The ABC's politics podcast, Politics Now, dives into the biggest political stories in Australia and around the world, giving you a balanced look inside the strategies and decisions behind the headlines. Whenever major news breaks, we'll be in your feed with coverage you can trust.
From Monday to Wednesday, Patricia Karvelas will chat to a rotating cast of the ABC's biggest political journalists about the latest news.
On Thursdays, 'The Party Room' with Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly will discuss the week's developments in depth with another journalist, and answer your questions.
On Saturdays, David Speers gets into the details of a major trend or issue with the help of an expert on 'Insiders On Background'.
First Peter Dutton, and now Adam Bandt — Labor's redwave has swept away two party leaders. So, how do the Liberals and Greens move forward — and who is in line for the leadership? And Anthony Albanese faces tough choices as he looks to refresh his frontbench. But as the Albanese Government gets to work on its second term agenda, how ambitious can we expect them to be? Fran Kelly and Mel Clarke are joined by Clare Armstrong, National Political Editor for News Corp on The Party Room. Got a burning...
The Prime Minister is facing his first test after being re-elected, with Labor party factions and states jostling for positions on a renewed frontbench. And the leadership of the Liberals, Nationals — and possibly even the Greens could be up for grabs. So, who are emerging as the key contenders Patricia Karvelas and David Speers 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...
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 Coalition thought they’d covered their bases and reached young voters on platforms like TikTok, their message (or lack of one) might have cost them the election. Meanwhile, the Greens vote seems to have "plateaued" with leader Adam Bandt at risk of losing his set of Melbourne. Patricia Karvelas, Claudia Long and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics Now. ...
Calls from world leaders have been flooding in to congratulate Anthony Albanese on his win — including one from US President Donald Trump. He claims not to know who Albanese was up against. But the Liberal Party has bigger problems than the US President's lack of interest; after a crushing defeat, who will they choose as their leader? And what do they need to do to win back voters? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning politic...
Voters have handed Anthony Albanese and Labor a ringing endorsement. But the Coalition has suffered what Fran Kelly has labelled a "shellacking" - with Peter Dutton even booted from his own seat of Dickson. So, with their numbers decimated, who will put their hand up for Liberal leader? And brought to the brink, could John Howard's "broad-church" be forced to split? Patricia Karvelas, Fran Kelly and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political q...
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 has lost his seat of Dickson. The victory makes Anthony Albanese the first Prime Minister to win back-to-back elections in 20-years. So, where did it go wrong for the Coalition? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read more of Jacob's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-03/voters-reject-peter-dutton-v...
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 the key things you should know about what the candidates are offering you? Patricia Karvelas and Claudia Long 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 [email protected]...
In the final Party Room episode before the Australian election, Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly, joined by David Crowe, analyze which party ran the most effective campaign. They examine the leaders' pitches, recent polling data, and potential budget challenges, while also diving into culture war issues and the lingering impact of the Voice referendum. The episode offers a comprehensive look at the key factors influencing voters as they head to the polls.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton are jetting across the country in a last-minute campaign blitz to shore up voters — and while Labor has the momentum, PK warns it's "line-ball" in key marginal seats that could decide the election. But despite the last-minute jitters in the Labor camp, the Prime Minister has "sharpened up" his messages on the campaign trail — so what's behind the transformation? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now...
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 four sleeps to go, what will be the key seats to watch — and which way will they swing? Patricia Karvelas and Casey Briggs 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 [email protected]...
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 Welcome to Country ceremonies help him as people go to the polls? Or will the price of eggs be his Achilles' heel? 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 [email protected] Albanese and Dutton in a c...
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 Albanese government for the state government's performance, this election? Who becomes Prime Minister if Peter Dutton wins the federal election but loses his own seat? And what stops politicians from taking big, brave ideas to the election in 2025? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly answer all of your questions on The Party Room. Got a burning question? Go...
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 leadership. And what has been the election story so far — and has there been more unbridled language than ever before this campaign? Sarah Ferguson, ABC 730 Host joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@ab...
With just 10-days until the election, Peter Dutton has unveiled the Coalition's defence policy — pledging to lift spending by $21 billion dollars over the next five years. But as the Opposition tries to muscle up against Labor — suggesting the Government have been weak on national security — have they left it too late? And the Coalition and One Nation have agreed to a preference deal. But what's behind the move? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning ...
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 period already disrupted by long weekends and Easter holidays — what does the Pontiff's passing mean for Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton's messaging? Patricia Karvelas and Andrew West 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 thepartyr...
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 — but has he done enough to tell them who is he? And Anthony Albanese "sharpened up" his performance on the campaign trail — so, is a "solid campaign" enough to keep him in the lodge for another term? 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 recordi...
Housing unaffordability - it’s been one of the biggest voter concerns heading into this election. Both major parties know this is a huge issue – and both began week three of the campaign with major housing promises at their campaign launches.
As the election campaign passes the midway point, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have tried to sharpen their election pitches — but not without some backtracking from the Opposition leader. But what are voters telling us they care about? ABC Vote Compass Reporter Isabella Higgins joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas to drill into the data — and discuss the role progressive young women could play in deciding the election result. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a s...
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have faced off in their second leaders' debate of the election campaign, laying out what they claim are two different visions for Australia on the ABC. Housing, energy, national security — and of course Donald Trump — featured in the debate. But, who walked away with the political momentum? 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 Q...
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 comes as his son Harry joins him for a second day on the campaign trail, and as Peter Dutton suggests young Aussies shouldn't have to rely on the "bank of mum and dad" to buy homes. And new polling shows voters are shifting back towards Anthony Albanese, amid the turbulence of the Trump administration. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all ...
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton both used their respective election campaign launches to unveil new housing policies. But experts have been critical of the offerings, which they say largely fail to address supply issues. So, while both major parties are locked in a bidding war for votes — are Australians buying sell? 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 Questi...
After visiting electorates across the Sunshine State, Claudia Long joins PK from Brisbane airport — but will she make her flight? And can Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton claw back seats in Queensland this election — or will the 'Greenslide' of 2022 hold? Patricia Karvelas and Claudia Long 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 [email protected]...
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. So how would a gas reservation policy work, and how will it reduce your power bills? This week on the man behind the numbers, Frontier Economics' Danny Price joins David Speers to talk about the modelling.
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 that security threats to politicians are an "increasing concern". So, as week two of the election campaign comes to a close, what are the key takeaways — and who has the political momentum? Patricia Karvelas breaks 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 Ques...
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 it has all been conducted in the shadow of a global trade war triggered by Donald Trumps tariffs which has provided the biggest headlines every day on this federal election campaign. Phil Coorey, Political editor at the Australian Financial Review joins Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly on The Party Room.
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's been widespread criticism from the industry, with some experts saying it's a far-left policy. And Greens leader Adam Bandt has laid out his election pitch to voters — suggesting the minor party would insist on changes to negative gearing tax breaks if there is a hung parliament. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. ...
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 breaks 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 [email protected]
Western Sydney will be one of the key battlegrounds at the upcoming election — as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton try to win over disenfranchised voters. So, as the cost of living hits the region particularly hard — what key issues are driving voters? And what impact could the Muslim Votes movement have in haemorrhaging the Labor vote in previously safe seats? Patricia Karvelas and Fiona Willan break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a sho...
