EPISODE · Jan 23, 2026 · 37 MIN
Rushed Legislation and a Broken Coalition
from Fourth Estate · host 2SER
A chaotic week in federal politics has left the opposition fractured and raised serious questions about how power is being exercised in Parliament. As the Albanese government rushed landmark hate-speech and extremism legislation through in under 24 hours, warnings about civil liberties, due process and executive overreach were brushed aside. The speed of the laws’ passage split the Coalition, with the Nationals walking away and Liberal leader Sussan Ley fighting to hold her leadership together. On this episode of Fourth Estate, we unpack how the legislation passed so quickly, why it proved so destabilising for the opposition, and what it reveals about the current political moment — from the use of fear and urgency in law-making to the media’s role in amplifying campaigns for a royal commission. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss are Rachel Withers, Contributing Editor at The Point, and Claudia Long, Federal Politics Reporter at ABC News. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
A chaotic week in federal politics has left the opposition fractured and raised serious questions about how power is being exercised in Parliament. As the Albanese government rushed landmark hate-speech and extremism legislation through in under 24 hours, warnings about civil liberties, due process and executive overreach were brushed aside. The speed of the laws’ passage split the Coalition, with the Nationals walking away and Liberal leader Sussan Ley fighting to hold her leadership together. On this episode of Fourth Estate, we unpack how the legislation passed so quickly, why it proved so destabilising for the opposition, and what it reveals about the current political moment — from the use of fear and urgency in law-making to the media’s role in amplifying campaigns for a royal commission. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss are Rachel Withers, Contributing Editor at The Point, and Claudia Long, Federal Politics Reporter at ABC News. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Rushed Legislation and a Broken Coalition
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