
Australian Politics
Guardian Australia's political team examine what’s happening in Australian politics and why it matters to you
Latest episodes

Nov 8, 2024 • 44min
Arthur Sinodinos on what Trump keeping his promises means for Australia
Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with Arthur Sinodinos AO, former ambassador to the US, chair of the Australia Practice at the Asia Group, as well as a former Liberal senator and adviser to John Howard. They talk about why Americans voted as they did, what the outcome means for Australia’s upcoming election, and how big a threat Donald Trump’s plans are to the Australian economy and security in the region

Nov 1, 2024 • 40min
Bridget McKenzie on the Qantas saga and conflicts of interest
Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, speaks with the federal shadow transport and infrastructure minister, Bridget McKenzie. They discuss the prime minister’s upgrades with Qantas, opposition leader Peter Dutton’s free flight care of Gina Rinehart, and whether the parliamentary register of interests needs an overhaul

Oct 25, 2024 • 39min
Bob Brown on Lidia Thorpe and the right to protest
Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, speaks with Bob Brown – environmentalist, social justice campaigner, former senator and leader of the Australian Greens. They talk about the right to protest in a democracy in light of Lidia Thorpe’s recent protest against King Charles during his visit to Parliament House in Canberra, and Bob Brown’s decision to speak out against George W Bush in 2003

Oct 23, 2024 • 22min
Guardian Essential report: why has support for the Australian republic gone tepid?
Guardian Australia political editor Karen Middleton and Essential Media executive director Peter Lewis take a look at the latest Essential poll to see how popular King Charles III is in Australia and what support there is to become a republic

Oct 18, 2024 • 37min
David Pocock on why negotiation is key to good government
After almost a full term as a politician, independent senator David Pocock joins political editor Karen Middleton. They discuss why he thinks Labor’s refusal to bargain with the crossbench is holding back changes that Australians need, if Albanese buying a multi-million dollar house this week is a bad look and what his past as a professional rugby player has taught him about his current job

Oct 11, 2024 • 31min
The former NT attorney general on whether the criminal justice system is being used as a form of ‘racial control’
Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with the member for Gwoja Chansey Paech about how Labor lost the law-and-order vote at August’s election, and what the future holds a year on from the voice to parliament referendum

Oct 9, 2024 • 26min
Guardian Essential report: how much are people willing to change to combat cost of living?
Guardian Australia chief political correspondent Paul Karp and Essential Media executive director Peter Lewis take a look at the latest Essential poll to gauge what solutions to cost-of-living pressures Australians want implemented and how they think the government is handling the volatile situation in the Middle East

Oct 4, 2024 • 40min
The former deputy governor takes us inside the RBA
Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with economist and former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank, Guy Debelle. They discuss how the board makes decisions about the economy and the pressure they face in taking all sides into account

Sep 27, 2024 • 32min
Andrew Leigh on the power imbalance between supermarkets and their customers – Australian politics podcast
Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks to Andrew Leigh, assistant minister for competition, charities and Treasury, about the federal government’s draft of a food and grocery code of conduct. They also discuss negative gearing and Labor’s census debacle You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

Sep 25, 2024 • 28min
Guardian Essential Report: who wins in the political debate on housing?
Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, and Peter Lewis from Essential Media talk about Labor’s stalemate on housing, as well as how voters feel about stronger privacy regulations and the proposed social media ban for children
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