Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton talks with Joe Hockey, former federal minister and ambassador to Washington, and now global president and founder of US-based consulting firm Bondi Partners. Hockey talks about what a Kamala Harris victory in the US election would mean for Australia, and whether there are upsides if Donald Trump returns for a second term. A second Trump presidency would send Australia down a dark economic path. Here’s how it might play out | Greg Jericho
Jul 26, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Minister for home affairs and cyber security Clare O’Neil speaks with Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton about the allegations against the CFMEU. Following the release of a report by the strengthening democracy taskforce this week, O’Neil argues that democracy is a way to resolve our differences and the assassination attempt on Trump is an attack on democracy itself
Jul 19, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s politics live blogger Amy Remeikis talks to Peter Lewis from Essential Media about Australian voter dissatisfaction in the political system and politicians; the split between older and younger voters; and whether democracy could learn something from community sport
Jul 17, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, talks with immigration minister, Andrew Giles, about this week’s appointment of a new anti-semitism envoy and the upcoming Islamophobia envoy. They also discuss diversity in the Labor caucus and Giles’s latest rulings on visa cancellations
Jul 12, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with the Greens leader Adam Bandt about Fatima Payman’s decision to quit the Labor party, calls for the Australian government to do more about the war in Gaza, and the Greens’ long-term objectives
Jul 05, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent Paul Karp and Peter Lewis from Essential Media talk about voter concerns over the cost and safety of Dutton’s nuclear energy policy. They also discuss Albanese’s approval rating dipping to to an all-time low and a satirical conspiracy theory about birds.
Jul 03, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last week Labor senator Fatima Payman made national headlines when she broke ranks with her party and voted in support of a Greens motion to recognise a state of Palestine. The Western Australian senator now claims she has been ‘exiled’ by the Labor party after the vote. Political editor Karen Middleton speaks to Nour Haydar about the consequences of crossing the floor
Jul 01, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, talks to Australian Border Force commissioner, Michael Outram, about Border Force’s response to two damning Australian Human Rights Commission reports into allegations of sexual discrimination and harassment across the ABF and its marine unit.
Jun 28, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia political editor Karen Middleton speaks with the shadow foreign affairs minister and opposition leader in the Senate, Simon Birmingham. This follows both the visit of Chinese premier Li Qiang and Peter Dutton’s announcement of the Coalition’s seven proposed nuclear sites this week. They discuss the uncertainties and outcomes of the historic visit, relations with our Pacific neighbours and the opposition’s mixed messages on the role of renewables in the transition to net zero i...
Jun 21, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Paul Karp, Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, and columnist Peter Lewis discuss what voters think about opposition leader Peter Dutton’s announcement to abandon Australia’s emissions reduction target for 2030. Climate experts have described it as a ‘destructive’ and ‘utterly irresponsible’ move that would breach Australia’s legally binding commitment to the Paris climate agreement. But voters are split on this controversial proposal.
Jun 19, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, speaks with the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, about the Coalition’s decision to ditch the 2030 target, pro-Palestine protests outside electorate offices and the voice eight months on
Jun 12, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with Bill Shorten, the minister for government services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, on the misuse of the NDIS, robodebt and why he won’t be the next ambassador to France
Jun 07, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast How does age shape political views? Paul Karp, Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, and columnist Peter Lewis discuss how age effects views on current debates on age restrictions on social media, the age of criminal responsibility and criminalising hate speech. Based on new research on artificial intelligence in different workplaces, they also examine how voters are weighing up the risk and opportunities of this rapidly evolving technology
Jun 05, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Karen Middleton, Guardian Australia’s political editor, speaks with shadow minister for immigration and citizenship Dan Tehan about ministerial direction 99 and the visas of non-citizens with serious criminal convictions. They also discuss Peter Dutton’s plans to cuts to migration and why there won’t be a nuclear reactor in Anglesea – a town in Tehan’s electorate
May 31, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with the independent federal member for Indi, Helen Haines – well known for her strong interest against corruption and for transparency in government. When it comes to the transition to renewable energy, Haines is pushing for the government to improve the ways they’re addressing the concerns and hesitations of voters outside of metropolitan areas CSIRO puts cost of new nuclear plant at $8.6bn as Coalition stalls on policy details
May 24, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp talks to Peter Lewis from Essential Media about whether or not voters think that Labor’s third federal budget will make a meaningful difference to their current cost of living, and their assessment of a $300 energy bill rebate. They also discuss public perceptions of Labor’s economic management and views on increasing government intervention You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
May 22, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Australian Politics podcast, Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, speaks with the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, about whether his third budget can really provide cost-of-living relief without fuelling inflation Exclusive: Labor to run $45m taxpayer-funded Future Made In Australia advertising campaign
May 16, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with the shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, about the government’s deportation bill. They also discuss immigration, relations with China and what might happen to home affairs under a Coalition government.
May 10, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, talks to Peter Lewis from Essential Media about the current national debate around online safety reform and the spread of violent content on social media platforms in the wake of the alleged stabbing at the Wakeley church and the attack at Bondi Junction as well as the prevention and reduction of crime reduction and the upcoming budget.
May 08, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Karen Middleton, Guardian Australia’s political editor, speaks with the minister for communications, Michelle Rowland, about the government’s plan for tackling misogyny online. They also discuss how parents can manage their lack of visibility over what their children are seeing online and the role of public interest journalism
May 03, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks to Sarah Hanson-Young about the government’s legal showdown with Elon Musk’s X platform over violent content online, as well as the renewed focus on gender-based violence in Australia, and corporate greenwashing
Apr 27, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, talks to Peter Lewis from Essential Media about why voters are backing Labor’s Future Made in Australia plan while overestimating the cost of renewables
Apr 24, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s foreign affairs and defence correspondent Daniel Hurst speaks to Ed Husic about how the industry and science minister is making his voice heard on the Israel-Gaza war, as well as the government’s push to support domestic manufacturing and deliver what it calls ‘a future made in Australia’
Apr 19, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Political editor Karen Middleton speaks with Coalition spokesperson on foreign affairs, Simon Birmingham, about his party’s strong criticisms of foreign minister Penny Wong’s speech for a two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine as a state. The senator also responds to the announcement of an Australian adviser on the Israel Defense Forces missile strike on the World Central Kitchen aid convoy
Apr 12, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, talks to Peter Lewis from Essential Media about voters’ views on Australia’s housing system. Together they discuss how people are feeling about the role housing plays for Australians and if there are any viable solutions to the crisis on the table
Apr 10, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent Karen Middleton speaks to foreign minister Penny Wong after Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed – alongside six of her colleagues – in Gaza by an Israeli airstrike on Monday. Wong speaks about Israel prime minister Benjamin Neyanyahu’s response to the attack and how the Australian government is calling for greater accountability
Apr 05, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, speaks to David Shoebridge, the Greens’s home affairs and immigration spokesperson, about Labor’s controversial deportation bill
Mar 29, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia chief political correspondent Paul Karp talks to Peter Lewis from Essential Media about voters’ views on the institutions and guardrails that are the basis for Australian democracy. Together they discuss continued warnings signs for Anthony Albanese, the appetite for electoral reform and the alternatives to news media gatekeepers
Mar 28, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent Paul Karp speaks to the assistant minister for competition, Andrew Leigh about Labor’s plans for reforming grocery prices as the Greens push for greater powers for the ACCC to address the supermarket duopoly. They also discuss national competition policy, wage growth and non-compete clauses for workers
Mar 22, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Guardian Australia’s new political editor, Karen Middleton, tells Nour Haydar how she got hooked on politics You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
Mar 20, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
