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Politics Now

ABC Australia
Politics Now
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406 episodes

  • Politics Now

    How Labor fights the polls for Pauline

    15/06/2026 | 30 mins.
    Pauline Hanson is now the preferred Prime Minister - ahead of the actual Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor - if the latest Resolve poll is anything to go by.
    Yes, it’s a big “if”. But it’s also not the sort of number the major parties can laugh off. As One Nation’s rise moves from protest vote to serious political threat, what is Labor’s strategy to stop the bleed - and is it working?
    Meanwhile, another fight is opening over the budget, as a two-day Senate inquiry into the government’s tax measures begins. Labor says it is still consulting, business groups are lining up with their demands. So where does the negotiation land - and how much will the government have to give?
    Plus - PK and Jacob unpack the breaking news around a US-Iran ceasefire, and whether the hope of a lasting peace deal in the Middle East can hold.
    Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.
    Got a burning question?
    Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
  • Politics Now

    Is Australia ready for the AI transformation? | Insiders on Background

    12/06/2026 | 19 mins.
    Executive director of the Tech Policy Design Institute, Johanna Weaver, says Australia is well-placed to navigate the AI transformation while maintaining its national sovereignty.
  • Politics Now

    Labor goes back to basics

    11/06/2026 | 35 mins.
    The Prime Minister is holding a Medicare card. Tony Abbott is spruiking a national tour. "Ditch the witch" is back in the headlines. Everything old is new again in politics this week.
    So what should we make of it all? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Katina Curtis, Canberra Bureau Chief at the West Australian to discuss everything from the NDIS inquiry to the continuing attempts to sell the Budget measures and discussion around Coalition preferences to One Nation. 
    Got a burning question?
    Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
  • Politics Now

    Is the Prime Minister ready to 'cop it'?

    10/06/2026 | 25 mins.
    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 Catherine King insists the fuel excise cut will end, is the government ready to cop the political pain - or will it have to bite the bullet and extend it?
    Meanwhile, Labor is still trying to sell its war-time budget. Capital gains tax carve-outs are starting to take shape, while the Greens are open to backing Labor’s tax changes in exchange for a longer NDIS inquiry.
    Plus, six months after Australia introduced its social media ban for under-16s, Apple’s CEO is crediting the country for new child safety controls - with the UK and EU watching closely. But are the restrictions actually making a difference?
    Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.
    Got a burning question?
    Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
  • Politics Now

    Pocock sparks data centre debate

    09/06/2026 | 23 mins.
    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 all down on Politics Now.
    Got a burning question?
    Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
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About Politics Now
The ABC's politics podcast, Politics Now, dives into the biggest political stories in Australia and around the world, giving you a balanced look inside the strategies and decisions behind the headlines. Whenever major news breaks, we'll be in your feed with coverage you can trust. From Monday to Wednesday, Patricia Karvelas will chat to a rotating cast of the ABC's biggest political journalists about the latest news. On Thursdays, 'The Party Room' with Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly will discuss the week's developments in depth with another journalist, and answer your questions. On Saturdays, David Speers gets into the details of a major trend or issue with the help of an expert on 'Insiders On Background'.
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