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Joshua Black

Joshua Black

The Conversation

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Australia’s embrace of independent political candidates shows there’s no such thing as a safe seat

Australia’s embrace of independent political candidates shows there’s no such thing as a safe seat
06.04.2025 20

Pearls and Irritations

Joshua Black

Australia’s embrace of independent political candidates shows there’s no such thing as a safe seat

Australia’s embrace of independent political candidates shows there’s no such thing as a safe seat

The surge of successful independent MPs at the 2022 election shows no sign of changing – and in fact may grow more powerful still.

28.03.2025 10

The Conversation

Joshua Black

Blue Poles and its $1.4m price-tag shocked the nation, but did it change us?

Blue Poles and its $1.4m price-tag shocked the nation, but did it change us?

The historical controversy over Jackson Pollock’s ‘masterpiece’ revealed much about Australia’s attitude towards the arts.

24.03.2025 10

The Conversation

Joshua Black

This anniversary wasn’t meant to be easy: Malcolm Fraser and the modern Liberal Party

This anniversary wasn’t meant to be easy: Malcolm Fraser and the modern Liberal Party

The coming federal election may show that Malcolm Fraser’s version of liberalism still has a place in Australia’s politics.

21.03.2025 20

The Conversation

Joshua Black

In 2000, Australia was defined by the Olympics, border politics and reconciliation. So what really has changed?

At the turn of the 21st century, Australia put on a show for the world, but for all the talk of the future, we still had one foot in the past.

20.03.2025 20

The Conversation

Joshua Black

Sweeping reform of the electoral laws puts democracy at risk. They shouldn’t be changed on a whim

The biggest changes to the electoral donations laws in 40 years risk undermining democracy by favouring the major parties over independents.

06.02.2025 10

The Conversation

Joshua Black

Harold Holt is a meme today, but when the prime minister went missing in December 1967, it was no laughing matter

At some point, Australians stopped grieving Harold Holt’s death and many started to laugh about it instead. The sudden disappearance of a prime...

16.12.2024 4

The Conversation

Joshua Black