Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly is author of The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison, a regular columnist and a former adviser to Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.
Opinion
Political leadership
Silence descends: Our inability to discuss difficult issues has never been more obvious
Never more than in the past week have we seen national discussion on major issues marked by the mass silencing of everyone outside the extremes.
- by Sean Kelly
Latest
Opinion
Political leadership
The PM was punching well, until he gave himself an immigration uppercut
Sometimes in politics – like when you realise your opponent will always punch harder – you should exit the ring and try another approach.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Housing crisis
Unstoppable electoral waves are approaching, but who will be washed away?
The politics of inequality are shifting rapidly, and the major parties are desperate not to get caught on the wrong side of the debate.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Political leadership
Dutton’s nuclear spin is an alibi, not a policy
Rather than offer a genuine solution on energy, the opposition leader is attempting to avoid two fights: one with Labor, the other within the Coalition.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Political leadership
When’s the next election? The PM’s upbringing might give us a clue
There is a clear analogue to one of Albanese’s traits as PM: his careful attention to planning and sequencing, his belief that a large part of political strategy is doing things in the right order.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Byelection
How low can they go? Byelection exposed our cheap and tinny politics
The focus of both major parties for the Dunkley byelection was fairly trivial. Let’s hope they can do better for the looming federal election.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Education
Focus on fairness is an education, but Albanese’s ambition has yet to be tested
The Albanese government has talked a good game on significant education reform. Soon, it will be time for action.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Employment
There’s nothing new about the right to disconnect
Nostalgia is a powerful political force, but it should be distrusted – left and right – as a motivation for political change.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Political leadership
Why our response to Joyce having one for the road is mid-strength
Alcohol is a force in our national politics, but the way Australians read the act of drinking depends both on the times and the person, and the ways the two are entangled.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Political leadership
Albanese has finally come to the realisation that he’s in power
The PM has got the nation talking about what he wants on his terms – something he had largely failed to do before now.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Political leadership
Like Howard, Albanese will be judged on what he does, not on a broken promise
By breaking his promise on stage 3 tax cuts, Anthony Albanese has indicated he grasps a significant political lesson.
- by Sean Kelly