David Speers

Canberra

Host at Insiders (ABC) Program

National Political Lead at ABC News (Australia)

Host of Insiders. Posts / shares / likes are personal view. Do not represent views of ABC.

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Articles

On Background || Liberal Party: What's next?

5 days ago | abc.net.au | David Speers

It's honestly difficult to remember a week where the political landscape has shifted as dramatically as it has this week. Labor won a crushing victory last Saturday, and the victorious PM has been walking on air since then.
Tim Wilson might still back nuclear but the election has divided his Coalition colleagues

1 week ago | abc.net.au | David Speers

Tim Wilson's clawback win against independent Zoe Daniel in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein was the first piece of good news the humiliated Liberal Party received this week. Wilson is an energetic and articulate Liberal moderate, who has shown it is possible for the party to win back a metropolitan seat. He choked back emotion as he declared victory in front of what must surely be the only Liberal volunteers able to manage a smile since Saturday's election drubbing.
Australia votes || Insiders On Background

1 week ago | abc.net.au | David Speers

As Australia goes to the polls, David Speers asks what have we learnt from this election campaign? This week for the On Background podcast, David is joined by former Labor adviser, Ryan Liddell and former Liberal adviser, Andrew Carswell.
Soft voters stir election hope for the Coalition and nerves for Labor

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | David Speers

By David Speers, ABCAnalysis - Much has been said about the unusually high number of undecided and soft voters at this election. For months pollsters have reported the number of people either completely tuned out from the political circus, still genuinely vacillating, or not yet locked in, has been significantly higher than at previous elections. This softness has generated both hope in the Coalition and nervousness within Labor in the final days of campaigning.
Soft voters stir election hope for the Coalition and nerves for Labor

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | David Speers

Much has been said about the unusually high number of undecided and soft voters at this election. For months pollsters have reported the number of people either completely tuned out from the political circus, still genuinely vacillating, or not yet locked in, has been significantly higher than at previous elections. This softness has generated both hope in the Coalition and nervousness within Labor in the final days of campaigning. At a national level, polls suggest Labor has cemented its lead.
How Albanese has 'transformed' this campaign

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Patricia Karvelas |David Speers |Lara Heaton

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton are jetting across the country in a last-minute campaign blitz to shore up voters — and while Labor has the momentum, PK warns it's "line-ball" in key marginal seats that could decide the election. But despite the last minute jitters in the Labor camp, the Prime Minister has "sharpened up" his messages on the campaign trail — so what's behind the transformation? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.
On Background || Defending Australia

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | David Speers

It's come relatively late in the campaign, but Peter Dutton's defence plan represents one of the most significant policy measures put forward in this election contest. The Coalition's promising to substantially boost defence spending from just over 2% of GDP today, about $56 billion a year, to 2.5% within five years. So does Australia need to increase defence spending, and what sort of defence force does the country need?
Peter Dutton’s late defence promise is driven by both Xi Jinping and Donald Trump

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | David Speers

On Anzac Day three years ago, which also fell amid an election campaign, Peter Dutton had China on his mind. The then defence minister had already earned a reputation as a national security hawk, but dialled up some grave warnings about China's intentions when he joined the Today Show after a dawn service that morning.
Analysis: Peter Dutton is treading carefully when it comes to China

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | David Speers

The opposition leader is being cautious with his language as he doesn't want to turn off Chinese-Australian voters, as the Coalition did last election, but he also doesn't want to upset those on his right flank.
Why Dutton wants an election fight on defence - ABC listen

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Patricia Karvelas |David Speers |Lara Heaton

With just 10-days until the election, Peter Dutton has unveiled the Coalition's defence policy — pledging to lift spending by $21 billion dollars over the next five years. But as the Opposition tries to muscle up on defence, suggesting the Government have been weak on national security — have they left it too late? And the Coalition and One Nation have agreed to a preference deal. But what's behind the move? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.