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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.

@vanOnselenP

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commentaryCommentary

11/02/2021: Asylum seekers Nadesalingam Murugappan, who reached Christmas Island by boat in 2012, his wife Kokilapathmapriy Nadarasa, who arrived at Cocos Islands by boat in 2013, with their Australian-born daughters Tharnicaa and Kopika during an outing on Christmas Island last Thursday, where the family has been detained since August 2019.

Can kicked down the road on Tamil family

If the government doesn’t make a final decision on the Biloela family this side of the election, there is a chance it won’t find in their favour.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryCommentary

15/02/2020Nadesalingam Murugappan, known as Nades, his wife Kokilapathmapriy Nadarasa, known as Priya, and their daughters Kopika, 5 and Tharunicaa, 3 leave the recreation centre on Christmas Island.Pic Colin Murty The Australian

These arguments don’t pass sniff test

There are cases where granting asylum seekers exemption is simply the right thing to do. The Murugappan family is one of those cases.

Peter Van Onselen

COMMENTARYNation

Get ready for a bigger squeeze on home finances

Homeowners, investors, indeed governments the world over need to consider what they might do if interest rates do head north, because that day is coming.

Peter Van Onselen

COMMENTARYPolitics

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese at Queensland Labor's State Conference at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Saturday, June 5, 2021 - Picture: Richard Walker

Why Albo’s degree of difficulty just got higher

The states in which Labor needs to win seats – like resources centres such as WA and Queensland – see the policy debates running against them.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

A man passes by a sign indicating the way to the 'election event' and the 'vaccination centre' at the fair halls where television studios and media rooms are set up for the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, on June 3, 2021 in Magdeburg, eastern Germany. - Saxony-Anhalt go to the polls in regional elections on June 6, 2021. (Photo by Ronny Hartmann / AFP)

Ready or not, the nation will reopen

The cold, hard truth about what comes next in the fight against Covid-19 is beyond depressing. It involves choices, all of which include negative outcomes.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA NewsWire Photos - MAY,27 2021 The Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

We need an outbreak of government action

Coulda, shoulda, woulda – that’s the story of Australia’s plunge back into lockdowns and Scott Morrison’s stubbornness appears to be a factor.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Ben Shepherd from RFS receives his COVID-19 vaccine at the Olympic Park Vaccination Centre on May 10, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. The mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park is equipped to administer 30,000 vaccine doses a week, depending on federal vaccine supplies. (Photo by Nick Moir - Pool/Getty Images)

We must open our eyes before we can open borders

To be sure, the vaccine rollout has long way to go. But Australians’ hesitancy is the bigger threat to herd immunity.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryEconomics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 11: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham with the 2021 budget papers at Parliament House on May 11, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. The Morrison government's third budget has an increased focus on women, with almost $354 million in funding allocated for women's health. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also outlined more than $10 billion in spending on major infrastructure projects across Australia aimed to help create local jobs and boost productivity in the COVID-affected national economy. Aged care will receive more than $10 billion over the next four years, in direct response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. (Photo by Dominic Lorrimer - Pool/Getty Images)

When it comes to the budget, red is the new black

In the wake of the pandemic – which globally is still charging on – we no longer even pretend that getting the budget under control is a priority.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA NewsWire Photos MARCH, 25 2021: Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Arts Minister Paul Fletcher during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Josh kicks the reform can down the road

I am starting to think that Frydenberg has more in common with John Howard than Scott Morrison ever has.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryInquirer

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA NewsWire Photos MARCH, 25 2021: Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Josh Frydenberg and Peter Dutton during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Budget buzz can’t hide a deficit of morality

No Coalition budget handed down should avoid mention of the elephant in the room.

Peter Van Onselen

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/peter-van-onselen/page/21