Niki Savva
Niki Savva is an award-winning political commentator and author. She was also a staffer to former prime minister John Howard and former treasurer Peter Costello.
Opinion
Indigenous Voice
Dutton is banking on twin calamities to unseat Albanese, but it’s not enough
The prime minister is already crafting a post-referendum Plan B, while the Liberals seem to be banking on chaos and instability of the past to see them through.
- by Niki Savva
Latest
Opinion
Political leadership
As teal seats harden against Liberals, Dutton markets himself as Prime Minister for Queensland
The response from the Liberal hard right to the threat of a schism which 2022 portended has been a redoubling of efforts to purge moderates from the party by stripping them of their pre-selections. It won’t win the teal seats back.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Indigenous Voice
Albanese confronts wicked dilemma on Voice as Liberal women engage in grubby exercise
If the referendum fails at a time when cost-of-living pressures are intensifying, it could trigger a spiral that even the wily PM will find difficult to reverse.
- by Niki Savva
‘Profound and personal’: A witness to political trauma and farce
Whether it was with drunk, missing or newly coined prime ministers, Tony Eggleton, who died on Saturday, played a role in three key moments of Australian political history.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Political leadership
Albanese has not turned into the incredible shrinking prime minister (unlike his predecessors)
Anthony Albanese’s premeditated transition from left-wing bomb thrower to centre-road prime minister has been fascinating, infuriating and bemusing to watch, depending on where you reside on the spectrum.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Indigenous Voice
Next to Albanese, Dutton is Labor’s greatest asset
Senior Liberals fear Peter Dutton’s approach to the Voice will fail to secure a single extra vote, particularly in seats his party must win if it is to ever form government again.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Political leadership
Dutton submerged like a Virginia class sub as periscope turns to Aston
Not only has he been unable or unwilling to begin the job of redefining himself since becoming leader, Peter Dutton has disappeared for days on end.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Indigenous Voice
Dutton risks being blamed if the Voice fails or deemed irrelevant if it succeeds
The Voice is the Liberals’ chance to show they can set aside culture wars and contribute to fixing an intractable problem.
- by Niki Savva
Exclusive
Morrison portfolio saga
‘Extreme overreach’: Frydenberg felt betrayed by Morrison’s secret appointment
Scott Morrison began in politics with few friends and ended with even fewer. In an extract from Niki Savva’s new book, Bulldozed, those who were once closest to the former prime minister speak about feeling used and deceived.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Australia votes
Change or die: Liberals need to find ‘sensible centre’ to survive
The opposition needs to stand for something more than whatever spin, stunt or sneaky manoeuvre gets them through.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Australia votes
Dislike of Morrison remains the dominant factor in this campaign
On one issue Liberal and Labor strategists are agreed: dislike of Morrison remains the dominant factor in the campaign.
- by Niki Savva