Pollsters, factional leaders and spinners can try all they want to claim victory for the way Australia is run. But real power hardly exists here at all, writes spinner Toby Ralph.

Toby Ralph has no office, no job title and no qualms about spinning for the forces of darkness. Tobacco companies, the nuclear waste industry and banks wanting to kill off the four pillars policy are some of the flamboyant freelancer's controversial past clients.