The Australian election study has found Coalition has lost its perceived advantage on economic management, with Labor taking the crown. It comes as the Treasurer defends public service "re-prioritisations" and fresh inflation figure he's admitted are "higher than he would like". Meanwhile, the Shadow Treasurer Ted O'Brien has used his Press Club speech to issue a pitch to young voters — warning that "Australia's intergenerational compact is disintegrating". But will it cut through? Patricia Karv...
Nov 26, 2025
The Australian election study has found Coalition has lost its perceived advantage on economic management, with Labor taking the crown. It comes as the Treasurer defends public service "re-prioritisations" and fresh inflation figure he's admitted are "higher than he would like". Meanwhile, the Shadow Treasurer Ted O'Brien has used his Press Club speech to issue a pitch to young voters — warning that "Australia's intergenerational compact is disintegrating". But will it cut through? Patricia Karv...
Nov 26, 2025
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has made Barnaby Joyce dinner in her parliamentary office — using the humble sandwich press to grill some steaks. It comes as the New England MP says he'll confirm his future direction by the end of the week and as Pauline Hanson is censured and faces a seven day suspension from the Senate. Meanwhile, internal tensions over banning gambling advertising are heating up, with one Labor MP warning that if there was a conscience vote the legislation would pass. Patric...
Nov 25, 2025•23 min
As parliament springs back to life for the final sitting week of the year, the Albanese Government is looking to pass a key flank of its legislative agenda - the EPBC act. But with sticking points for both the Greens and the Coalition, where will the legislation ultimately land? And as talk of killing season shows no sign of abating, the latest Newspoll paints a dire picture for the Coalition - who remain at a historic low primary of 24 per cent. And while Sussan Ley crept up slightly as preferr...
Nov 24, 2025•26 min
With the final parliamentary sitting of the year fast approaching, the Federal Government is eager to pass its environmental law reforms. There's two options: strike a deal with the Coalition or the Greens. So, who will the government choose?
Nov 21, 2025•22 min
Breaking news on Australia’s COP bid — Adelaide won’t host COP31. Instead, a deal is being finalised with Türkiye that would see Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen take the presidency while Türkiye hosts the summit. It’s a major shift in a bid the government once sold as a big diplomatic win — so what happened? Meanwhile, it’s that time of year again — what they call the 'killing season' in politics. There’s no move yet against Sussan Ley, but with net zero tensions still simmering inside the L...
Nov 20, 2025•43 min
Are we on the cusp of a science brain drain in Australia? Major job cuts are coming to the CSIRO — adding to the hundreds of positions already lost over the past 18 months. The Science Minister Tim Ayres insists the government “believes in science”... but do these cuts tell a different story? And Australia is still jostling with Türkiye for the rights to host the next UN climate conference — but now independents are questioning how serious the government really is about securing the bid. Patrici...
Nov 19, 2025•20 min
Is there anywhere safe in Australia right now to be a major party leader? It’s starting to feel like decapitation season. The latest head to roll? Victoria’s Liberal leader, just one year out from a state election. With leadership changes sweeping across the country, there’s plenty driving the disruption - and no sign that politics is slowing down as the year wraps up. Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now. TICKETS TO OUR LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentr...
Nov 18, 2025•30 min
The race for leadership - and perhaps the very soul of the Liberal Party - is on. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley spent last week negotiating with critics both inside and outside the party in a bid to hold onto her position. But after conceding ground, the conservative faction now smells blood in the water. Is it all over for Sussan Ley? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. TICKETS TO OUR LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ G...
Nov 17, 2025•35 min
It’s been a very long road – but Australia’s first treaty with Aboriginal people in Victoria has now been signed and formalised as law.
Nov 14, 2025•18 min
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has been on a media blitz, defending her party's position of ditching net zero targets. So, how effective has her sales job been?Will her message about affordability before emissions reduction cut through to 'middle Australia'? And is this debate about policy or just about power? Patricia Karvelas and Mel Clarke get stuck into all of your curly questions on this The Party Room bonus episode.FILL OUT OUR SURVEY HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 TICKETS TO TH...
Nov 14, 2025•33 min
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has announced the Liberal party will ditch net zero and repeal Labor's 2030 emissions reduction target - all in a bid for the Opposition to "put affordable energy first". Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan says the policy is about affordability, growing our economy and doing our 'fair share' — and while there are no targets reaching net zero would be "welcome". But does the policy behind the politics stack up? And is this an "overwhelming victory" for Liberal conservat...
Nov 13, 2025•32 min
After months of division and public front-running — and even some added excitement of diverted planes — it's D-Day for the Liberals to decide the party's future direction on net zero. So, what direction is the party moving in — and can Sussan Ley keep them united? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. FILL OUT OUR AUDIENCE SURVEY HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ ...
Nov 12, 2025•23 min
With an impartial and beloved electoral body, preferential and compulsory voting — and of course election day sausage sizzles — Australia's democratic system is the envy of much of the world. Today, Annabel Crabb joins PK to explore what exactly makes our democratic processes so unique (and the democracy sausage is just one part). And it's the 50th anniversary of the Whitlam dismissal, all these years later how does the moment continue to shape politics and the way politicians — like the Prime M...
Nov 11, 2025•33 min
After months of division, the Liberal party room is finally set to meet and thrash out their future direction on net zero this week. But it's also shaping up as a challenge for Sussan Ley and her hold on leadership. So, does Sussan Ley look like she's been lacking political conviction on the issue, and is that what voters look for in a leader? And Sussan Ley isn't the only Liberal leader in trouble, with Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley stepping down, and murmurs NSW Liberal leader Mark S...
Nov 10, 2025•23 min
It's been 50 years since arguably the most dramatic moment in Australia’s political history – the dismissal of the Whitlam Government. It came at a time of enormous political upheaval and debate still rages about how it all happened. David Speers sat down with journalist Niki Savva, who was there on the day, and Troy Bramston, the author of Gough Whitlam: the vista of the new.
Nov 07, 2025•37 min
It's been another turbulent week for the Coalition, with the Nationals ditching net zero — and leaving the Liberal party divided on whether to do the same. And while the moderate and conservatives pull in different directions, the fallout has only further destabilised Sussan Ley's hold on the leadership. But as Jason Koutsoukis tells PK and Mel the events have also highlighted the "lack of respect" Coalition MPs are paying to the Opposition leader. Meanwhile, recent comments from Liberal leaders...
Nov 06, 2025•40 min
As the turmoil continues over net zero, Opposition leader Sussan Ley has defended her approach — and her hold on the leadership — in a series of media interviews. And while she says she's "completely confident" she'll retain her position until the end of the year, is the internal pressure mounting? Meanwhile, Labor's renewable energy roll-out is experiencing it's own challenges. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Fill out our survey here: https://forms.office.c...
Nov 05, 2025
In a widely expected decision, RBA Governor Michele Bullock has confirmed interest rates will be held at 3.6 per cent. So, is this just a "bump in the road" for the Albanese Government, or a sign of further economic turbulence ahead? It comes as first homebuyers struggle to enter the market, with new data from Cotality showing house prices rose at their fastest rate in two years in October, following the expansion of Labor's 5 per cent deposit scheme. Meanwhile, it's been another wobbly start to...
Nov 04, 2025•20 min
The Nationals have officially ditched net zero by 2050, issuing a test for Sussan Ley and the Liberal party. So, can the Coalition find a path through this? It comes as Optus executives have faced a grilling at a Senate inquiry into the fatal triple-zero outage. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Fill out our survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for ...
Nov 03, 2025•25 min
How is it possible to both save the environment, while also speeding up decisions on mining, housing and energy projects? Environment Minister Murray Watt thinks he's found the answer, and is confident he will pass new laws with support from either the Coalition or the Greens. Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry says reforming the laws would provide a big boost to productivity in Australia, and he sat down for a chat with host David Speers.
Oct 31, 2025
Environment Minister Murray Watt has introduced environment reform laws into parliament — but it's still not clear if the Greens or the Coalition will support the bill. So, beyond the politics — what's the policy itself? And where has Labor left themselves wriggle room? And Sussan Ley used parliament to call into question the prime minister's fashion choices this week, suggesting the Joy Division T-shirt Anthony Albanese wore had antisemetic connotations. So, was this "shirtgate" another example...
Oct 30, 2025•43 min
Support for One Nation has surged in recent polls and now Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce is eyeing off a tilt to Pauline Hanson's party. But it's not the first time the minor party has caused issues for the Coalition. Today, ABC election icon Antony Green joins PK for a special look at the history of One Nation. What can the party's enduring battles with the Coalition teach us about today? Patricia Karvelas and Antony Green break it all down on Politics Now.TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://can...
Oct 29, 2025•33 min
The Albanese Government came to power promising to increase transparency and integrity in politics, but a new report card shows Labor is failing on six out of seven fronts. So, will they do anything to "correct course", as the report calls for? And as debate on the Triple Zero custodian legislation continues, the Greens and Coalition are pushing for a Senate inquiry into the Optus network outage. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: ...
Oct 28, 2025•18 min
The Albanese Government is muscling up for a fight on its key environmental reform bill, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Labor says it will work with the Greens or the Coalition to pass the legislation, but both sides have raised concerns. It comes after EPBC report lead author Graeme Samuel accused the Opposition of standing in the way of the reforms. So, is this shaping up to be the biggest parliamentary test the second term Albanese government has faced? P...
Oct 27, 2025
Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Donald Trump this week was widely hailed as a triumph. There was an awkward exchange with Kevin Rudd but also comments from the US President dismissing the prospect of China invading Taiwan. And as the alliance with the U.S. is deepening, what does this mean for Australia’s defence spending and military planning? Justin Bassi is the Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute; he sat down for a chat with host David Speers....
Oct 24, 2025•29 min
Anthony Albanese has received high marks across the board for his White House meeting with Donald Trump. The US President even parroted many of Labor's own talking points, so does this meeting knock the wind out of the Opposition's attacks on AUKUS, defence spending and even tariffs? And Opposition leader Sussan Ley hasn't reiterated her call for Kevin Rudd to step down as US Ambassador, after Liberal Senator Jane Hume described them as "churlish", so were the remarks overreach? Meanwhile, maver...
Oct 23, 2025•45 min
Anthony Albanese says Donald Trump's comments about US Ambassador Kevin Rudd were "just banter", while Liberal Senator Jane Hume says calls for the Ambassador to stand down — which came from the Opposition leader — were "churlish". But it was the US President's comments downplaying the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan that raised broader strategic questions. So, what is Donald Trump signalling here and what does it mean for Australia? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all dow...
Oct 22, 2025•20 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have finally met. The two world leaders inked a landmark deal on critical minerals, while Donald Trump gave reassurances on the AUKUS deal and heaped praise on Anthony Albanese for "doing a fantastic job". But while the meeting was a resounding success for the PM, it was US Ambassador and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who found himself in the hot seat. Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burni...
Oct 21, 2025•26 min
PK is back in the podcast chair — and she has LOTS of thoughts to share with Jacob. Like, why Barnaby Joyce is flirting with One Nation, and if other Nationals MPs opposed to net zero might do the same. And what Anthony Albanese needs to achieve in his meeting with Donald Trump for it to viewed as a success. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ Got a burning question? Got a...
Oct 20, 2025•26 min
