Cut Through

We are currently witnessing the death throes of the Liberal Party. To a good chunk of the electorate that voted for the current government, that doesn’t matter,except that it leaves Labor in full power with no meaningful opposition. Ten years ago former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser predicted this moment would come, and he spent his final years working on the answer: a new political party,...

What counts as ‘lobbying’? That’s the central question at the core of the Australian Parliament Sports Club saga, the company organising social sport at Parliament House — paid for by sponsors, who in turn get to play alongside politicians and political staffers, building vital relationships during sitting weeks.  According to the government’s definition, the Club is not a lobbying organisati...

It’s been a terrible year for corporate incompetence, misdeeds and thievery. But amongst all this bad business behaviour, is there a way to objectively determine which company is the worst of them all? Yes, according to politics editor Bernard Keane. So he devised a scoring system and applied it to 58 of Australia’s biggest corporations. This week we awarded the Alan Bond Award for Corporate Misco...

Tony Blair wants to give Larry Ellison the full NHS data set, to “power AI”. Donald Trump is making trade and tariff threats on behalf of American tech billionaires. And when Mark Zuckerberg wanted changes made to Australian policies, he just called then treasurer Josh Frydenberg direct. Big tech is now inextricable from politics. How did it happen?  Crikey 's politics reporter Anton Nilsson...

Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert cancelled. Journalists fired by right-wing media oligarchs. A president — and the institutions that support him — silencing political dissent. The US has indeed returned to the 1950s, when McCarthyism became a nationwide witch hunt for communists and “subversive” ideology. And it’s catching: the Red Scare-esque hysteria over political speech is evident in Australia...

What if we told you that US politics is more transparent than Australian politics? Case in point: we know that Gina Rinehart donated money to Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s legal defence fund. But how much? The Senator doesn’t have to say. Sean Johnson, founder of Open Politics and author of this week’s Rinehart donation scoop, joins the podcast to explain the many ways politicians can hide assets and...

After a two year battle, the Murdoch family has settled the biggest question about its future: who gets control of daddy's media empire. Three of Rupert Murdoch's adult children, Prudence, James and Elisabeth have agreed to get out of the game, selling their shares in the family trust for US$3.3 billion. Favoured son Lachlan will buy them out and maintain the legacy of staunch conservatism in News...

The “media-baiting” tactics of neo-Nazi groups was on brutal display at the March for Australia rallies last Sunday, with many traditional and new media outlets suckered in to amplifying their hate-filled agenda. How can journalists do responsible reporting without falling into the trap? Cut Through host Crystal Andrews and contributor Scobie McKay discuss the complexities of reporting on the far...

In just four months, social media platforms will be forced to ban kids aged 16 and under. How will that work? No-one actually knows. Crikey associate editor and tech journalist Cam Wilson has been closely following the progress of the teen social media ban – from the push for a ban by commercial radio host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, to the rushed legislation, aggressive lobbying by the tech giants, a...

Treasurer Jim Chalmers held his much-hyped Economic Reform Roundtable this week, with politicians and a selective list of experts, leaders and business executives discussing solutions for the challenges facing the Australian economy. Boring? Yeah. But given this three-day meeting will shape the next three federal budgets, it deserves your scrutiny. Economist Jason Murphy joins readers’ editor Crys...

For years the Labor government has insisted Palestinian statehood could only come “at the end” of a peace process with Israel. This week, Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong announced an abrupt change: the time to recognise the state of Palestine is, apparently, now.  Readers’ editor Crystal Andrews and politics editor Bernard Keane discuss what caused the Labor government to shift its position o...

In the first episode of our new weekly podcast, we’re addressing the biggest criticism of Crike y: that we’re too hard or too soft on Labor… and the Coalition. And the Greens, the independents, One Nation. You get the picture.  Cut Through host Crystal Andrews speaks to editor-in-chief Sophie Black and politics editor Bernard Keane about how Crikey plans to cover the 48th Parliament, and how...

In the final episode of Electioncast for 2025, Crystal Andrews and political editor Bernard Keane dissect the latest political plot twist: the end of the Coalition. While it’s not the first time the Nats and Libs have been on-again, off-again, the effects will be felt by everyone – even those who have never, and would never, vote for them. Plus, Bernard reflects on his journalistic process in the...

Surprise, Electioncast is back! In this bonus episode, Crystal Andrews and associate editor Cam Wilson dissect the campaign antics of right-wing lobby group Advance, who spent millions in advertising against progressive MPs like the Greens’ Max Chandler-Mather and independent Zoe Daniel.  Advance is celebrating the loss of key Greens seats as proof of its influence, but how much of an impact...

Well, that sure was something! In this post-election episode, Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews discuss why this resounding Labor win by Anthony Albanese is so unique in Australian politics, review what the polls (and Electioncast!) got wrong, and speculate about what’s next for a dazed and confused Coalition.  Then Anton Nilsson  shares the insights...

We’re at the pointy end now, and an astonishing poll is predicting a whopping Labor majority. Can that really be right? Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers’ editor Crystal Andrews discuss the final YouGov poll of the campaign, and what the growing support of Pauline Hanson and One Nation means for the next parliament – and the future of Australian politics.  Then, media reporter...

Underneath the noisy narratives of the big election fight between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, there are individual, very tight contests taking place in battleground seats. It’s in these electorates that Australia’s next government could be decided.  Crikey associate editor Cam Wilson and readers’ editor Crystal Andrews reveal how major parties use your personal data in highly-targeted...

Labor and the Coalition agree with voters: this is the housing election. But despite making headline-grabbing housing policy a focus of their official campaign launches, both parties' plans have been criticised by... pretty much everyone. Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews unpack the policy promises, and ask why politicians refuse to address the problem at the...

Peter Dutton’s flopping, and Labor has surged ahead in the most recent polls. Does this kill the prospect of any kind of minority government? Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews discuss why Anthony Albanese’s fortunes appear to have changed so quickly, and if NSW Labor’s response to the historic NSW doctor’s strike is damaging federal Labor’s health credentials....

It took six days into the federal election campaign for Donald Trump to throw his first grenade. The US President’s “Liberation Day” tariffs have put the world on the brink of a global trade war and ramped up the pressure on the major parties to pitch a clear path forward. Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews discuss what the US tariffs mean for the election, Ant...

Crikey's Electioncast is back! Every Friday throughout the 2025 federal election campaign, we'll bring you political analysis that cuts through the spin. Sign up to Crikey ’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hoste...

The 2022 federal election is officially in the books. On today's edition of the Electioncast , audience editor Imogen Champagne speaks to Kishor Napier-Raman, Amber Schultz, Bernard Keane and Charlie Lewis about a remarkable result that will change the way we think about Australian politics. Sign up to Crikey ’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is s...

On the eve of the 2022 election, political editor Bernard Keane talks to associate editor Amber Schultz about how the campaign evolved over the weeks, what issues became the focus and what the legacy of the teal independents will be. Sign up to Crikey ’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our sub...

The last week of the election has been centred around costings: when will they be announced, what will they show and whether they matter. On today's Electioncast , news editor Georgia Wilkins dissects the electoral tradition of policy costings, along with introducing Crikey 's 'Campaign of Lies and Falsehoods' dossier. Sign up to Crikey ’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s...

them. Scott Morrison reset his campaign during a speech at the Liberal Party launch on Sunday. On today's Electioncast , federal politics reporter Kishor Napier-Raman debriefs on Anthony Albanese's last-minute pitch at the National Press Club today. Sign up to Crikey ’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue co...