Welcome to the best of Crikey for the week,

After last week’s series of Coalition disasters peaked with the Liberals losing the blue-ribbon seat of Wentworth, we in the bunker have done a lot of thinking about what this might mean for the major parties. But this week gave us, if not a respite, at least a slowing of calamity for the government — which gives us a chance to look around. Guy Rundle and Helen Razer both explore what the evolution of two very different public spaces tells us. Bernard Keane looks at how Australia’s political class has failed sexual harassment complainants. And Charlie Lewis reviews Gillian Triggs’ new memoir.

Let us know what you think of the stories we’ve covered this week by emailing boss@crikey.com.au.

GUY RUNDLE 4 minute read

The measure of ScoMo’s doltishness is that whole fiascos go through to the keeper without much attention.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

Neither Barnaby Joyce nor Luke Foley should be in a position to seek high office while sexual harassment allegations, which they deny, go unresolved.

RUBY HAMAD 5 minute read

Since details of the Khashoggi's disappearance and death have emerged, media has been frantically backtracking on their effusive praise for the Saudi prince.

EMILY WATKINS 3 minute read

In Australia in recent years, there has been a trend toward cross-media investigations, and away from single-newsroom investigations.

CRIKEY 5 minute read

In this weeks tips and rumours: News Corp's anti-royal commission cheer squad should take a look in the mirror, Julie Bishop and Latika Bourke's tattered friendship, and the ABC has some trouble passing.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 4 minute read

Dr Kerryn Phelps' surprise victory in Wentworth may be overshadowed by a section 44 dispute.

DANIEL JAMES 3 minute read

The online world is a lived experience for Aboriginal people, and it has real world impacts.

EMILY WATKINS 2 minute read

Crikey asks Channel Seven why they asked people on Facebook if they thought "anti-white racism" was on the rise.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

A new book and a weekend spread in The Age remind us that Kevin Rudd craves attention, but has nothing to say beyond attacking his former colleagues, because he never stood for anything

CHARLIE LEWIS 5 minute read

Liberal MP Craig Kelly was close to losing his preselection, but it looks like the PM himself has intervened to save the Liberal Party's incredible gaffe machine.

EMILY WATKINS 3 minute read

In his opening statement to a room packed with media, Rush's barrister made clear he would be seeking large damages.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

The Morrison government's new coal-loving energy policy is an incoherent mass of dramatic interventionism that denies the basics of economics and science.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

The Saudi regime's admission it killed Jamal Khashoggi embarrassed the Australian government into taking action. But it needs to do much more, and it can use companies who profit from their collaboration with the regime.

GUY RUNDLE 3 minute read

Next week will mark an important moment in the political life of Victoria: on October 31, the citizens of this proud state will find out whether they have a planning system or not.

CHARLIE LEWIS 3 minute read

Gillian Triggs' new book Speaking Up aspires more to be reference text than a memoir, which is a shame.