Episodes
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor on tax top-ups and budget bottom lines
Mick Tsikas/AAP As the election starter’s gun is about to be fired, Tuesday’s budget announced modest income tax cuts as the government’s latest cost-of-living measure. The Coalition has opposed the tax relief, with Peter Dutton’s Thursday budget reply to put forward his policy counters on the…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Barbara Pocock on the Greens’ policy priorities
Mick Tsikas/AAP The Greens have heaped a lot of pressure on the government during this term, from issues of the environment, housing, and Medicare, to the war in the Middle East. With the polls close to a dead heat and minority government appearing a real possibility, would the Greens push a...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Peter Dutton on why he’s not Australia’s Trump – ‘I’m my own person’
Diego Fedele/AAP On current opinion polls, we are looking at a very close race at the May election. As voting day draws near, Peter Dutton will face more forensic questioning about his policies and how he would run government. At the same time, he’s fending off Labor’s attempt to define him as...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tina Jackson on the independents to watch this election
A group of independents give a press conference at Parliament House Canberra. Mick Tsikas/AAP The 2022 election catapulted a new movement into Australian federal politics, with the election of six “teals”. The teals are part of a broader wave of “community independents” who are challenging the...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: James Curran on Trump, Ukraine, shifting tectonic plates, and a bigger Australian defence bill
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA The Trump presidency is turning much of the world order on its head. Tne United States president is arm-twisting Ukraine, playing nice with Russia, and using protection as an economic and political weapon. The Australian government is pessimistic about escaping American tariffs…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tom Rogers calls for national digital literacy campaign and more civics teaching
Mick Tsikas/AAP We see the political parties’ frantic election campaigns, but behind the scenes the Australian Electoral Commisison is working just as hard. An often overlooked part of Australia’s democracy, the AEC is vital in ensuring our elections are both efficient and fair, a task full of...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood on how to trim back housing regulations
Lukas Coch/AAP Housing supply in Australia will be a key battleground in the election campaign. With home ownership more and more out of reach for young and not so young Australians, red tape and low productivity are strangling the builder industry just when it needs to be stepping up. The...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: David Littleproud on US tariffs, a government-owned Rex, and the Nationals’ identity
Diego Fedele/AAP With the election only months away, the Labor government finds itself suddenly battling with the Trump administration for an exemption from new US tariffs on steel and aluminium. The opposition has supported the effort, but it also claims a Coalition government would be better...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: John Blaxland and Richard Holden talk about what Trump will mean for Australia
Lukas Coch/AAP As Australia gears up for the election, the incoming government’ Labor or Coalition, will face global challenges, geo-political and economic, especially with Donald Trump starting to impose tariffs on selected countries including China, To discuss where Australia is placed to meet...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Albanese dumps Nature Positive legislation and considers shrinking the electoral reform bill
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dumped – for the second time – the government’s controversial “Nature Positive” legislation, which had run into strong opposition from the Western Australian Labor government. Albanese, speaking on The Conversation’s Politics podcast ahead of a fortnight...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chalmers says the budget’s better than it was; Taylor says it’s much worse than it should be
Lukas Coch, Mick Tsikas/AAP Appropriately, we finish our podcast for 2024 talking to Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his shadow, Angus Taylor because, as the saying goes, “it’s the economy, stupid!” This week’s mid-year budget update showed Australia’s economy in poor shape and the buget’s trajectory...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: For Mark Dreyfus, antisemitism is very personal
Mick Tsikas/AAP The attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and another car torching in Sydney have dramatically heightened political tensions over antisemitism. Amid criticism the government has been too slow to act in the past year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week announced…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Simon Birmingham on Liberal moderates, regrets, and Donald Trump
Lukas Coch/AAP Opposition Senate leader and former senior minister in the Coalition government Simon Birmingham has announced he will quit parliament. Birmingham, one of the few remaining moderates in the Liberals’ ranks, is shadow foreign minister. Now , aged 50, he’s defecting to a (yet to be...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Climate Change Authority head Matt Kean says ‘put more solar panels on commercial rooftops’
STEVEN MARKHAM Steven Markham/AAP The just-ended COP-29 in Baku, and the election of Donald Trump, have put the global response to climate change in the spotlight. Meanwhile back home, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen this week reported Australia is on track to meet its 2030 target to reduce...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Special Minister of State Don Farrell on getting ‘big money’ out of elections
Mick Tsikas/AAP The government says it will take “big money” out of election campaigns – or, more realistically, curb it – with its legislation imposing donation and spending caps and real-time disclosure. But crossbenchers and other critics are up in arms, about the effect on small players and…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: shadow communications minister David Coleman says misinformation legislation ‘one of the worst bills ever’
Mick Tsikas/AAP The government has embarked on a raft of new online safety measures aimed at protecting Australians from the excesses of misinformation and social harm online. However, these policies have been met with backlash. Experts criticise the plan to enforce an age limit of 16 on social...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Independent Helen Haines says the NACC has had ‘disappointing start’, and the government is pork barrelling
Lukas Coch/AAP Trust in politicians is at an all-time low, not only in Australia but across the world. Now more than ever, people are demanding a higher standard for our elected officials. The row over flight upgrades and the Qantas lounge has reinforced distrust. So has the strong criticism of…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bruce Wolpe says personal relations between Trump and Albanese would be ‘rocky’
John Locher/AP Days from the US presidential election, the polls are showing the outcome of the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump remains a nail biter. With the United States our closest ally, the result could have potential implications for Australia in areas such as climate change...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sally McManus on what unions want from Labor and Innes Willox on business wish list for Dutton
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australian Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen greet Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group Innes Willox and Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Sally McManus. 2022 Lukas Coch/AAP Industrial relations will be hotly contested at…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: ‘It’s going to be a bad result for Labor’ - Antony Green and Michael McKenna on the Qld election
David Clark/AAP Queenslanders vote on October 26 when, according to the polls, the almost decade-long Labor government is expected to be defeated. Last year, in a bid to improve its chances, Labor dumped long-time premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in favour of Steven Miles. Miles has handed out or...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood on the keys to growing Australia’s weak productivity
original Dean Lewins/AAP “Productivity” might sound a nerdy word to many, but improving it is vital for a more affluent life for Australians in coming years. At the moment it is languishing. Investigating ways in which our national productivity can be improved is at the heart of the work of the...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Bornstein on how big companies are taking away employees’ private rights
David Crosling/AAP Governments around the world are battling to regulate big tech companies. As the world becomes more interconnected, people are increasingly aware of the vast, often negative, influence these companies play in our lives. More generally, many corporations extend their power over...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Richard Holden says no interest rate fall likely for 12 months
Joel Carrett/AAP For many Australians, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a fading memory as the world has moved away from lockdowns and masks. However, its lasting impacts, including persistent inflation, remain. Academic economists Steven Hamilton and Richard Holden, in their just-published book,...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Adam Bandt on why the Greens are playing hardball on housing
Mick Tsikas/AAP The government has found many of its key measures stuck in a legislative quagmire, with both Greens and Coalition playing hardball with Labor’s plans. This week the government’s housing legislation has stalled in the Senate. The Greens are pitching for radically expanded…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Robert French on the realities of a social media age ban
Lukas Coch/AAP The Albanese government has announced it will ban children from accessing social media. This follows work by the South Australian government, which commissioned a report on implementing a ban. That report was done by Robert French, the former High Court Chief Justice and current...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Ghaith Krayem on Muslim votes mattering
David Crosling/AAP It is almost been a year since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Since then, the conflict in the Middle East has increasingly impinged on our domestic politics, despite Australia having no direct role in it. The horrific death toll in Gaza and the increase in both...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Reserve Bank’s Andrew Hauser says don’t read too much for Australia from US rates message
Discussion between Deputy Governor of The RBA Andrew Hauser and Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood during Australia's Economic Outlook business luncheon. Britta Campion/AAP Inflation remains top of mind as the Reserve Bank of Australia continues to keep interest rates on hold at a time when...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Joe Hockey says Kamala Harris and Anthony Albanese share views
Gabrielle Lurie/AP This year’s Democratic National Convention has been an event filled with excitement and optimism, a far cry from where the Democrats were just weeks when Joe Biden was their presidential candidate. With Kamala Harris as their nominee, the Democrats have gained support in the...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers flags deal on Reserve Bank’s new structure is close
Mick Tsikas/AAP Cost of living remains at the top of people’s minds as inflation stays sticky. With an election in less than a year, the government has been doing what it can to address some of the pressures. But the Reserve Bank doesn’t envisage an interest rate cut this year, and has suggested...
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Politics With Michelle Grattan: Andrew Wilkie says government ‘scared stiff’ of gambling companies
Mick Tsikas/AAP Gambling reform has become a major issue of tension for the government as it prepares to respond to a cross-party committee inquiry led by former Labor member, the late Peta Murphy. The inquiry’s report, released last year, unanimously recommended a ban on gambling advertising...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Pat Turner on Indigenous empowerment, Closing the Gap, and future Indigenous leadership
Mick Tsikas/AAP Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s address to the weekend Garma festival had a different tone from last year’s, when the Voice referendum was approaching. The Prime Minister is resetting policy, moving the focus to the economic empowerment of Indigenous communities as a path to...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: ‘Teal’ Zoe Daniel on political donations, representing Jewish voters and Kamala Harris’ prospects
Mick Tsikas/AAP The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast is one of those teals, Zoe Daniel, member for the Melbourne seat…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Lester Munson on Kamala Harris’s style and a changed Trump
Erin Schaff/AP The 2024 US election took another dramatic turn when President Joe Biden withdrew his re-election bid, endorsing his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to take his place. The quick switch from Biden to Harris has reinvigorated the Democratic Party and their donors behind a younger...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Joe Hockey on how Australia should navigate a second Trump term
Mick Tsikas/AAP American politics has become weekly high drama. Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt last weekend. Now Joe Biden has COVID, and is under ever-increasing pressure to stand aside as the Democratic candidate for November’s presidential election. We’re joined on the...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Fatima Payman on the challenges and opportunities of being a crossbencher
Lukas Coch/AAP Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman quit Labor after defying the party’s “solidarity” rule. Her action, spurred by the Gaza issue, has intensified Labor fears about the possible impact of the Muslim vote in some of its safe seats at the election. The now-independent senator...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Ted O'Brien on reaching for the nuclear button
Flavio Brancaleone/AAP The Coalition is taking a major political gamble with its nuclear power policy, which is facing criticism from a range of experts. The opposition has announced seven proposed sites for power stations but has yet to provide costings and other details. Shadow Minister for...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on ‘calling out’ claims about the energy transition’s cost
Lukas Coch/AAP The climate wars have been reignited with the Coalition’s release of its controversial plan for nuclear power, an option totally rejected by the government. Meanwhile, a report this week from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AMEO) has indicated the government needs to speed…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Peter Malinauskas on political donations, kids on social media, and the nuclear option
Lukas Coch/AAP After beating a first-term South Australian Liberal government in 2022, Labor premier Peter Malinauskas has gone on to be a reform advocate on issues including social media and politcal donations. His government is looking at a ban on children under 14 accessing social media...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten’s around-the-world trip to discuss peace in Ukraine and NDIS reform
Mick Tsikas/AAP Bill Shorten, the minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), is currently in New York at a United Nations conference on the rights of people with disabilities. At the weekend, he’ll fly to Europe to represent Australia at a summit in Switzerland aimed at finding...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Clive Hamilton on how Australians must adapt to ‘Living Hot’
The debate over climate change mostly focuses on how to best to limit emissions in the effort to prevent disastrous global warming. However in a new book, Living Hot, Clive Hamilton and George Wilkenfeld challenge current priorities, arguing rising temperatures can’t be contained fast enough and…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Norton on the Albanese government’s interventionist policy to cut foreign student numbers
shutterstock Migration has become a major battleground between the government and opposition. While they have different policies, each side is targeting foreign students in their plans for cuts in the intake. The government will apply caps, decided by the minister, on the numbers of foreign...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Bragg flags a coalition would use ‘coercion’ of the states to get more new houses built
Housing remains one of Australia’s most pressing issues in both state and federal politics. The RBA keeping rates up and high mortgage repayments have left many Australians struggling. For those Australians who don’t own a home, it’s becoming increasingly hard to get into the housing market. The...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Madeleine King on investment incentives and the pivotal role of gas
The energy debate has ramped up, with government and opposition trading blows over their respective plans to secure Australia’s energy future. The budget announced big tax incentives for green energy projects. Earlier the government embraced the importance of gas up to 2050 and beyond. The...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Budget fight looms on Future Made in Australia tax breaks
Mick Tsikas & Lukas Coch/AAP Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday handed down his third budget. It had a second successive surplus and sweeteners, including relief on energy bills, and tax breaks for development of green hydrogen and critical minerals processing. The opposition will back the energy...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: James Paterson on prospects for passage of the government’s deportation bill
Mick Tsikas/AAP Next week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who won’t cooperate with efforts to deport them. The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush through in the last parliamentary sitting, went to a Senate inquiry...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Anne Summers says we need much more information on male perpetrators of violence against women
Dean Lewins/AAP The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders met on Wednesday as the national cabinet to discuss a crisis gripping Australia – the horrific number of women murdered this year. The killings have shocked the nation and led to mass demonstrations across the country last…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget
Lukas Coch/AAP With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As this week’s consumer price index showed, the battle with inflation has not yet been...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Independent MP Dai Le on the church attack in her electorate
Lukas Coch/AAP After the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in an Assyrian Orthodox Church in Wakeley on Monday, and the killings in Bondi Junction shopping centre just two days earlier, many people in Sydney and in Australia more widely are tense. The shopping centre incident, in which the...
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Burns on being a Jewish MP during a terrible conflict
James Ross/AAP The death of Australian Zomi Frankcom and other World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza in an Israeli strike has led to yet more intense and critical scrutiny over how Israel is prosecuting the war against Hamas. This week Foreign Minister Penny Wong has floated the possibility…
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Leigh on competition - economic and political
Lukas Coch/AAP The Albanese government and the Australian public are currently focused on the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on household budgets. For Australia’s longer-term economic outlook, the government is looking at reforms that are needed to increase competition and our flat-lined...