In this election year, there will be much focus on the performance of the prime minister and opposition leader respectively, as Australian election campaigns have tended to become increasingly presidential. This deflects attention from the important role that members of the cabinet and shadow cabinet play in the running of the country.

So we decided to take a critical look at how these key members of the government and the opposition have performed politically and on important policy issues. To do that we asked our experts from universities around Australia to appraise their performances.

In some cases, ministers or shadows hold more than one portfolio. To simplify the policy analysis, we have chosen a key policy area for which they are responsible and asked our experts to analyse those.

Alex Reilly receives funding from Horticulture Innovation Australia to conduct research into labour supply in the Horticulture Industry. He is on the management committee of the Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia Inc.

Corey Bradshaw receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

As a university employee, David Peetz has undertaken research over many years with occasional financial support for specific projects from the Australian Research Council, governments and government agencies from both sides of politics in Australia and overseas, as well as employers and unions. Those funded projects do not concern the subject matter of this article.

Glenn C. Savage receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Jim Gillespie receives funding from the NHMRC, WentWest Western Sydney PHN, Western Sydney Partners in Recovery, New Horizons/ Inner West Sydney Partners in Recovery and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

Roger Dargaville receives funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

Susan Harris Rimmer receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is affiliated with the Refugee Council of Australia and International Women's Development Agency as a national board member.

Will J Grant receives funding from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

Adam Webster, Bryan Mercurio, Daniel Baldino, Deborah Ralston, Diana Perche, Flavio Menezes, Matthew Beck, Michelle Grattan, Nicholas Biddle, and Philip Branch do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.