Annabel Crabb

Australia

Chief Online Political Writer at ABC News (Australia)

ABC political writer and commentator, though views expressed here are mine, not ABC's. New book WELL HELLO out Sept 28, see link

Articles

Peter Dutton's platform infuriated women - and it likely lost him the election

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

In an election that turned out to be a cracker-box of explosive developments, one of the most ironic — surely — is the degree of work-life balance suddenly opening up to a large number of middle-aged Liberal men.
Tiny debacles are mounting for Dutton, but there’s a wild card in this scenario

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

The weird thing about election campaigns is the way they sometimes take on a life of their own. One thing goes wrong, and that thing exacerbates an existing weakness, and in rushing to fix that, you create another problem and before you know it, you're sitting down to the full English breakfast at the Clusterf**k Café. Once you're in this phase, even tiny debacles assume a sort of grim, superstitious significance, usually because they are symptoms of a much deeper problem.
Coalition cosies up to One Nation with preferences in ceasefire after 30-year war

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

The first three weeks of this federal election campaign were comprehensively drowned out by tariff policy bombshells lobbed by one of the world's most famous men. Now, it appears the last two weeks will be obscured by the funeral and succession of the only other man on Earth more famous than the first. And — for good measure — the funeral will be attended by both. It's very hard to focus on Australian politics when the world keeps getting tipped off its axis like this.
Ute Man is the Coalition's favourite political figurine but he's a fraught mascot

4 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

This election is a life or death matter for one of Australian politics' most enduring and powerful identities: Ute Man. Of all the potent political icons invoked by vote-hungry politicians, none in the last decade has enjoyed quite the sway of Ute Man, our homo electus, the target audience for every politician ever to engage inhi-vis cosplay as polling day approached.
First Australian election debate fails to reverse Peter Dutton's nightmare week, despite his best efforts

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Annabel Crabb

By Annabel Crabb, ABCAnalysis - It would be fair to say - as participants assembled at the Wenty Leagues Club for the first head-to-head debate of the 2025 election campaign - that everyone concerned went into the event with differing measures of success.
First election debate has not reversed a nightmare week for Peter Dutton, despite his best efforts

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

It would be fair to say — as participants assembled at the Wenty Leagues Club for the first head-to-head debate of the 2025 election campaign — that everyone concerned went into the event with differing measures of success.
Dutton and Albanese are spruiking artificially sweet promises on supermarkets

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

We've all been there. You've gone to the supermarket, you've planned your shop, you've ticked off your list, then as you wait in line for the check-out you're seduced by the siren call of a chocolate bar. Or a magazine. Or maybe you have your kid with you, a kid who is this close to a meltdown and is commencing to arc up in a way that you absolutely, self-loathingly know can be held at bay by the strategic application of a Kinder Surprise egg. So you give in.
Annabel Crabb and PK on the leaders' election pitches

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Patricia Karvelas |Annabel Crabb

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has fired the starters gun on the Federal election — and both leaders have unveiled their opening election pitches to voters. Anthony Albanese has warned voters it's a choice between Labor, who will "keep building or Peter Dutton promise to cut", while Peter Dutton urged Australians to vote for a change in government to "build a better future for your children". Patricia Karvelas and Annabel Crabb break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning political query?
Consider this budget Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ refusal to sign a non-compete clause

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

This budget comprises many pages, most of which will no doubt blow away in the gales of the imminent election campaign, but one conclusion is visible from space and should absolutely be noted: this is Jim Chalmers' formal refusal to sign a non-compete clause. Have you ever seen a treasurer, obliged on budget night to confirm that the national books have slid $42b into the red on his watch, looking quite so incredibly chipper?
Many Greens voters don't know who their leader Adam Bandt is, but that might not be a problem

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Annabel Crabb

Last month, the research firm Redbridge asked voters in 20 key federal seats for their broad views on party leaders Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt. As you would expect in the nation's current cheesed-off state of mind, all three men enjoyed sub-zero popularity among respondents. Everyone hates everything right now, especially if it's anywhere near politics. The PM's net approval rating was minus 16, Dutton's minus 11, and the Greens leader was minus 23.

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Annabel Crabb @annabelcrabb

23 Apr 25

My new column: Coalition ties the knot with One Nation, in a quiet registry affair https://t.co/e8GLtjp2XQ

Annabel Crabb @annabelcrabb

15 Apr 25

New column: "Ute Man" has been a potent identity figure for nearly a decade, but he's basically two car salesmen and a tax accountant in a Driza-Bone https://t.co/BDaDb1tUY4

Annabel Crabb @annabelcrabb

4 Apr 25

New Politics Now pod ep... @patskarvelas and I talk new world order. Is Donald Trump Making Everybody Else Great Again? And we identify points during Election 2025 Week One at which both major leaders fell over, in one case literally. https://t.co/IB7TS5bYQl

Annabel Crabb

Articles

Peter Dutton's platform infuriated women - and it likely lost him the election

Tiny debacles are mounting for Dutton, but there’s a wild card in this scenario

Coalition cosies up to One Nation with preferences in ceasefire after 30-year war

Ute Man is the Coalition's favourite political figurine but he's a fraught mascot

First Australian election debate fails to reverse Peter Dutton's nightmare week, despite his best efforts

First election debate has not reversed a nightmare week for Peter Dutton, despite his best efforts

Dutton and Albanese are spruiking artificially sweet promises on supermarkets

Annabel Crabb and PK on the leaders' election pitches

Consider this budget Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ refusal to sign a non-compete clause

Many Greens voters don't know who their leader Adam Bandt is, but that might not be a problem

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