New Politics: Australian Politics, News, Analysis & Commentary

Waverley Library’s removal of Adam Johnson’s “How to Sell a Genocide” raises a question that goes far beyond one book or a Sydney council: who decides which political arguments the public is allowed to debate? While the distress of survivors of the Bondi Beach terror attack must be treated seriously, it cannot become a veto over what an entire community is allowed to read. This episode examines public library censorship, freedom of expression, Israel and Gaza, the contested use of the word “genocide”, and attempts to conflate criticism of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism through the IHRA definition. When institutions remove lawful material because they fear organised complaints or controversy, libraries risk becoming political gatekeepers rather than independent sources of knowledge. Public institutions should help communities confront difficult ideas – not hide them when influential groups object. #AUSPOL  
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Song listing:
‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The Liberal Party’s crisis is no longer temporary. After two consecutive federal election defeats and a collapse in its primary vote, the party remains divided between the political centre and the conservative populism of One Nation and Donald Trump’s Republican Party. While Anthony Albanese and Labor remain vulnerable on housing affordability, the cost of living and declining living standards, voters still regard the Coalition as an unacceptable alternative. With dysfunction across Liberal Party branches, strained relations with the Nationals, the religious right’s growing influence, damaging evidence emerging from the NSW ICAC’s Operation Rosny and Andrew Bragg promoting lower housing standards and attacking compulsory superannuation, the party appears more interested in culture-war rhetoric than practical policy. The Victorian election will provide its next major test – but benefiting from an unpopular government is not the same as rebuilding political relevance. #AUSPOL
Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au 
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Song listing:
‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The Minns government says its proposed expansion of NSW Police digital surveillance powers is necessary to combat organised crime, but allowing easier access to mobile phones through Digital Evidence Access Orders – and compelling people to surrender passwords and PINs – threatens privacy, civil liberties and judicial oversight. With restrictive protest laws, expanding facial-recognition technology and questions surrounding data collection and retention, NSW risks normalising extraordinary police powers that could eventually target protesters, journalists and political activists. The use of phone-extraction technology from Israeli digital-forensics company Cellebrite further demonstrates why warrants, independent scrutiny and strict data-protection rules are essential. As surveillance technology becomes more powerful, democratic safeguards must become stronger – not be swept aside in the name of security. #AUSPOL  
Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au 
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Song listing:
‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Malcolm Turnbull’s warning that AUKUS is a “colossal mistake” is becoming harder to dismiss. Australia is spending hundreds of billions on nuclear submarines that depend on uncertain American production, Britain’s troubled shipbuilding industry and decades of geopolitical stability. With an expanding US military presence at HMAS Stirling, AUKUS risks surrendering Australian sovereignty while making the country more vulnerable in a future regional conflict. Shielded from proper scrutiny by bipartisan support, the deal may leave future generations trapped in an expensive military structure they never approved and will never be able to escape from. #AUSPOL
Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au 
Support New Politics:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics
Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  
Song listing:
‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

With Labor holding a record 94 House of Representatives seats, Anthony Albanese has the power to pursue substantial reform – yet his government remains cautious, deferential to corporate interests and resistant to its own membership. Once associated with Palestine, progressive politics and scepticism about the US alliance, Albanese has instead entrenched AUKUS, restricted internal debate on Gaza, weakened gambling advertising reform, protected gas exporters from meaningful taxation and embraced AI data centres without adequate scrutiny. Is the Prime Minister constrained by power, or does this reveal the real Anthony Albanese? We examine Labor values, One Nation’s influence on immigration policy and a political system that presents delay and symbolic legislation as responsible government. Perhaps the real Albanese has already emerged – and power without purpose is all that remains. #AUSPOL  
Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au 
Support New Politics: 
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics
Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  
Song listing:
‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.