Podcasts about australian politics

For more than four decades, Fred Nile was one of the most recognisable and controversial figures in Australian politics. As the founder of the Call to Australia Party, later the Christian Democratic Party, he built a career campaigning on conservative Christian values, influencing legislation in New South Wales despite rarely holding the balance of power outright.Join Holly and Matthew as they trace Fred Nile's political career, from his early activism and election to the Legislative Council through to the campaigns, controversies, and social debates that made him a fixture of Australian public life. Whether opposing censorship, gambling, abortion, same-sex relationships, or changing social attitudes, Nile remained one of the country's most persistent political campaigners.Love him or loathe him, Fred Nile left an undeniable mark on New South Wales politics. This episode explores the man, the movement, and the legacy of one of Australia's longest-serving parliamentarians.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Jeremy Cordeaux is in the garage with Pete and Gary, raising a glass to Derryn Hinch the day after his state funeral, then opening with a new "quote for the day" — Tony Abbott's line that "multiculturalism has failed and diversity is not our strength." From there it's a wide-ranging session: the electric-car owners stranded for months without spare parts, why "every float seems more like a sink," and Deutsche Bank's finding that Melbourne is now the dearest city on earth for a beer or a pack of cigarettes, thanks to stacked state and federal taxes. The heart of the show is Jeremy's argument that the trade union movement's push to make businesses consult workers before adopting AI is "unworkable" and will drive innovation offshore — the same forces, he says, that once priced car workers out of their jobs and handed them to robots. He also digs into South Australia's Firm Energy Reliability Scheme, revealed to cost $44 million a year despite promises of "no cost to the consumer," the government's response to the inquiry into Islamophobia, and a spirited defence of Pauline Hanson's right to a holiday — and to be discussed at all. Plus this day in history: the first moonwalk, the Sopwith Camel, Hemingway, Tony Bennett and the birth of Central Park.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest polls from Australia are out, and it's tight at the top. Both Labour and One Nation are polling high, whilst the Liberal coalition has taken a popularity hit. Dropping to 19%. Australian Correspondent Steve Price says despite Pauline Hanson's holidays and controversial remarks about immigration, it hasn't changed public opinion. He says that Hanson is 'tied for first' with Labour. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy talks to Paul Kelly about his new book on the turbulent era of the Liberal party under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. In The Twilight of Exceptionalism, Kelly writes about how the Liberal leadership changed hands from a conservative to a progressive and then a transactional centrist. The Australian newpaper's editor-at-large argues that this period demonstrated the party was fractured over its values and confused about its identity in a changing world

This week Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine the One Nation leader's podcast interview with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson and ask: will this interview cause fractures within the party and weaken her leadership? They also look at the rightwing party's position on international affairs and new polling in the lead-up to the Victorian election

Paul Kelly speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about his new book on the turbulent era of the Liberal party under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. In The Twilight of Exceptionalism, Kelly writes about how the Liberal leadership changed hands from a conservative, to a progressive and then a transactional centrist. The Australian's editor at large argues that this period demonstrated the party was fractured over its values and confused about its identity in a changing world

Socially Democratic is back with the July Mailbag, and we're here to answer your questions on AI regulation, nationalising critical infrastructure, and whether Victorians should be nervous about the state election.Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by former Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews and Managing Partner at FMRS Advisory Lissie Ratcliff, and the Director of Campaigns and Strategy at Unions NSW, Todd Pinkerton.They cover:

What’s a national gun buyback if it’s not really national and not many guns will be bought back? Anthony Albanese’s big post-Bondi massacre reform has faltered politicians panic about regional voters and fight over money. How did we get here? Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. National gun buyback criticised as NSW Premier confirms only two jurisdictions remain Governments silent on crucial gun buyback details as industry frustration grows Cost of NSW gun buyback revealed at almost half a billion dollars This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our team includes Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremy Cordeaux is in the garage with Pete and Gary for a Court of Public Opinion that runs hot on where your money is going. Top of the list: a quietly announced $650,000 grant scheme paying up to $20,000 a head to fly climate activists and Aboriginal groups to COP31 at a luxury Turkish beachside resort — while 240,000 Australians sit in energy poverty and almost $150 million has already been allocated to the campaign. Jeremy's question is simple: if you want diversity in the delegation, why not invite a few people who think the whole thing is a con? He also takes aim at Chris Bowen's 70-strong support staff, the absurdity of Australia locking up its uranium and coal while India and China top the OECD prosperity chart and we sit second from the bottom, and Canstar's finding that Australia now has the highest inflation rate in the developed world — alongside a record $19.4 billion in credit card debt costing $10 million a day in interest. Elsewhere: Professor Victor Gao's claim on the ABC that China can strike anywhere on earth within 20 minutes, and why Jeremy thinks it makes no sense ("why would you bomb it when you've already bought it?"); 47,000 hours of ambulance ramping in Adelaide in June alone; the schizophrenia of gambling ads that end by telling you not to gamble, when naming a cigarette brand on air is a crime; 31 charges over an Adelaide Plains piggery; and a wander through 16 July — Apollo 11, Ginger Rogers doing it backwards in high heels, Margaret Court, Adam Scott, Jane Birkin's handbag, and the story of Derryn Hinch's very first radio broadcast, live from the Kennedy Space Center. Jeremy also reflects on reports of the death of actor Sam Neill at 78.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremy Cordeaux is back in the garage — nursing a cold and minus his radio voice — for a Court of Public Opinion that swings from the deeply personal to the deeply uncomfortable. At its heart is a warm, unguarded eulogy for Derryn Hinch, dead at 82. Jeremy knew him for decades: from La Bicyclette in Sydney when Hinch was the youngest editor of a major Australian newspaper, to hiring him for breakfast in Adelaide (where he famously couldn't get out of bed, even living next door to the station). The Human Headline, five marriages, more sackings than the Southern Aurora, jailed for naming paedophiles, a liver transplant that bought him fifteen more years — Jeremy remembers a charismatic, eccentric, deeply ambitious character, and signs off with a Sinatra line. Elsewhere: the coordinated Shiite demonstrations across Australian capital cities and why news directors chose not to cover them; the return of alleged ISIS bride Hoden Abbey despite a lifted exclusion order and allegations she acted as a Sharia enforcer; Australians priced out of homes as rents climb and Hutt Street sees a 43% surge in demand; Australia sitting second-from-bottom of the OECD on productivity; and the Telstra outage that knocked out EFTPOS, transport and triple zero — proof, Jeremy argues, that a single $20 component can paralyse a country that's abolished cash and gone all-in on digital. Plus Bastille Day and this day in history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AI revolution is here, and with it a fear that soon it will replace many of us in the workplace. The Australian government is grappling with how to deal with the multi-layered disruption but so far reform has been slow as it weighs up regulation against the claims of investment opportunities an AI boom presents. Could that change on Wednesday when the prime minister delivers a landmark speech addressing the government's approach to the technology? The chief political correspondent, Dan Jervis-Bardy, speaks to Reged Ahmad about the tightrope the PM needs to walk between embracing new technology and protecting workers

In the year since the federal election, Pauline Hanson with her brand of rightwing populism has successfully tapped into discontent, surging in the polls at the expense of the Coalition and Labor. Meanwhile, support for the other antiestablishment party – the Greens – has flatlined, if recent polling is anything to go by. So why is the progressive party failing to cut through to voters? And what strategies can the Greens employ to improve their chances at the next election? Nour Haydar speaks to political reporter Sarah Basford-Canales about why voters tired of the major parties are moving to the right rather than the left

Darcy Byrne is the Labor mayor of Sydney's Inner West council and he's helping lead a grassroots movement on curbing gambling harm in the community – including pushing for a reduction in the number of poker machines in licensed clubs in New South Wales. This momentum comes while the federal Labor party continues to face criticism about the scale of its commitment to online gambling reform. The rising Labor star speaks to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about why he compares the poker machine lobby to the US National Rifle Association, and his successful motion at this month's NSW Labor conference on gambling policy at the next state election

Darcy Byrne is the Labor mayor of Sydney's Inner West Council and he's helping lead a grassroots movement on curbing gambling harm in the community – including pushing for a reduction in the number of poker machines in licensed clubs in New South Wales. This momentum comes while the federal Labor party continues to face criticism about the scale of its commitment to online gambling reform. The rising Labor star speaks to Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, about why he compares the poker machine lobby to the US National Rifle Association, and his successful motion at this month's NSW Labor conference on gambling policy at the next state election

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine a long list of stumbles and missteps made by politicians this week. They also discuss the prime minister's Pacific push as China tested a long-range missile – and Nigel Farage's resignation from politics only to stand at an upcoming byelection

Anthony Albanese offered an unequivocal apology this week after making an off-colour comment about Kylie Minogue while playing a ‘shag, marry, date' game on a podcast. Josephine Tovey speaks with Patrick Keneally, Gabrielle Jackson and Josh Butler about what the prime minister's latest podcast appearance says about an increasingly fractured media landscape

Socially Democratic goes live at the New South Wales Labor State Conference Fringe for a special episode recorded in front of a live audience at Sydney Town Hall.Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by regular guest and Unions NSW Director of Campaigns and Strategy Todd Pinkerton, Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes, and ALP National Assistant Secretary Rosie Ryan.They cover:

The Twilight of Exceptionalism, a new book by Australia’s most eminent political journalist and historian, Paul Kelly, is packed with startling revelations about the governments of Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, including ex-PM John Howard’s frank assessment of where his successors went wrong. Paul Kelly’s here with the exclusive first interview on the book, which hits bookshops on July 14. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, and Joshua BurtonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremy Cordeaux presents The Court of Public Opinion. The energy regulator's own report lays it out in black and white: electricity prices have risen $22.7 billion since Labor came to power — despite the promise of a $275 saving. Jeremy asks how Energy Minister Chris Bowen can keep blaming the previous government, and why net zero and the renewables push have made power dearer, not cheaper. Also in this episode: Anthony Albanese's cringeworthy podcast appearance filmed at The Lodge; One Nation's plan to scrap the Office of Multicultural Affairs; Tony Abbott's powerful London speech on mass migration; the case for banning gambling advertising; Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the politics of the South Pacific; plus Jeremy's "On This Day". Proudly supported by Rossdale Homes — when trust is a must. rossdalehomes.com.au Have your say — call in on Friday's live stream at jeremycordeaux.com. New episodes posted Tuesday and Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 political year has already been surprising. Labor passed changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, which they had previously ruled out. The Liberals changed leaders again, and One Nation has seen a surge of support in multiple polls. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to press gallery colleagues Michelle Grattan, the chief political correspondent at the Conversation, and Melissa Clarke, political correspondent with ABC Radio National. They discuss their report card on the year so far, and the political contests to watch in the second half of the year

The 2026 political year has already been surprising. Labor passed changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, which they had previously ruled out. The Liberals changed leaders again, and One Nation has seen a surge of support in multiple polls. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to press gallery colleagues Michelle Grattan, the chief political correspondent at The Conversation, and Melissa Clarke, political correspondent with ABC Radio National. They discuss their report card on the year so far, and the political contests to watch in the second half of the year

Apologies to our listeners for the technical difficulties this week. Socially Democratic heads to Victorian Trades Hall for a special episode with two of the most important figures in the Victorian trade union movement.Luke Hilakari, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, and Wil Stracke, Assistant Secretary, join host Stephen Donnelly to talk organising, digital campaigning, the rise of One Nation, and what happens to working people when AI reshapes the economy.This is a rare inside look at how Trades Hall went from a place that passed resolutions to one of the most sophisticated campaigning operations in the country.Plus:

It's the first Guardian Essential poll following Pauline Hanson's provocative speech at the National Press Club – where she attacked multiculturalism, climate action, the United Nations, and the ABC and SBS. Her polling numbers have since stalled, and even One Nation supporters are expressing concerns about her policy offerings. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler and the executive director of Essential Media, Peter Lewis, discuss the results of Hanson's pitch to voters, and ideas on how to respond to the anger that's driving interest in her party

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss what led to the first drop in One Nation's poll numbers in more than a year, and why the voters turning away from Pauline Hanson are not turning back towards the Liberal party. They also examine the politics of falling house prices and why it may end up being a challenge for Labor

This week, Labor secured a deal with the Greens to pass its reforms to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing. The Greens were unable to negotiate a more ambitious proposal to remove grandfathering or cap the number of negatively geared properties, but the party's leader, Larissa Waters, says that the agreement was the best that they could do. The Queensland senator speaks to the political editor, Tom McIlroy, about why the Greens will vote against the government's cuts to NDIS spending, and what her party is doing to stem the rising tide of support for One Nation

This week, Anthony Albanese's UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, succumbed to mounting pressure and resigned as prime minister. A number of comparisons have been made between the pair, including resounding election wins followed by a decline in the polls while insurgent rightwing parties gained ground. Josephine Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher, Gabrielle Jackson and Guardian Australia's international editor, Virginia Harrison, about how Albanese can avoid Starmer's fate

In a Resolve Political Monitor survey found Pauline Hanson leading with 33% support, ahead of PM Anthony Albanese at 29% and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor at 16%. This marked the first time voters were presented with three options in this specific poll. What is behind the rise of One Nation party? - Dalam survei Resolve Political Monitor, Pauline Hanson memimpin dengan dukungan 33%, diunggulkan dari PM Anthony Albanese dengan 29% dan pemimpin pihak Oposisi Angus Taylor dengan dukungan 16%. Ini menandai untuk pertama kalinya pemilih disajikan dengan tiga pilihan dalam jajak pendapat khusus itu. Apa yang terjadi di balik kebangkitan partai One Nation?

For the first time in her 30-year political career, Pauline Hanson fronted the National Press Club this week. It was a blistering address, and a combative question-and-answer round with journalists – with Hanson attacking multiculturalism, the climate crisis, transgender rights, Indigenous policy, paid parental leave and the two public broadcasters. Longtime journalist Margo Kingston knows Hanson better than most – having covered the One Nation leader since her first rise to prominence in 1996, and also written a book about her 1998 election campaign. Kingston speaks to Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, about why she thinks Hanson's incendiary speech is the beginning of her federal campaign

Host Stephen Donnelly sits down with NSW ALP General Secretary Dom Ofner ahead of the NSW Labor Conference, July 4–5 at Sydney Town Hall.They cover:

Pauline Hanson's ascendancy in Australian politics was underscored this week by her first address to the National Press Club. In a lengthy speech, the leader of the rightwing party railed against multiculturalism and Islam in particular, pledged to slash public broadcasting and asserted the so-called ‘hoax' of global warming was the driving factor behind poverty in Australia. Josephine Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher and political editor Tom Mcllroy about Hanson's ‘ugly' vision for Australia

After the most bruising five weeks of his prime ministership, Anthony Albanese has announced four big - and very complicated - changes to the controversial capital gains tax and death tax measures in the Budget - but will it be enough to quell the fury of young investors and entrepreneurs who feel the government’s let them down? Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Winners and losers as government overhauls small business tax breaks after industry backlash Backflips and backdowns: what you need to know about the budget changes Commentary by Judith Sloan: Labor’s tax reform teaches a masterclass in incompetence This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Tiffany Dimmack. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make Australia monocultural, axe SBS, paywall the ABC, dump Snowy Hydro 2.0 and introduce nuclear power - Pauline Hanson’s first address to the National Press Club was certainly eventful. Read more: ‘Don’t come near me’: Pauline Hanson clashes with journalist over daughter’s employment Commentary by Geoff Chambers: How ‘Svengali’ James Ashby unleashed Trump-style machine to fuel One Nation’s surge Linfox succession battle escalates as son Peter Fox ousted from top role History as Messi bags first World Cup hat-trickSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A truck-mounted billboard featuring AI-generated images of Victoria's premier, Jacinta Allan, which has been travelling around Melbourne for several weeks now, has attracted a lot of scrutiny. It shows Allan wearing a black pointed hat alongside the phrase ‘ditch the witch'. Victorian upper house MP for the Animal Justice party Georgie Purcell, who faces sexist abuse every day as a female MP, argues misogyny isn't a legitimate expression of political dissatisfaction

The Albanese government is proposing major changes to the national disability insurance scheme – to cut spending and reduce the number of participants receiving care. Advocates and Australians with disabilities have heavily criticised the proposals during a three-day Senate inquiry this week. The shadow NDIS minister, Melissa McIntosh, speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about her concerns about the legislation in its current form. The western Sydney MP also responds to One Nation's fundraising results this week, her political future in a seat that has been marked as one that could flip to Pauline Hanson's party, and Tony Abbott's endorsement of preference deals with the insurgent party Read more: We can't deliver ‘like-for-like-services' for people kicked off the NDIS, states warn Albanese government Labor's NDIS overhaul faces delay as Coalition and Greens consider teaming up to slow bill's passage

Pauline Hanson says former politicians said she should face a firing squad and be burnt at the stake. Now Tim Fischer’s widow Judy Brewer says she wants evidence or an apology and fears her late husband is being posthumously defamed. Read more: Andrew Forrest inks mining deal with Juukan Gorge traditional owners Apologise or prove ‘witch’ claim: widow Catch all the action from the 2026 FIFA World Cup hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When news broke that Australia will buy only secondhand nuclear submarines from the US, it signalled a major shift in the Aukus deal. It's made Emma Shortis, the director of international and security affairs at the Australia Institute, ask: what's a few secondhand subs between friends?

The Albanese government's announcement that Australia will now receive three used US Virginia-class submarines, rather than two used and one new, has put the spotlight back on the Aukus commitment. One of the strongest advocates for the $368bn agreement is defence industry minister Pat Conroy and he hits back at its critics – including the Labor MP Ed Husic. Speaking with political editor Tom McIlroy, the minister for Pacific Island affairs also discusses this week's visit by new Solomon Islands prime minister Matthew Wale and responds to speculation that Tony Abbott could run as the Liberal candidate in Conroy's seat of Shortland at the next election

Josephine Tovey speaks with Gabrielle Jackson, Patrick Keneally and Jonathan Barrett about why Labor is damned if they do and damned if they don't when it comes to the diabolical political conundrum of trying to solve the housing affordability crisis without bringing down house prices

In this episode of Socially Democratic, your Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast, host Stephen Donnelly is joined by senior Democratic consultant and former Obama field organiser Katie Parsons for a deep dive into the state of the Democratic Party.The DNC finally released its post-mortem of the 2024 Harris presidential campaign. It was, to put it diplomatically, not great. Neither the campaign, nor the post-mortem. So what do we actually know about what went wrong, and is the party any closer to having answers?With the US midterms six months away and the 2028 presidential primary already taking shape, Katie and Stephen unpack it all:

Former environment minister Peter Garrett will lead an independent inquiry into the Aukus defence pact, launched by a group of Labor veterans and public figures concerned proper scrutiny has never been applied to the $368bn defence plan. The group argues there has never been a more critical time to examine the cost and potential risk associated with our increasingly close ties with the United States military. Peter Garrett joins Nour Haydar to discuss whether Aukus will make us safer – or turn us into a nuclear target

Former prime minister Tony Abbott didn't exactly disappear from the limelight after he lost his seat in the ‘teal' wave of 2019, but his new role as Liberal president has many asking: why is the party bringing him back now? Chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about how Abbott's appointment could change the party – and shape conservative politics in Australia

It's been more than two weeks since the Albanese government handed down the federal budget and the criticism has not stopped. Guardian columnist and chief economist at the Australia Institute, Greg Jericho, argues despite Australians with disabilities copping the biggest cuts in the budget, hearts bleed only for the wealthy

In his new role as director of the Greens' think-tank, Max Chandler-Mather argues that the major political parties and parts of the media often limit policy debate – which, on issues such as housing and wealth inequality, shuts down real alternatives to the status quo. The former Greens MP and housing spokesperson speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about returning to policies that improve the lives of Australians in material ways – and why he thinks political nihilism defines One Nation

Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy examine the government's struggle to sell its ambitious tax changes as the legislation hit parliament this week. The Barries also look at the pros and cons of a ‘teal' party and dig into new Redbridge polling that shows One Nation could overtake the Liberals as the official opposition

Jim Chalmers says his fifth federal budget is the ‘best budget for young people', but in the latest Guardian Essential poll voters are unconvinced that the proposals will make for a fairer housing system. Political reporter Josh Butler and Essential Media's executive director Peter Lewis discuss the political challenges that Labor faces on its proposed reforms to housing and tax policy