Politics Now

The Albanese Government is set to pass its hate speech and gun reform bills through the parliament. It comes after Labor split the omnibus legislation, negotiating with the Coalition and the Greens separately to get the two bills through.
But while all signs are pointing to the Liberals supporting the changed hate speech laws, it's less clear if the Nationals are on board and the Senate could be in for a long night ahead.
Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now.Production Note: Following the recording of today's episode the  Albanese Government's hate laws passed through the House of Representatives, with Nationals MPs Llew O'Brien and Colin Boyce crossing the floor to vote against it, and the rest of the Nationals MPs abstaining.
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Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

For the first time since the Bondi terror attack, MPs from across the country have returned to Canberra.
The first morning saw sombre speeches from a range of voices - but with debate on hate speech and gun laws to continue, is there any sense of bipartisanship in the air?
Also casting a shadow over some in the chamber - polling showing One Nation’s primary vote has pulled ahead of the Coalition for the first time.
Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong break it all down on Politics Now.
Got a burning question?
Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Why are there more women in the Senate than in the House of Representatives? Is it just convention stopping Senators from being major party leaders? 
With a weakened Opposition, are the usual mechanisms to hold government to account working? And is the Albanese Government still "gun shy" when it comes to considering negative gearing or capital gains reform?
Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly get stuck into all of your curly questions for this special summer episode of The Party Room.Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.
Got a burning question?
Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

It's been a big week in Australian politics, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalling parliament early to deal with hate speech and gun buyback legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack and the surprise announcement that US Ambassador Kevin Rudd is stepping down from the role a year earlier than expected.
But while the Opposition has been calling for the parliament to be recalled since the horrific events on the 14th of December, they've now claimed the legislation has been rushed, with Opposition leader Sussan Ley signalling the Liberals won't back 'unsalvageable' hate crime and gun control reforms. So, does that put the Greens in the frame?
And a month after the social media ban for under 16s began, there's new data from the social media companies about how many under 16s have been removed from their platforms.Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong are joined by Charles Croucher on The Party Room.
Guest: Charles Croucher, 9News Political Editor
Got a burning question?
Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Kerrynne Liddle represents a lot of firsts.
The Arrernte woman is the first indigenous Senator for South Australia, the first indigenous woman to win a parliamentary seat in the state, and may be one of the first (or certainly one of only a few) federal parliamentarians to have previously worked as a jillaroo.
It’s been a turbulent year for the Liberal party following its punishing election loss in May 2025 - so how does someone like the Senator for South Australia navigate through that noise? And with experience in journalism, tourism, leadership roles with Housing Trusts and universities, why did she end up choosing a political life?
In this special Politics Now: The Interview summer series, recorded in the final parliamentary sitting week of 2025, Patricia Karvelas sits down with movers and shakers across the Australian political sphere to unpack the person behind the politics.
In this episode Patricia Karvelas is joined by Kerrynne Liddle to discuss her unusual pathway into politics, the wide-reaching influence of her family, and why she stands by her No vote on the Voice.
Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.
Got a burning question?
Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]
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