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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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  • 250 episodes
  • Updated Today

Episodes250

Newest first
  • July 13 · 31 min

    Has One Nation support hit a ceiling?

    It's another poll Monday, this time with PK and Clare! A new Resolve poll in the SMH and The Age shows support for One Nation has slipped, with leader Pauline Hanson's likeability also taking a tumble. In what will be a major relief for under fire Opposition leader Angus Taylor, the Coalition has benefited — picking up support. It comes as the Opposition leader rebukes One Nation and their economic credentials for the first time, so is the Coalition settling on a new strategy? And Labor is ri

  • July 10 · 27 min

    Australia has a deficit dilemma, could means-testing wealth be the solution? 

    Dire budget deficits for years to come and stalling productivity growth are painting a bleak economic picture.  Against this backdrop, a new policy idea has emerged: if Australia can't rely on productivity growth and tax reform to fix the budget blackhole, what about means-testing wealth?  Peter Harris is the former chair of the Productivity Commission and now board director at the Policy Institute Australia. He told Jacob Greber, for this week's Insiders On Background, means testing wealth -

  • July 9 · 45 min

    Modi, the Pacific and THAT podcast

    It's been a big week on the international stage for Anthony Albanese, from a Pacific blitz to bilateral talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Melbourne. While a Chinese missile test threatened to overshadow the diplomacy tour, was the destabilising move actually a "cherry-on-top" for Australia — pushing Pacific nations closer to us? Back home, the fallout from the Telstra outage is continuing and so are the politics. So, did the Opposition "jump the shark?" And of course there

  • July 8 · 29 min

    The politics of an outage

    A nationwide Telstra outage has caused chaos for commuters and businesses and prompted Communications Minister Anika Wells to return early from leave. And artificial intelligence is back in the spotlight, with Assistant Minister Andrew Charlton suggesting now is the time to embed safety into AI. It comes ahead of the Labor Conference where an internal debate over AI is set to get "messy". Meanwhile, a stoush is brewing between drug-makers and the Federal Government. Patricia Karvelas and Clar

  • July 7 · 24 min

    PM rebukes 'provocative' missile test

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned China's missile test in the Pacific as a "provocative act", suggesting it destablises the region. It comes as the PM holds bilateral talks with his Solomon Islands counterpart and continues his regional diplomacy blitz. And back home, as preparations get underway for the Federal Labor Conference, there are already some clear battlelines taking shape. Melissa Clarke and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a

  • July 6 · 25 min

    A Pacific push and podcast blunder

    Australia has a new military alliance, signing a mutual defence pact with Fiji. Australia has long had a defence alliance with the US and New Zealand. Last year, an historic pact with Papua New Guinea forged a new direction for Australia and now a similar pledge has been made with Fiji. The "Ocean of Peace" alliance leaves the door opened to a multilateral pact that could see Australia, PNG, Fiji, New Zealand and Tonga form a military alliance. But while riding high on the success of Pacific

  • July 3 · 19 min

    After 250 years what is America celebrating this Independence Day?

    Today marks 250 years since America's declaration of Independence.  As the United States struggles with domestic divisions and its role as a global superpower, is the Founding Fathers' "Great Democratic Experiment" over?   Former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos sat down David Speers to discuss whether the United States can pull back from the brink.  

  • July 3 · 32 min

    Labor's political pickle on house prices

    It's Question Time! And there are no Dorothy Dixers in sight! But before Fran and PK tackle your "top-notch" queries, Fran checks in on PK after TV series Ponies was cancelled after just one season — luckily she still has The West Wing to rewatch. But they both agree the best thing on our screens at the moment is The World Cup, go the Socceroos (otherwise known as the 'Mantildas')! Then it's time for Partyroomers questions, including: the politics of house prices, do people follow how-to-vote

  • July 2 · 42 min

    Labor cleans off the barnacles

    It's mid-winter break eve and the Albanese Government has been "cleaning off the barnacles" before the recess. They pressed their luck introducing gambling ad restrictions to parliament, but it seems the Greens and Coalition will send the legislation to an inquiry. Meanwhile, the housing debate is still taking up lots of oxygen, as auction clearance rates hit six-year lows. Labor is holding their nerve and betting the house their budget tax changes will pay-off in the long run. And the soul-s

  • July 1 · 24 min

    The odds-on Labor's gambling reform

    Labor's long awaited legislation to restrict gambling advertising is set to be introduced to parliament tomorrow, but the Coalition could join the Greens in punting it to an inquiry. So, will the Albanese Government have to "give ground" and grant Coalition amendments if they want this to pass? And in the wake of PwC and KPMG scandals, Labor unveiling an option paper to improve regulation of accounting and audit firms. So, what's on the table? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all d

  • June 30 · 30 min

    Should the Liberals 'rebrand'?

    As volatility in the housing market continues, Labor is defending its budget tax changes and backing Treasury modelling on house price growth. But while Labor is in a "wicked position" on housing, are they simply strapping in for a "white knuckle ride" for the next few months? Meanwhile, Opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has doubled down on calls for the Liberals to "rebrand", suggesting the party needs to refresh and cut through. The idea has been widely panned by her party colleagues

  • June 29 · 30 min

    Crocodile Dundee enters the chat

    It's a classic "poll Monday" with Jacob and PK! Polling from Newspoll and Redbridge has One Nation's support dipping slightly, with Labor taking back the mantle of most popular political party. It comes after Pauline Hanson's combative National Press Club address — so is Labor's strategy to fight the surging populist party bearing some fruit? Meanwhile, the Coalition's woes have continued, with the Opposition's primary support hitting a historic low of 17 per cent in Newspoll. It comes as disq

  • June 26 · 40 min

    Antony Green on the tests ahead for One Nation

    Once a fringe party, One Nation is now the most popular party in Australia, according to a series of polls… The historic polling highs have come with more scrutiny but also a further platforming of the minor party — and its leader — as Australia assesses whether One Nation could be a legitimate party of government.. Today on Politics Now, ABC Election Analyst Emeritus Antony Green on what the polling tells us and the tests ahead for One Nation.  Listen here to  Antony Green on the rise of One

  • June 25 · 39 min

    Taylor fumbles and Labor locks in

    It's been a massive week in politics both in and outside of parliament. Labor is set to pass its negative gearing and capital gains tax budget changes with the support of the Greens, granting only minor concessions in exchange. Meanwhile, the terms monoculture and multicultural have echoed through the chambers of parliament this week. Opposition leader Angus Taylor found himself in hot water after side-stepping a series of questions about his support for the ideas. But he's not the only polit

  • June 24 · 25 min

    Clean up on aisle Angus

    Opposition leader Angus Taylor has tried to mop-up, after avoiding a series of questions about his support for multiculturalism. But has he made things any clearer? And right after the Labor-Greens deal to pass budget tax changes, the Coalition have offered the Albanese Government a pathway to pass its NDIS overhaul this fortnight. As Clare tells PK, the move is "tidy politicking" from Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam — as the Government already agreed to an eight-week inquiry into the NDIS in exc

  • June 23 · 35 min

    What Albanese can learn from Starmer's fall

    The Albanese Government has secured the support of the Greens to pass its capital gains tax and negative gearing changes, but not without some concessions. While it's welcome news for Labor, will the extended NDIS inquiry present a "political headache" in the months ahead? Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced his resignation. So, what lessons are there for the Albanese government here at home? Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now. Got a b

  • June 22 · 26 min

    Pragmatic politics or dirty deals?

    Parliament is back for the final sitting fortnight before the mid-winter break. The Albanese Government is eager to pass its key budget measures, but will the Greens waive through tax reforms in exchange for an extended NDIS inquiry? Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese has convened a virtual nation cabinet to discuss fuel security, as the Government winds down its fuel excise cut. But as global turbulence continues, the PM hasn't ruled out a further extension if needed. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Gre

  • June 19 · 40 min

    Budget backdowns, scrutiny and Gina's bulldozer

    PK and Melissa Clarke are on a unity ticket that this has been one of the biggest weeks in politics this year. So, before they answer your clever questions they dig into the response to Labor's capital gains tax carve-outs, the latest from the US-Iran ceasefire and of course Gina Rinehart's curious orange bulldozer stunt. And then it's over to the partyroomers! Does Labor need more outspoken backbenchers? Will One Nation stand-up to the scrutiny of an election campaign? Are politicians speakin