Podcast
Politics Now
Hosted by ABC Australia · EN
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'.
116episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Is 'hyperbolic' politics reducing trust?
Jun 1600:30:54Tap to summarizeThe AFP is looking into allegations Israeli forces sexually assaulted Australian activists who were detained after attempting to reach Gaza last month.It comes after a meeting between the Australian activists, federal ministers Penny Wong and Anne Aly and senior members of the AFP. Israel has denied the claims.Meanwhile back home, there's been a heated exchange over the CGT and negative gearing inquiry, with the Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson telling Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth to "grow up" and "get a breathalyser".So, what does the exchange tell us about the current tone of our political debate? And is heightened rhetoric reducing trust in politics?Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Labor fights the polls for Pauline
Jun 1500:31:09Tap to summarizePauline Hanson is now the preferred Prime Minister - ahead of the actual Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor - if the latest Resolve poll is anything to go by.Yes, it’s a big “if”. But it’s also not the sort of number the major parties can laugh off. As One Nation’s rise moves from protest vote to serious political threat, what is Labor’s strategy to stop the bleed - and is it working?Meanwhile, another fight is opening over the budget, as a two-day Senate inquiry into the government’s tax measures begins. Labor says it is still consulting, business groups are lining up with their demands. So where does the negotiation land - and how much will the government have to give?Plus - PK and Jacob unpack the breaking news around a US-Iran ceasefire, and whether the hope of a lasting peace deal in the Middle East can hold.Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Is Australia ready for the AI transformation? | Insiders on Background
Jun 1200:20:06Tap to summarizeExecutive director of the Tech Policy Design Institute, Johanna Weaver, says Australia is well-placed to navigate the AI transformation while maintaining its national sovereignty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Labor goes back to basics
Jun 1100:35:53Tap to summarizeThe Prime Minister is holding a Medicare card. Tony Abbott is spruiking a national tour. "Ditch the witch" is back in the headlines. Everything old is new again in politics this week.So what should we make of it all? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Katina Curtis, Canberra Bureau Chief at the West Australian to discuss everything from the NDIS inquiry to the continuing attempts to sell the Budget measures and discussion around Coalition preferences to One Nation. Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Is the Prime Minister ready to 'cop it'?
Jun 1000:25:45Tap to summarizeAs the US launches new military strikes on Iran, Anthony Albanese says the uncertainty makes it “very difficult” to deal with the consequences - while trying to read the mood at home.Could some distance between the Prime Minister and Donald Trump be politically useful, as fuel prices, global instability and the Strait of Hormuz dominate the conversation one again?And while Transport Minister Catherine King insists the fuel excise cut will end, is the government ready to cop the political pain - or will it have to bite the bullet and extend it?Meanwhile, Labor is still trying to sell its war-time budget. Capital gains tax carve-outs are starting to take shape, while the Greens are open to backing Labor’s tax changes in exchange for a longer NDIS inquiry.Plus, six months after Australia introduced its social media ban for under-16s, Apple’s CEO is crediting the country for new child safety controls - with the UK and EU watching closely. But are the restrictions actually making a difference?Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Pocock sparks data centre debate
Jun 900:24:03Tap to summarizeAs the three-day inquiry into the Albanese Government's proposed NDIS overhaul gets underway, the Opposition hasn't ruled out doing a deal with the Greens to extend the hearings.And the great data centre debate is back in the spotlight, with Independent Senator David Pocock calling Australians to get a fair return as the industry continues to boom.Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Labor's populism pushback
Jun 800:30:17Tap to summarizeAnthony Albanese says voter frustration with the system formed the backdrop for Labor's budget — saying if governments don't respond to the circumstances there will be "a continued rise of populism."But as another poll shows One Nation ahead of Labor as the most popular political party, are the Albanese Government acting too slowly?And as scrutiny increases on One Nation, there have been a series of gaffes over the details of their housing policy. So, do rusted on voters care about the messiness, or are they just looking to shake-up the system?Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Lachlan Harris warns Labor's budget isolates voters amid One Nation rise | Insiders on Background
Jun 500:28:55Tap to summarizeThe Albanese government passed the first tranche of its tax legislation through the lower house this week but is still facing backlash from investors and businesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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One Nation is surging. Why aren't the Greens?
Jun 500:26:10Tap to summarizePK is still making her way through a rewatch of The West Wing — and she and Fran have some big thoughts about the idealistic vision of politics the series presents.But after some very important TV chat, they get stuck into some brilliant listener questions, including:Does the parliamentary attendance record of politicians matter? Why haven't the Greens capitalised on the populist wave like One Nation has? And how do the texting arrangements between political journalists and politicians actually work?Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly answer your clever queries on this Question Time edition of The Party Room.Listen to Thursday's The Party Room ep hereGot a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Trump's tariffs and AUKUS awkwardness
Jun 400:41:22Tap to summarizePrime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged there's an "ideological disagreement" with the US, after the Trump Administration confirmed they'll slap a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian goods.It comes as AUKUS "awkwardness" is continuing for Labor, so will the issue continue to kick off at the Labor conference next month — or will the Government nip it in the bud before then?And One Nation's mainstreaming is continuing, with Pauline Hanson locking in a leaders address at the National Press Club after an explosive new Redbridge poll in the AFR showed One Nation was the most popular party in Australia.And back in the parliament, the Albanese Government has passed their first tranche of budget tax reforms through the house, but the Greens and Coalition have raised concerns about what they say are "god-like" discretionary tax changes after they become law. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has dismissed the criticism as a "beat-up" but are they in for a battle ahead in the Senate?Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Charles Croucher, Chief Political Editor at Nine News 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@abc.net.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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