Australian Politics Live Podcast

Before his trip to Papua New Guinea for Anzac Day commemorations, the minister for veterans’ affairs and defence personnel, Matt Keogh, speaks with political editor Tom McIlroy. Keogh discusses the government’s progress after the royal commission into defence and veterans’ suicide, which handed its recommendations to government two years ago. The Perth MP also responds to the continued display of Ben Roberts-Smith’s military uniform and medals in the Australian War Memorial – despite the recent war crime charges of murder, which the former SAS soldier strongly denies

Nearly 15 years after Julia Gillard introduced the national disability insurance scheme, the Albanese government announced the most significant reforms to the scheme on Wednesday. It’s expected that the billions of budget savings will mean at least 160,000 participants will no longer be able to access the scheme within the next four years. The minister for disability, health and ageing Mark Butler speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about how the cost of the NDIS became ‘not sustainable’ and the material impact of the reforms on participants. Butler’s announcements have already been widely criticised, and he responds the government’s decision to announce sweeping cuts while also increasing defence spending considerably last week

What’s the line in the sand for Albanese to rethink the multibillion-dollar Aukus agreement? Why won’t the government implement sanctions on the US and Israel – similar to those imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine? And should the Senate expand to better represent the needs of a growing population, such as in the ACT? Tom McIlroy, Dan Jervis-Bardy, Krishani Dhanji and Josh Butler from Guardian Australia’s politics team in Canberra answer questions from listeners and readers

Journalist, author and farmer Gabrielle Chan speaks to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about the experiences of rural and regional Australians whose work and everyday life have been upended by supply chain disruptions caused by the war in Iran. The former political reporter also talks about the rise in Pauline Hanson’s popularity ahead of the Farrer byelection, which is expected to be a strong contest between a One Nation and independent candidate

The minister for energy and climate change, Chris Bowen, tells Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, that despite shortages at petrol stations around Australia, there have so far been no disruptions to the country’s fuel supply. Bowen responds to criticisms about the Albanese government’s communication to the public, as the second month of the US-Israel war on Iran continues to send shockwaves around the world. The minister also argues that rationing fuel is not necessary for now, and that having a staged plan with the states is good government at work

After Australia became one of the first countries to back the US’s war on Iran, this month’s poll shows voters are questioning Canberra’s relationship with the US and an increasingly unpredictable Donald Trump. Political reporter Josh Butler and the Essential Media executive director, Peter Lewis, discuss why Australians want the government to broaden our diplomatic relationships and if voters are blaming the government for being dragged along on Trump’s latest alarming intervention

This week, as fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran continues, the fuel crisis hit Australian hip pockets harder than ever before. Meanwhile the Liberal party faces its own existential reckoning: voters moving further right towards One Nation. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to the shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability, Andrew Hastie, about Australia’s response to the global fuel shock, why he thinks we need to reindustrialise and his vision for the Liberal party’s response to One Nation

With the US and Israel’s war on Iran continuing to send waves of disruption around the world, Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to two guests about the impact of the conflict on Australia. Jennifer Parker, a defence and national security expert who has served three times in the Middle East with the Australian navy, talks about the US strategy for the conflict and what the chokepoint in the strait of Hormuz means for Australia’s economic and defence stability. Phillip Coorey, the political editor of the Australian Financial Review, discusses the political challenge for Labor – as Jim Chalmers responds to this week’s rate hike by the Reserve Bank, while also managing predictions of economic shocks caused by the war

Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to new shadow minister for the digital economy, science, innovation and cybersecurity Aaron Violi, who was promoted to the frontbench in a reshuffle by opposition leader Angus Taylor. Prior to politics, Violi worked in the digital economy and says the government has been unprepared for the disruption of AI. Violi also discusses the Coalition’s policy challenge of balancing concerns about immigration and the cost of living, as the opposition tries to rebuild trust after months of internal conflict over their leadership

The economist, author and politician Yanis Varoufakis speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about his blunt assessment about the ability of the global economic system to address the biggest challenges of the 21st century. They also discuss Europe’s failures in Russia’s war on Ukraine, the candid admissions of Donald Trump on the reality of climate change and how AI has changed the relationship between individuals and capital. Speaking from Athens before his national tour with the Australia Institute this week, the former finance minister for Greece also speaks about his recent charge for the alleged promotion of recreational drugs and why he thinks this was politically motivated

Hardline exchanges over the 34 Australian women and children stuck in Syria have continued this week, with the opposition saying the group should be blocked from returning due to their ties with Islamic State. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to shadow minister for home affairs and immigration Jonno Duniam, who argues that the government has had a ‘hands-off’ approach so far. In the lead-up to next week’s return to parliament with a new shadow frontbench, the Tasmanian senator also discusses the Coalition’s plan to propose laws that would make it an offence to help people linked to terrorist hotspots and organisations

Since October, the Guardian Essential poll has been following the rise in support for One Nation but this month’s results might also ring alarm bells for Labor. This is because nearly half of Labor voters said they would be open to voting for One Nation at the next federal election. Political reporter and chief of staff Josh Butler and Essential Media executive director Peter Lewis discuss why One Nation’s surge is more than just a ‘noisy’ protest about the Coalition, and why Pauline Hanson’s party is attracting voters across the political spectrum

Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Andrew Hauser speaks to economics editor Patrick Commins and business and economics reporter Luca Ittimani about the 2025 surprises that led to the first interest rate rise in two years. Hauser also responds to last week’s criticisms by Tim Wilson, the newly appointed shadow treasurer, that the RBA has not down enough to curb inflation. And we put to the deputy governor your audience questions about house prices, economic inequality and how shoppers can respond when they think companies are ‘taking the p’

In his first comments after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Anthony Albanese says that the ex-prince has had an extraordinary fall from grace. And while the prime minister is a firm republican, this disgrace will not prompt another referendum. Speaking with Guardian Australia’s political editor Tom McIlroy, the PM hits back at Pauline Hanson’s comments about Muslim Australians. He also discusses what would happen if the 34 wives and children of Australian Islamic State fighters stuck in Syria made their back to Australia

Protesters around Australia, including Nick McKim and other Greens colleagues, gathered to express opposition to the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, this week. The Greens senator tells political editor, Tom McIlroy, that the confronting scenes of police aggression towards protesters in Sydney was a “massive overreach”. McKim is the Greens spokesperson for economic justice and treasury, and is now leading a parliamentary inquiry into the 50% capital gains tax discount. Labor has not ruled out possible changes to the generous tax breaks for investors ahead of the May budget. The Tasmanian senator argues that, with Greens’ support, the government can “marry up the politics and the policy” to meaningfully addressing the housing crisis

After the Reserve Bank’s first rate hike in more than two years, Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the economics editor, Patrick Commins, and Lea Jurkovic, the economics correspondent at the Australian Financial Review, about the indicators that informed the central bank’s decision this week. They also discuss the ongoing vulnerabilities in the economy, the missed opportunities when the RBA doesn’t comment on government spending and the maturity lacking in the political debate about interest rates

The messy fallout of the Coalition’s breakup continues this week with Sussan Ley and David Littleproud attempting to weather criticisms of their leadership after the Bondi terror attack. LNP moderate Andrew Wallace speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about his support for Sussan Ley, and describes her as ‘principled’ and ‘tough’ under very difficult circumstances. The shadow attorney general also says that he is ‘relatively comfortable’ with the hate speech legislation that divided the Coalition, which was passed last week. Politics aside, Wallace talks about volunteering as a surf lifesaver on the Sunshine Coast and is candid about the challenges of being a father of four while serving as a MP

In the first Guardian Essential poll after the Bondi terror attack, both Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley have fallen in their approval ratings. Meanwhile, One Nation’s support continues to rise and now disrupts the traditional two-horse race in Australian politics. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Essential Media director Peter Lewis about why both major parties need to pay attention to One Nation’s popularity – despite the minor party currently having little policy offerings

In an eventful start to parliament for 2026, MPs came together with condolences for the victims of the Bondi terror attack and passed hurried reforms on guns and hate speech. And then, on the national day of mourning on Thursday, the Coalition split for the second time and Sussan Ley’s leadership is now all but over. Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the independent MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, whose electorate includes Bondi, about why she thinks politics can often stand in the way of community safety. She also discusses her concerns that migrants could become a political target during this time of fear and grief

In our final episode for 2025, political editor Tom McIlroy speaks with Melissa Clarke from ABC RN Breakfast and Michael Read from the Australian Financial Review. The press gallery colleagues discuss the prime minister’s performance and his seemingly mild ambition for bold reform, and assess the government’s diplomatic balancing act of maintaining relations with the US president, Donald Trump. They also share their political predictions for 2026 – including the future of Sussan Ley’s leadership, the ministers they will be watching closely and the policies that will resonate the most with voters