Insiders

Elections don’t come much closer than this. Nor do they tend to be as consequential. American voters are about to decide on the future direction of this country – indeed millions have already cast early ballots. And there are enormous ramifications for the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, relations with China, global trade and of course climate change. David Speers visits the state of Michigan – one of three states along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – that will largely determine the outcome, to speak to voters and community figures.

Queensland votes for change - after 9 years of Labor rule. It was a long night but the LNP will form a majority government. There were big swings against Labor in the regions and suburbs – and it was a bad night for the Greens. Plenty of lessons – and warning signs – ahead of the coming federal contest.David Speers is joined by Patricia Karvelas, Anthony Galloway, and Clare Armstrong. Casey Briggs runs the numbers in Queensland and looks ahead to the United States' election.Our guests are the outgoing Queensland Labor Deputy Premier Cameron Dick and Federal Nationals MP Keith Pitt.

Former British MP and one-time Minister Rory Stewart is touring Australia at the moment. He's a writer and co-host of the The Rest is Politics podcast of who's found an enormous following for his reflections on what works and what doesn't in modern democracies. Rory Stewart sat down with Insiders Host David Speers in Melbourne. 

The pre-election contest over fixing the housing crisis heats up. Peter Dutton unveils a new policy – the government says it's a cheap trick. While the Greens go after the Prime Minister for buying his own clifftop home.David Speers is joined by Raf Epstein, Paul Sakkal, and Sarah IsonOur guest is the Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt.

It’s something of a spring election season; Canberra voters go to the polls this weekend, while Queenslanders will cast their votes in a little over a week.  Federal politicians are watching closely for any indicators of the electoral mood.Queensland will be a key state in next year’s federal election and the state poll will be telling. Labor has been in power for nearly a decade and the relatively new Premier Steven Miles is seeking the ALP's fourth term in office. But all signs point to a defeat for Labor and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli leading the LNP back into government.Melissa Clarke, filling in for David Speers, speaks to Kos Samaras and Tony Barry from Redbridge Group about the mood in the electorate. 

Two anniversaries. Neither of them politically easy for the government. The past week has been dominated by a bitter divide over how to mark the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Monday marks 12 months since the Voice referendum.David Speers is joined by Mark Kenny, James Massola and Carly Williams.Our guest is the Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson.

One year on, there’s still debate about why Australians voted no in the Voice to Parliament referendum. There's even bigger debate about the path forward from here.David Speers speaks to Megan Davis, a co-author of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and one of those who was heavily involved in the Voice campaign about what this anniversary means and where Indigenous Australians go now.

Fatima Payman's new political party may not be troubling Labor, but it still has plenty of other headaches to worry about.

Tomorrow marks 12 months since the brutal Hamas attack on Israel. A year on – the Middle East conflict is only escalating, after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel this week. Social tension in Australia is only rising, and the political divide has dramatically widened. The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have both condemned protests on the anniversary of October 7. But that's about all they agree on.David Speers is joined by Niki Savva, Phil Coorey and Katina Curtis.Our guest is the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

The flag of the listed terrorist organisation Hezbollah – and whether it should be against the law to fly it in Australia – has become the latest flashpoint in the domestic debate over the worsening conflict in the middle east.