Cut Through

• Australia’s National AI Plan: What you need to know

  The government has unveiled its National AI Plan, laying out a roadmap to scale up AI infrastructure and adoption that Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres claims will help “create a fairer, stronger Australia where every person benefits from this technological change”.But the plan did not include the mandatory guardrails that many expected would serve as proactive regulations for tech companies.Professor Kimberlee Weatherall, co-director of the Centre for AI, Trust and Governance at Sydney University, joins the podcast to explain the government’s AI strategy, what’s missing from the plan and how Australia measures up against other countries when it comes to AI policymaking.Weatherall’s book recommendations:The Shortest History of AI by Toby Walsh and any from this list by London School of Economics and Political ScienceRead more:Australia’s national AI plan has just been released. Who exactly will benefit?Labor goes hands-off in productivity-focused national AI planCan wise heads fix the hard problem of AI policy?How Australia’s national security chief used AI to write speeches and ‘personnel communications’How data centres are killing Australia’s climate progress How AI is reshaping religion and mental healthGet the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newslettersCrikey’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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  29:34

  --------

  29:34
• Parliamentary year in review: who won big, and what comes next

  A big year in politics and policy ended with a bang — Labor and the Greens worked out a deal to pass the long overdue reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. What have we learned about how the 48th Parliament does the work of legislating?Politics editor Bernard and political columnist Rachel Withers join the podcast to conduct a “Parliamentary Year in Review”. We scrutinise the policy proposals that made the biggest impact for better or for worse and examine the senate dynamics between Labor, the Greens and the independents. Plus, who gave the standout performances in parliament this year? The answers are not what you’d expect…Nominations for Arsehat of the Year: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/25/arsehat-of-the-year-nominations-crikey-2025/ Nominations for Shitstirrer of the Year: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/27/crikey-shitstirrer-of-the-year-nominations-2025/ Read more:The Greens, Labor, and the environment all scored a win today — it’s a lesson in how politics *should* workBehind Labor’s Big Lie about FOIGet the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newslettersCrikey’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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  39:39

  --------

  39:39
• AUKUS: Another ball in Australia’s US-China juggling act

  A new poll has found Australians support the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, despite critics’ warnings of the huge price tag and concerns about US stability. The consistent message from politicians and sections of the media is that China’s “threat” to national security makes the deal essential. But is that threat real?Wanning Sun, Crikey columnist and deputy director of the UTS Australia-China Relations Institute, joins the podcast to explain the impact AUKUS has on Australia’s relationship with China and our reputation in the Asia-Pacific region. While she says Labor is doing a good job of managing competing Chinese and American interests, Sun fears with AUKUS that Australia has given up its power — and become a target.Read more:AUKUS is finding public support despite its many problems. Why?Compromise, not a zero-sum game, has delivered results for Trump and Xi — for nowAustralia’s strategy of denial in engaging with its ‘Pacific family’America wants to sell China as a threat. Should Australia buy it?$800 million AUKUS handout to the US broke internal rules — as bureaucrats rushed to pay TrumpGet the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newslettersCrikey’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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  36:05

  --------

  36:05
• Stop talking about the Coalition on climate

  So the Coalition has (again) decided to ditch net zero. How much should you care? Very little, according to Crikey climate contributor Ketan Joshi. Far more pressing is the state of climate, environment and energy policy-making by the Labor government — which could pass world-leading legislations with the help of a supportive Senate, but is instead pursuing its own form of climate denialism. Joshi joins the podcast to explain which policies and amendments could change the game for Australia, spill some gossip about the bid to host COP31, and shares how he remains committed to optimism even as the fossil fuel disinformation machine tries to kill hope.Read more:Forget the Coalition, Labor has already abandoned net zero in all but name (and its excuses are absurd)Net zero opponents: Sneering elites who want higher taxes, higher prices and bigger government ‘Pragmatism’ and positivity — two bad ideas helping Queensland’s deadly coal plan How I was targeted and intimidated by information arsonists What Donald Trump taught me about renewable energy The media has given up on climate change. Here’s why the rest of us can’tGet the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newslettersCrikey’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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  35:08

  --------

  35:08
• Win like Mamdani: Lessons from Zohran’s game changing victory

  Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, just became the mayor of New York City. He energised the working class over material issues including cost of living, housing and wealth inequalities, and overcame opposition from the ‘old school’ Democratic elite to show the party how to really scare Donald Trump.Will Mamadani’s win inspire (or force) the Democrats to pick up the pace in the fight against Trump? And how is the Australian left planning to apply Mamdani’s campaign tactics in the next 12 months?Crikey reader’s editor Crystal Andrews and reporter-at-large Charlie Lewis unpack what this singular mayoral campaign changes about the politics of the left, and who remains unmoved.(00:00) Zohran Mamdani is the mayor of New York City(02:11) What Mamdani's win means for the Democratic Party(25:24) What Mamdani's win means for the Australian leftRead more:Live from New York: Mayor Mamdani gives a lesson to the left in How to Win 101The Democrats are failing miserably‘Tax the rich!’: On the ground at Zohran Mamdani’s final rallySwinging from MAGA to Mamdani: Chatting to NYC voters a day before ‘the ultimate clash’On the subway with NYC’s Republican wild card, Curtis SliwaAll the evidence Donald Trump is not planning to leave office at the end of his second termGet the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newslettersCrikey’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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  41:33

  --------

  41:33

More Government podcasts

Trending Government podcasts

About Cut Through