Podcasts about australia news

Speaking at Cop30 in Brazil, the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the ‘consensus is gone' on tackling the climate crisis. It's an apt assessment because this week Australia's two major political parties have had very different commitments when it comes to climate action. The minister for climate change and energy, Chris Bowen, speaks to Guardian Australia's political editor, Tom McIlroy, about Labor's a free solar power scheme for some homes and the Coalition's continued infighting on emissions targets

There's been no shortage of big businesses making headlines for the wrong reasons. But how much does a company crisis really cost those at the top? Senior reporter Henry Belot speaks to Nour Haydar about the enduring culture of paying big bonuses to company executives, despite community outrage over company conduct

Protests on an outback road in the Northern Territory have refocused attention on Pine Gap, the secretive US satellite base near Alice Springs. The protesters have tried to block workers from accessing the facility, which they claim is aiding Israel's genocide in Gaza.Nour Haydar speaks with senior reporter Ben Doherty about the rising resistance to Pine Gap, and the questions the spy base raises about Australia's complicity in alleged crimes abroad

A report by the Centre for Public Integrity has accused the Albanese government of ‘leaning into a culture of secrecy'. Labor's record on transparency also featured in parliament this week after independent ACT senator David Pocock led a revolt against the government for failing to produce a key report into ‘jobs for mates'.Bridie Jabour talks to the editor, Lenore Taylor, and the head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, about whether the Albanese government is failing to live up to its own expectations on transparency

Guardian Australia's daily news podcast examines why more people are falling prey to cults and whether the current laws are strong enough to help vulnerable people who might be lured in. Victoria correspondent Benita Kolovos speaks to Reged Ahmad about why more ‘modern' cults are using new methods to recruit and promising ‘simple answers to complex problems'

Parliament is back and the political fight over long-awaited legislation updating the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act is expected to dominate debate. Political reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy tells Nour Haydar why the government is racing to negotiate a deal with either the Coalition or the Greens to fix Australia's broken nature laws

Australia's welfare system is often described as a safety net for the most vulnerable, so what happens when that safety net is yanked away? Analysis released earlier this year suggests that hundreds of thousands of Centrelink payments have been illegally cancelled since 2020, with many more suspended. Inequality reporter Cait Kelly speaks to Nour Haydar about the automated system linked to the cancellations, and the human toll of a broken system

We unpack the bitter rivalries, court battles and family conflicts behind the Hancock fortune, and consider a fundamental question: is Rinehart a mining heiress or is she a self-made mining magnate? We look at her crowning achievement to date in her time at the helm of Hancock Prospecting – owning and operating her own iron mine at Roy Hill, something her father was never able to do

At 13, Gina Rinehart read a book that would help shape her worldview – Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. The novel's capitalist underpinnings promote the idea that people should strive to be their best industrial selves. In this episode, we explore how these values are playing out in Rinehart's life today, including her proposal to build a coalmine in Canada's Rocky Mountains. And we hear how author and environmental campaigner Tim Winton views her efforts to prevent an overhaul of Australia's environmental laws

Gina Rinehart's father, Lang Hancock, is well known as a pioneer of Australia's iron ore industry but few realise Hancock started his mining career on a smaller scale and digging for a different substance – blue asbestos. Hancock and his partner started the mining operation at Wittenoom in the 1940s before selling it to CSR, which mined the area for 20 more years. Wittenoom has become synonymous with the tragedy that unfolded for the thousands who lived and worked there after exposure to asbestos fibres. In this episode of Gina, we interrogate some of the stories her family chooses to celebrate – and others they don't

In the previous episode, we covered historical claims made over the years that Lang Hancock, Gina's father, had two unacknowledged daughters with separate Indigenous women. Now, the daughter of Sella Robinson, one of the Indigenous women who claimed to be Hancock's daughter, speaks publicly for the first time

It's the portrait of Gina Rinehart that launched 1,000 memes, went viral globally and became Australia's Mona Lisa. But it's also a symbol of how wealth intersects with other areas of life, including art and sport. How does Rinehart use her money to control her image – and what would she rather you don't see? This episode is about power and control, and the colonial history of Australia. It contains references to outdated offensive language and events that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may find distressing. It also contains the names of Indigenous Australians who have died

Twenty years ago, John Hancock had dinner with his mother, Gina Rinehart. He says it's the last positive interaction he had with her. In an in-depth interview, he explains how his relationship with her fell apart and discusses a high-stakes legal case that could threaten the foundations of her empire

Gina Rinehart tops Australia's rich list, worth almost $40bn. She's also a climate sceptic, a Trumpette and a litigant – even against her own kids. Her life reads like a script from the TV series Succession. Senior correspondent Sarah Martin has spoken to her critics and her defenders to try and understand who Gina Rinehart really is. In this episode, Martin starts with her childhood, and the enormous influence of her father, Lang Hancock

How does Gina Rinehart, like her father before her, use wealth and power to influence Australian politics? Rinehart's first major foray into the political spotlight was successfully lobbying against Labor's mining super-profit tax in the early 2010s. But what did she learn from her father, Lang Hancock, who campaigned to overturn the iron ore export embargo in the 1950s, setting the foundation for their family fortune?

After finally meeting with Donald Trump, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese passed another political test and returned home with a win. Domestically, the Coalition continued to battle over net zero and generate its own headlines for all the wrong reasons. Bridie Jabour talks to editor Lenore Taylor, national news editor Josephine Tovey and head of newsroom Mike Ticher about what Albanese's and Sussan Ley's two very different weeks tells us about the state of Australian politics

The former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has confirmed his intention to quit the Nationals, further fuelling suspicions he could join Pauline Hanson at the far right of the parliament. It's not the first time the member for New England has made headlines, but the move raises questions about the direction of the Coalition – particularly when it comes to climate policy. Guardian Australia political reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about why the well-known backbencher says he wants to quit the Nationals and what this says about the Coalition's looming crisis over net zero

The long-awaited meeting between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump has taken place at the White House. It's being hailed as a success for the prime minister, who left with an endorsement for Aukus and his leadership – but what else did we learn? Political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Reged Ahmad from Washington about what it was like in the room as the two leaders met face-to-face, what it means for Australia's relationship with the US and THAT comment about Kevin Rudd

Earlier this month Australian Surya McEwen was among hundreds of humanitarians and activists onboard an aid flotilla bound for Gaza when the fleet was intercepted by the Israeli military. McEwen joins Nour Haydar to talk about what it was like being inside Israel's Ketziot prison, the conditions detainees face and why he continues to fight for Palestine

Live from the South by Southwest festival in Sydney, Bridie Jabour talks to the editor, Lenore Taylor, the head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, and senior audio producer Miles Herbert about how Anthony Albanese will navigate meeting Donald Trump as Australians watch America's authoritarian turn

The Australian blueberry industry has experienced rapid and unprecedented expansion in recent years. And while the increase in production means cheaper prices and more choice at the checkout, there is a dark side to the industry unseen to shoppers. Investigative journalist and Guardian Australia NSW state correspondent Anne Davies speaks to Nour Haydar about growing concerns over treatment of workers, and the use of pesticides in the intensive farming of the fruit

Last week, independent senator and former elite athlete David Pocock was banned from the parliament's social sports club after raising concerns about its association with gambling lobbyists. Senior reporter Henry Belot speaks to Reged Ahmad about how he broke the story and what the saga says about how lobbyists access politicians

As Labor's new aged care system gets set to begin on 1 November, Greens senator Penny Allman-Payne speaks about her father's recent move into residential aged care and the personal stories she has heard as chair of a Greens-led inquiry into the sector. She speaks with Guardian Australia's political editor, Tom McIlroy, about how she has seen lives put at risk by a for-profit system, and why she thinks the government is not doing enough for those waiting for a home care package

Recent opinion polls indicate support for the populist right party One Nation has doubled since the last election. Around the globe, far-right politicians pushing nationalist anti-immigration policies are also on the rise – including Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Donald Trump in the US. So could Pauline Hanson's One Nation grow to pose a similar threat to Australian politics? Nour Haydar speaks with Guardian Australia deputy editor, Patrick Keneally, and head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, about the rise of the populist right and the lessons for Australia

This week, Labor expanded Australia's first home guarantee to allow more buyers access to a mortgage with a reduced deposit of 5%. But the plan has many critics. Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the federal minister for housing and homelessness, Clare O'Neil, about why she thinks the government is pulling on the correct levers to address the housing crisis

Political reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to executive director of Essential Media Peter Lewis about Australian voters' views on the government's climate action ambition and the immigration debate. Lewis also explains why he thinks The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a perfect analogue of the prime minister's approach to politics in the midst of global instability

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie's hardline rhetoric on migration and manufacturing have led many to question whether the opposition frontbencher plans to pull his party to the right and go for the leadership. Guardian Australia political reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about the rise of the SAS soldier turned politician and if he could be successful in importing US-style politics to Australian shores

Political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Amanda Rishworth, the minister for employment and workplace relations, about the Albanese government's upcoming reform agenda for workers. They also discuss the latest figures on enterprise agreements and why she thinks AI is more likely to ‘augment' rather than displace workers in the near future

The race discrimination commissioner, Giri Sivaraman, speaks to Nour Haydar about the recent spate of anti-immigration rallies, how he is ‘attacked all the time' for calling out racism, and why some politicians don't want to talk about the issue

On Thursday, Optus users across four states attempted to call for help – but they couldn't get through. The 13-hour outage has been linked to three deaths and met with outrage. RMIT telecommunications expert Mark Gregory speaks to Reged Ahmad about what went so terribly wrong that day, and why it's time for urgent reform to ensure it never happens again

On Monday, standing outside the UN headquarters in the US, Anthony Albanese announced Australia's formal recognition of Palestine as a sovereign and independent state. Guardian Australia's political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Nour Haydar from New York on why the prime minister chose this moment to make the landmark decision and whether the move will deepen the divide between Australia and the US on the war in Gaza

The Albanese government has put a number on its climate ambition: a target of a 62-70% emissions cut compared to 2005 levels. It comes after the release of the national climate risk assessment, which described a disastrous future for Australians on a warming planet. In this bonus episode of the Australian Politics podcast, climate and environment editor Adam Morton speaks to the chair of the Climate Change Authority, Matt Kean, on the advice that informed the government's long-awaited emissions reduction target for 2035 Read more: What is a climate target, and how does Australia's new one for 2035 stack up against other countries? Albanese's Oprah-style emissions target aims to please almost everyone but risks falling short on climate action How vulnerable are Australia's cities to extreme heat? Explore our maps

In a defining week for climate action, the Albanese government has unveiled a commitment to cut emissions between 62% and 70% on 2005 levels by 2035. But vocal climate advocate Senator David Pocock says a minimum of 75% is needed to ‘do our bit'. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to the ACT independent about his pessimism about political leadership on climate ambition – despite the government's own warnings against a lack of action. He also discusses his criticism of ANU leadership, Labor's declining political will on gambling reform and why he thinks Canberra is one of Australia's best-kept secrets

This week Anthony Albanese left the comforts of his high approval rating at home to land in the Pacific, hoping to sign historic defence agreements with Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. But he has returned to Australia empty-handed, with the influence of China looming large over negotiations. The prime minister now heads to the US where a high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump poses its own challenges. Bridie Jabour talks to deputy editor Gabrielle Jackson, head of newsroom Mike Ticher and political editor Tom Mcllroy about the tricky diplomatic tightrope the PM is walking

Many had hoped that a global UN plastics treaty would finally curb pollution. But last month talks between representatives from more than 180 countries failed to reach a deal. Climate and environment reporter Petra Stock tells Nour Haydar about Australia's rising plastic waste problem and what needs to be done to tackle one of the biggest environmental threats of our time You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry unpack another bad week for the Coalition after Sussan Ley sacked senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the shadow cabinet. But that wasn't the only political story this week – the Barries also examine Victoria's historic treaty with First Peoples and the prime minister's attendance at the Pacific Islands Forum.

After a week of infighting, Sussan Ley was left with no other choice but to sack controversial conservative Jactina Nampijinpa Price. As Price and her supporters push for a more Trumpian turn, Ley is fighting to bring the opposition back to the centre. But as the Coalition continues to tear itself apart, should the media's attention be more focused on the party in power? Bridie Jabour talks to the Guardian Australia editor, Lenore Taylor, deputy editor Patrick Keneally and the head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, about who is holding Labor to account when the Coalition is constantly in chaos

Erin Patterson has been sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years after murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth with a lunch laced with death cap mushrooms. Justice and courts reporter Nino Bucci tells Nour Haydar how Justice Christopher Beale arrived at his decision and how Patterson reacted when she learned her fate

While many Australians are feeling relieved about the end of a cold winter, the minister for emergency management and regional development is already eyeing the upcoming summer bushfire season. Kristy McBain talks to chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy about the importance of social license for renewables and climate action in regional Australia, and shares her latest audiobook playlist for long drives to weekend sport

The violent and confronting scenes that took place at anti-immigration rallies across the country last weekend continue to reverberate throughout Australian politics. Protesters said they marched because migration levels have reached record highs. Despite the real figures telling a different story, some sections of the media ignored the issue of racism and claimed those taking to the streets were motivated by legitimate concerns. Bridie Jabour speaks to Guardian Australia's editor, Lenore Taylor, and the national news editor, Josephine Tovey, about the challenges of covering the far right without amplifying their dangerous views

Thousands attended the ‘March for Australia' anti-immigration rallies around the country on the weekend. Among those there were neo-Nazi groups and far-right figures who have captured the headlines. While the organisers have distanced the events from white supremacists, and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said some good people attended too, the protests have still been widely condemned as hateful. Reged Ahmad speaks to independent researcher into rightwing extremism Dr Kaz Ross on whether we are seeing a growing anti-immigration movement in Australia and an emboldened far right

On Friday, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, released a six-line statement announcing a new deal struck with Nauru. The deal allows the government to deport about 280 members of the NZYQ cohort, a group of noncitizens living in Australia whose visas were cancelled on character grounds. And despite costing hundreds of millions of dollars, the public have been told little detail about how the arrangement will work. Senior reporter Ben Doherty speaks to Nour Haydar about why critics have labelled the government's plan to deport people to its Pacific neighbour ‘discriminatory, disgraceful and dangerous'

Fresh off the government's reform roundtable and an address to the press club on skilling Australia's future, the minister for skills and training, Andrew Giles, says he's focused on making sure every Australian is able to reach their full potential in the workforce. He talks to Tom McIlroy about how to solve Australia's skill shortage, the importance of skills recognition in the economy, why fairness is so important to the skills sector and the key to growing the economy

Why do most Australians back recognising a Palestinian state, yet nearly half dismiss it as merely symbolic? The executive director of Essential Media, Peter Lewis, shares the latest poll findings with the Canberra chief of staff, Josh Butler, about Palestine, as well as fears of AI-driven job losses fuelling strong calls for regulation, a four-day work week and the need for bold reform

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss the expulsion of Australia's Iranian ambassador and Anthony Albanese's plan to help first home buyers. They also examine what the Coalition could do to get out of its post-election slump

Since Tuesday morning, police have been searching for Dezi Freeman, a so-called ‘sovereign citizen'. Police say he has fled into bushland after the killing of two police officers, allegedly in ‘cold blood', at a property in the Victorian town of Porepunkah. Reged Ahmad speaks to Catie McLeod, who is on the ground in Porepunkah, and Nino Bucci about what we know of the suspect and the manhunt for him

Iran directed at least two attacks against Australia's Jewish community, the domestic spy agency has determined, prompting the Albanese government to expel Tehran's ambassador from Australia. The prime minister announced on Tuesday that Asio had ‘credible intelligence' to determine the Iranian government was behind the attacks against the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and Lewis's Continental Kitchen in Bondi, Sydney. Iranian diplomats posted to Australia were not involved, the Asio director general, Mike Burgess, said. Nour Haydar speaks with political correspondent Tom Mcilroy and senior reporter Ben Doherty about why the Albanese government has taken this historic step against Iran

Earlier this month an Australian-based Uyghur group launched legal action against Kmart in the federal court. The case has put the retailer's supply chain under scrutiny for potential links to forced labour in China's Xinjiang province. Nour Haydar speaks with senior reporter Ben Doherty about the legal action against Kmart and the warnings that Australia could become a dumping ground for products linked to forced labour

Australia's gun laws are often called the gold standard for community safety, but almost 30 years on from the Port Arthur massacre that led to decisive reforms, there are more legal firearms in the country than ever before. Nour Haydar speaks with senior correspondent Sarah Martin and investigations reporter Ariel Bogle about why the number of guns in Australia is on the rise, the escalating threat of 3D-printed weaponry and why the gun lobby claims it's ‘winning' the fight against firearm control

Fresh from the government's economic roundtable, the independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender is optimistic about the future of tax reform in Australia. Talking to chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy, she argues Labor must speed up approvals for housing and clean energy, shift the tax mix to ease pressure on young people and boost investment, and responsibly embrace the ‘freight train' that is AI