Politics Now

As the US launches new military strikes on Iran, Anthony Albanese says the uncertainty makes it “very difficult” to deal with the consequences - while trying to read the mood at home. Could some distance between the Prime Minister and Donald Trump be politically useful, as fuel prices, global instability and the Strait of Hormuz dominate the conversation one again? And while Transport Minister Cat...

As the three-day inquiry into the Albanese Government's proposed NDIS overhaul gets underway, the Opposition hasn't ruled out doing a deal with the Greens to extend the hearings. And the great data centre debate is back in the spotlight, with Independent Senator David Pocock calling Australians to get a fair return as the industry continues to boom. Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke break it al...

Anthony Albanese says voter frustration with the system formed the backdrop for Labor's budget — saying if governments don't respond to the circumstances there will be "a continued rise of populism." But as another poll shows One Nation ahead of Labor as the most popular political party, are the Albanese Government acting too slowly? And as scrutiny increases on One Nation, there have been a serie...

The Albanese government passed the first tranche of its tax legislation through the lower house this week but is still facing backlash from investors and businesses.

PK is still making her way through a rewatch of The West Wing — and she and Fran have some big thoughts about the idealistic vision of politics the series presents. But after some very important TV chat, they get stuck into some brilliant listener questions, including: Does the parliamentary attendance record of politicians matter? Why haven't the Greens capitalised on the populist wave like One N...

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged there's an "ideological disagreement" with the US, after the Trump Administration confirmed they'll slap a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian goods. It comes as AUKUS "awkwardness" is continuing for Labor, so will the issue continue to kick off at the Labor conference next month — or will the Government nip it in the bud before then? And One Nation'...

There are choppy waters ahead for AUKUS, as a push for a "rethink" gains some traction within Labor ranks. Albanese Government frontbenchers have come out in force to defend the policy, but PK and David Speers agree despite the backlash there's "no chance" Labor will walk away from AUKUS. It comes as Australia and the Solomon Islands agree to begin negotiations on a comprehensive strategic agreeme...

Peter Garrett has been burning the Midnight Oil over AUKUS - and he’s not the only one turning up the heat. The former Labor minister is leading an independent inquiry into the $368 billion defence deal, after confirmation Australia will now receive three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States.  The Opposition is also taking a swing, warning the revised arrangement could leav...

A new poll has One Nation ahead of Labor as the most popular political party, as the Albanese Government loses some skin in the wake of the budget. And One Nation leader Pauline Hanson isn't ruling out becoming prime minister in the future, saying she "has the ability" and is considering a tilt at a lower house seat at the next election. Meanwhile, the Coalition has seemingly failed to capitalise...

The federal government has shelved plans to develop Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane but the man who's known as the project's father says negotiations are underway to resurrect it. 

The Albanese Government has introduced its capital gains and negative gearing bill to parliament, hoping to pass the first tranche of legislation before the mid-winter break. The Greens have called for a short-burst inquiry into the bill but seem to be signalling a willingness to support the measures. So, after a week of fierce backlash from the small business community, has Labor managed to pull...

Labor may be considering expanding exemptions to its capital gains tax changes amid a backlash from small business — but while they are consulting widely looks like they won't cave "quickly". And the Opposition has unveiled a political wedge of its own, threatening to withhold crucial support for Labor's NDIS overhaul without an inquiry into CGT and negative gearing changes in exchange. Meanwhile,...

Household energy bills are set to drop by up to 10 per cent, with the Albanese government crediting renewables and batteries for the decrease. It's a good news story for Labor, as the fight over capital gains tax changes continues to dominate parliament — and the Prime Minister doubles down. But the Government isn't the only one feeling the heat, with outgoing National Anti-Corruption Commissioner...

Parliament is back in session and there's speculation a new party could be on the horizon. Independents Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have confirmed conversations about forming a party with like-minded so-called "teals" are underway. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has given the idea a tick of approval, but many fellow crossbenchers have already confirmed they won't be joining. So, is t...

The decision to change capital gains tax rules for all investments, rather than just property, has sparked backlash from young investors, entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Was this a budget in desperate need of more graphs? Labor’s budget pitch is still making headlines - but it may not be happy about all of them. First, PK and Clare Armstrong unpack the breaking news overnight of another possible return of ISIS-linked Australian women and children from Syria, as well as the fallout over Australian activists detained by Israel while aboard a flotilla headed to Gaza....

As the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers continue their big budget sell, they've faced fierce backlash from small business owners over changes to the CGT discount. While Labor billed this as a "housing reform budget", did they fail to lay the groundwork for broader taxation changes — and have they lost control of the narrative? And Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson has capitalis...

Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson has used a National Press Club Address to outline his vision for the Liberals. As PK tells David Speers the speech functioned as a "call to arms for what the Liberal Party's chief mission should be". And what we didn't hear from Tim Wilson was as interesting as what we did in this set-piece speech — with David pointing out that the Shadow Treasurer was squarely focused...

The fight over Labor’s proposed capital gains tax changes isn’t brewing - it’s already here. Small business owners, founders and investors are piling pressure on the government, with backlash erupting across talkback radio and social media. Critics say the changes punish aspiration, investment and growth. As Labor tries to sell the reforms, business groups warn Australia risks becoming a less attr...

There's a big budget contest of ideas underway, as Labor and the Coalition try to sell their alternate visions for Australia to voters. Or as Jacob puts it to PK, "politics is back!" Treasurer Jim Chalmers has brushed off new polling, suggesting the Government wasn't expecting a post-Budget bounce and doing the right thing is worth "any near term political costs". And the Opposition leader Angus T...

This week's federal budget included an overhaul of negative gearing and the capital gains tax rules in a bid to move thousands of homes from the hands of investors to first home buyers. 

Opposition leader Angus Taylor used his first budget in reply speech to lay out some big bold policy ideas, saying he hopes Australians can "begin to believe again." Income tax would form the centrepiece, with bracket creep returned to workers, at a cost of over $22bn to the budget bottom line. PK and Clare agree this was a "big swing" from Angus Taylor — with PK suggesting it's because the Opposi...

As Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continue their big budget sell, Opposition leader Angus Taylor is gearing up to deliver his budget reply -- and big political and ideological battlelines are being drawn. PK tells Fran and David Speers, as the two budgets and two different visions for Australia take shape, there's a sense of real contest and a "battle for who people can...

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has unveiled his highly anticipated fifth budget, claiming it's the "most ambitious and important in decades". Housing tax reform was the centrepiece of the wartime budget, with changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount announced. Labor says the reforms will allow 75,000 new people to afford their first home, but does the move go far enough to address in...

Labor is leaning into housing this budget, with big tax reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax to form the centrepiece. It's all in a bid to address intergenerational inequity — but as Tom tells PK, grandfathering could "directly undermine" that and feed into accusations the Albanese Government is "pulling the ladder up" on a new generation. As PK says, the way Labor "frames" the reform...