Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It has been since the creation of Israel in 1948. And it will remain that as long as Israel exists. Every nation decides the location of its capital city. There is no reason a different standard should apply to Israel. All the major democratic institutions of Israel are located…

It was 6.27am (Donald J. Trump tweeting time) on Thursday when former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull reacted to The Australian’s front page headline, “Turnbull plays invisible hand”. The story, by Andrew Clennell and Joe Kelly, reported that Turnbull had been in regular contact with Kerryn Phelps, the newly elected ­independent member for Wentworth. Phelps played a…

Cathy McGowan, the independent member for the Victorian seat of Indi, presents as a community politician who has many a folksy way. Welcomed by Fran Kelly to another appearance on the ABC’s RN Breakfaston Thursday, McGowan responded: “Thank you, Fran, good morning everybody.” She concluded the interview with the same refrain. McGowan’s message to everybody listening…

Many Australians want their politicians to be authentic and to speak the truth as they see it. The problem is that others are in denial about reality. Scott Morrison’s reaction to the murder of Pellegrini’s co-owner Sisto Malaspina on Bourke Street in the Melbourne CBD last week, and the reaction by journalist Paul Bongiorno, illustrates…

There used to be a time when ­individuals began an argument in the public debate. Now, in the terms of the modern cliche, they start “a conversation” or sometimes “the conversation”. Meet ACT Labor Party politician Bec Cody. She was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in ­October 2016 and is a member of the…

It was a Friday night in early March 2008 when I received a call from Malcolm Turnbull on my home phone. The (then) shadow treasurer was in an agitated state. He told me Brendan Nelson, who succeeded John Howard as Liberal Party leader in December 2007, was hopeless and should step down. I was not…

On Monday morning, ABC TV News Breakfast co-presenter Virginia Trioli announced that last Saturday’s Wentworth by-election amounted to “the biggest swing against the government in recorded political history”. That is a current refrain. But it is not true. It is possible to make this claim only if the Wills by-election of April 11, 1992 did not happen.…

Since Sir Robert Menzies stepped down as prime minister in January 1966, the Liberal Party of Australia has had 13 leaders. This leaves 11 — if Harold Holt (who died in office in December 1967) and Scott Morrison are excluded. Of the 11, a quarter campaigned against the Liberal Party in their years after politics,…