Inside the list
Paul Barry
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Paul Barry delves into the world of branch-stacking, fundraising, policy-breaking and leadership-spilling to determine Australia's Most Powerful Political Fixers.
Paul Barry
Thursday, 25 August 2011
The Labor Party is suffering at the hands of unelected factional bosses and union leaders. Paul Barry explains how the party ended up in such a mess, and what must now change.
Paul Barry
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Former Liberal Party fundraiser Michael Yabsley believes political donations should be banned.
Paul Barry
Friday, 24 June 2011
Today’s most powerful political fixers are not necessarily those who brought down a prime minister in 2010. So what became of the men that featured in the 24 hours that saw Kevin Rudd axed from the top job? Paul Barry finds out.
Paul Barry
Tuesday, 02 August 2011
Don Farrell and his Shoppies Union mates have done it again, writes Paul Barry.
Paul Barry
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
What makes a political fixer and why should you care? As Paul Barry explains, these are the people who make and break the careers of those you think are in charge.
Related Articles
The Power Index
Friday, 17 February 2012
She may be known in Canberra circles as the 'Queen of No', but Peta Credlin could also soon be persona non grata in parliament after Tony Abbott's chief of staff was accused of piping up yesterday from the advisers box.
The Power Index
Thursday, 06 October 2011
ALP national president Jenny McAllister, who is up for re-election, has hit out at right-wing union heavy Joe de Bruyn for arguing that moderates will still control the party even if a left-winger wins the presidency.
Andrew Crook
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
The ALP suits crammed into the function room of Lygon Street’s legendary La Notte restaurant last Thursday to celebrate the first meeting of the Victorian party’s new think tank ‘Progressive Network’ were restless.
Matthew Knott
Monday, 27 February 2012
Anthony Albanese's emergence as the patron saint of Labor unity is a remarkable development: he's a factional warlord to his core. You could even call him a faceless man.
Rob Burgess
Thursday, 20 September 2012
The beastly outburst of Senator Cory Bernardi has upset many -- not least my jack-russell-cross Roxy, who clings to the hope her love for me will one day be sanctified. It's hard to resist such jokes -- Bernardi's comments were so extreme as to be risible. However, for the Coalition their impact will be deadly serious.
The Power Index
Monday, 12 December 2011
Bill Shorten is today expected to finally secure himself an inner-cabinet position in the Gillard government, more than twelve months after he played a key role in installing Julia Gillard as leader.
Alan Kohler
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
The Labor Party’s chances of pulling off a come-from-behind win at next year’s election took a big step forward yesterday with two expert panel reports, both of which would have been in line with the old dictum of 'never have an inquiry unless you know the answer first'.
Paul Barry
Monday, 29 August 2011
The Chaser's comedians are often attacked when their jokes misfire, but former Chaser Charles Firth was still amazed to be ambushed by ACTU boss Jeff Lawrence at the union movement's media dinner in Melbourne last week.
Paul Barry
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Prior to yesterday's cabinet reshuffle Julia Gillard must have been watching The Godfather and taking the advice of mafia boss Michael Corleone: 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer'.
The Power Index
Friday, 26 August 2011
See what power readers have to say about our first list, the Top 10 Most Powerful Political Fixers.
The Power Index
Friday, 02 December 2011
Julia Gillard's stance on same-sex marriage is not a mystery to those who understand the power of South Australian senator Don Farrell, widely known as The Pope.
Bernard Keane
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
In the rush to attack Julia Gillard for “lecturing” the world, some serious points have been missed by her critics. This “lecture” isn’t new and nor is the Prime Minister the only one delivering it.
Tom Cowie
Wednesday, 06 June 2012
From faceless political hack to the new face of rugby league? Former Labor sports minister Mark Arbib is in the running to lead the sport after David Gallop ended his tenure of the governing body yesterday.
Paul Barry
Friday, 26 August 2011
A round-up of Australian Political Fixers would be incomplete without mentioning the legendary men who made fixing an art form. So where are they now and what can they still do?
The Power Index
Monday, 27 February 2012
It's been an emphatic victory for Julia Gillard in the leadership ballot held by Labor this morning, with the prime minister defeating Kevin Rudd in the caucus vote 71 votes to 31.
Paul Barry
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Round up your mates, load up the truck and gain control of your favourite political party with Paul Barry's branch-stacking guide.
The Power Index
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
For some it feels like just yesterday. For the true believers and a bon mot-starved press gallery, they probably wish it was yesterday. Today marks the 20th anniversary of Paul Keating's prime ministership.
Paul Barry
Friday, 19 August 2011
Liberal Party grandee Michael Kroger has joined former party Treasurer Michael Yabsley in calling for a complete ban on political donations from business and developers.
The Power Index
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
If Campbell Newman becomes the premier of Queensland this Saturday, Queenslanders can thank one man, above all others, for getting him there: Bruce McIver.
Paul Barry
Monday, 17 October 2011
Mike Rann has attacked the factional bosses in South Australia who dumped him as state premier, and confirmed that his removal involved some of the same people who knifed Kevin Rudd as leader in June 2010.
Matthew Knott
Monday, 26 September 2011
Could the creation of yet another left-leaning think tank be the answer to Labor's identity crisis? Outspoken union boss Paul Howes certainly hopes so.
Tom Cowie
Monday, 31 October 2011
Bob Brown is an “environmental Jesuit” who needs a good “political karate chop” and Australia is a lost child “waving your little flag, unsure of the landscape around us”. Watch out, Paul Keating is on the loose again. And he’s taking pot shots at all those around him.
Tom Cowie
Monday, 19 September 2011
Bill Shorten recently called Julia Gillard the most emotionally intelligent person he knew. Perhaps, the $650,000 her department has reportedly spent on training workshops since the night of the long knives, might explain why.
Paul Barry
Monday, 10 October 2011
Mike Rann has never dared to speak out in favour of same-sex marriage before because he was put into the job (and kept in power) by the ultra-conservative Catholic shopworkers union, the SDA.
The Power Index
Friday, 02 September 2011
Despite rumblings that Julia Gillard could be turfed out before the next election, Labor factional boss Bill Shorten is standing by the woman he helped install as leader.
Rob Burgess
Tuesday, 05 June 2012
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?
Paul Barry
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Arthur Sinodinos is small, bald, round and friendly. A bit like Dr Evil, but far too nice. And while he's conservatively dressed and understated, like the banker he is, there's a real touch of style to his watch and cufflinks.
Tom Cowie
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Maverick LNP MP Peter Slipper has found himself in the middle of a parliamentary battle, after his leader Tony Abbott said today any candidate from his side of the house for the speakership would be expected to resign from the party.
Rob Burgess
Tuesday, 08 November 2011
For Labor, the latest opinion poll result is a bit like the moment in the 1976 film Rocky, when Sylvester Stallone calls blindly over his shoulder to his trainer: Cut me!
Tom Cowie
Friday, 24 February 2012
The family that campaigns together, stays together. And so it's been in the brutal ALP leadership battle, with Kevin Rudd sending forth his wife Therese Rein and daughter Jess Rudd to help drum up people power in support of his extraordinary comeback tilt.
Tom Cowie
Friday, 11 November 2011
Dolly Parton's enormous regulation-flouting tour buses have finally made it to Australia for the singer's nationwide tour. So will unlikely hero Anthony Albanese be cashing in on his ceremonial smooching?
The Power Index
Monday, 21 November 2011
He ran on a platform of faster coffees, pizzas and gelato, but it wasn't enough for Labor heavyweight Joe Tripodi as he failed in his bid to win presidency of the 27,000-member Club Marconi in south-western Sydney.
Tom Cowie
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
The platinum-haired ex-PM is being wheeled out by NSW Labor to help boost its dire membership numbers.
Paul Barry
Friday, 27 January 2012
Queensland's pint-sized superhero, Can-Do Campbell Newman, has eight weeks to prove he really can do it. So what sort of government can we expect if Newman and the LNP get in?
Tom Cowie
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
A stoush is brewing within the Labor Party over the controversial issue of same-sex marriage, as supporters of both sides prepare to air their views at the National Conference next month. So who's saying what on which side?
Paul Barry
Tuesday, 02 August 2011
Michael Yabsley, a legend of political fundraising and former treasurer of the NSW Liberal Party, has called for politcal donations to be banned.
ALP mover and shaker who helped Rudd roll Beazley and Gillard roll Rudd
