Politics with Michelle Grattan

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings has strongly criticised the decision to lease the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company, saying it is a deep strategic mistake after a flawed policy process. Speaking to Michelle Grattan, Jennings also canvasses the difficulties of co-ordinating Russian and American military action in the Syrian conflict, and warns Australia cou...

Former ACT chief minister Katy Gallagher, now a federal Labor Senator with new responsibilities in the shadow ministry, admits she has found the jump into the bigger political pool challenging - she has also had to do a pivot in her views on increasing the GST. Here she also talks about the issues of mental health, federal-state relations and Labor’s face-off against Malcolm Turnbull. Mentioned in...

Michelle Grattan discusses the new release book The Protest Years: The Official History of ASIO 1963-1975, with its author Dr John Blaxland. Among many controversies, they review the evidence supporting conspiracy theories surrounding the dismissal of the Whitlam government and the fractious relationship between the agency and Lionel Murphy, the Labor Attorney-General. Mentioned in this episode: T...

In this interview, Senator Hanson-Young calls upon the government to appoint an independent advocate to protect the interests of the Somali woman known as Abyan, who at the time of recording was being held in Nauru. Michelle also probes the Senator on the Greens electoral prospects following the ascension of Malcolm Turnbull to the prime ministership.  Mentioned in this episode: Your support matte...

In The Conversation's first live podcast, which took place in Canberra's Muse wine bar and bookstore, Labor's Sam Dastyari gives a candid insight into Labor's strategy to win back government, the threat of the Greens and much more.  Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025 The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly"...

Minister for Cities and the Built Environment Jamie Briggs joins Michelle to talk about his new portfolio, the policy pivot away from just roads toward other infrastructure projects like public transport, the changes under new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the mistakes the government made about submarines in South Australia and much more.  Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support...

Labor has a new higher education policy out this week. Shadow Minister for Higher Education Kim Carr joins Michelle to talk about it in depth. In the interview Carr is highly critical of some university managements for exploiting the system to the detriment of the tax payer, says far too many students are not graduating and much more. Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-pro...

Arthur Sinodinos was a key backer of Malcolm Turnbull, and he sits down with Michelle to talk about the coup, why the Liberals needed to change leader, what he hopes will change in the running of the Prime Minister's Office and much more. Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025 The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation W...

Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg joins Michelle to talk about Syria, Australia's humanitarian refugee intake, the economy, Canning, the state of the Liberal Party in Victoria and much more.  Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025 The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watchin...

Michelle spent two days this week in Canning, where campaigning is building up for the by-election on the 19th of September.  The seat is held by the Liberal Party by about 12%. Its former member was Don Randall, who died suddenly in July. In a break from our usual longform format, we conducted short interviews with Labor candidate Matt Keogh, Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek, Finance Minister...

The secretary of the department of foreign affairs and trade Peter Varghese sat down with Michelle to talk about aid, the integration of AUSAID, Islamic State, the Asian century and much, much more.  Mentioned in this episode: The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The...

Michael McCormack is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and the Nationals member for Riverina. He joins Michelle to talk about the future of the Nationals leadership, the difference in the Nationals political style, tax reform and much more.  Mentioned in this episode: The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democ...

Clare O'Neil is the Labor member for Hotham and with her colleague Tim Watts has written a book, Two Futures. In the book the discuss Australia in 2040 and what can be done in the short term to improve our future. Clare sits down with Michelle to talk about the book, the ideas in it, and the future of progressive politics in Australia.  Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-p...

Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and Michelle step away from day to day politics to talk about Bowen's new book The Money Men, in which he writes about twelve of Australia's most notable treasurers. They talk about the legacies of notable Treasurers such as Keating, Costello, Cairns and Swan, Bowen talks about his research process, writing on the job he hopes to hold and much, much more.   Mentioned i...

In a special episode recorded live at the ALP federal conference Michelle sits down with infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese to discuss the conference itself and then with immigration spokesman Richard Marles to talk about the ALP controversially adopting asylum seeker boat turnbacks.

Ben Oquist is Executive Director of the Australia Institute and former chief of staff to former Greens leader Bob Brown. Ben sat down with Michelle to talk about the current direction of the Greens, the Senate crossbench, climate change, and the future of progressive politics in Australia.  Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025...

The French Ambassador to Australia Christophe Lecourtier sits down with Michelle to talk about the 2015 Paris climate conference, Australia’s role in tackling climate change, France’s hopes for the meeting, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s attendance and much more. Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025 The Making of an Au...

Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane sits down with Michelle to talk about Dawn Fraser's comments, "team Australia", the government's approach to terrorism and asylum seekers, racism in Australia and more.  Mentioned in this episode: The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making o...

Labor environment spokesman and new ALP federal president Mark Butler joins Michelle to talk about climate change, an ETS, the possibility of an early election, the ALP national conference and much more.  Mentioned in this episode: The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat fro...

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull sits down with Michelle to talk about the government's new anti-online piracy measures, Zaky Mallah on ABC's Q&A, gay marriage and much more. Mentioned in this episode: The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, si...

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young sits down with Michelle to talk about personal attacks on her, the accusations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials to turn their boat around, stripping the citizenship of dual citizens engaged in terrorist activity, gay marriage, and much more. Mentioned in this episode: The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new se...

Minister for Small Business Bruce Billson sat down to talk to Michelle about the budget, the small business tax cuts, cabinet leaks, gay marriage and much more. Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025 The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real t...

Greens leader Richard Di Natale spoke to Michelle about how he is adjusting to leading the party, gay marriage, the Coalition and Labor's deal on the RET and more. Mentioned in this episode: The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world’s pr...

Michelle Grattan speaks to Senate independent Nick Xenophon about an iron ore price inquiry, the budget, higher education deregulation and more. Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025 The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Maki...

Labor's Finance Spokesman Tony Burke talks to Michelle about the government's budget, the prospect of an early election and the upcoming Labor conference. Mentioned in this episode: Your support matters Support non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025 The Making of an Autocrat Search: "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? I...