Politics Now
Episodes
How the Coalition 'failed' young voters
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time young voters bumped out the boomers, to take their place as the largest voting cohort in Saturday’s election. While the Coalitio...
Trump praises Albo and has ‘no idea’ who Dutton is
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Calls from world leaders have been flooding in to congratulate Anthony Albanese on his win — including one from US President Donald Trump. He claim...
Peter Dutton's post-mortem
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Voters have handed Anthony Albanese and Labor a ringing endorsement. But the Coalition has suffered what Fran Kelly has labelled a "shellacking" - ...
Labor wins the election and Dutton loses his seat
03 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Albanese has been returned as Prime Minister, in a Labor landslide. On top of a bruising defeat for his party, Opposition leader Peter Dutton...
Australia votes || Insiders On Background
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Australia goes to the polls, David Speers asks what have we learnt from this election campaign?
Send this to your mate before they vote
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over a quarter of Australians have already cast their ballots, but for the rest of you - while you're lining up for your democracy sausage, what are ...
Who won the election campaign?
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton lay out their final pitches to voters before election day – PK, Fran and David Crowe unpack who won the campai...
How Albanese has 'transformed' this campaign
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton are jetting across the country in a last-minute campaign blitz to shore up voters ...
Casey Briggs on why Australia is a nation of swingers
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are more soft and undecided voters than ever in this election. What are the major parties doing to win them over this late in the game? With f...
Can culture wars win elections?
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we enter the final week of the election campaign both leaders are hoping to win over undecided voters. Will Peter Dutton’s opposition to some We...
On Background || Defending Australia
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does Australia need to increase defence spending?
Question Time: Why politicians don't back 'brave' ideas
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So many of you have questions about next week's federal election, and Fran and PK are here to answer them all. Will Victorian voters punish the Alba...
Kinder or stronger. What do voters want?
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton muscle up for the final week of the campaign, the two leaders have laid out distinctly different visions on lead...
Why Dutton wants an election fight on defence
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With just 10-days until the election, Peter Dutton has unveiled the Coalition's defence policy — pledging to lift spending by $21 billion dollars o...
How will the Pope's death impact the election?
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The death of Pope Francis has geopolitical implications, but domestically, it falls in the final two weeks of the federal election campaign.So, in a ...
How much do voters know about Dutton?
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As voters get ready to cast pre-poll ballots on Tuesday, the image of Peter Dutton with a petrol hose in his hand will be at the top of their minds —...
Betting the house || Insiders On Background
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Housing unaffordability - it’s been one of the biggest voter concerns heading into this election. Both major parties know this is a huge issue – ...
Why young women are key this election
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the election campaign passes the midway point, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have tried to sharpen their election pitches — but not without ...
Albo and Dutton muscle up in leaders' debate
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have faced off in their second leaders' debate of the election campaign, laying out what they claim are two differe...
The bank of mum, dad and Dutton
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the leaders continue to spruik their housing policies, Peter Dutton has confirmed he'll assist his kids with a house deposit "at some stage".It co...
Albo and Dutton move on housing. Is it enough?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton both used their respective election campaign launches to unveil new housing policies. But experts have been critica...
Will the Qld 'Greenslide' hold this election?
12 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After visiting electorates across the Sunshine State, Claudia Long joins PK from Brisbane airport — but will she make her flight?And can Anthony Al...
Power Play || Insiders On Background
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Dutton is promising cheaper gas as one of his centerpiece promises in this election campaign. The idea is to have an east coast gas reservation...
Dutton the subject of alleged terror plot
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Dutton has unveiled he was the subject of an alleged foiled terror plot. Anthony Albanese says he's reached out to Peter Dutton and has warned ...
Global markets shake the election campaign
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Week two of the election campaign gas been a frantic one. We've had a leaders debate, we’ve had policy backdowns and a fair bit of new policy.But...
Why is Dutton being hailed by the left?
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Dutton has now unveiled the details of the Coalition's gas reservation policy. It's aimed at reducing power bills for Australians — but there...
Did Albanese or Dutton win the first leaders' debate?
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have gone head-to-head in their first leaders' debate of this campaign — so who came out on top?Patricia Karvelas...
Why Western Sydney could decide the election
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Western Sydney will be one of the key battlegrounds at the upcoming election — as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton try to win over disenfranchised...
Dutton's 'Olympic-sized backflip' on WFH
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Dutton has abandoned his party's working from home policy, apologising and admitting it was a mistake. The policy backflip comes as the Austra...
Defence not a "bargaining chip" in Trump negotiations || Insiders On Background
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former Prime Minister John Howard says defence should never be used as a bargaining chip in negotiating exemptions from Donald Trump’s tariffs. Spe...
Annabel Crabb on talking tough and falling off stage
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The fallout from the Trump tariffs decision is continuing to dominate the campaign. Anthony Albanese is talking tough but he also took a tumble quite...
Will Trump's Liberation Day affect the election?
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has announced "Liberation Day" with a 10% tariff on Australian imports. So how will it impact on the election? Anthony Albanese says the...
Why Albo and Dutton are muscling up on Trump
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As round two of US tariffs loom, the Opposition leader Peter Dutton says he will fight with Donald Trump — or any other world leader to protect the...
How Trump could hurt 'DOGE Dutton's' chances
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump dominated the political day, as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton were peppered with questions over the looming trade tariffs.And Treasu...
Why Albanese has pulled ahead in polls
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton hit campaign trail, setting aside more gas for the domestic market or direct subsidies for power bills are the t...
Election 2025 - it's on! || Insiders
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Well election 2025, is now well and truly underway. The Prime Minister has fired the starters gun. Australians will be off to the polls on May 3rd. ...
Annabel Crabb and PK on the leaders' election pitches
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has fired the starters gun on the Federal election — and both leaders have unveiled their opening election pitches ...
Battle of the election bribes
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A tax cut, or a cut to the fuel excise? A battle over "budget sweeteners" has emerged on the eve of the election.Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor has co...
Why Albanese is wedging Dutton on tax cuts
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Albanese Government has used its post-Budget momentum to pile pressure on Peter Dutton ahead of his Budget reply speech on Thursday night — try...
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 ...