Episodes

  • Will Albanese’s caution become his weakness?

    Will Albanese’s caution become his weakness?
    Nov 21 2025
    Author and columnist Sean Kelly says despite Labor’s overwhelming majority and an opposition largely consumed by its own infighting, there are signs that Anthony Albanese’s government will waste the opportunity handed to them by the Australian people. Kelly talks to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about his new Quarterly essay, which examines the Labor party’s move away from idealism towards pragmatism. And the former Rudd and Gillard staffer argues that while Albanese’s caution has won him two elections, it could also become the prime minister’s greatest weakness
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    17 mins
  • The fear of neo-Nazis and the politics of social cohesion with Mehreen Faruqi

    The fear of neo-Nazis and the politics of social cohesion with Mehreen Faruqi
    Nov 21 2025
    In conversation with political editor Tom McIlroy, deputy leader of the Greens Mehreen Faruqi says a neo-Nazi rally in front of NSW parliament this month caused fear for many Australians – and the federal government is yet to respond to recommendations for a national framework for anti-racism. And with both houses of parliament returning for their last sitting week for the year, Faruqi says a possible decision by Labor to team up with the Coalition – rather than the Greens – to pass nature law reforms next week would lack credibility, especially when the opposition has now decided to ditch a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050
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    24 mins
  • A new Liberal and Labor MP on their first terms in parliament

    A new Liberal and Labor MP on their first terms in parliament
    Nov 14 2025
    It’s been six months since the May election, which brought new personalities to Parliament House – along with an even larger majority for the Albanese government. Labor MP Renee Coffey, who beat the Greens housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather, and Liberal MP Leon Rebello, a former staffer and parliamentary attendant, join political editor Tom McIlroy to discuss the start to their first terms. In this bipartisan conversation, the two Queenslanders also talk about the Coalition’s net zero debate this week and Labor’s fight to pass new environment laws before Christmas
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    25 mins
  • Guardian Essential report: the PM’s rock star moment and his biggest threat

    Guardian Essential report: the PM’s rock star moment and his biggest threat
    Oct 30 2025
    Anthony Albanese might have had his rock star moment upon his return from the US, but the latest Guardian Essential poll shows voters are unconvinced about the outcomes of his negotiations with US president Donald Trump. Political reporter and Canberra chief of staff Josh Butler speaks with Essential Media’s executive director, Peter Lewis, about why parliament lacks the necessary friction for good government and why the Liberal party is like a bird with two wounded wings
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    25 mins
  • Why net zero is dividing parliament with climate minister Chris Bowen

    Why net zero is dividing parliament with climate minister Chris Bowen
    Nov 7 2025
    Speaking at Cop30 in Brazil, the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the ‘consensus is gone’ on tackling the climate crisis. It’s an apt assessment because this week Australia’s two major political parties have had very different commitments when it comes to climate action. The minister for climate change and energy, Chris Bowen, speaks to Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, about Labor’s free solar power scheme for some homes and the Coalition’s continued infighting on emissions targets
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    21 mins
  • How the EU and Nato are countering a new type of warfare

    How the EU and Nato are countering a new type of warfare
    Oct 31 2025
    From cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns, hybrid warfare is reshaping global security. Visiting the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki, Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom Mcllroy, speaks with its director, Teija Tiilikainen, about how the EU and Nato are confronting covert interference from Russia, China and other non-democratic countries – and what Australia can learn from Europe’s approach
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    21 mins
  • Shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr on the ‘mass migration’ myth

    Shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr on the ‘mass migration’ myth
    Oct 24 2025
    In the aftermath of former frontbencher Andrew Hastie’s fighting words, opposition leader Sussan Ley continues to struggle with persistent internal tensions in the Coalition over its direction on immigration policy. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to shadow minister for immigration Paul Scarr about why he rejects rhetoric about ‘mass migration’ and argues that those seeking to inflame emotions are hurting the national interest. The Queensland senator speaks about his passion for connecting Liberal party values with multicultural communities in Australia, and gives us a glimpse of his well-loved antique collection
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    18 mins
  • AI and the productivity challenge with Andrew Leigh

    AI and the productivity challenge with Andrew Leigh
    Oct 17 2025
    This week, the Albanese government has been criticised for a tactical backdown on its plan to wind back tax concessions on superannuation balances worth more than $3m. But the assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities and treasury, Andrew Leigh, argues that this change in approach has maintained fairness in the super system. The MP for Fenner also talks to political editor Tom McIlroy about the challenge of AI for lawmakers, why competition policy is key to productivity growth and his early morning training for an upcoming ultramarathon
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    22 mins