Israel has confirmed it has launched strikes on "dozens" nuclear and military targets in Iran — reportedly killing the Head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia is "alarmed" over the attacks and warns it risks further "destabilisation" in an already volatile region. The attacks signal major escalation in regional tensions, and comes as fears over Iran's nuclear capabilities have increased dramatically. Patricia Karvelas breaks it all down on Polit...
Jun 13, 2025•11 min
Anthony Albanese wants the tariffs dropped, but he's not about to bow to the President Trump's demands.
Jun 12, 2025•27 min
The Albanese Government is playing down the Trump Administration's review of the AUKUS agreement, with Deputy leader Richard Marles suggesting the move was "completely natural". It comes as the Prime Minister is set to meet with the US President on the sidelines of the G7 Summit — so, is Donald Trump trying to force Australia's hand? And Australia has joined with four allies to sanction two Israeli Ministers for "inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank". And while the Opposition ...
Jun 12, 2025•38 min
With Q+A wrapping up after an 18-year stint on our screens, PK and David Speers share their reflections and honour the crew behind the program.And Australia has joined with the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Norway to issue Magnitsky style sanctions against two Israeli Ministers, in a move which Foreign Minister Penny Wong shows the "level of concern" Australia has about what is occurring. The joint statement claims the Ministers have "incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian hu...
Jun 11, 2025•23 min
Anthony Albanese has used his first National Press Club address since Labor's thumping election win to lay out his second term vision. And with a renewed focus on productivity — including a round table — is the Prime Minister preparing the ground for reform? And while the PM condemned the "horrific" and "targeted" attack on nine journalist Lauren Tomasi while she covered the LA protests, he wouldn't be drawn on whether he would raise the matter directly with Donald Trump. Patricia Karvelas and D...
Jun 10, 2025•26 min
As most of the country marks the King's Birthday, former PM Scott Morrison has received our nation’s highest honour — but should these awards be handed out to former politicians for doing the job? And with the G7 meeting of world leaders fast approaching, there's speculation about what will be up for negotiation if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with US President Donald Trump. Will the PM broach beef and biosecurity with the President? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down ...
Jun 09, 2025•25 min
What lessons can Australia learn from Ukraine's drone attack on far-flung Russian air bases?
Jun 06, 2025•22 min
Donald Trump has re-entered the domestic political frame this week, doubling the tariffs on steel and aluminium, while his defence secretary urges Australia to increase its defence spend. So, how is Anthony Albanese positioning? And then there's shock defection of WA Senator Dorinda Cox from the Greens to Labor — and Teal Independent Nicollete Boele just clinching the seat of Bradfield. But it looks like Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian could appeal the result. And speaking of Liberal women, F...
Jun 05, 2025•40 min
As the UK carves out a partial exemption on the Trump administration's tariffs, Opposition leader Sussan Ley is urging the Albanese Government to negotiate the same. It comes as the Prime Minister has labelled the US administration's 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports "economic self-harm" -- and continues to stare down calls for Australia to increase its defence spending to 3.5 per cent. And in the hotly contested seat of Bradfield, Independent Teal candidate Nicolette Boele has c...
Jun 04, 2025•23 min
In a shock move, WA Senator Dorinda Cox has quit the Greens to join Labor, where she says her priorities are "more aligned". But what actually sparked the defection — and is there a risk here for the Government? And PK and Brett dive into the latest on the Bradfield recount, and how the Fair Work Commission's decision to increase the minimum wage by 3.5 per cent is another political win for the Albanese Government. Patricia Karvelas and Brett Worthington break it all down on Politics Now. Got a ...
Jun 03, 2025•25 min
Anthony Albanese says he won't be dictated to on defence spending, after the United States demanded Australia do more to support the US in the Indo-Pacific. The US administration has called on Australia to lift its defence spending to almost $100 billion a year "as soon as possible" And the PM has been in South Australia touring farms affected by the drought. He says his Government is doing all it can to help farmers deal with the impacts of climate change, but the latest official quarterly data...
Jun 02, 2025•33 min
Lots of discussion and debate about net zero commitments and obligations this week. But for this week's Insiders On Background, let's explore what the Australian economy looks like under a net-zero scenario.
May 30, 2025•30 min
Laura Tingle joins Fran and PK for one last party — and more importantly, one last strawberry daiquiri -- before she wraps up her 40-years in the press gallery. And the Coalition is officially back together, and leader Sussan Ley has announced the make-up of her shadow cabinet. But while plenty of fresh faces have been elevated, some key names have been overlooked. So, will Sussan Ley and David Littleproud be able to maintain party unity? And its reconciliation week, so will a second term Albane...
May 29, 2025•44 min
After officially reuniting as the Coalition, Sussan Ley and David Littleproud unveiled the make-up of the Shadow frontbench — and there were some notable snubs and omissions. In the Liberals, Jane Hume was overlooked for a role, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was shifted to a role in the outer ministry. While in the Nationals, former Deputy leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, both find themselves on the backbench. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a...
May 28, 2025•21 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been on the ground in the flood-ravaged NSW Mid North Coast, and as PK and Tom Crowley discuss, that's exactly what the community expects of leaders. And the Prime Minister has also used more forceful language to condemn Israel's blockade of food and supplies to Gaza, but recently dumped Labor frontbencher Ed Husic is doubling down on his calls for the Government to back up its words with action. Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics ...
May 27, 2025•21 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been on the ground in the flood-ravaged NSW Mid North Coast, and as PK and Tom Crowley discuss, that's exactly what the community expects of leaders. And the Prime Minister has also used more forceful language to condemn Israel's blockade of food and supplies to Gaza, but recently dumped Labor frontbencher Ed Husic is doubling down on his calls for the Government to back up its words with action. Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics ...
May 27, 2025•20 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been on the ground in the flood-ravaged NSW Mid North Coast, and as PK and Tom Crowley discuss, that's exactly what the community expects of leaders. And the Prime Minister has also used more forceful language to condemn Israel's blockade of food and supplies to Gaza, but recently dumped Labor frontbencher Ed Husic is doubling down on his calls for the Government to back up its words with action. Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics ...
May 27, 2025•20 min
As the Liberals and Nationals look to get the Coalition band back together, the Liberal party remains deeply divided on the factors that led to their crushing election defeat. PK brings us inside the tent, for a sneak peek into her Four Corners report on where it all went wrong — and where to next for the Liberal brand. And while the Liberal and Nationals spat continues to play out in public, the Prime Minister has been focused on the flooding disaster plaguing the NSW mid-north coast — announci...
May 26, 2025•34 min
On Tuesday, the Coalition split. Then an internal war between the Liberals and Nationals broke out. By Thursday, olive branches were offered. The two parties aren’t re-united just yet, but talks are resuming. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tells David Speers National Party's approach of "holding a gun to the Liberal Party's head" is politically stupid.
May 22, 2025
After a public and messy break-up, the Liberal and National parties have agreed to delay announcing their respective frontbench picks "in good faith". So, will the separation be short-lived? And if the parties don't reconcile, how will both Sussan Ley and David Littleproud move next? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Anna Henderson, SBS Chief Political Correspondent on The Party Room. Editor's note: Fran incorrectly stated 2007 was the last time a Government had a majority in both h...
May 22, 2025•38 min
The Nationals have broken up with the Liberals, ending the Coalition agreement for the first time since 1987. But Nationals leader David Littleproud says he hopes they can get back together — before the next election that is. So, will Liberal leader Sussan Ley have him back? Or does the split also offer opportunities for the Liberal party to rebuild and shift back to the "sensible centre" — or even potentially consider new "rainbow" coalitions. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all dow...
May 21, 2025•19 min
This was supposed to be a Question Time episode, but while Fran and PK were answering brilliant questions from listeners — the Nationals announced they would be splitting from the Liberals. So they had to talk about that, of course. But before the shock announcement, they discuss why the AEC doesn't count all votes on election night, give analysis on the social media campaigns of both sides — and analyse the third party vote at this election. Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly break it all down on...
May 20, 2025•30 min
Following the Pope’s inauguration in Rome, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been busy networking with world leaders. Back in Australia, the Greens have a new leader, and the Liberal party’s internal battles over climate and energy policy continues. Will they keep pushing nuclear or ditch it? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@a...
May 19, 2025•28 min
After a bruising election defeat, the Coalition is putting all of its policies up for review - including net zero. One of the biggest supporters of net zero by 2050 is big business. Australian Industry Group's Innes Willox tells David Speers to "reopen the climate wars... is like reopening an old wound."
May 16, 2025•21 min
It’s rare to have three leadership votes in a week but that’s what we’ve seen as the fallout from the Federal Election continues. Sussan Ley has become the first ever female leader of the Liberal Party but she has a huge job ahead of her, unifying the party and trying to win back voters. Meanwhile the new Labor cabinet has been sworn in and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is getting down to the business of government. With a few seats still in doubt, Labor has the biggest backbench ever ...
May 15, 2025•37 min
New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has promised to move a divided party room back to the 'sensible centre'. But with huge challenges ahead of her, some commentators are questioning whether Sussan Ley is facing the 'glass cliff'. And while Sussan Ley has rejected the assertion, David Speers notes that "at their lowest ebb" the party has elevated its first female leader. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.
May 14, 2025
Sussan Ley has made history, as the first woman to lead the Liberal party in its 80-year history. Ley fended off Angus Taylor, in an "agonisingly close" leadership contest, but with the significant task of rebuilding the Liberal party and brand, has she been set up to fail? And Ted O'Brien comfortably claimed the role of Deputy leader, beating out Phil Thompson — but why did Jacinta Nampijinpa Price pull out of the contest? Patricia Karvelas and David Lipson break it all down on Politics Now. Go...
May 13, 2025•21 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled Labor's new frontbench, including some surprises and sideways moves. Among the key changes Michelle Rowland has moved to the role of Attorney General, while Health Minister Mark Butler has also picked up the NDIS — so, what's the strategy behind the shifts, and are the Ministers happy? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran...
May 12, 2025•22 min
The Liberals lost their leader, Peter Dutton, and face what some are calling an existential crisis. What direction will it now go in? Fiona Scott is federal vice president of the Liberal Party and a former member for Lindsay in Sydney's outer West, she joins Insiders: On Background.
May 09, 2025•25 min
In a shock move, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has defected from the Nationals, to sit in the Liberal party room. Speculation is whirring she will run as Deputy Liberal leader, on a ticket with Angus Taylor — it comes as Sussan Ley confirms she'll throw her hat in the leadership ring, while Dan Tehan rules himself out. And even in victory, Labor is experiencing power struggles of its own — with two key frontbenchers, Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic, spectacularly booted from Cabinet. Patricia Karve...
May 09, 2025•23 min
