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Katina Curtis

If Roger Cook and Anthony Albanese could get the data on both sides of government to match, we would be much better off, writes Katina Curtis.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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The distinctly unsexy way to improve Aussie lives

What’s the biggest problem with the way government functions at the moment? The answer is distinctly unsexy - but if we figure out a solution we’ll all be better off.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his opposition counterpart Ted O’Brien.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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‘Goodwill’ on the table but few headline-grabbers

After three days of talks, the biggest headlines were about a heated spat between Jim Chalmers and Ted O’Brien. Despite this, those in the room were surprised at the level of goodwill.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers are trying desperately to bring expectations for the economic reform roundtable back into check.

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KATINA CURTISCommentsPremium
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Albanese, Chalmers rein in runaway roundtable expectations

The three days of talks in Canberra’s cabinet room won’t be some kind of all-singing, all-dancing panacea to all the nation’s problems, despite the Government now drowning in suggestions and advice.

Katina Curtis

Japanese warship the JS Yahagi, a Mogami-class stealth frigate from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, is docked in Darwin, Australia, on June 6, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

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Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
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Off-the-shelf frigate purchase a smart move

With its decision to buy Mogami-class frigates from Japan, the Government is getting the closest thing to an off-the-shelf product as exists in Defence procurement. That’s a good thing.

Katina Curtis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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Albanese picking winners has benefits for PM and Labor

Anthony Albanese’s close eye on who was chosen as candidates yielded results in the sheer number of seats won and has given him a caucus with a sizeable portion that is personally grateful to him.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Justin Longmuir, Senior Coach of the Dockers during the round 18 AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

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Federal Politics
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Staffer stoush like cutting coaches to rival club

The Prime Minister’s control of how many staff his opponents can employ is like the Dockers picking who gets to join the Eagles’ coaching team: unsporting.

Katina Curtis

Children aren’t ‘for profit’ or ‘stable investments’ but that’s how they are viewed by an increasing majority of childcare providers, writes Katina Curtis.

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Katina CurtisComments
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Centres tagged as ‘great profits’ show childcare problems

Children aren’t ‘for profit’ or ‘stable investments’ but that’s how they are viewed by an increasing majority of childcare providers.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks during a press conference regarding the latest inflation figures.

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Federal PoliticsComments
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Thickets of red tape holding back Abundance

The ‘abundance agenda’ is colouring the government’s thinking as it approaches its second-term agenda but the hot new book from the US isn’t the only influence on the thinking of ministers.

Katina Curtis

Donald trump lighting the Middle East Match as Albanese looks on.

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Katina Curtis
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Australia out of the loop and off the agenda for US action

The latest escalation in the already messy Middle East conflict doesn’t directly bear on the US-Australia alliance. But it doesn’t give much confidence that any of the tensions already there are easing.

Katina Curtis

Jenny Macklin, pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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Grind and coffee ahead for ministers who want policy wins

Former minister Jenny Macklin has some golden rules for politicians who want to change Australia that those in the current parliament would do well to heed.

Katina Curtis

Ed Husic has made it clear he has no intention of holding his tongue.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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The unhealthy ‘yes man’ culture is a big risk for Labor

Disunity may be death in politics but valuing unity above all else doesn’t necessarily foster thriving life either, as politicians on both sides are discovering

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

Internally, many are calling for a deep and honest review of what went wrong. Others say a good start would be looking at the unheeded lessons from the 2022 campaign.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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Unheeded lessons sting Liberals who now seek change

Liberals are grappling with losing the election, losing their leader and losing many colleagues. Asked what the party needed to change, one laughed bitterly and said: ‘Everything.’

Katina Curtis

‘Peter Dutton’s shift to national security and community safety adds to what is already a very blokey campaign from the Liberals in this election,’ writes Katina Curtis.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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Dutton hits security button in search for campaign reset

Peter Dutton’s shift to national security and community safety adds to what is already a very blokey campaign from the Liberals in this election.

Katina Curtis

Peter Dutton.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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Peter Dutton’s policies risk getting stuck in cold storage

Reporters travelling on the election campaign better pack their puffer jackets because they’ll probably be seeing a lot of cold rooms.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

Anthony Albanese’s ministers have been splashing the cash via guaranteed community grants - but they should still be scrutinised in the way election commitments are, writes Katina Curtis.

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Katina CurtisComments
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Why Albo’s $1.7b grants spendathon should be scrutinised

KATINA CURTIS: A more proportional split in grants allocations than the Coalition’s egregious pork-barrelling doesn’t mean Labor’s cash splash shouldn’t be scrutinised.

Katina Curtis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

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KATINA CURTIS CommentsPremium
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Where are the new ideas for this election campaign?

I’m just a voter standing in front of a politician asking for some new policy options.

Katina Curtis

Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman announces a greener redevelopment of the Perth Cultural Centre.

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Katina CurtisCommentsPremium
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Battle for eyeballs plays out in political stunts online

With an election nearing, there’s been a distinct increase in politicians doing silly things on social media in a bid to win the attention of voters.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis.

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Katina Curtis CommentsPremium
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Should the community benefit from a miners’ bucket of money?

Labor is certain its tax breaks to build a critical minerals processing industry is a vote-winner in WA, but the Liberals now believe they can turn it into a negative for the State.

Katina Curtis

‘Anthony Albanese found out the hard way in 2022 that the spotlight of an election campaign is not the same as everyday scrutiny of politicians,’ says Katina Curtis.

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Katina CurtisComments
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Shadow campaign reveals the challenge to get ‘match fit’

The spotlight of an election campaign is not the same as everyday scrutiny of politicians and leaders need to make sure they are match fit to face questions.

Katina Curtis

New Year Wish list.....Albanese and Dutton Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Katina CurtisComments
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What’s in and what’s out for politics in this election year

The turning of the calendar and the summer lull inevitably bring a degree of introspection about the year past and one beginning. So what should be in and out for federal politics in 2025?

Katina Curtis

It’s right up there with “who’s looking after your kids?” which is asked surprisingly often by older women, and the occasional male political staffer who really should know better.

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How to balance life & sewing: Creating joy in every stitch

Struggling with the question ‘How do you do it all?’ I embrace sewing as a creative outlet, finding joy and satisfaction in each project.

Katina Curtis

Katina Curtis

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor.

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Katina CurtisComments
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‘We’ll have more to say’ looms as Coalition policy mantra

Peter Dutton and key shadow ministers give the distinct impression they are not across details of their own policies, despite making it a key point of attack on Anthony Albanese.

Katina Curtis

Balancing Style and Substance....Albanese and Dutton illustration.

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Katina CurtisComments
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Politicians need both style and substance in their toolkits

Too far towards style-only and you fall into #scottyfrommarketing territory. Too far the other way and people feel abandoned no matter what practical actions leaders are taking.

Katina Curtis

Disconnected Voter illustration.

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Katina CurtisComments
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Disengaged and double-haters: Voters pollies need to reach

For all the comparisons between the state of politics in Australia and America, compulsory voting is a fundamental difference - but it doesn’t mean people are enamoured with or even interested in politics.

Katina Curtis