Politics Now

ABC Australia

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'.

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21 episodes
Updated Today

Episodes21

Newest first

Today · 41 min
While the PM's away, the mice will play
The Prime Minister and Opposition leader have been on leave this week, but their absence hasn't led to a quieter news cycle. A two-day parliamentary inquiry into gambling dominated the agenda, hardening political opposition to Labor's gambling bill and mounting pressure on Anthony Albanese to go further — so will he? Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's last minute press club cancellation became a story in and of itself. The Minister was set to unveil sweeping immigration changes, whi
Yesterday · 27 min
Is Labor worried about immigration?
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has postponed a national press club address, a very unusual move, where he was expected to announce sweeping cuts to immigration. The decision not to address the press club this week came less than 48-hours before the speech, with a spokesperson confirming it was "clear that some elements of the speech would not be finalised". Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has moved to quell a brewing fight over the so-called "widow's tax", unveiling a proposal to close the
Tuesday · 27 min
Will Albanese go further on gambling?
Betting giants Tabcorp and Sportsbet have faced a grilling at the parliamentary inquiry on gambling. The short inquiry has only run for two-days, but both Clare and PK agree it's been high impact. PK points to how it could frame the political agenda when parliament returns next week, while Clare says she doesn't see a path through the Senate without Labor's bill "being tougher and more restrictive" on gambling promotions and advertisements. Meanwhile, Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie has sta
Monday · 33 min
Labor feels the heat on gambling
House prices are falling across the country, with the downturn no longer just confined to Sydney and Melbourne according to new Cotality data. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek says there's never "been a better time to be a first home buyer in Australia", while Treasurer Jim Chalmers has pointed to Treasury modelling that house price growth would slow by about 2 per cent in the short term. It comes as a two-day inquiry into Labor's gambling advertising legislation gets underway, with gr
Friday · 28 min
Paul Kelly on the decade that broke the Liberal Party | Insiders On Background
If anyone can answer that, it's eminent journalist and political historian Paul Kelly. In his new book The Twilight of Exceptionalism, The Australian's editor-at-large traces the seismic shifts in Australian politics that sent the Liberal Party into a downward spiral. Paul Kelly sat down with David Speers for this week's Insiders: On Background.
July 30 · 44 min
Is Albanese's seat under threat?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing a new progressive threat, with 28-year-old Cheek Media Co founder Hannah Ferguson confirming she'll run as an independent in the PM's Grayndler seat. And Victorian politics that stole much of the spotlight this week, but will a leadership change be enough for Victorian Labor to reset ahead of the state election? And how is Federal Labor viewing the chaos? And the Albanese Government has confirmed the fuel excise cut will come to an end this weekend. I
July 29 · 29 min
Billionaires, donations and integrity
Integrity in politics is back in the spotlight, with Anthony Albanese, Angus Taylor and Pauline Hanson all facing their own questions about transparency. And the inflation figures for the June quarter have landed, and its better news than what most economists were expecting. So, what will it mean for the RBA's August cash rate decision? 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 a
July 28 · 28 min
Victoria has a new premier. Can he save Labor?
Victorians have a new premier, with Ben Carroll taking on the state's top job, after a chaotic caucus meeting. Jacinta Allan stepped down ahead of the caucus vote, saying she believed it was the best thing for the Labor party and the Victorian people. Ben Carroll has already moved to distinguish his leadership from his predecessor, announcing a royal commission into the construction sector. But there are transactional costs to swapping leaders, so will the move be enough to lift Victorian Lab
July 27 · 33 min
Victorian Labor's leadership crisis
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is facing a leadership spill, with Deputy Premier Ben Carroll confirming he will run for the Labor leadership. It comes after a delegation of Labor MPs met with the Premier to urge her to resign, but it doesn't seem Jacinta Allan is willing to step aside without a fight. Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese's control of Labor was on full display at the ALP national conference, Labor backbencher Ed Husic has warned the culture of debate isn't valued as it should be. Patr
July 24 · 21 min
Is One Nation a bigger threat to Labor than the Coalition? | Insiders On Background
The rise of One Nation this year has been crushing for the coalition, but it is also posing a threat to Labor. Outgoing National ALP President and former Treasurer, Wayne Swan sat down with David Speers at Labor's 50th conference.
July 24 · 23 min
Tariffs, bingo cards and Albo's iron grip
Labor has adopted new language on gambling regulation and backed telehealth for voluntary assisted dying in its party platform. And while the party has been unwilling to air its dirty laundry publicly, negotiations and debates have still been underway behind the scenes. So, is this a further sign of Anthony Albanese power over the party and his ability to project stability? Meanwhile, The Trump administration has confirmed a 12.5 per cent tariff will be placed on Australian exports to the US i
July 23 · 27 min
Albanese's 'antidote' to One Nation
Day one of the National Labor conference has wrapped up, with Anthony Albanese's political authority on full display. The Prime Minister used his opening address to speak about the rise of One Nation and contrast grievance politics with pragmatic solutions. And while a broken escalator saw Anthony Albanese stumble slightly, there was no sign of that on the conference floor, with backroom factional deals largely sewn up to avoid "barneys". But there are warnings a "politically managed" confere
July 22
Should Labor adopt a 'manifesto'?
It's a bonus Question Time edition! And today, Fran and PK are diving into some of YOUR big questions about the behind the scenes machinations and optics of Australian politics. Including, are the seating arrangements in parliament strategic for the cameras? What do the Presidents of political parties actually do? Why don't political parties in Australia use political manifestos like they do in the UK? And are there tensions between pollies and public servants? And later, PK and David Speers w
July 22 · 27 min
Taylor takes from Abbott playbook(let)
The National Labor Conference is about to get underway, with a gas exports tax, gambling reform and artificial intelligence shaping up as key battlegrounds But while there will be disagreements and policy fights, there's criticism that the event will be highly stage managed. So, is Labor being in power actually putting a "handbrake" on robust debate? And Opposition leader Angus Taylor has unveiled a new booklet spruiking his economic plan, in a move directly out of the Tony Abbott playbook. So
July 21 · 23 min
Annabel Crabb on Albanese's control
Order and control have been hallmarks of Anthony Albanese's leadership, but they're also at the centre of his approach to cooking. Annabel Crabb joins PK to discuss what's shaped the Prime Minister's desire for order and if he's a bit of a "control freak" when he's in the kitchen — and maybe also the cabinet. Meanwhile, One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has gone viral for yelling at his dog off screen in the middle of an interview on ABC's 730 and PK and Annabel have some thoughts. Patricia Karvela
July 20 · 24 min
Pauline Hanson dominates attention economy
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has robustly defended her appearance on controversial far-right agitator Tommy Robinson's podcast amid backlash. But while the minor party has issued some clarifications, does the controversy feed into Pauline Hanson's playbook and has she succeed in "consuming the attention economy"? Meanwhile, the Albanese Government has responded to its special envoy's report on Islamophobia 10-months after it was released. So, what message is Labor trying to send at a time
July 17 · 23 min
Regulating AI is like catching smoke, warns Christopher Pyne | Insiders On Background
Artificial intelligence is dominating the political agenda, with the federal government announcing plans to legislate guardrails for data centres and protect artists' copyright. But the strategic and military implications of AI, alongside Australia's multi-billion dollar investment in AUKUS, present much larger and complex questions for national sovereignty. Christopher Pyne is a stalwart of the Liberal Party and a former defence minister. He tells David Lipson that artificial intelligence
July 17 · 35 min
One Nation leadership rumbles emerge
It's Question Time! But before Fran and PK dive into your clever questions, they wrap up the latest political developments. Pauline Hanson's podcast interview with far-right UK agitator Tommy Robinson is making waves — including it seems, within the One Nation itself. The One Nation leader suggested her daughter Lee Hanson had the "potential" to be a future leader of the party, so where does this leave Barnaby Joyce? And what's the history of Royal Commissions in Australia and when do they wo
July 16 · 44 min
Labor's AI plan and Hanson's holiday
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's landmark AI address has dominated the political week. But was the announcement of National AI standards a bit of an "about face" from the PM, after what was previously seen as a hands-off approach to AI regulation from the Government? And One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been meeting with a series of fringe figures across the UK and has now been spotted in a resort in Sicily with mining magnate Gina Rinehart. So, how are the optics of the Pauline Hanson r
July 15
Albanese's AI roadmap
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled "world-leading" AI standards, urging Australians to embrace change and shape AI in the national interest. The PM used a landmark speech to lay out his vision for Australia's AI future, as Australians grapple with concerns over job losses, anxieties over the environmental impacts of AI data centres and copyright protections. Labor is set to legislate standards next year, with Anthony Albanese effectively shaping the debate that's to come — including