Insiders

Jim Chalmers and Josh Frydenberg confront the political hazards of ambitious reform. The discussion covers Frydenberg’s revived GST debate, Labor’s contested plans for negative gearing, capital gains and discretionary trusts, and tensions between Chalmers and Anthony Albanese. It also examines the setback to private health insurance savings and the growing difficulty of repairing Australia’s budget.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, a senior Liberal politician, defends sweeping migration cuts, new pathways for AUKUS and other skilled workers, and reduced humanitarian intake. Journalists Katina Curtis, Peter Hartcher and Raf Epstein test the policy’s costings, labour-market impact and political direction. The discussion also covers aged-care staffing, credit-card surcharges, Josh Frydenberg’s prospects, Pacific diplomacy and the rhetoric shaping public trust.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, economist and Labor minister, faces questions from journalists John Keogh, Waleed Aly and Samantha Maiden about inflation, spending and rising debt costs. They debate billions in promised savings, recession risks from Middle East conflict, productivity reform and superannuation. The discussion also explores Greens leadership tensions, One Nation’s rise, AI and growing voter frustration.

Matthew Knott, a foreign affairs and national security correspondent; Melissa Clarke, an ABC political correspondent; Greg Sheridan, The Australian’s foreign editor; and Jane Hume, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, examine Australia’s AI vulnerabilities and the widening US-China technology race. They discuss cyberattacks, global guardrails, sovereign capabilities and the US alliance, alongside climate policy, fuel prices, interest rates, demographics and Pacific security.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins political journalists James Massola, Charles Croucher and Laura Tingle, plus David Speers, from Silicon Valley. They examine AI safety, copyright protections and Australia’s role in frontier technology. The discussion also covers social media age limits, migration and housing, cost-of-living pressures, UN reform, veterans’ healthcare, Liberal divisions and rising global security threats.

Sarah Martin, Guardian Australia’s senior political correspondent, Jacob Greber, ABC 7.30’s political editor, and Greg Brown, The Australian’s chief political reporter, unpack Parliament’s clash over online safety and free speech. Communications Minister Anika Wells outlines digital duty of care plans, algorithm controls, AI accountability and disaster roaming, while remaining open to tougher tech penalties. The panel also examines One Nation, migration, superannuation, grants and Coalition tax strategy.

James Campbell, Herald Sun associate editor; Karen Middleton, The Saturday Paper’s chief political correspondent; Niki Savva, author and political columnist; and departing Liberal senator Jonno Duniam tackle algorithm regulation, online misogyny and boys’ radicalization. They debate housing, tobacco excise, migration, flag burning and the Coalition’s political direction, including leadership speculation and the party’s struggle to rebuild its primary vote.

Pauline Hanson’s public claims about threats to her safety reignite debate over political rhetoric, victimhood and accountability. The discussion revisits a resurfaced assassination video, accusations aimed at Anthony Albanese, and the growing danger of violence against politicians, particularly women. It also examines whether raising legitimate security concerns can become political point-scoring.

Tanya Plibersek, Social Services Minister focused on family and sexual violence policy; Anna Henderson, political correspondent and analyst; Waleed Aly, columnist and social commentator; Ashleigh Raper, political editor and panelist. They debate One Nation’s rise and the Secret Harbour by-election. They examine migration policy confusion. They discuss social media’s link to rising teenage sexual violence, algorithms, duty of care and consent education.

A heated fight over how to power the data centre boom, renewables versus fossil fuels. Political deals and state pushback shape timing for national rules. Questions about who benefits from construction money and whether long-term rents will follow. Privacy, security and AI access arguments for keeping data local also come up.