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 blow-up over defence spending or AUKUS? What about a deal on critical minerals? What does the future hold for the US-Australia relationship under these two leaders?
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 actually driven by Anthony Albanese? It comes as Senior Liberal James Paterson has laid out his vision for the future of the party and cautioned against splitting. But the Coalition finds itself wedged between Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Nigel Farage's Reform on the right, and the Teals on the left - so can they find a middle path and stay toge...
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 warned it would be a “disaster” if the Liberal party split along ideological lines. So, was it a rallying cry for party unity? Or a warning shot for those stepping out of line? Brett Worthington 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 Brett and Mel for Quest...
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 — and how much of a threat are grievance politics to the major parties? And Opposition leader Sussan Ley has announced a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, but Jane Hume remains on the backbench and in the political wilderness. Brett Worthington and Shalailah Medhora break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? S...
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced a surprise backdown on the Albanese Government's controversial super tax plans. It comes after Labor failed to secure the support needed to pass the changes in their current form earlier in the year - but the announcement also comes as Anthony Albanese is on leave - so has the Prime Minister handed the Treasurer an "excrement sandwich" to deal with in his absence? And while the Treasurer says the move shows Labor is listening to feedback, what does this backd...
Last month’s fatal Optus outage exposed vulnerabilities in the triple-zero network. As pressure mounts on the telco, key questions remain unanswered: how could this have happened? And what can be done to prevent future outages? Luke Coleman from the Australian Telecommunications Alliance joined David Speers for this week's Insiders On Background.
The Albanese Government's agenda was derailed by some spicy scenes in Senate Estimates this week, with revelations an email detailing the Optus outage was sent to the wrong departmental address. In question time, the heat was on Communication Minister Anika Wells over the outage. The Opposition took the opportunity to lob a barrage of pointed question her way, but did they manage to strike a blow? And while the Coalition was eager to make the Government the story, Andrew Hastie's self-demotion t...
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't being monitored, it was still active, with Senators asking how it could have been missed. It's a lot like an episode of Utopia — and comes as the Opposition ramps up pressure on Communications Minister Anika Wells. And the Coalition is also questioning the Albanese Government over the return of of wives and children of Islamic State fighters on F...
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 introduces legislation to enshrine the powers of a triple zero watchdog — but have they moved "too slow"? What if "red flags" not acted upon lead to failures this bushfire season? And politicians on both sides have marked the two-years on from the October 7 attacks, but social cohesion at home still remains fractured. Brett Worthington and Raf Epstein...
In a submission to the Liberal's election review, former Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Andrew Hastie of costing the Coalition the election, according to reporting in the Nine papers. It comes after Andrew Hastie quit the Coalition frontbench, citing key differences over immigration policy. But the West Australian Liberal MP has made it clear he won't be contesting Sussan Ley's leadership — for now. So, as parliament returns for another sitting week, is this disunity a gift for the A...
Senior Liberal Andrew Hastie has spectacularly quit the Coalition frontbench, saying he could not maintain cabinet solidarity due to disagreements over immigration policy. And while the Liberal MP was emphatic there was "no challenge" to Sussan Ley and the move was "done in good faith", he suggested the centre right was "fractured." It comes just weeks after the Western Australia MP suggested he would be forced to quit the frontbench if the Coalition stuck with its commitment to net zero by 2050...
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 Gaza.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just returned home from a whirlwind international trip, immediately turning his attention to domestic matters like Labor's first home-buyer deposit scheme. But from the corridors of the UN to a mosque tour in the UAE - how did the prime minister perform on the global stage? And is Australia now more than just a "bit player" on matters in the Middle East? Meanwhile, it was Anthony Albanese's speech at the UK Labour Conference that saw eyebrows raised in the Opp...
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 eager to turn its attention to a major domestic fire they need to fix - Australia’s housing crisis. It insists it’s doing more than just throwing water on the blaze, pointing to the expansion of the government's home guarantee scheme. But is it a genuine fix - or might it add more fuel on the fire? And Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has penned another let...
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 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - a proposal he says will lead to "eternal peace" in the region. It’s a bold claim for one of the world’s most intractable conflicts - so can it deliver peace in Gaza? And back home, the government has finally sat down with Optus. Conversations have been had, public statements have been made - but will anyth...
Anthony Albanese has wrapped up a quick UK visit, where he and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have reiterated the close partnership between the two nations. The Australian Prime Minister also spoke at a UK Labour Party conference in Liverpool, where he promised to "defend democracy itself" and lamented the rise of a "politics of fear". But his attendance raised some eyebrows back home, with Sussan Ley suggesting he "crossed the line." And while Anthony Albanese described Keir Starmer as...
How do progressive leaders navigate turbulence of the Trump era?
Anthony Albanese has been flexing Australia's middle-power muscle at the 80th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly this week. But while he was affirming Australia's recognition of Palestine and spruiking Australia's social media ban for under 16s, broader global shifts were on display. So, how is Anthony Albanese navigating the new world order? And can he balance closer ties with Europe, while remaining in favour with Donald Trump? And a video of Liberal MP Andrew Hastie and a 1969...
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 in Washington next month, with Anthony Albanese telling reporters that the US President had agreed to a meeting "some time ago." On Politics Now David Speers joined Brett Worthington live from NYC to discuss the "risks" and possible rewards for Anthony Albanese from a standalone meeting in the oval office. Read David Speers' analysis here: https://w...
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has vowed to revoke Australia's recognition of Palestinian statehood, taking the unusual step of writing to US Republicans to flag the Coalition's position. It came as Anthony Albanese took to the stage at the United Nations General Assembly, where he spoke about Australia's recognition of Palestine and commitment to delivering the two-state solution. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has accused the Opposition Leader of "going rogue" on foreign policy, while Liberal Senat...
Australia has formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, with the prime minister suggesting the move was "the world saying that the cycle of violence has to stop". But while the declaration was matched by allies, including Canada and the UK, it puts Australia at odds with the United States. So, what impact will the move actually have? Meanwhile, the telecommunications regulator has launched an investigation into the Optus network's outage last week, which is linked to three deaths. Comm...
Australia will soon submit a 2035 target to cut emissions by 62 to 70 per cent to the United Nations.
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 the Coalition ranks, the climate wars have re-emerged with Opposition leader Sussan Ley forced to reassure her party room that she won't pursue net zero by 2050 at "any cost." The Opposition leader has delivered her first major economic speech since taking up the role. But how has her economic vision landed?Brett Worthington and Melissa Clarke are j...
Donald Trump has rebuked questions from ABC America's Editor John Lyons, suggesting they were “hurting Australia" when speaking to reporters at the White House. But the real "Easter egg" in the heated exchange was the US President seemingly confirming he would be meeting with Anthony Albanese "very soon" - the clearest indication to date the two leaders will meet. But in a blow to the prime minister, a much-touted defence treaty between Australia and PNG failed to get off the ground. So, is this...
As the Albanese Government prepares to release its 2035 emissions reduction target, the Coalition's deep divisions on climate change have re-emerged. Senior Liberal Andrew Hastie has threatened to quit — or be sacked — from the Opposition frontbench if the Coalition doesn't abandon the target. While fellow Coalition frontbencher Jonno Duniam is warning of a "mass exodus" if the party pursues the policy "at any cost." On Politics Now, Brett Worthington and Raf Epstein discuss how the internal div...
As the Albanese Government prepares to unveil its 2035 emissions reduction target, a new climate assessment has painted a dire picture of the future. On Politics Now PK and Brett Worthington discuss how this "sequencing" from the Labor may be laying the groundwork for more ambitious climate targets. And as the PM heads to PNG to ink a new security agreement, the government has unveiled $12 billion for a submarine and naval shipbuilding facility near Perth. But will the focus on defence be enough...
The Albanese Government is preparing to set Australia's next climate goal: the 2035 emissions reduction target, as required under the Paris agreement.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has demoted prominent Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the backbench, after a turbulent week of factional infighting. But the Senator has made it clear she "won't be silenced" on what she calls mass immigration. So, as the factional battlelines are drawn what does this mean for Sussan Ley's authority? Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Anna Henderson, SBS News Chief Political Correspondent to analyse how the saga has snowballed in the last ...
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Israel's strike in Qatar as a "violation" of the country's sovereignty, while US President Donald Trump says he's "not thrilled" by the situation. So, does the move jettison the prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza? And the Prime Minister rubs shoulders with world leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum, how is Australia countering the rising influence of China in the region? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning...
The Prime Minister has now added his voice to growing calls for Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to apologise for her remarks about Indian migrants. Shadow Attorney General Julian Leeser has apologised to the Indian Australian community for her remarks, while the Senator has doubled down, urging the Opposition leader to force her colleague Alex Hawke to apologise for the way he raised the matter with her. So, has the issue become a "proxy war" for the future of the party? It comes as the...
