two years of surplus, focusing on cost-of-living relief measures, including extended electricity rebates and increased healthcare spending, while addressing economic challenges and potential voter concerns ahead of the upcoming federal election. (Photo by Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)

Treasurer puts politics first, economic responsibility second

While Jim Chalmers has tried to spread the cheer, his irresponsible giveaways threaten longer-term economic success.

Dennis Shanahan

COMMENTARYPolitics

Former prime minister Ben Chifley and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Chalmers draws a long bow evoking Chifley

Ben Chifley won a reputation as a sound economic manager. While he presided over four budgets in one term, that’s where the comparisons end with Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese.

Dennis Shanahan

INQUIRERInquirer

Labor’s voice referendum didn’t break Dutton – it made him

Peter Dutton’s calm, commonsense opposition to the voice – even as he was being attacked – cemented his relationship with middle Australia, which identified with him and felt the same sneering insults. This week, he faces another huge challenge.

Dennis Shanahan

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

22/06/2009 LIBRARY: Prinicipal Advisor Financial Systems Division of the Department of Treasury Godwin Grech under pressure at the public hearing into car dealership financing guarantee appropriation bill 2009.

Godwin Grech’s fury at being used for ALP smear against Dutton

Godwin Grech has blasted ‘insinuations’ from ministers that he had any connection to Peter Dutton’s handling of shares during the GFC.

Dennis Shanahan

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/dennis-shanahan/page/6