Byelection will reveal minor party's major influence ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Political types get in a lather about byelections and what they reveal about how the nation’s feeling. But we probably don’t need today’s vote in Farrer to let us know people are aggrieved with the major parties.

Sussan Ley’s former seat will likely be won by community independent Michelle Milthorpe or One Nation’s David Farley. To paraphrase Michelle Grattan: one wants a seat at the table, the other wants to overturn it.

It’s a supercharged tantrum that’s driving One Nation’s resurgence, and our new podcast series The Making of One Nation (Apple | Spotify) uncovers how we ended up here. One Nation’s spent three decades perfecting its tactics and professionalising, and now it’s on the verge of real power.

Ashlynne McGhee

Head of Editorial Innovation

 

Ignore the polls: One Nation is the unofficial opposition

Ashlynne McGhee, The Conversation; Isabella Podwinski, The Conversation

One Nation is polling at levels it hasn’t seen in 25 years. Is this surge a protest or a realignment? And what, if anything, comes after Hanson herself?

Best reads this week

Russia doesn’t have much to celebrate on Victory Day, as Ukraine brings the war home to Putin

Jon Richardson, Australian National University

Putin is under growing pressure at home as Ukraine continues to strike far inside Russia and more critics are voicing discontent with the war.

Australia’s frighteningly unequal funding system favours private schools, argues Jane Caro. How can we fix it?

Elisa Di Gregorio, Adelaide University

Rich Kid, Poor Kid highlights the urgency and devastation of the school funding problem in Australia.

More than 1 in 3 Australian adults are functionally illiterate. How can we fix this?

Genevieve McArthur, Australian Catholic University

Functional literacy describes the skills needed for everyday life in our complex society. Improving it for adults may be Australia’s biggest challenge.

From fossicking for fossils to a champion for life on Earth: Sir David Attenborough at 100

Euan Ritchie, Deakin University

David Attenborough has captured and told the stories of nature to millions of people – and inspired scientists and conservationists the world over.

Does 432Hz tuning improve your wellbeing? A music psychologist unpacks the evidence

Sandra Garrido, University of Sydney

While 432Hz might sound soothing to some ears, it’s not a shortcut to cosmic alignment.

TC Weekly podcast

Ignore the polls: One Nation is the unofficial opposition

Ashlynne McGhee, The Conversation; Isabella Podwinski, The Conversation

One Nation is polling at levels it hasn’t seen in 25 years. Is this surge a protest or a realignment? And what, if anything, comes after Hanson herself?

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Alan Kohler says Labor’s tax changes probably won’t lower house prices

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

The finance journalist says changes to capital gains tax concessions and negative gearing are only likely to have a ‘symbolic effect’ on housing affordability.

Our most-read article this week

What is hantavirus, the disease that has killed 3 cruise ship passengers?

Thomas Jeffries, Western Sydney University

Authorities are racing to contain a suspected outbreak of a rare respiratory disease. A microbiologist explains what it is and how it spreads.

In case you missed this week's big stories

Not a protest vote
“Politicians, political journalists and the political class continue to underestimate the pragmatism and common sense of the voting public. One Nation is a contender in this election because the Coalition failed so severely in their recent periods in government and we the people don’t want a repeat of that. A community candidate is the other contender in Farrer because the people who support Milthorpe trust her because she is not a cog in a party machine. Describing the voting intentions of the public as grievances is belittling and insulting. Constituents don’t whinge or grieve. Constituents consider the situation and decide if they are going to put up with it anymore or not.”
Lynda Paterson, Eden NSW 

Don't cry for landlords
Really, this is a problem? Surely this is only a small issue when it comes to the housing crisis? Yes, landlords should pay tax on income received from renters. Also if the rent was less, the landlords would pay less tax. If more property owners opened up to residential tenancies instead of holiday/short term rental that would have more effect on the housing crisis."
Jenni Reside, Bairnsdale

The kids are not alright
“Children are quite right to be anxious about the future of the planet as are all aware humans. However, I think someone needs to interview children in Matt Canavan's electorate and other rural electorates where the people think climate change "has always happened”. A few years ago, there was a street March in Bundaberg of school children wanting action on climate change. Here's hoping.”
Carolyn Bussey

We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.

 

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