The week that was in Australian federal politics:

Allan Moir

The atmosphere of federal politics has changed. Michelle Grattan is quite right about that.

Atmospherics change perceptions. Perceptions count for a lot in parliamentary politics. Perceptions say a shift has taken place.

Margo Kingston over at the Sydney Morning Herald thinks that the shift is one of moving away from spin to the real thing. She adds "We're tired of spin politics. We're ready for the real thing."

I'm more sceptical. Latham is spin. Just look at the pinstrip suit. The ALP spin machine is hard at work.

The real thing is long gone. It is all about spinning illusions in the postmodern mediascape.

The real thing is the spin machine.