The politics of sideshows and circuses

By Jack Waterford
Updated April 23 2018 - 10:42pm, first published July 11 2014 - 5:22pm

Too much time and energy can be spent examining the acts, stunts and words of Clive Palmer and his merry gang in a search for some unifying principle, insight into why they are there, or in some effort to divine how their influence can be harnessed or reduced. What Abbott should be focusing on is that the Palmer United Party is a fact of life for the next two years, and what Bill Shorten and Labor should be focusing on is that it will also be exercising power, probably even more power, for at least three years after.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Canberra news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.