If Julia Gillard scores an unlikely victory at the next election, there's something she can look forward to during her next term as prime minister: Chris Mitchell retiring from his post as editor-in-chief of The Australian.

While names like Rinehart, Forest and Palmer dominate headlines in the mining sector, and business leaders and politicians are prominent in economic debates, it can be hard to identify those who speak for the sector that is fundamentally transforming Australian business and society as we move into a digital age.

When deciding who should comprise our Power 50, and how to rank them, The Power Index surveyed Private Media’s most experienced journalists, editors and publishers. Together we came to the decision that the most powerful person in the nation could be none other than Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

The government has again used FOI exemptions to block scrutiny of its handling of the Julian Assange case, including redacting material already publicly available.

Julia Gillard's insistence that she will lead her party to the next election looks like a losing bet. The strategy of losing government, but retaining as many seats possible, is a sound one. Enter: Wayne Maxwell Swan.

To be prime minister you must be able to run a cabinet. Kevin Rudd simply does not have that talent so governments under his prime ministership are chaotic affairs. That’s why he was sacked. Julia Gillard, on taking the prime ministership, did not spell that out -- and that mistake is still haunting her.

One way or another Rudd will get his revenge on those who robbed his manifest destiny. Either he will be returned to his rightful place or he will see the Labor Party that cast him off, cast into the wilderness. For a long time.

Four years ago, Colin Barnett was a political has-been on the verge of retirement. Today, he’s sitting pretty as premier of the nation’s most prosperous state, Western Australia.

Last year we set out to discover Who Really Runs Australia. And now we're ready to answer the question. But don't expect it to be simple.

Thanks to the Greens' position on asylum seekers and a high carbon price, Tony Abbott is set to cruise into government with a large margin and a mandate to repeal the carbon tax.

Marius Kloppers is helping build China. As boss of the world's biggest miner BHP Billiton, he's sating what, up until now, has been the Asian economic powerhouse's unquenchable thirst for commodities.

If you want to see a pretty pack of pollies, you need look no further than James Packer's new political mates. The billionaire's offices in Sydney's Park Street are now becoming a stronghold for the Labor Party in exile.

Democracy is on the rocks in Australia as political party membership stagnates and the government does undemocratic deals, but would a move to US-style primary elections make any difference?

Don't look now, but self-described faceless man Paul Howes is having some regrets about his starring role in the disposal of ex-PM Kevin Rudd.

Trade unions have never been so irrelevant to Australians, and yet union leaders have incredible clout when it comes to political and economic life.

Tomorrow, we start counting down the Top 10 most powerful Union Heavies. Here, Matthew Knott presents the shortlist.

This week, Bernard Keane and The Power Index have been counting down the most powerful politicians in Canberra. Now you can tell us who you think should have been number one.

The Labor government’s lost the authority and audience to deliver a compelling, influential message – and has handed the ability to dictate the national debate to the Opposition in the process.

Singapore names an orchid after the PM, Rudd shines on Weibo, Nine scores a rare victory.

Most power players have oodles of charm and charisma, so it's no wonder they collect some unlikely allies on their way to the top. Here are six power partnerships that cross the ideological and generational divide.