Peter Van Onselen

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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24/11/2023: Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks during the What will Brisbane be famous for beyond 2032 session at the Future Brisbane Summit at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Labor out of excuses on homegrown inflation

The PM and Treasurer like to repeat the misnomer that inflation is a “global phenomenon”. This out-of-date suggestion has the smell of expired milk about it.

Peter Van Onselen

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THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 23: Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), sits next to Dutch MP Fleur Agema (L) as he delivers a speech at a post-election meeting at the Nieuwspoort conference centre after his party's victory in yesterday's general election, on November 23, 2023 in The Hague, Netherlands. The Netherlands' far-right, anti-EU leader Geert Wilders won the most votes in parliamentary elections on November 22, dominated by debate around rising immigration in the Netherlands. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

A warning for mainstream parties everywhere

Geert Wilders’ success is built on the back of voters struggling to make ends meet. There’s a chance we’ll see similar results in 18 months time when Australians go to the polls.

Peter Van Onselen

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Gladys Berejiklian with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

Berejiklian as new Optus CEO? You can’t be serious

Surely the telco can’t be about to ask the former NSW Premier to take over the reins. Are the decision makers at Optus that out of touch with recent political history in this country?

Peter Van Onselen

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Devanand Noel "Dave" Sharma is an Australian former politician and former public servant and diplomat who served as member of parliament for Wentworth from 2019 to 2022. He lost the seat at the 2022 election to independent challenger Allegra Spender. He previously served as head of the International Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2010–2012)

My pick for Marise Payne’s old seat: Dave Sharma

The Coalition’s parliamentary team is weak so the Libs’ choice for the vacated Senate seat really matters – former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma would provide a desperately needed boost.

Peter Van Onselen

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. NOVEMBER 15, 2023: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Beware the wounded Prime Minister

This week Anthony Albanese showed why he remains the favourite to win the next federal election, even if Labor is unlikely to offer up anything meaningful as part of a second term agenda.

Peter Van Onselen

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Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Monday, November 6, 2023. Anthony Albanese will hold talks in China with President Xi Jinping in the first visit to the Asian nation by a sitting prime minister since 2016. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

PM’s kowtow a necessary evil of doing business

The entire charade of the PM’s visit has been on China’s terms but that doesn’t mean it’s not in Australia’s interests.

Peter Van Onselen

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Peter Dutton, Leader of the Opposition LNP, speaking at State Council, at Eatons Hill Hotel, Eatons Hill, near Brisbane, on Friday 20th October 2023 - Photo Steve Pohlner

Poll clocks gender divide surprise for Opposition

The significant but overlooked Red Bridge survey suggests Peter Dutton and the Coalition have a bigger problem with men not women.

Peter Van Onselen

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. OCTOBER 19, 2023: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Labor must find policy substance to win voters

Next week’s interest rate decision, to be announced on Melbourne Cup Day, could represent the informal beginning of a more significant race: the next election campaign.

Peter Van Onselen

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Launch of new alcohol health warning labels backed by Australia's leading health experts. The labels, unveiled today by the Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation (AER Foundation), include messages that drinking any alcohol can harm unborn babies, damage young developing brains and increase the risk of cancer.Health experts are also calling for the labels to be made mandatory, and follows the release of the alcohol industry?s vaguely-worded, voluntary consumer information labels on alcohol products.

More ‘nanny state’: how alcohol health warnings could go to excess

Talk about killing joy – the minister responsible for food and beverage labelling is considering plastering alcoholic products with images like those on cigarette packs.

Peter Van Onselen

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. OCTOBER 14, 2023: The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Linda Linda Burney hold a press conference after the Voice to Parliament was defeated in the referendum at Parliament House in Canberra VOICEREF23. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Wounded Labor won’t risk heavy reforms

The government’s one substantial effort at a first-term legacy was thwarted by 60 per cent of voters. So what happens now?

Peter Van Onselen

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/peter-van-onselen/page/4