Politics Now

Is this the new Australian dream?

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Housing remains the key issue for governments of all stripes, and was the cornerstone of both major parties' election campaigns.But since the electio...

Why the housing crisis is such a 'wicked problem'

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Housing remains the key issue for governments of all stripes, and was the cornerstone of both major parties' election campaigns.But since the electio...

Will Anika Wells keep her job?

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AUKUS is going "full steam ahead" — that's the message from the Trump administration. But is it all smooth sailing ahead for the security partnersh...

Barnaby makes One Nation flirtation official

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After months of speculation, former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has officially joined One Nation. So, will the New England MP be able to furt...

Tackling racism 'not a priority' for Govt, says Race Discrimination Commissioner

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A year ago Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner delivered the National Anti-Racism Framework. 

Will Labor muscle-up on gambling reforms?

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Albanese Government is spruiking its social media ban and urging social media companies to comply as the deadline looms. And while Opposition lea...

Social media ban looms. Are we ready?

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Communications Minister Anika Wells has used a National Press club address to talk-up the impending social media ban, and put platforms on notice.But...

Is the 'jobs for mates' era over?

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The scathing and long-awaited 'jobs for mates' report has been handed down. It's found government appointments too often look like 'forms of patronag...

Albanese and the low-key 'royal wedding'

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has capped off the political year by tying the knot with his partner Jodie Haydon at the Lodge. Patricia Karvelas and...

What must the government prioritise in the new year? | Insiders On Background

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Labor is feeling pretty good about life heading into the summer.But not everything is going swimmingly. Inflation edged higher during the week, and ...

Barnaby to defect and enviro laws to pass

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Labor-Greens deal on the EPBC has been announced, after lengthy negotiations. It comes after Environment Minister Murray Watt said he was open to a...

Is Labor the better economic manager?

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Australian election study has found Coalition has lost its perceived advantage on economic management, with Labor taking the crown. It comes as t...

High steaks for Pauline and Barnaby

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has made Barnaby Joyce dinner in her parliamentary office — using the humble sandwich press to grill some steaks.I...

Net zero gains for Sussan Ley

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As parliament springs back to life for the final sitting week of the year, the Albanese Government is looking to pass a key flank of its legislative ...

Why miners want a deal done on new environment laws | Insiders On Background

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the final parliamentary sitting of the year fast approaching, the Federal Government is eager to pass its environmental law reforms. There's t...

Did the PM get his ideal COP outcome?

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking news on Australia’s COP bid — Adelaide won’t host COP31. Instead, a deal is being finalised with Türkiye that would see Climate Chan...

Labor’s COP out on science

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are we on the cusp of a science brain drain in Australia?Major job cuts are coming to the CSIRO — adding to the hundreds of positions already lost ...

Another leader bites the dust

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is there anywhere safe in Australia right now to be a major party leader?It’s starting to feel like decapitation season. The latest head to roll? V...

Sussan Ley is 'fighting for her political life'

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The race for leadership - and perhaps the very soul of the Liberal Party - is on.Opposition Leader Sussan Ley spent last week negotiating with critic...

The long road to treaty | Insiders On Background

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a very long road – but Australia’s first treaty with Aboriginal people in Victoria has now been signed and formalised as law.

Sussan Ley killed net zero. Will it save her?

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has been on a media blitz, defending her party's position of ditching net zero targets. So, how effective has her sales ...

Why the Libs ditched net zero

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has announced the Liberal party will ditch net zero and repeal Labor's 2030 emissions reduction target - all in a bid fo...

Liberals face net zero D-Day

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After months of division and public front-running — and even some added excitement of diverted planes — it's D-Day for the Liberals to decide the...

Annabel Crabb on our 'unusual' democracy

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With an impartial and beloved electoral body, preferential and compulsory voting — and of course election day sausage sizzles — Australia's democ...

Do leaders need political conviction?

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After months of division, the Liberal party room is finally set to meet and thrash out their future direction on net zero this week. But it's also sh...

The Whitlam dismissal | Insiders On Background

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been 50 years since arguably the most dramatic moment in Australia’s political history – the dismissal of the Whitlam Government.It came a...

Does the Coalition respect Sussan Ley?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been another turbulent week for the Coalition, with the Nationals ditching net zero — and leaving the Liberal party divided on whether to do t...

Can Sussan Ley survive the summer?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the turmoil continues over net zero, Opposition leader Sussan Ley has defended her approach — and her hold on the leadership — in a series of ...

A rate 'bump in the road' for Labor

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a widely expected decision, RBA Governor Michele Bullock has confirmed interest rates will be held at 3.6 per cent. So, is this just a "bump in th...

Are the Coalition about to split (again)?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Nationals have officially ditched net zero by 2050, issuing a test for Sussan Ley and the Liberal party.  So, can the Coalition find a path thro...

Can Labor reform Australia's environment laws? | Insiders On Background

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How is it possible to both save the environment, while also speeding up decisions on mining, housing and energy projects? Environment Minister Murray...

Did Sussan Ley overreach on 'shirtgate'?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Environment Minister Murray Watt has introduced environment reform laws into parliament — but it's still not clear if the Greens or the Coalition w...

Antony Green on the rise of One Nation

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Support for One Nation has surged in recent polls and now Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce is eyeing off a tilt to Pauline Hanson's party. But it's not the...

Is Labor ‘taking the piss’ on integrity?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Albanese Government came to power promising to increase transparency and integrity in politics, but a new report card shows Labor is failing on s...

Is this Labor's biggest test yet?

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Albanese Government is muscling up for a fight on its key environmental reform bill, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EP...

What does Trump really think about China? | Insiders On Background

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Donald Trump this week was widely hailed as a triumph.There was an awkward exchange with Kevin Rudd but also commen...

How Albanese won Trump over

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Albanese has received high marks across the board for his White House meeting with Donald Trump. The US President even parroted many of Labor...

What Trump's China message means for Australia

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Albanese says Donald Trump's comments about US Ambassador Kevin Rudd were "just banter", while Liberal Senator Jane Hume says calls for the A...

Albanese heads home with a Trump card

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have finally met.The two world leaders inked a landmark deal on critical minerals, whil...

Is Barnaby the new Pauline Hanson?

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

PK is back in the podcast chair — and she has LOTS of thoughts to share with Jacob.Like, why Barnaby Joyce is flirting with One Nation, and if othe...

What will happen when Albanese meets Trump? | Insiders On Background

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The long-awaited sit-down meeting between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump is about to take place. So – what should we expect? Will there be a bl...

Is 'fear' behind Labor's super-sized backdown?

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Treasurer capitulated on Labor's proposed super tax changes this week, but while Jim Chalmers fronted the media for the fallout, was the backdown...

Channelling Farage or chasing Teals?

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do Nigel Farage and the Teals have in common? James Paterson thinks they’re both dead ends.In a keynote speech, the conservative senator warne...

Why support for One Nation is rising

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Liberal infighting continues to play out publicly, support for One Nation has skyrocketed in a series of recent polls. So, what's behind the shift...

Did Albo hand Chalmers an 'excrement sandwich'?

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced a surprise backdown on the Albanese Government's controversial super tax plans.It comes after Labor failed to se...

Optus' communication breakdown | Insiders On Background

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last month’s fatal Optus outage exposed vulnerabilities in the triple-zero network.As pressure mounts on the telco,  key questions remain unanswer...

Leaky Liberals and Optus email blunders

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Albanese Government's agenda was derailed by some spicy scenes in Senate Estimates this week, with revelations an email detailing the Optus outag...

Is this an episode of Utopia?

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An email detailing the Optus outage was sent to the wrong government address, a spicy Senate estimates hearing has revealed. But while the inbox wasn...

Did Labor ignore triple zero 'red flags'?

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The CEOs of Australia's big telcos have met with Communications Minister Anika Wells after major triple zero outages last month.It comes as Labor int...

Peter Dutton enters the chat

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a submission to the Liberal's election review, former Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Andrew Hastie of costing the Coalition the electi...

🚨What Hastie quitting means for Sussan Ley

04 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Senior Liberal Andrew Hastie has spectacularly quit the Coalition frontbench, saying he could not maintain cabinet solidarity due to disagreements ov...

Will Palestinians support Trump's peace plan? | Insiders on Background

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli Prime Minister, U.S. President Donald Trump told the world that his peace plan will end the war in Gaz...

Is Australia more than a middle power?

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just returned home from a whirlwind international trip, immediately turning his attention to domestic matters lik...

Is Labor putting out the housing fire or fanning the flames?

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Prime Minister is back on home soil - and back to hitting the pavement in the electorate.After a week on the world  stage, the government is eag...

Trump has a plan for peace. Will it work?

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump once promised he’d bring peace to the Middle East the moment he returned to the White House.Now, he’s backing a new 20-point plan wi...

Albanese and Starmer stare down populism

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Albanese has wrapped up a quick UK visit, where he and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have reiterated the close partnership between ...

Alastair Campbell on Trump: "What the f is he talking about?" | Insiders On Background

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do progressive leaders navigate turbulence of the Trump era? 

Albanese and the brave new world order

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Albanese has been flexing Australia's middle-power muscle at the 80th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly this week.But while ...

Albanese and Trump lock in a date

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A date has officially been set for a meeting between Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese. The White House has confirmed the one-on-one will take place...

Has Sussan Ley gone 'rogue' on Palestine?

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has vowed to revoke Australia's recognition of Palestinian statehood, taking the unusual step of writing to US Republica...

Australia splits with US to recognise Palestine

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia has formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, with the prime minister suggesting the move was "the world saying that the cycle of...

Matt Kean urging opposition to back govt's 2035 emissions target || Insiders: On Background

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia will soon submit a 2035 target to cut emissions by 62 to 70 per cent to the United Nations.

Labor unveils 2035 climate targets. What next?

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Albanese Government has unveiled its long awaited 2035 emissions reduction target, confirming it will sit in a range of 62 - 70 per cent. But in...

Did Trump just confirm a meeting with Albo?

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has rebuked questions from ABC America's Editor John Lyons, suggesting they were “hurting Australia" when speaking to reporters at the...

Will Ley survive the climate wars?

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the Albanese Government prepares to release its 2035 emissions reduction target, the Coalition's deep divisions on climate change have re-emerged....

Will Labor's climate target be ambitious?

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the Albanese Government prepares to unveil its 2035 emissions reduction target, a new climate assessment has painted a dire picture of the future....

What should Australia's 2035 climate target be?

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Albanese Government is preparing to set Australia's next climate goal: the 2035 emissions reduction target, as required under the Paris agreement...

Is Sussan Ley's leadership in trouble?

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has demoted prominent Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the backbench, after a turbulent week of factional inf...

PM condemns Israel's Qatar strike

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Israel's strike in Qatar as a "violation" of the country's sovereignty, while US President Donald Trump...

Battle of the bribes in the Pacific

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Prime Minister has now added his voice to growing calls for Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to apologise for her remarks about Indian mi...

Are the Liberals in a civil war?

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tensions are threatening to boil over in the Liberal party in the wake of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s comments about Indian migration.The NT...

Bob Carr on China’s military might || Insiders: On Background

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Andrews had a front row seat to China flexing its military might this week.

Quiet Nauru deals, loud immigration protests

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government has quietly signed a $408 million (and then some) deal with Nauru to house members of the so-called NZYQ cohort.The deal was only made...

Is the government taxing information?

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government is under increasing pressure to explain changes to Freedom of information laws, which could make it harder for journalists and members...

Can Labor fix home support for older Australians?

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government is facing increased criticism over the delays to the introduction of its new aged care reforms. It comes as Department of Health data ...

The government condemns anti-immigration rallies

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anti-immigration rallies took place over the weekend with known neo-Nazis speaking at events in Melbourne and Sydney. The Albanese government issued ...

How should governments respond to the 'sovereign citizen' movement? || Insiders: On Background

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For years, experts have warned of the dangers of the so-called sovereign citizen movement. 

Canberra, Iran and a curious photo op

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Parliament is back in full swing, and it's been a blockbuster sitting week in Canberra - with plenty on the agenda for both major parties, and even m...

Is the government doing enough on sovereign citizens?

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A developing story out of Victoria - a police double fatality and an active manhunt - has drawn federal attention to the rise of sovereign citizen id...

Iran 'orchestrated' attacks on Australian soil

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iran has “crossed a line” and “put Australian lives in danger".Flanked by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess and H...

A housing pitch and a net zero brawl

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Parliament is back - and the government has come out swinging on housing, fast-tracking its First Homebuyer Guarantee and pausing energy efficiency r...

Are working-age Australians being ripped off by the tax system? || Insiders: On Background

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Economic Reform Roundtable has concluded, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers has vowed to tackle “intergenerational equity” in the tax system.

Sizzle or fizzle? The verdict on the Roundtable

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a big week in Canberra, with unions, business leaders, and politicians of all stripes descending on Parliament House for the Economic Ref...

Netanyahu lashes out and Tony Burke fires back

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry.”That’s the sharp response from Home Aff...

Tension in a tit-for-tat visa cancellation

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia has cancelled the visa of a Netanyahu government MP.Israel has swiftly retaliated, revoking visas for Australia's representatives to the Pa...

Putting productivity on the Reform Roundtable

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia’s productivity chief, Danielle Wood, has delivered a pointed reminder that growth hasn’t been a policy priority for far too long.With t...

Let AI boost productivity and growth, business leaders urge against 'over-regulation' || Insiders: On Background

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Reform Roundtable is getting underway from Tuesday, meaning we're about to find out exactly what the government plans to do with its super-sized ...

Whose economic summit is it anyway?

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Productivity is the word of the week, dominating the lead-up to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Economic Reform Roundtable. Even the RBA’s rate cut - wh...

What the PM thinks about a four day work week

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you keen for a four-day work week to become the new normal?That’s the pitch from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, who want it firmly on ...

A win for Labor as the RBA cuts rates

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What a difference a month makes.Those with mortgages around the country got the change they were hoping for this afternoon, with the RBA board "unani...

Australia will recognise Palestine

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is “delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza". Australia will join allies the United Kingdom, Canad...

How do we keep big tech in line? || Insiders: On Background

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They’re some of the biggest, best-resourced, and tech savvy companies in the world. But apparently Google and Apple can’t say how many complaints...

A reform roundtable looms as a bridge march reverberates

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A massive crowd braved Sydney’s pouring rain to cross the Harbour Bridge on Sunday. The message was clear, loud, and politically unmissable. By Mon...

Jim Chalmers' newest economic friend is AI

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has a message for working Australians: “treat AI as an enabler, not an enemy”.His comments come following a Productivity C...

We might be watching Albanese's 'big moment'

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the government understands the "urgency" behind the global push to recognise a Palestinian state, with there being "...

Younger voters put negative gearing back on the agenda

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Productivity is shaping up to be the word of the month for the federal government. With the big economic reform roundtable fast approaching, is it ti...

'Solutions are known, but rarely acted upon': Why are governments failing to Close the Gap? || Insiders: On Background

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly two years on from the Voice referendum the latest Closing the Gap update has again revealed disappointing results.

'Not if, but when' we recognise Palestine

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the second sitting week of the 48th parliament. While Labor's massive majority grows more comfortable in the chamber, it proved to be a difficul...

The UK draws a line on Palestine

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has drawn a line in the sand on Gaza. Unless Israel takes “substantive” steps to end the “appalling situati...

How do we react to another Trump tariff bombshell?

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government has woken to another surprise Trump tariff. Most trading partners, including Australia, could see an almost doubling on the tariffs a...