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Dr Peter van Onselen has been the Contributing Editor at The Australian since 2009. He is also a professor of politics and public policy at the University of Western Australia and was appointed its foundation chair of journalism in 2011. Peter has been awarded a Bachelor of Arts with first class honours, a Master of Commerce, a Master of Policy Studies and a PhD in political science. Peter is the author or editor of six books, including four best sellers. His biography on John Howard was ranked by the Wall Street Journal as the best biography of 2007. Peter has won Walkley and Logie awards for his broadcast journalism and a News Award for his feature and opinion writing.

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Latest

commentaryInquirer

Are we ready to make the hard decisions?

Like it or not, many won’t consent to being vaccinated, but we can’t let their fears ruin life for the rest of us.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media during a press conference at Kirribilli House on July 08, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Enough time for PM to avoid vax backlash

Has the federal government botched the vaccine rollout? Take a deep breath if you unequivocally assume it has.

Peter Van Onselen

COMMENTARYCommentary

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JUNE, 01, 2021: Members of the public queue outside at a mass COVID-19 vaccination hub in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Our biggest jabs fail: managing expectations

Critics of the government should draw breath and be reasonable, rather than using errors simply to settle old scores.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryInquirer

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - JUNE 30, 2021.Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk watches Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young during a Covid update press conference. Queensland has gone into a 3-day lockdown due to a Covid outbreak.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Politics of Palaszczuk just reckless needling

There are layers of nuance attached to how health officials should conduct themselves. We saw little of that on Wednesday.

Peter Van Onselen

COMMENTARYCommentary

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Lynore Smith waits for her friends to receive the Pfizer vaccination at the Inner City Covid-19 Vaccine Hub on July 01, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. The weekly four-hour clinic offers COVID-19 vaccinations to some of Sydney's most vulnerable people - those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The initiative is a collaborative effort between organisations including St Vincent's Hospital, St Vincent de Paul, Wayside Chapel, the City of Sydney and the Kirketon Road Centre, aiming to immunise around 100 people per week. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Amid the pile-on, a defence of the vaccine rollout

Premature gloating that we are at the front of the vaccine queue was stupid, but it’s easy to be wise after the fact.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryCommentary

australian parliament house for the federal government in canberra

Leaders won’t admit to pork barrelling problem

It’s high time the denialism ends and the government acknowledges it needs to clean up its act.

Peter Van Onselen

COMMENTARYCommentary

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison holds a Joint Media Conference with HE Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and then is a guest at a working dinner at the Presidential Palace in France on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

Hung parliament would make for wild ride

Covid-19 problems just might erode confidence in this government as it chases a difficult fourth term in office.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 23: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on June 23, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. Barnaby Joyce has deposed former Nationals leader Michael McCormack during a spill called on Monday by Senator Matt Canavan, with Joyce re-elected as leader of The Nationals in a leadership contest with at least 12 votes in the 21-member partyroom. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Going by the numbers, Josh is on a winner

While Barnaby Joyce grabs the headlines, the real story is Josh Frydenberg’s recent wins in Treasury.

Peter Van Onselen

COMMENTARYPolitics

Barnaby Joyce speaks during an anti-abortion rally in Hyde Park, Sydney, Sunday, September 15, 2019. Members of Parliament joined pro-life and pro-family groups, women's advocates, faith leaders and thousands of people from across the state to rally against the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019. (AAP Image/James Gourley) NO ARCHIVING

Barnaby’s detractors blinded by disdain

Turnbull may despise Joyce, but he saved the Coalition in 2016. And he’ll be a campaign asset for Scott Morrison.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA-NCA NewsWire Photos DECEMBER 11 2020.Prime Minister Scott Morrison with state and territory premiers for National Cabinetduring a press conference in Parliament House Canberra. L-R: QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Cabinet acts globally and ignores the locals

Politicians congratulating themselves over how well national cabinet works have ignored an important voice that could have spared the rest of us a lot of heartache.

Peter Van Onselen

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/peter-van-onselen/page/20