New Politics: Australian Politics

The arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith on five counts of alleged war crimes has reignited a fierce debate in Australian politics over military accountability, the rule of law and the legacy of the Afghanistan war. We look at the political, legal and cultural fallout, as reactions from Pauline Hanson, Gina Rinehart and Kerry Stokes expose deep divisions in how Australia understands war, justice and national identity. With millions spent on his defence and a media narrative shaped by nationalism and the Anzac legend, we examine whether the country is willing to confront allegations of civilian murders, the case of whistleblower David McBride and the broader questions around transparency, accountability and whether exposing wrongdoing is being punished more harshly than the alleged crimes themselves. www.newpolitics.com.au #AUSPOL Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘War’, Frankie Goes To Hollywood.‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

A fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran has paused one of the most dangerous conflicts of 2026, but beneath the headlines lies a deeper question: who profits from war? In this episode, we examine the economics of war, the military-industrial complex and how defence contractors, energy companies and investors benefit from instability across West Asia, with surging share prices revealing conflict as a lucrative business model. We follow the money from military expos in Australia to lobbying in Washington, explore Donald Trump’s political influence, and look at Australia’s energy security crisis, oil supply scramble and delayed transition to renewables – connecting war, markets and political power in a system that increasingly rewards chaos.www.newpolitics.com.au#AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.‘Satellite Anthem Icarus’, Boards Of Canada.

The first cracks in the façade of neoliberalism are emerging in Australian politics, as Andrew Hastie breaks ranks to criticise an economic model driving inequality, stagnant wages, and Australia’s worsening housing crisis. In this episode, we examine why this rare intervention from within the Liberal Party matters, how it reflects growing public frustration with free-market economics, and why Angus Taylor moved quickly to shut down the debate – highlighting the deep entrenchment of neoliberal policy across both major parties, including Labor.We explore the broader implications for economic reform, Australia’s alliance with the United States, and criticism of Donald Trump, alongside shifting global power dynamics from John Curtin to the rise of China and blocs like BRICS. As Australia faces declining manufacturing and structural inequality, this episode asks whether neoliberalism is finally unravelling and what it means for Australia’s economic future, political leadership, and role in a changing global order.   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

As tensions escalate across the Middle East and Western Asia, rising petrol prices, economic uncertainty and growing political pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are hitting Australia, with this episode looking at how the war against Iran, US foreign policy and shifting global alliances are reshaping the geopolitical landscape and Australia’s economic future, energy costs and political independence.We also examine how Albanese’s support for US military action has left him politically exposed as fuel prices surge and cost-of-living pressures intensify, forcing a $2.6 billion fuel excise cut, while deeper questions emerge about Australia’s sovereignty, its alliance with the United States and a renewed “deputy sheriff” mindset.The episode also explores the impact of Israel–Palestine debate restrictions, free speech concerns, censorship, the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and the role of the media, including the National Press Club, asking whether Australia is maintaining an independent path or drifting towards a US-style political identity.   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine whether the political fragmentation that has transformed Australia’s right could eventually spread to the progressive centre-left, and whether the Australian Democrats could play a role in that shift. David Lewis speaks with Australian Democrats President Leonie Green about the party’s push to return to Parliament, its strategy for the Victorian election and the Senate, and the structural barriers facing minor parties in Australian politics. We also explore the dominance of Labor, the decline of the Coalition, the rise of independents and One Nation, and the continuing debate over whether there is room for a pragmatic centrist party focused on accountability, electoral reform, and keeping the bastards honest in a volatile new era of Australian democracy. #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The South Australian election has reshaped Australian politics – but not in the way the mainstream media suggests. In this episode, we break down Labor’s landslide victory under Premier Peter Malinauskas, the collapse of the Liberal Party, and the widely overstated rise of One Nation, which secured 22% of the primary vote but only one lower house seat.We examine how Australia’s preferential voting system works, why minor parties like One Nation and the Australian Greens struggle to convert votes into seats, and whether electoral reform or proportional representation could deliver a more representative democracy.We also analyse the media’s role in amplifying right-wing populism, the shifting dynamics within the conservative vote, and what these results mean for the future of Australian politics, including Labor’s dominance, the potential for political realignment, and the growing fragmentation of the party system.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Australia is facing a growing crisis of trust as global conflict, economic pressure and political failure collide, with the war in Iran driving inflation, influencing interest rates and exposing how distant decision-making is from everyday Australians. In this episode, we examine the decline of trust in Australian politics, from the failures of the Liberal Party to a cautious and reactive Labor government, alongside concerns about the effectiveness of institutions like the National Anti-Corruption Commission. We also explore rising media distrust, increasing censorship laws, and the secrecy surrounding the Royal Commission into antisemitism, including ASIO’s role and the use of closed-door evidence. As transparency declines and accountability weakens, public cynicism continues to grow, raising urgent questions about democracy, political leadership, media integrity and whether trust in Australia can be rebuilt.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

A global oil shock is shaking the world economy – caused by the US and Israel – and Australia is already feeling the impact, with petrol prices pushing towards $3 per litre, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and growing fears of a recession. In this episode, we examine how US and Israel strikes on Iran have disrupted global supply chains, destabilised energy markets, and exposed Australia’s economic vulnerability.We connect the chaos of military strategy with Donald Trump’s “America First” trade policies, showing how geopolitical instability is driving oil price volatility and economic uncertainty. There’s also the unintended consequences for global technology supply chains, AI development, and Taiwan’s semiconductor production, alongside a shift away from US-led co-ordination as countries secure their own energy deals.Australia is now on the front line of a global crisis it didn’t create, but what does this all mean for our economic future, including energy policy, renewable transition, and structural reform?   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Australian politics is going through a new era of political realignment as the centre-right fragments and the traditional two-party system begins to fall apart. In this episode, we examine the leadership change in the National Party, with Matt Canavan replacing David Littleproud, the escalating rivalry with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, and the possible return of Clive Palmer, all of which could further split the conservative vote across regional and outer-suburban Australia. As the Liberal–National Coalition faces growing competition from multiple right-wing parties, we also look at whether the Australian Greens could benefit from any decline in support for the Albanese government, particularly amid economic pressures, housing affordability issues and foreign policy tensions. If current polling trends shift even slightly, Australia could see several parties clustered around similar levels of support, complicating preference flows and coalition politics. The result could be the most unpredictable period in Australian federal politics in decades, raising fundamental questions about the future of the Coalition, the stability of the party system, and what the next Australian federal election could mean for the country’s political landscape.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

What happens when a global superpower launches a military operation intended to demonstrate dominance but instead reveals the limits of its power? In this episode, we examine the escalating US–Iran conflict, the shifting balance of power in the Middle East, and the growing risk that Australia could be drawn into another US-led war.As tensions rise following US strikes on Iran, the episode explores the weakening of the post-World War II order, the challenge posed by emerging powers such as China, Russia and the BRICS bloc, and the influence of ideology in American foreign policy.We also analyse Australia’s expanding defence integration with the United States through AUKUS, the deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel to the region, and the deeper question confronting Canberra: does Australia truly have strategic independence, or is it permanently tied to Washington’s global conflicts?   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Israel and the United States have launched another attack on Iran, dramatically escalating tensions across the Middle East and raising serious questions about international law, global stability and the credibility of the so-called rules-based international order. In this episode, we examine the latest developments in the Israel–Iran conflict, including the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel and US military bases across Western Asia.   We also analyse the legal and political implications of the attack, Australia’s response under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and the broader strategic context – from the legacy of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and Donald Trump’s “peace through war” rhetoric to ongoing calls for regime change in Tehran.   We discuss why military analysts consider Iran one of the most difficult countries in the world to invade, and what Australia’s alliance with the United States and Israel means as the Middle East crisis deepens.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” and what it means for Gaza, Palestine, Israel and the future of international law. Promoted as a reconstruction and peacekeeping plan after the devastation of Gaza since October 2023, the initiative raises serious questions about privatised rebuilding, geopolitical power, and the exclusion of Palestinian self-determination. Drawing parallels with the Iraq War and the terrible legacy of Tony Blair, we explore concerns about corruption, global governance, Australia’s foreign policy, and whether this is truly peace in the Middle East – or a new model of war and reconstruction politics.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.‘Dayvan Cowboy’, Boards Of Canada.

In this episode, we examine the new Shadow Cabinet and ask whether the Liberal Party’s latest leadership change represents genuine renewal or simply a rebranding of the same conservative messaging that led to heavy defeats in the 2022 and 2025 federal elections. Promising lower taxes, smaller government and tougher immigration settings, Taylor’s rhetoric echoes the Dutton and Morrison era, raising questions about whether the Coalition has learned from its electoral collapse. We look at the early stumbles, the return of culture-war politics, and looming battles over immigration, negative gearing, capital gains tax and housing affordability – and consider whether Labor will resist a rightward shift in Australian federal politics or continue playing it safe while the agenda is set by its opponents. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Today on New Politics, we explore the escalating crisis inside the Liberal Party following the leadership elevation of Angus Taylor and ask whether the Coalition can recover from its devastating 2025 federal election defeat. With internal splits over gun control after the Bondi attacks, the breakdown between the Liberals and Nationals, mass shadow ministry resignations under Sussan Ley, and Barnaby Joyce’s defection to One Nation, Australia’s conservative movement is facing its most serious instability in decades. As Pauline Hanson’s One Nation surges in the opinion polls and the Liberals slump to historic lows, we examine whether this is a repeat of the 1990s leadership turmoil or something far more structural. We also analyse the rise of right-wing populism, the influence of Gina Rinehart, and what this fragmentation means for the Albanese Labor government and the future of Australian federal politics. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

This today’s episode of the New Politics podcast, we explore the political firestorm surrounding Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Sydney and why it became a nationwide flashpoint over Gaza, free speech, protest rights and Australia’s foreign policy. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of “social cohesion”, tens of thousands protested in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and more than 30 cities, opposing Australia’s bipartisan support for Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and escalating violence in the West Bank. We examine allegations of war crimes, apartheid and genocide raised by international organisations, the rapid expansion of hate speech laws – including proposed bans on phrases such as “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” – and concerns about political influence, lobbying, defence ties and democratic rights in Australia. Is criticism of Israel and Zionism being conflated with antisemitism? And has Australia compromised its commitment to human rights and free expression in pursuit of alliance politics?   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine Australia’s newly passed anti-hate speech laws and ask when protecting communities crosses the line into criminalising dissent. Rushed through parliament after the Bondi terror attack, the legislation introduces the vague concept of “psychological harm”, raising serious concerns about free speech, the right to protest and the ability to criticise foreign governments.Will accusing the Israeli government of genocide, war crimes or apartheid against Palestinians now be deemed unlawful if offence is claimed? And what this means for journalists, activists, podcasters and ordinary citizens?We also look at the political pressure behind the laws, including lobbying around the IHRA definition of antisemitism, selective enforcement against pro-Palestine protests, the cancellation of cultural events such as the Adelaide Writers’ Festival, and growing fears that subjective feelings are being elevated over democratic rights as Australia moves toward policing dissent rather than defending it. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine growing global concern over the United States as political instability and erratic leadership under President Donald Trump increasingly undermine the post-1945 international order. From the future of the United Nations, NATO, the IMF and the World Trade Organisation, to flashpoints such as the removal of Venezuela’s president and threats to seize Greenland, we ask whether the world is being forced to imagine a geopolitical future without reliable US leadership. Placing Trump’s second term within a broader pattern of populist strongman politics, and reflecting on Mark Carney’s warning at Davos, the episode argues that the greatest threat to America’s power may now be internal – and the consequences are global. #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this long-read episode, we revisit Australia’s anti-Semitism report from July 2025 and the growing politics of fear surrounding protest, free speech, and criticisms of Israel. As new federal anti-hate and anti-Semitism laws are rushed through parliament following the Bondi attacks and high-profile incidents in Melbourne, this episode asks whether these measures are genuinely about protecting communities or about silencing dissent. We explore the Segal report, the proposed adoption of the IHRA definition, and the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, drawing on recent Federal Court rulings to challenge media narratives, selective outrage, and the expansion of police powers. With Gaza at the centre of global protest over war crimes and genocide, this episode argues that criminalising political speech, protest, and solidarity with Palestinians undermines democracy itself – because opposing apartheid, state violence, and genocide is not hate, but an act of political conscience. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Donald Trump’s second presidency has exposed the United States’ rapid slide into authoritarianism, with chaos, corruption and unchecked executive power now defining American politics. In this long-read episode, we examine how Trump’s return to the White House has accelerated democratic collapse, normalised fascistic policies and reshaped global power – and what this means for Australia. As the US declines under political instability and imperial overreach, and China rises in the Indo–Pacific, we ask whether Australia should remain locked into ANZUS and AUKUS or finally pursue an independent foreign policy aligned with its region and national interests. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this holiday episode, we cut through the noise surrounding calls for a Royal Commission into the Bondi attack and ask whether the process is truly about accountability or has become a vehicle for political pressure. With an independent review already underway, led by respected former diplomat Dennis Richardson and examining the actions of ASIO and the Australian Federal Police, we question whether a Royal Commission is necessary or risks becoming a highly politicised inquiry with unclear objectives. We explore how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been placed in an impossible position – where any decision is framed as weakness – particularly given his past support for Palestine and his government’s recognition of the Palestinian state, while noting that past tragedies such as Port Arthur and the Lindt Café siege, along with ongoing crises like domestic violence against women and media ownership in Australia, have never prompted Royal Commissions. The episode also examines the growing influence of pro-Israel and Zionist lobby groups, the use of antisemitism accusations to shut down debate, and the broader implications for free speech, democratic accountability, and Australian politics. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.