Politics Now
Episodes
A tax cut in Labor's 'battle-ready' budget
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Go inside the budget lock-up with Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber as they break down the politics of Treasurer Jim Chalmers' "bold move" in the el...
Budget week booby traps
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Treasurer Jim Chalmers gets set to hand down his fourth Budget tomorrow, it appears that the Albanese Government is trying to play it safe ahead o...
Cut the public service? Productivity commission says think again || Insiders: On Background
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the Federal Budget, David Speers asks the Chair of the Productivity Commission Danielle Wood what needs to change to help improve living sta...
Question Time: Trump pushback, referendums and wokeness || The Party Room
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Peter Dutton mulls the idea of proposing another referendum, would it be possible to hold a vote on multiple issues at once?And as pushing back on...
Brace! brace! brace! for the budget || The Party Room
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the budget looms, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been softening up voters for some challenging figures — pointing to the economic uncertainty Trump'...
Dutton’s captain's call and a mining blitz
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a growing sense of frustration and confusion in the Coalition, after Peter Dutton's renewed referendum push.The move follows a series of poli...
Why Dutton is floating another referendum
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has raised proposing a referendum to decide whether government ministers should have the power to deport dual national...
Could Trump sink AUKUS?
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of the Trump administration imposing tariffs, the stability of Australia's alliance with the United States has been in the spotlight — ...
‘No Upside’ to Trump tariffs || Insiders On Background
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Around the world the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs have been hotly debated this week. While the Australian Government has decided not to impose ...
Annabel Crabb wonders...is Peter Dutton OK?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has always had strong political instincts — but as the election nears, he's made a series of political miscalculatio...
Is Dutton over-egging it on tariffs? || The Party Room
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Opposition leader Peter Dutton says under his leadership Australia would secure a tariff deal with Donald Trump — suggesting the lack of carve out ...
Why Trump's tariffs push the friendship
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Prime Minister has come out swinging against the Trump administration's decision to slap tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium — labelling ...
Why Trump and Turnbull are beefing over tariffs
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the deadline for US tariffs on steel and aluminium looms, President Donald Trump and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have exchan...
Why 'double haters' will decide the election
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the fallout from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues, a political storm is brewing for Peter Dutton. The Opposition leader is under fire for atte...
Survey says: the truth about voter vibes in 2025
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New ANU research shows a decline in trust of governments and institutions across Australia — with life satisfaction dropping to its lowest since CO...
When will the election be called? || Insiders on Background
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Insiders host, David Speers in conversation with the ABC's Chief Elections Analyst Antony Green, ahead of the WA election on Saturday March 8th and t...
Why WA loves Labor, according to pollster
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Western Australians get ready to head to the polls this weekend, PK chats with with a pollster instrumental to WA Labor's campaign in this podcast...
Albo's election plans blown off course || The Party Room
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As communities on the east coast brace for the impact of Cyclone Alfred, speculation is rife that the storm will force the Prime Minister to delay ca...
What Cyclone Alfred means for the election
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Queensland and NSW brace for the impact of Cyclone Alfred, the natural disaster could also wreak havoc on election timing.Opposition leader Peter ...
What does Australia do after the US pauses Ukraine aid?
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump has reportedly hit "pause" on U.S. assistance to Ukraine, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flagged he would "give ...
What the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting means for Australia
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It was the "gob-smacking" Oval Office meltdown that captured the world's attention — US President Donald Trump spitting the dummy during his meetin...
What is China doing off Australia's coast? || Insiders On Background
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The last few weeks has had various reports of Chinese military exercises taking place off the coast of Australia. We have heard about planes divertin...
Question Time: Election strategies and Dutton's finances || The Party Room
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should political parties ditch small target strategies and go for 'high risk, high reward' campaigns?And Peter Dutton's declaration of shares in majo...
Are voters buying Albo's sales pitch? || The Party Room
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite a recent spending blitz from the Albanese Government in the lead up to the election, voters aren't yet resonating with the Government's messa...
Are Dutton's finances fair game in this campaign?
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Labor has raised the alarm about what they say is the “highly unusual” timing of some of Peter Dutton’s share purchases, but the Opposition is ...
How the PM answered Australia's questions on Q+A
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Patricia Karvelas peels back the curtain on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Q+A appearance. Audience members questioned Anthony Albanese on cost-o...
Has Peter Dutton ended a campaign fight over Medicare?
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Prime Minister was hoping to launch a legacy-defining policy on the weekend with his big boost to Medicare funding, targeted to making bulk-bille...
Has Trump sold out Ukraine? || Insiders On Background
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States intensify, peace talks are underway—but without Ukraine at the table. The US and Ukraini...
Has the PM looked 'weak' on Trump?
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the election campaign looms, the RBA has handed down a highly anticipated rate cut, Clive Palmer has launched a new political party — and now co...
Spy chief’s warning on eve of election || The Party Room
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ASIO boss Mike Burgess has delivered his annual threat assessment, unveiling that ASIO had foiled plots by foreign nations to assassinate critics —...
Clive Palmer in a Trump wig?
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clive Palmer has launched a new Trump-inspired political party, days after United Australia's High Court bid to re-register failed. The PM has labell...
What a rate cut means for the election
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The RBA has handed down the first cut to interest rates since 2020, and the Albanese Government is breathing a sigh of relief. So, what does the dec...
Key seats where the election could be won || The Party Room
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the election looms, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are sharpening their election slogans — but what are the key seats that could determine th...
Could Albanese be a 'one term wonder'?
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two new opinion polls show the Albanese government on the back foot as the election inches closer — and for the first time Peter Dutton seems to be...
INTRODUCING — Politics Now
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Monday February 17, The Party Room is getting a new look and a whole lot more politics. We're calling it 'Politics Now', the ABC's new home for ...
Art of the deal? Albo tries to woo Trump
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has a spring in his step this week, after it was revealed a carve out on US President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tari...
Albanese walks tightrope on Trump agenda
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Parliament returned this week, but the Albanese Government's momentum was quickly derailed after Donald Trump's announcement the US would "own" the G...
Is Dutton cultivating the male vote?
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has increasingly spruiked his "anti-woke agenda" across social media and podcasts. So, is he trying to appeal to disen...
Pressure on PM over anti-Semitic attacks
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amid a spate of anti-Semitic attacks, the Prime Minister bowed to mounting pressure and called an emergency National Cabinet meeting. But the Opposit...
Antony Green's guide to the federal election
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the 2025 federal election looms large, both the Albanese Government and the Dutton Coalition are strategising about their electoral pathway to for...
How do we fix the housing crisis?
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The typical Australian home now costs eight times the median household income and rents have soared to a record high.And while political battlelines ...
Are voters 'satisfied' with Albanese?
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the election year gets underway, questions are being raised about voters' satisfaction with the Albanese Government — and according to an ANU su...
Could Dutton win minority government?
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It seems the election contest has tightened, with a minority government — of either stripe — now seeming increasingly likely.And recent Redbridge...
Who's got your back? Pre-election lines take shape
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the dust settles on the parliamentary year, election strategies and catchphrases are already being tested by all sides of politics.Anthony Albanes...
Will a social media ban actually work?
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a mammoth final sitting day for the year, the Albanese Government managed to rush 31 bills through the Senate — including key policy measures on...
Mike Baird on polarisation and leadership
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As governments grapple with social cohesion, what impact is polarisation and partisanship having on on the community — and what qualities do voters...
A 'messy week' in parliament
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the Albanese Government tries to ram its jam-packed agenda through parliament, speculation is mounting it could be the final sitting fortnight not...
What a Trump Presidency means for Australia
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US election. But where did Kamala Harris' campaign go wrong - ...
Is Trump winning the US election?
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While there's a long way to go, early US election results show Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump appears to have the lead over Democrat Pr...
Has Kamala Harris pulled ahead?
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The US election race is still too close to call, but a shock new poll suggests Democrat candidate Kamala Harris will win Iowa - which was previously ...
'Upgrade Albo' saga puts focus on politicians' perks
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amid mounting pressure from the Opposition, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out directly requesting upgrades for personal flights from then...
What the Queensland election means for Anthony Albanese
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Labor has been swept from power in Queensland, where the LNP's David Crisafulli will become the state's 41st Premier.And while state issues featured ...
Senator Thorpe, the King and the Constitution
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After making global headlines for interrupting a reception for King Charles, Independent First Nations Senator Lidia Thorpe has claimed she didn't br...
PM goes from council flat to ocean views
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As housing shapes up as a key election issue, the response to the PM purchasing a $4.3 million Central Coast beach house has been split - with the Op...
Is political unity on foreign policy 'dead'?
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Opposition leader Peter Dutton refused to support the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's motion commemorating the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 - ...
Social cohesion concerns as Dutton ramps up rhetoric
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the conflict in the Middle East dramatically escalates, the Albanese Government is trying to manage social cohesion concerns at home. While both ...