Welcome to Crikey’s favourite articles of 2019.

It’s been a huge year for Crikey — and Australia. We had the chaos of the unloseable election and the fall of George Pell; the passing of Bob Hawke, the rise of the megafires and the crashing wave of watergate. Further afield we tried to make sense of the Christchurch tragedy and had Guy Rundle on the ground in the UK for the Brexit slug-fest. And all the while the shadow of Australia’s police state grew ever larger.

We here at the Crikey bunker are proud of everything we accomplished this year, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of readers like you.

Thank you for being part of the journey, and keep an eye out as next week we take you through the most important investigations of Inq’s first year!

BERNARD KEANE 5 minute read

The "watergate" scandal wasn't atypical of Australian capitalism — it's the model for much of Australian business.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 4 minute read

The children and teenagers of Christchurch took ownership of their grief in a positive and powerful way.

AMBER SCHULTZ 1 minute read

As Scott Morrison continues to offer thoughts and prayers to bushfire victims, it's important to remember the NSW Liberal Party has cut tens of millions from state fire services.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 4 minute read

After George Pell, many high-profile people signed out from the police, the courts, the jury system, the burden of proof and the entire rule of law. Welcome to the new abnormal.

REBEKAH HOLT 4 minute read

Abdul Aziz, a 23-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, died in detention this year. Crikey was invited by his family and friends to bear witness before his body was sent home.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

Despite what politicians say, now is precisely the time to talk about the link between bushfires, drought and climate change. Anything less is recklessness and corruption that kills Australians.

CHARLIE LEWIS 5 minute read

Tony Abbott may have lost his seat, but campaigning at the local mall he seemed in his element. Having John Howard beside him helped.

GUY RUNDLE 4 minute read

The Nats have made themselves the enemy of rural Australia's survival. If the party becomes a casualty of climate change, it will be the only one deserved.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

Journalists have one tool to pressure governments into reversing their attempts to punish unauthorised leaking: stop reporting authorised leaks.

CHRIS WOODS 6 minute read

We asked young Australians across the political spectrum for their views.

GUY RUNDLE 5 minute read

To be young and left during the rise of Bob Hawke was to be in heaven. But now, looking back, we can see he marked a time when Labor began its backwards steps.

JUSTINE LANDIS-HANLEY 2 minute read

New evidence casts doubt on the Department of Human Services' claim that Centrelink staff aren't given set debt recovery targets.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 5 minute read

One of the Institute of Public Affair's greatest successes has been to stitch climate denialism into the very fabric of the conservative political identity.

EMILY WATKINS 5 minute read

The previous sponsor of the young journalist of the year award has been dumped, as the press club looks around for an upgrade.

JACK VENING 2 minute read

This year we got the unfortunate news that Labor won't be taking any more big bags stuffed with money. We wrote this helpful guide to giving donations under the new system.

ELIZABETH FLUX 4 minute read

Carrie Lam has generally condemned violence, while refusing demands for independent investigation into police brutality. The whole world can see the truth she is avoiding.