Politics Now

• Leaky Liberals and Optus email blunders

  The Albanese Government's agenda was derailed by some spicy scenes in Senate Estimates this week, with revelations an email detailing the Optus outage was sent to the wrong departmental address.In question time, the heat was on Communication Minister Anika Wells over the outage. The Opposition took the opportunity to lob a barrage of pointed question her way, but did they manage to strike a blow?And while the Coalition was eager to make the Government the story, Andrew Hastie's self-demotion to the backbench and a series of leaks that followed hung over the week like a bad smell. So, how long can the public infighting continue?Brett Worthington and Mel Clarke are joined by Charles Croucher, 9News Political Editor on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel  for Question Time at [email protected]

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• Is this an episode of Utopia?

  An email detailing the Optus outage was sent to the wrong government address, a spicy Senate estimates hearing has revealed. But while the inbox wasn't being monitored, it was still active, with Senators asking how it could have been missed.It's a lot like an episode of Utopia — and comes as the Opposition ramps up pressure on Communications Minister Anika Wells.And the Coalition is also questioning the Albanese Government over the return of of wives and children of Islamic State fighters on Friday, with the Government remaining tight-lipped on details. So, are the Opposition finding their feet in Senate estimates?Brett Worthington and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at [email protected]

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• Did Labor ignore triple zero 'red flags'?

  The CEOs of Australia's big telcos have met with Communications Minister Anika Wells after major triple zero outages last month.It comes as Labor introduces legislation to enshrine the powers of a triple zero watchdog — but have they moved "too slow"? What if "red flags" not acted upon lead to failures this bushfire season?And politicians on both sides have marked the two-years on from the October 7 attacks, but social cohesion at home still remains fractured.Brett Worthington and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at [email protected] Digital Dilemma forum audience registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mkDBl3hw50e7lNHlNQPgEto6v3O4AAJDpceXcOut_3NUNUZLREsyREswREVPRlE3WFBIVlAxMzU2Ny4u Submit questions for The Digital Dilemma here : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-23/your-say-social-media-ban/105751900

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• Peter Dutton enters the chat

  In a submission to the Liberal's election review, former Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Andrew Hastie of costing the Coalition the election, according to reporting in the Nine papers.It comes after Andrew Hastie quit the Coalition frontbench, citing key differences over immigration policy. But the West Australian Liberal MP has made it clear he won't be contesting Sussan Ley's leadership — for now.So, as parliament returns for another sitting week, is this disunity a gift for the Albanese government?Brett Worthington and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Editor's note: Andrew Hastie was elected to the House of Representatives for Canning, Western Australia at a by-election in 2015, not during the 2013 election as suggested in the podcast.Read Brett's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/andrew-hastie-resignation-bad-timing-for-sussan-ley/105852022Read Jacob's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/albanese-global-wins-derangement-sydrome/105830526Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at [email protected]

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• 🚨What Hastie quitting means for Sussan Ley

  Senior Liberal Andrew Hastie has spectacularly quit the Coalition frontbench, saying he could not maintain cabinet solidarity due to disagreements over immigration policy.And while the Liberal MP was emphatic there was "no challenge" to Sussan Ley and the move was "done in good faith", he suggested the centre right was "fractured."It comes just weeks after the Western Australia MP suggested he would be forced to quit the frontbench if the Coalition stuck with its commitment to net zero by 2050 — and follows a series of social media posts including one that suggested Australians were becoming "strangers" in their own country due to immigration.So, does the move still destablise Sussan Ley's hold on the leadership? And what does it mean for the future of the Liberal party?Brett Worthington and David Speers break it all down on this emergency episode of Politics Now.Read Brett's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/andrew-hastie-resignation-bad-timing-for-sussan-ley/105852022Read David's latest analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-01/australia-and-turkiye-negotiate-over-cop31-hosting-rights/105837208 Catch today's Insiders on Background ep by scrolling back in the feed, or here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/politics-now/trump-peace-plan-insiders-on-background/105851006Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at [email protected]

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