The First Albanese Government: Governing in an Age of Disruption and Division, 2022-2025

An in-depth examination of the Albanese Government’s first term, from its narrow 2022 election victory to the strengthened mandate secured in 2025. This timely collection explores how the government navigated economic turbulence, shifting global dynamics and a deeply divided domestic landscape.

Leading scholars and policy experts assess the major reforms, political challenges and defining moments of the term — including the impact of the unsuccessful Voice referendum and the government’s approach to key economic and social priorities. Clear-eyed and analytical, this volume evaluates both the achievements and the limitations of a government governing in an era of disruption.

Edited by Michelle Grattan, John Halligan and John Hawkins, with a preface by Bill Shorten, this authoritative work captures the central debates of the Albanese Government’s first term and considers the direction of its future years in office.

Product details:

Publisher: UNSW Press

Dimensions: 234 × 153 mm

Pages: 304 

Format: Hardback

Publication date: March 2026

ISBN: 9781761170737