RBA lifts rates and political stakes

The RBA board has held its first monetary policy meeting for 2026 - and a cash rate lift is the result.

After the Coalition split dominated the start of the year, will this bring the focus back onto the government — and whether the Treasurer is doing enough to ease the cost of living pressures facing Australians?

Meanwhile, parliament is back, but things look different — with the Liberals now sitting alone and the Nationals on the crossbench. How long will this new arrangement last?

Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au