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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Shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (R) and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton attend a press conference following the results of Australia's historic Indigenous rights referendum, in Brisbane on October 14, 2023. Australians have roundly rejected greater rights for Indigenous citizens, scuppering plans to amend the country's 122-year-old constitution after a divisive and racially-tinged referendum campaign. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

PM to blame for setback of Indigenous ambition

Make no mistake, the voice to parliament could have succeeded had things been done differently.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryInquirer

Ray Martin and Lidia Thorpe on Spotlight. Picture: Spotlight

A voice for change brought low by hubris

The Yes camp made the mistake of deciding they didn’t need to work co-operatively or incrementally with sceptics, believing instead they could bulldoze their way to success.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryCommentary

TOPSHOT - Fire and smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on October 8, 2023. At least 200 Israelis died in a surprise large-scale attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, the army said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to "rubble". (Photo by EYAD BABA / AFP)

Israel likely to target Hamas annihilation

The response to murders and kidnappings on Israeli soil is unlikely to be the usual sort of limited operation we’ve seen before.

Peter Van Onselen

Inquirer

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. JUNE 15, 2023: The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security Clare O'Neil hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Under O’Neil, Biloela family would be deported

The Home Affairs Minister has turned hypocrisy into an art form with her constant brag about how Labor is keeping borders safe.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryInquirer

Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak at Drake Enterprises, an automotive parts manufacturer and supplier, in Clinton, Michigan, on September 27, 2023. Both Trump and Biden are visiting Michigan this week, in what is their first major skirmish of a long fight for voters in working-class swing states ahead of the November 2024 election. Biden on September 26, 2023, became the first sitting president to stand on a picket line, supporting calls by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union for the Big Three Detroit carmakers to raise wages. And Trump is skipping a debate in California with his trailing Republican rivals on September 27 to head instead for a small, non-union car parts factory on the other side of Detroit. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher / AFP)

American democracy in an age of despair

If the best the US can do is serve up Joe Biden and Donald Trump presidential candidates for the next election, God help us.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryCommentary

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews listens to Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton address the media at the daily briefing on July 31, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria recorded 627 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Thursday, July 30. As of Sunday mask will be compulsory state-wide, with additional restrictions in specific regional areas that have seen an uptick in new cases. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

‘Dictator Dan’ paradox will haunt us for decades

Daniel Andrews is nothing if not a paradox. Arguably Australia’s most polarising Premier, he was also one of the most successful electorally, winning three consecutive elections.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryInquirer

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023. Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg now at Goldman Sachs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Obstacles on a tortuous road back to power

It may well be that Frydenberg was all too aware how difficult the task of unseating a one-term teal might be. Removing some of the others could be even harder.

Peter Van Onselen

commentaryCommentary

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos September 20, 2023: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese meets locals along The Parade in the eastern Adelaide suburb of Norwood. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

No, Minister: inquiry is base politics at its worst

Anthony Albanese must be a fan of the British satirical series Yes Minister, because his inquiry into Covid is torn from the series script.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryInquirer

01/11/19 Marcia Langton pictured in Melbourne. Aaron Francis/The Australian

Yes camp stumbles over its own missteps

Labelling every argument the No case relies on as ‘base racism’ or ‘just sheer stupidity’ is itself sheer stupidity, to borrow Marcia Langton’s turn of phrase.

Peter Van Onselen

CommentaryInquirer

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 30: People hold up placards during the Yes campaign launch on August 30, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. On October 14, 2023, Australians will vote on a referendum to amend the Constitution to recognise First Peoples of Australia and establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. To pass, the referendum requires a 'double majority'ÃÂ³ a national majority of 'yes' votes, and a majority of states voting 'yes'. (Photo by James Elsby/Getty Images)

Labor walks tightrope in new age of politics

Younger voters like the Indigenous voice to parliament but they also like voting for the Greens. Anthony Albanese, you have a demographic timebomb on your doorstep.

Peter Van Onselen

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/peter-van-onselen/page/5