Downfall

In 2007 Australian Labor was one of the most successful centre left political parties in the world. Freshly triumphant from a federal election, it controlled states across Australia. Labor's frontbench was full of young, smart and progressive activists. Their leader's personal popularity rating was sky high. They had inherited a booming economy and the promise of a bright future.

Six years later, the party is in a death spiral, facing humiliating defeat in the forthcoming election. Observers across the country are asking: how did it come to this?

Commentators have pointed to the leadership struggle, to the lack of coherent policies, to an over-reliance on polls. All of that is true but Labor's biggest problem is one that no-one wants to talk about - ethics. As Labor Party figures front up to corruption hearings, as revelations of deals for mates and misuse of funds come to light, as tales of faceless men exercising power for all the wrong reasons emerge, Labor's brand is indisputably tarnished.

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