Podcasts about Guardian Australia

In his first comments after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Anthony Albanese says that the ex-prince has had an extraordinary fall from grace. And while the prime minister is a firm republican, this disgrace will not prompt another referendum. Speaking with Guardian Australia's political editor Tom McIlroy, the PM hits back at Pauline Hanson's comments about Muslim Australians. He also discusses what would happen if the 34 wives and children of Australian Islamic State fighters stuck in Syria made their back to Australia

In his first comments after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Anthony Albanese says that the ex-prince has had an extraordinary fall from grace. And while the prime minister is a firm republican, this disgrace will not prompt another referendum. Speaking with Guardian Australia's political editor Tom McIlroy, the PM hits back at Pauline Hanson's comments about Muslim Australians. He also discusses what would happen if the 34 Australian wives and children of Islamic State fighters stuck in Syria made their back to Australia

Nightlife News Breakdown with Philip Clark, joined by Krishani Dhanji, political reporter and live blogger for Guardian Australia, based in Canberra.

Keir Starmer has seen off a challenge to his leadership after facing calls for his resignation over the appointment of Labour powerbroker Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US – a man who enjoyed a close relationship to Jeffrey Epstein. Monday's win could prove to provide only a temporary respite for the unpopular UK prime minister, as his critics continue to question his judgment and authority. Guardian Australia's UK/US site editor, Jonathan Yerushalmy, speaks to Reged Ahmad about how the events of the week unfolded, whether Starmer can hold on to power and how the Epstein files have rocked British politics

The Coalition is back together again after the Liberals and Nationals struck a deal over the weekend to end their second break-up in less than a year. But with a leadership battle looking more likely for Sussan Ley, are the Coalition's deep-seated issues any closer to being resolved? Guardian Australia's chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether this reunion will stick – and what it all means for Ley.

As American democracy teeters, the Australian government is trying to pretend everything is just fine. On this episode of After America, Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia senior reporter covering international affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the mass layoffs at the Washington Post, the lack of transparency around the AUKUS submarine deal, and why the Australian government still has its head in the sand over Trump. This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 February 2026. The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: ‘Possibility of US ever selling Australia nuclear submarines is increasingly remote, Aukus critics say’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (February 2026) ‘Australia’s confidence in Trump’s US has evaporated. What will it take for the alliance to rupture?’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (January 2026) ‘‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (December 2025) ‘Shorter America This Week: How to win (or cancel) elections; No START; You should smile more’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the Reserve Bank's first rate hike in more than two years, Guardian Australia's political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the economics editor, Patrick Commins, and Lea Jurkovic, the economics correspondent at the Australian Financial Review, about the indicators that informed the central bank's decision this week. They also discuss the ongoing vulnerabilities in the economy, the missed opportunities when the RBA doesn't comment on government spending and the maturity lacking in the political debate about interest rates

Tuesday Headlines: Parliament back today with a split Coalition, Australia's political donors revealed, Trump threatens to sue Grammy host Trevor Noah, millions lost in daytime spending during recent heatwave, and nuggets revealed as the top Aussie canteen food. Deep Dive: Anthony Albanese is weighing an invitation to join a group integral to Donald Trump’s plan to permanently end the war in Gaza - the so-called ‘Board of Peace.’ With major allies declining to take part and accusations that it’s a power grab laden with human rights risks, questions are growing over whether it’s a genuine security solution or simply a Trump vanity project. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Guardian Australia’s Ben Doherty about the Board’s proposed role, its prospects for delivering peace, and how Australia is likely to decide. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first Guardian Essential poll after the Bondi terror attack, both Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley have fallen in their approval ratings. Meanwhile, One Nation's support continues to rise and now disrupts the traditional two-horse race in Australian politics. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Essential Media director Peter Lewis about why both major parties need to pay attention to One Nation's popularity – despite the minor party currently having little policy offerings

In the first Guardian Essential poll after the Bondi terror attack, both Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley have fallen in their approval ratings. Meanwhile, One Nation's support continues to rise and now disrupts the traditional two-horse race in Australian politics. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Essential Media director Peter Lewis about why both major parties need to pay attention to One Nation's popularity – despite the minor party currently having little policy offerings

In an eventful start to parliament for 2026, MPs came together with condolences for the victims of the Bondi terror attack and passed hurried reforms on guns and hate speech. And then, on the national day of mourning on Thursday, the Coalition split for the second time and Sussan Ley's leadership is now all but over. Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the independent MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, whose electorate includes Bondi, about why she thinks politics can often stand in the way of community safety. She also discusses her concerns that migrants could become a political target during this time of fear and grief

In an eventful start to parliament for 2026, MPs came together with condolences for the victims of the Bondi terror attack and passed hurried reforms on guns and hate speech. And then, on the national day of mourning on Thursday, the Coalition split for the second time and Sussan Ley's leadership is now all but over. Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the independent MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, whose electorate includes Bondi, about why she thinks politics can often stand in the way of community safety. She also discusses her concerns that migrants could become a political target during this time of fear and grief

Nightlife News Breakdown with Philip Clark, joined by Krishani Dhanji, political reporter and live blogger for Guardian Australia, based in Canberra. 

About 40% of Australian women without kids say they are hesitant to have children because of climate change. Guardian Australia's climate, environment and science assistant editor, Donna Lu, is among them. Reged Ahmad speaks to Donna about her anxiety – shared by many – about starting a family as global temperatures rise

How, and for what, should life be optimised? Is the growing culture of optimisation leading us towards the homogenisation of culture? These days we're using technology to help us write, make decisions, as well as augment, biohack, sculpt and transform our bodies, inside and out, to look and feel younger and fitter. As we seem to optimise virtually every aspect of our everyday lives, do we somehow end up creating more labour and inefficiencies? The pursuit of human development and self-improvement is a perennial subject of fascination and study, from Aristotle's eudaemonia to Confucian ethics, Maslow's theory, and now, in a form familiar to many: self-help. What does it signal though, when the dominant messages of the marketplace today, and the markers of success and progress of experience, are defined by terms like efficiency and maximum engagement? Marking the year-end – and with a new year around the corner – we're examining what it means to optimise life. Hear hot takes from Infinite Scroll 荧屏沉溺 curator and creative technologist Thea-Mai Baumann, philosopher Emily Hulme, comedian and writer Alex Lee and computer scientist Elliot Varoy. Hosted by Steph Harmon, Culture Editor of Guardian Australia. This podcast is a recording of a live public event held on 10 December 2025. For more links and resources, including the transcript, visit Sydney Ideas website: bit.ly/48Rdjg5

For some years there have been suggestions that in the 1860s Tom Wills, Australia's first sports hero and a founder of Australian rules football, may have taken part in the massacres of Gayiri people in central Queensland. Now, in a Guardian Australia investigation, Indigenous affairs reporter Ella Archibald-Binge travels in search of the truth behind the allegations. In this two-part special Full Story, she and Lorena Allam from the University of Technology Sydney's Jumbunna Institute discuss how families on both sides of the conflict are reckoning with the truth of their ancestors' colonial past

Colonial pastoralist Major Logue is a figure of note in the city of Geraldton, Western Australia. But his diaries, written partly in code, reveal a dark and confronting chapter of Australia's past – a history that Yamatji people already know all too well. Descendants of some perpetrator families are now challenging what they call “colonial silence”. For them, truth-telling is real, personal and local. There are no guidelines or rulebooks, and it can lead to denial and indifference – but it can also be a liberation. In this two-part special Full Story, Guardian Australia's Indigenous affairs reporter Sarah Collard and Lorena Allam from UTS's Jumbunna Institute discuss decoding the truth behind Logue's diaries, and how descendants of colonial violence are coming together to heal from the horrors of the past Warning: This episode contains historical records that use racist and offensive language, and descriptions of events that will be distressing to some

After the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, Australia tightened its gun laws, and has since been considered a world-leading example by gun control advocates of how to lessen the chances of mass shootings occurring.However, the mass murder of at least 15 people in an antisemitic attack at Bondi beach on Sunday has again raised the issue of gun access, and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said he is “ready to fight” to strengthen the laws again.On today's show, Ariel Bogle, an investigations reporter with Guardian Australia, explains why the number of guns in Australia has been rising, and how stricter laws might be received in the country.The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.Producers: Hannah Moore and Xandra EllinExecutive producer: James ShieldMix: Marty PeraltaSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: Photo of unregistered handguns that were returned to police, near Smederevo, Serbia. Credit: Dimitrije Goll /EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Nightlife News Breakdown with Philip Clark, joined by Krishani Dhanji, political reporter and live blogger for Guardian Australia, based in Canberra.

After the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, Australia tightened its gun laws, and has since been considered a world-leading example by gun control advocates of how to lessen the chances of mass shootings occurring. However, the mass murder of at least 15 people in an antisemitic attack at Bondi beach on Sunday has again raised the issue of gun access, and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said he is “ready to fight” to strengthen the laws again. On today's show, Ariel Bogle, an investigations reporter with Guardian Australia, explains why the number of guns in Australia has been rising, and how stricter laws might be received in the country. Producers: Hannah Moore and Xandra Ellin Executive producer: James Shield Mix: Marty Peralta Senior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: Photo of unregistered handguns that were returned to police, near Smederevo, Serbia. Credit: Dimitrije Goll /EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Australia suffered one of the deadliest massacres in its modern history on Sunday when two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish celebration at Bondi beach in Sydney. At least 16 people died, including one of the alleged gunmen, with more than 40 wounded. The victims include a 10-year-old child, a Holocaust survivor and a London-born rabbi. The alleged gunmen behind the attack are a father and son, who are suspected of using legally obtained firearms to commit the massacre. One of the suspects, Naveed Akram, 24, was known to New South Wales police and security agencies. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is facing questions about gun law reform and security failings as the country reels from the attack. Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian Australia senior reporter Ben Doherty – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

After the furore over Pauline Hanson's burqa stunt and Barnaby Joyce's defection to One Nation, the latest Guardian Essential Poll shows a surge in the party's primary vote. Essential Media's executive director, Peter Lewis and Guardian Australia political reporters Josh Butler and Krishani Dhanji unpack whether or not the Joyce factor played a part in One Nation's uptick. They also pull apart voters' views of this week's social media ban for under-16s and discuss criticisms that the Albanese government's technology measures are more performative than substantive, in the face of AI's growing influence

Amy is joined by author Naima Brown to discuss her newest novel, Mother Tongue, exploring the consequences of change, finding our authentic selves, motherhood, right-wing radicalization, and the importance of fiction in our fight against patriarchy.Donate to Breaking Down PatriarchyNaima Brown holds degrees in Middle Eastern Studies, Anthropology and Religious Studies. Her essays have appeared in Vogue Australia, the Guardian Australia, and more. She wrote, along with Melissa Doyle, the non-fiction book How to Age Against the Machine. She has spent over a decade working in news, current affairs and documentary - save for her brief stint in reality TV, which inspired her first novel, The Shot. She was born and raised in Northern California before living and working in Yemen and Afghanistan, and now lives in New South Wales with her husband and her dog. Her second novel, Mother Tongue, was published in March 2025.

Today more than a million teenagers will wake up to find they have been locked out of social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok as Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s comes into force. Guardian Australia technology reporter Josh Taylor speaks to Julie Inman Grant about how she plans to enforce the move, why it could fail and how taking on the tech giants has come at a personal cost

A Guardian Australia exclusive report has revealed details of a planned major overhaul to the national disability insurance scheme. Under the new model, funding and support plans will be generated by a computer, with human involvement dramatically reduced. Senior reporter Kate Lyons speaks to Nour Haydar about what this means for the more than 750,000 Australians relying on the scheme, and why some staff and disability advocates are raising the alarm

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has ended the parliamentary year on a high, passing the long-promised nature laws and celebrating a wedding. But inflation is moving in the wrong direction, far-right populist sentiment is on the rise, and gambling and housing reform are continuing to fester. Does Labor have a plan to confront these big social and economic challenges? Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy and chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy join Nour Haydar to discuss what lies ahead for Labor as the sun sets on the 2025 parliamentary year

Nightlife News Breakdown with Philip Clark, joined by Krishani Dhanji, political reporter and live blogger for Guardian Australia, based in Canberra.

Author and columnist Sean Kelly says despite Labor's overwhelming majority and an opposition largely consumed by its own infighting, there are signs that Anthony Albanese's government will waste the opportunity handed to them by the Australian people. Kelly talks to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about his new Quarterly essay, which examines the Labor party's move away from idealism towards pragmatism. And the former Rudd and Gillard staffer argues that while Albanese's caution has won him two elections, it could also become the prime minister's greatest weakness

Author and columnist Sean Kelly says despite Labor's overwhelming majority and an opposition largely consumed by its own infighting, there are signs that Anthony Albanese's government will waste the opportunity handed to them by the Australian people. Kelly talks to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about his new Quarterly essay, which examines the Labor party's move away from idealism towards pragmatism. And the former Rudd and Gillard staffer argues that while Albanese's caution has won him two elections, it could also become the prime minister's greatest weakness

Ben Smee, Guardian Australia's Queensland correspondent, has been reporting on the national crisis of domestic and family violence, as well as the culture and attitudes inside the Queensland police, for years. In the final episode of this special Full Story investigation, Broken trust looks at how police are failing to learn from their own mistakes. Guardian Australia can reveal allegations from a former senior Queensland detective who has accused police of covering up their own failures in cases in which vulnerable women died after seeking police protection, and alleges she was ordered to ‘protect the organisation's reputation at all costs'

Ben Smee, Guardian Australia's Queensland correspondent, has been reporting on the national crisis of domestic and family violence, as well as the culture and attitudes inside the Queensland police, for years. In the first episode of this special Full Story investigation, Broken Trust uncovers exclusive new evidence in the case of Hannah Clarke and her children. It looks at serious police failings, in the lead-up to the murders, that were overlooked by the coronial inquest and not investigated by homicide detectives

Ben Smee, Guardian Australia's Queensland correspondent, has been reporting on the national crisis of domestic and family violence, as well as the culture and attitudes of Queensland police, for years. In this special Full Story investigation, Broken Trust can reveal exclusive new evidence in the case of Hannah Clarke and her children, a domestic and family violence homicide that made national headlines. The series looks at serious police failings in the lead-up to the murders that were overlooked by the coronial inquest and not investigated by homicide detectives

Media Futures Hub hosted a live conversation at UNSW with the authors Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson about their recently launched book, Conspiracy Nation. The technology and internet culture reporters discuss the history of local conspiracies and how the media and online platforms feed into these ideas, as well as advice for journalism students on the skills they've honed through their work. Cam Wilson is a Walkley Award-nominated reporter whose work covers the intersection between internet culture, online extremism and politics. He's currently Crikey's Associate Editor, and previously worked at the ABC, BuzzFeed News, Business Insider and Gizmodo. He has been published in The Guardian, Slate, the Sydney Morning Herald and be sure to sign up to his excellent tech newsletter, The Sizzle. Ariel Bogle is a reporter with a focus on technology, law and the internet. An investigations reporter at the Guardian Australia, she has won a Walkley Award for her journalism and worked in media in Australia and the United States for more than ten years. Previously, she was a technology reporter with the ABC. Her reporting has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Australian Financial Review and Slate, among other outlets. The conversation is hosted by Seamus Byrne, a PhD student in the School of Arts and Media at UNSW, and was recorded in August 2025. Conspiracy Nation is available here: https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/conspiracy-nation-by-cam-wilson/9781761153570

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

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

Nightlife News Breakdown with Philip Clark, joined by Krishani Dhanji, political reporter and live blogger for Guardian Australia, based in Canberra. 

Guardian Australia's daily news podcast examines the US president's moves to build a US$300m ballroom at the same time as a government shutdown leaves millions of poor Americans facing a possible freeze on their food stamps. The Guardian's Washington bureau chief, David Smith, speaks to Reged Ahmad about how the construction project is revealing a stark wealth divide and whether the Democrats can seize the moment

From cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns, hybrid warfare is reshaping global security. Visiting the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki, Guardian Australia's political editor, Tom Mcllroy, speaks with its director, Teija Tiilikainen, about how the EU and Nato are confronting covert interference from Russia, China and other non-democratic countries – and what Australia can learn from Europe's approach

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'

Nightlife News Breakdown with Philip Clark, joined by Dr Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia Columnist, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute, blogger, and journalist.

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

Romantasy is the crossover genre blending the passion of romance with the high-stakes escapism of fantasy that is set in mystical realms. Why has this brand of fiction taken off? Joining James Findlay was  Olivia O'Flynn, author of Ever Blessed; Rachael Johns, an award-winning author of more than 30 books of romance and women's fiction including The Patterson Girls; and Alyx Gorman, lifestyle editor at the Guardian Australia, and the author of What Women Want.

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

Nightlife News Breakdown with Philip Clark, joined by Krishani Dhanji, political reporter and live blogger for Guardian Australia, based in Canberra.

Over the coming week, hundreds of thousands of Australians will cast their vote in an election unlike any other. In the fifth bird of the year competition Guardian Australia and BirdLife Australia celebrate the diversity and wonder of our unique and native bird life. Deputy editors Gabrielle Jackson and Patrick Keneally and BirdLife Australia's Sean Dooley tell Reged Ahmad about the scandals of elections past, why the poll matters and which bird will get their vote

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

After seven years, the Ben Roberts-Smith v Nine newspapers defamation case is finally over, with the high court dismissing his bid for an appeal against a ruling in the federal court that found on the balance of probabilities that he committed war crimes. Guardian Australia senior reporter Ben Doherty talks to Reged Ahmad about what this means for Roberts-Smith, who continues to deny the allegations, and the wider ramifications of the long-running case

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

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