Insiders

Follow Insiders
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Every Sunday morning, the ABC's national political lead David Speers unpacks the major stories shaping Australia's future. Each episode includes a major interview with an Australian politician and an extensive discussion with a panel of the country's best journalists. This show will help you understand the major factors behind the decisions and debates driving a national conversation.

ABC News


    • Jul 18, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 221 EPISODES


    More podcasts from ABC News

    Search for episodes from Insiders with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Insiders

    PM tries to map out Aussie AI future, as Pauline Hanson goes global 

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2026 56:16


    Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg joins Patricia Karvelas, with Annabel Crabb, Paul Sakkal and Katina Curtis on the couch. 

    Australia strengthens regional ties, as China pushes the boundaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2026 55:05


    Political deadlock, as the mid winter break begins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2026 54:34


    Analysis: Albanese and Chalmers see reform as an antidote to populism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 5:30


    The slight recovery in Labor's polling shifts assumptions about what's in store for the remainder of this parliamentary term.

    Government's ongoing budget pains, as Taylor muddles up multiculturalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2026 55:33


    Will Labor's broken budget promise haunt them all the way to the next election? And how does Opposition Leader, Angus Taylor recover from the mess he's made on multiculturalism?

    Fuel relief to wind down as oil shock and budget battle loom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2026 56:27


    Duniam exit rocks Coalition as Labor fights surging One Nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2026 54:11


    Analysis: Albanese's frustration with Trump is becoming harder to hide

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2026 5:30


    The Albanese government is paying an economic and political toll for an ongoing and deeply unpopular war. 

    Budget fate rests with the Greens as Labor faces internal AUKUS pressure

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2026 56:07


    It is up to the Greens to decide whether they will pass tax changes or join the Coalition in an unlikely alliance. The minor party is also among those expressing AUKUS concerns. 

    Will house prices tumble under tax changes?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2026 54:55


    Tax changes, interest rate hikes, wars and volatility have created the perfect housing market storm. So will prices tumble and what will happen to supply?

    Analysis: Battery boom marks a new political chapter in Australia's energy wars

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 5:00


    Within the government, there's quiet confidence the battery boom will continue to gather pace and help shield Australia from both global shocks and domestic demand surges, driving prices even lower.

    Push to change CGT rules tests Labor's reform courage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2026 55:45


    It was a tough week for the government after entrepreneurs and business owners took to social media to vent their outrage over proposed capital gains tax changes.

    Analysis: Labor burns political capital as tax reform backlash grows

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 5:00


    In an already difficult post-budget week, Labor isn't being helped by some of its "friends". But it has won an important endorsement from one powerful voice.

    Reform back in fashion amid rising global populism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2026 55:04


    Labor has gone after negative gearing, capital gains tax and trusts while the Coalition has promised to end bracket creep by indexing tax thresholds. 

    One Nation makes history in Farrer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2026 56:08


    After crushing the Coalition in its regional heartland, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is on a high and dreaming big. 

    Analysis: The federal budget isn't banking on Trump's promises

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 6:30


    It's clear that whatever this unpredictable US president says, the Albanese government isn't expecting a return to normal oil flows any time soon.

    Grief, anger and a demand for change in the country's red centre

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2026 55:08


    The death of Kumanjayi Little Baby prompts calls for urgent action to confront systemic failures in remote indigenous communities.Nationals Leader Matt Canavan joins David Speers, with Paul Sakkal, Anna Henderson and Daniel James on the couch. 

    Government's NDIS shakeup and Coalition leaves door ajar on property tax breaks

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2026 54:34


    The government is spending some political capital. They've announced plans to rein in the NDIS and are inching closer to revealing changes to property tax breaks. But will the opposition get on board? Opposition Leader Angus Taylor joins David Speers, with Lenore Taylor, Tom Crowley and Katina Curtis on the couch. 

    Analysis: Are NDIS cuts the exception or the template?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 6:00


    As far as tough budget decisions go, we haven't seen anything on this scale since Joe Hockey's ill-fated 2014 effort.

    Analysis: Albanese government's frustration rises alongside fuel prices

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 6:00


    Fuel prices and inflation aren't the only metrics climbing as the Strait of Hormuz remains shut. The Albanese government's level of frustration is rising just as fast.

    Make or break US-Iran peace talks, amid ongoing global fuel crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2026 59:05


    The Middle East war enters its second month, as the fuel crisis bites harder

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2026 55:42


    But the big question remains: Does Donald Trump have a strategy to end the Middle East war?

    A Labor landslide in SA, as the fuel crisis deepens

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2026 57:30


    It was a double whammy for Australian households this week: an interest rate rise and climbing fuel prices amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Energy Minister, Chris Bowen is our guest. Meanwhile in South Australia a Labor landslide has seen Peter Malinauskas returned as Premier. He joins us from Adelaide following his election victory.  Paul Sakkal, Greg Brown and Clare Armstrong join David Speers on the couch. 

    Three more Iranian football members leave Aus, as Joyce regrets not securing fuel supply

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2026 54:24


    Another three members of the Iranian women's football team have decided to return home, days after being granted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia.Meanwhile our guest, former Deputy Prime Minister and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce says he regrets not doing more to secure Australia's fuel supply when he was in government. David Speers is joined by Matthew Knott, Jane Norman and Jason Koutsoukis. 

    A week of war in the Middle East

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2026 54:27


    Donald Trump is now demanding Iran's unconditional surrender – and a say in who runs the country.

    Trump announces Iran's Supreme Leader dead, following US-Israel strikes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2026 66:00


    A fresh Middle East conflict is underway, as Donald Trump announces the death of Iran's Supreme Leader.

    Analysis: Threat against PM is not a bizarre outlier

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 5:00


    It's tempting to treat the evacuation of the prime minister from the Lodge this week as a bizarre outlier but that would miss the point.

    What is the government doing about 'ISIS families' wanting to return?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2026 54:35


    The Federal Government hardens its stance on 'ISIS families' trying to leave Syria.

    Taylor Takeover

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2026 53:21


    Angus Taylor takes over a Liberal Party in crisis – in what he calls a change or die moment.

    Coalition on track to reunite, as interest rates put pressure on the Treasurer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2026 55:28


    Inflation spike and leadership infighting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2026 54:12


    Parliament returns this week – and while the government is bracing for an interest rate rise – both the Liberal and National Parties are riven by infighting.Shadow Treasurer Ted O'Brien joins David Speers. 

    Parliament returns for emergency laws, as Coalition implodes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2026 56:17


    For much of the summer, it was the Prime Minister under intense pressure over his response to the Bondi tragedy.Anthony Albanese said the emergency sitting would be a chance to show political unity.Instead the rush to pass a crackdown on guns and hate groups blew up the Coalition.

    Australian kids brace for a world-first experiment as they're booted off social media

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2025 50:36


    Australian kids are bracing for a world-first experiment as they're booted off social media, while the parliament winds up after a huge year. 

    PM ends parliamentary year with a win and a wedding

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2025 54:55


    The Prime Minister ends the parliamentary year with a win and a wedding.

    Analysis: The Albanese government has unfinished business

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 5:00


    The level of the prime minister's reform appetite has been discussed and debated since roughly 9pm on election night in May, when Labor's massive win became clear. 

    Sussan Ley tries to survive while the government pushes environmental laws

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2025 57:00


    We're heading into the final week of parliament of the year.The government wants to finish with a win – by passing its overhaul of environment laws.Sussan Ley wants to survive what's known as the killing season.

    The Liberal Party takes a huge gamble

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2025 53:34


    The Liberal Party has just taken a huge gamble.In a weakened political position – and under pressure from the Nationals – the net zero target is now gone.

    The long road to treaty | Insiders On Background

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2025 17:46


    It's been a very long road – but Australia's first treaty with Aboriginal people in Victoria has now been signed and formalised as law.

    Coalition net-zero crunch time

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2025 53:26


    After 6 months of agonising – it's crunch time for the Liberal Party, with MPs to thrash out a position on the net-zero climate target this week.

    Analysis: Sussan Ley is skating on thin ice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2025 5:00


    If, as expected, the net zero target is abandoned, the long delay in reaching this point will leave the Liberals looking like they've capitulated once again to the Nationals.

    Can the Coalition survive the Nat's net-zero rethink?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2025 54:40


    The Nationals have walked away from the net zero target dialling up pressure on Liberal leader Sussan Ley.

    Claim Insiders

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel