Why are there more women in the Senate than in the House of Representatives? Is it just convention stopping Senators from being major party leaders? With a weakened Opposition, are the usual mechanisms to hold government to account working? And is the Albanese Government still "gun shy" when it comes to considering negative gearing or capital gains reform? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly get stuck into all of your curly questions for this special summer episode of The Party Room.Production note...
Jan 16, 2026•22 min
It's been a big week in Australian politics, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalling parliament early to deal with hate speech and gun buyback legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack and the surprise announcement that US Ambassador Kevin Rudd is stepping down from the role a year earlier than expected. But while the Opposition has been calling for the parliament to be recalled since the horrific events on the 14th of December, they've now claimed the legislation has been rus...
Jan 15, 2026•41 min
Kerrynne Liddle represents a lot of firsts. The Arrernte woman is the first indigenous Senator for South Australia, the first indigenous woman to win a parliamentary seat in the state, and may be one of the first (or certainly one of only a few) federal parliamentarians to have previously worked as a jillaroo. It’s been a turbulent year for the Liberal party following its punishing election loss in May 2025 - so how does someone like the Senator for South Australia navigate through that noise? A...
Jan 14, 2026•30 min
In a surprise move, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the US Ambassador Kevin Rudd will step down from the role at the end of March - a year earlier than expected. Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Ambassador Rudd's work helping further the AUKUS pact, securing Julian Assange's release in 2024 and building relationships across both sides of politics in the US. It comes as the government announces a national day of mourning for the Bondi victims on January 22nd - and just a day after t...
Jan 12, 2026•13 min
Politics Now is back after a summer recess and PK and Jacob have lots of thoughts about what happened over the break! Extreme weather continues to lash much of the country, with the prime minister announcing relief packages for some of the impacted communities - but the devastating events haven't distracted from questions about why the Albanese Government took so long to announce a national Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. Recorded ri...
Jan 12, 2026•24 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. The announcement comes in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and under mounting pressure from various groups. The PM says the inquiry will address four key areas and Commissioner Virginia Bell will have to report back by December 14, 2026. Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a s...
Jan 08, 2026•19 min
More than two years on from the Murphy review, where is the Albanese government on gambling reform — and is there growing disquiet in the backbench? Is Sussan Ley facing the glass cliff? Why has Peter Dutton disappeared from the media? And would moderate Liberals ever consider becoming independents and joining with the Teals?Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th. Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly get stuck into all of your curly questions for this spe...
Jan 08, 2026•32 min
Greens Leader Larissa Waters has described herself as someone who was elected to “get shit done”. But what does that actually mean? As the first Greens Senator for Queensland, and just the second female leader for the party, Larissa Waters has risen to lead after a difficult election where the party was rejected in some of its inner city heartland, losing its long time leader Adam Bandt. So how does Larissa Waters think about leadership and compromise - and is she actually the ultimate deal make...
Jan 06, 2026•28 min
Pollsters are already preparing for an interesting year ahead. One Nation's support has surged, while Coalition support has slumped. So, are politicians, or policies, driving voter support? And with the Millennial and Gen Z cohort the largest voter bloc and growing, are the major parties switched on to this changing electorate? And what are the trends and issues that could define politics in 2026? Kos Samaras and Tony Barry from the Redbridge group join Fran Kelly for a special episode of The Pa...
Jan 01, 2026•30 min
Josh Burns is a bit of a rising star in the Australian Labor Party. The Member for Macnamara is an increasing presence in the party - often unafraid to front a microphone or camera. He’s seen as part of the new generation of Labor, but is he pushing for change in the background - or is he biting his tongue and working within the system? And while Josh Burns says he never wanted to become known as “the Jewish MP”, it has become a defining feature of his political identity - so how does that sit w...
Dec 30, 2025•35 min
It's Politics Now - The Party Room - live! In this Canberra Theatre live show, recorded at the start of December, Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas were joined on stage by Jacob Greber to wrap up a massive year in politics — and look at where things are headed in 2026. Anthony Albanese started the year staring down the prospect of election defeat but ended it with a thumping majority and Australia's own 'royal wedding'. While the Coalition faced the prospect of "extinction" after an election wipe...
Dec 26, 2025•1 hr 5 min
He’s often described as a Liberal moderate - but that’s a label this MP is uncomfortable with. The member for Goldstein Tim Wilson spent a term in the political wilderness after losing his seat to an independent, narrowly winning it back at the 2025 election. In returning to Canberra, he’s been eager to bring the Liberal party back to its economic roots, and has been openly ambitious about his future in the party. So how does Tim Wilson see the future of the party, and his role in it? In this sp...
Dec 23, 2025•30 min
Australia is often celebrated for its multiculturalism, and lauded as an immigration success story. But in politics, debates over immigration are complex, and long established through multiple political cycles. And while the Coalition has delayed unveiling its immigration policy in the wake of the tragic Bondi attack, conversations around immigration have permeated through some of the commentary. So, what do the numbers actually show? Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on a spec...
Dec 19, 2025•30 min
Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has acknowledged he could have done more to combat antisemitism, and is "fully supporting and adopting" antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal's plan. Patricia Karvelas, Fran Kelly and Karen Middleton were mid-way through recording The Party Room when the news came through, but we hit pause bring you the latest on the announcement and its implications. And as the horror of the Bondi terrorist attack continues to reverberate across the world, there's no doubt it's changed...
Dec 18, 2025•56 min
Three days after the horrific attack on Jewish people at Bondi Beach, political lines are being drawn. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this morning reiterated his horror at the attack, with both federal and state governments moving to speed up gun reform. But the Coalition has focused in on those in the Australian Jewish community who feel the government didn’t hear their warnings about safety - and have flagged migration as a key issue that needs change following the attack. Patricia Karvel...
Dec 17, 2025•20 min
The fallout from the Bondi Beach terrorist attack is continuing to ricochet across Australia and around the globe. Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns have reaffirmed their commitments to bring in stronger gun laws, but the architect of Australia’s gun laws, John Howard, has warned he doesn’t want gun control to become a diversion from combating antisemitism. Patricia Karvelas and Laura Tingle, ABC Global Affairs Editor break it all down on Politics Now. If you or anyone needs help, you...
Dec 16, 2025•25 min
In the wake of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, the Prime Minister has vowed to "dedicate every single resource required" to the response. Anthony Albanese has labelled the terrorist attack an act of "pure evil antisemitism" and promised that Australians will eradicate the "scourge" together.As National Cabinet gets set for an emergency meeting this afternoon, the Prime Minister says he's putting gun reform on the agenda, with a proposal to be considered that would include putting limits on the nu...
Dec 15, 2025
The Albanese Government's agenda has been overshadowed by scrutiny on political entitlements and expenses. And while Communications and Sport Minister Anika Wells is in the firing line, she's far from the only politician to access the scheme. So, how is the saga going to end — and do the perks pass the 'group chat' test? It comes as the Opposition prepares to unveil its immigration strategy, in a bid to claw back votes from One Nation. Speaking of One Nation, Barnaby Joyce has officially made th...
Dec 11, 2025•39 min
The Albanese Government's agenda has been overshadowed by scrutiny on political entitlements and expenses. And while Communications and Sport Minister Anika Wells is in the firing line, she's far from the only politician to access the scheme. So, how is the saga going to end — and do the perks pass the 'group chat' test? It comes as the Opposition prepares to unveil its immigration strategy, in a bid to claw back votes from One Nation. Speaking of One Nation, Barnaby Joyce has officially made th...
Dec 11, 2025•39 min
Housing remains the key issue for governments of all stripes, and was the cornerstone of both major parties' election campaigns. But since the election, the housing market has only become increasingly unaffordable. And while Labor’s 5 per cent first homebuyer deposit scheme has had major uptake, experts are warning it could drive up prices at the entry level end of the market. So, what policies and levers can federal and state governments pull to increase supply? Could gentle density rather than...
Dec 10, 2025•34 min
Housing remains the key issue for governments of all stripes, and was the cornerstone of both major parties' election campaigns. But since the election, the housing market has only become increasingly unaffordable. And while Labor’s 5 per cent first homebuyer deposit scheme has had major uptake, experts are warning it could drive up prices at the entry level end of the market. So, what policies and levers can federal and state governments pull to increase supply? Could gentle density rather than...
Dec 10, 2025•34 min
AUKUS is going "full steam ahead" — that's the message from the Trump administration. But is it all smooth sailing ahead for the security partnership? Meanwhile, Communications Minister Anika Wells is facing choppy waters, as further developments in the entitlement saga continue to emerge. So, can she survive the political turbulence? And could this lead to an overhaul of politicians' entitlements? Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a...
Dec 09, 2025•31 min
After months of speculation, former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has officially joined One Nation. So, will the New England MP be able to further bolster support for the minor party in the regions? And does a taxpayer funded family trip to the snow pass the pub test? That’s the question dogging Communication Minister Anika Wells this week. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read PK's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-08/anika-wells-travel...
Dec 08, 2025•29 min
A year ago Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner delivered the National Anti-Racism Framework.
Dec 05, 2025•18 min
The Albanese Government is spruiking its social media ban and urging social media companies to comply as the deadline looms. And while Opposition leader Sussan Ley is now raising doubts over the policy — is the Prime Minister on a political winner with the policy? Meanwhile, two and half years after the bi-partisan Murphy review recommended a total ban on online gambling advertising, pressure is mounting on the Government to act. So, what's stopping them? And the so-called 'jobs for mates' repor...
Dec 04, 2025•40 min
Communications Minister Anika Wells has used a National Press club address to talk-up the impending social media ban, and put platforms on notice. But the Minister was less forthcoming when asked about next steps on an online gambling ad ban, which was recommended by the Murphy review two-and-a-half years ago. So, will the Labor rank and file muscle-up on this issue and force the prime minister to act? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? ...
Dec 03, 2025•19 min
The scathing and long-awaited 'jobs for mates' report has been handed down. It's found government appointments too often look like 'forms of patronage and nepotism' and warned the system had eroded public trust. So, will anything change? It comes as a landmark inquiry into sexual violence in the defence force is unveiled and as the Albanese Government announces the biggest overhaul to defence in decades. Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question?...
Dec 02, 2025•32 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has capped off the political year by tying the knot with his partner Jodie Haydon at the Lodge. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber have some big thoughts about the strategic timing of the event (and Toto's tutu). But things aren't looking quite so bright in the future, so what big political challenges is Labor facing in the year ahead? And you can hear PK, Jacob and Fran Kelly chat about the political year that was — and what's next — live at the Canberra Theatre ...
Dec 01, 2025
Labor is feeling pretty good about life heading into the summer. But not everything is going swimmingly. Inflation edged higher during the week, and some economists are warning the next move in interest rates will be up.
Nov 28, 2025•22 min
A Labor-Greens deal on the EPBC has been announced, after lengthy negotiations. It comes after Environment Minister Murray Watt said he was open to a deal with the Coalition or the Greens to pass the legislation. So why did the Opposition rule themselves out? And is this a sign of a more pragmatic approach from the Greens under leader Larissa Waters? And New England MP Barnaby Joyce is expected to announce he's defecting. So, was it Pauline Hanson's sandwich press steak that won him over? And th...
Nov 27, 2025•39 min
