Poll Position with Stansfield and AJ

A not quite emergency edition. Josh Willie tries to walk away from his 30% by Christmas pledge, the Premier rules out quitting before the end of the year, and a new tax on data centres breaks the no new taxes promise. Plus: the stadium’s preferred builder, the King Island mine shares, and the row over a school’s Christmas event. Brought to you by EMRS and Pulse Tasmania.

Voting has opened in Tasmania’s council elections, and Hobart’s campaign has already gone off the rails. AJ MC’d the debate everyone is talking about and tells the inside story. Plus: Brad takes aim at the Bell Bay bailout and the JackJumpers arena deal, Lee Hanson’s coffee shop stoush, One Nation’s “heads are going to roll” launch in Victoria, and fresh doubts over the Firmus float. Brought to yo...

With nominations closed and postal ballots about to land, Brad and AJ size up Tasmania's 2026 local government elections. They cover how the system works, why this is the state's first AI election, and who's in the running for mayor in Hobart, Clarence, Kingborough, Glenorchy and Launceston. Plus an EMRS exclusive. A statewide poll finds Tasmanians oppose AI data centres by more than two to one, w...

This week Brad and AJ break down how Labor's push to cap gun ownership fell just short in the lower house. They also dig into the Legislative Council's surprise 6-6 defeat of the short stay levy, a quietly introduced Public Health Amendment Bill that could hand government sweeping new emergency powers, and a fast-moving federal picture where One Nation keeps eating into both major parties. Plus: H...

Exclusive release and analysis of the latest EMRS Tasmanian State and Federal political polling.

Stansfield is back from his Senate sojourn and the filter is well and truly off. Topics covered include his Senate run wash-up, Labor and Liberal leadership, Bell Bay aluminium, and Rushy Lagoon. Brad comes off the long run over the Felix Ellis "victim-blaming" controversy, resulting in a spirited argument with AJ on the topic. Not to be missed Tasmanian political content.

Exclusive in-depth conversation with soon to be retiring Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam. Includes log cabin story, Hodgman years, reflections on PM's Turnbull, Morrison and former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, as well as advice on how the Libs should deal with the One Nation challenge. And much more.

Is Tasmania becoming ungovernable? The boys discuss the latest happenings in Tasmanian politics, and the fragility of the State Government. Plus, Stansfield comes off the long run on the data centres debate.

Another cracking episode. Exclusive EMRS Tasmanian News Survey; plus detailed analysis of the Ogilvie Affair; plus a bombshell announcement from Stansfield.

Ruth Forrest MLC joins the pod to discuss her lift and political times. Topics covered included her pre-politics life, her assessment of the six Premiers she has served with - including a frank view of the current Premier - as well as her failed bid to be State Treasurer. Contemporary issues include a feisty exchange with Stansfield on "cologne-gate", Eric Abetz' Tasmanian budget, TT-Line and grey...

Kim reflects on life prior to the ABC, including music, film, Foxtel and News, including a couple of fine stories about George Lucas, and Rupert Murdoch. On the ABC, Kim offers a stirring defence of thee organisation before revealing he learned about their decision to leave X by reading about it, and admits he would probalby not offer his views on Joe Rogan if given his time over. In discussion on...

Stansfield and AJ analyse the 2026/27 budget, followed by an interview with Treasurer Eric Abetz. The frank analysis and questioning you won't get anywhere else.

A Sunday emergency episode. Brad and AJ break exclusive EMRS state polling numbers, with figures Brad describes as "a mini earthquake" in Tasmanian politics. The boys unpack what's driving the realignment, the striking gap between Jeremy Rockliff's personal popularity and his party's brand, and who might come out of the woodwork to run for One Nation — plus the news the poll didn't capture, includ...

Commentary pod covers the wash-up from last weekend's Legislative Council elections, Labor's new position on greyhound racing, taxpayer cash to the JackJumpers' coach, and the Farrer by-election. The final third of the episode features a spirited discussion on the Federal budget.

Brad and Alex are joined by Special Guest Jack Milroy to discuss the State of the Tasmanian Labor Party. The episode also features the return of the "Whiteboard of Electoral Truth" and an analysis of tomorrow's (Saturday, 2nd May) Legislative Council elections.

Covers Peter's early years and time as a journalist and foreign correspondent including interviews with Margaret Thatcher and Freddie Mercury! Discussion on contemporary political issues includes salmon (of course), formation of government after the 2025 Tasmanian state election, and the Labor opposition.

Leading psephologist Dr Kevin Bonham discuss his log cabin story, his professional life of snails, his psephologist career, and contemporary political issues including the rise and rise of One Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This commentary episode discusses the Tasmanian budget and Parliamentary calls for tax increases; proposed changes to Cabinet secrecy; public sector wages agreements; local government reform; and extraordinary powers rushed through the Parliament to give the Government the power to cap fuel prices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Labor Leader and current Shadow Treasurer Dean Winter spills the beans on topics including where he was really born, as well the 2024 no confidence motion and subsequent election and wash-up, with a few surprising revelations. The contemporary issues section features a feisty exchange between Winter and Stansfield over the budget. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Michael Ferguson interview. Covering Michael's early years, time in Federal Parliament, State Parliament Opposition, and as Tasmania's longest-serving Health Minister. The "juicy bits" section then covers topical issues: Michael's time as Treasurer and the state budget; the Ferry Fiasco; and pokies. And finally, what are Michael's future plans? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

This episode covers the Premier's State of the State address as well as Treasury's Fiscal Sustainability Report, a lively debate on taxes, the return of State Parliament, and the proposed new Tasmanian electoral boundaries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode features exclusive Federal Political polling by Enterprise Marketing and Research Services (EMRS), followed by an in-depth interview with Tasmanian One Nation Senate candidate, Lee Hanson - starts at about 28 minutes in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded just prior to the Cassy O'Connor interview, Episode 3 starts with Stansfield handing out some free advice to the Federal Liberals, and then transverses TasInsure, and the TT-Line's financial woes (with a little exclusive from Stansfield). Our hosts disagree vehemently on the "BBQ Stopper" issue of the moment, the Launceston City Council four day a week pay deal, and finally AJ uncovers so...

A fascinating discussion with Cassy O'Connor MLC, Member for Hobart, covering her formative years, time in journalism, the 2010-14 Labor-Green Government in which she was a Minister, as well as current political issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first edition of the new Poll Position podcast with Brad Stansfield and Alex AJ Johnston, on Tasmanian politics. This episode covers Taste-gate, the Helen Burnett defection to the cross-bench, the budget, upcoming Leg Co elections, the Federal Coalition split and some exclusive Australia Day research from Enterprise Marketing and Research services. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...