Politics Now

Why are there more women in the Senate than in the House of Representatives? Is it just convention stopping Senators from being major party leaders? With a weakened Opposition, are the usual mechanisms to hold government to account working? And is the Albanese Government still "gun shy" when it comes to considering negative gearing or capital gains reform?Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly get stuck into all of your curly questions for this special summer episode of The Party Room.Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.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

It's been a big week in Australian politics, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalling parliament early to deal with hate speech and gun buyback legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack and the surprise announcement that US Ambassador Kevin Rudd is stepping down from the role a year earlier than expected.But while the Opposition has been calling for the parliament to be recalled since the horrific events on the 14th of December, they've now claimed the legislation has been rushed, with Opposition leader Sussan Ley signalling the Liberals won't back 'unsalvageable' hate crime and gun control reforms. So, does that put the Greens in the frame?And a month after the social media ban for under 16s began, there's new data from the social media companies about how many under 16s have been removed from their platforms.Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong are joined by Charles Croucher on The Party Room.Guest: Charles Croucher, 9News Political EditorGot 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

Kerrynne Liddle represents a lot of firsts.The Arrernte woman is the first indigenous Senator for South Australia, the first indigenous woman to win a parliamentary seat in the state, and may be one of the first (or certainly one of only a few) federal parliamentarians to have previously worked as a jillaroo.It’s been a turbulent year for the Liberal party following its punishing election loss in May 2025 - so how does someone like the Senator for South Australia navigate through that noise? And with experience in journalism, tourism, leadership roles with Housing Trusts and universities, why did she end up choosing a political life?In this special Politics Now: The Interview summer series, recorded in the final parliamentary sitting week of 2025, Patricia Karvelas sits down with movers and shakers across the Australian political sphere to unpack the person behind the politics.In this episode Patricia Karvelas is joined by Kerrynne Liddle to discuss her unusual pathway into politics, the wide-reaching influence of her family, and why she stands by her No vote on the Voice.Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.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.auFamily and domestic violence support:1800 Respect national helpline:1800 737 732Women's Crisis Line:1800 811 811Men's Referral Service:1300 766 491Lifeline (24 hour crisis line):131 114Relationships Australia:1300 364 277NSW Domestic Violence Line:1800 656 463Qld DV Connect Womensline:1800 811 811Vic Safe Steps crisis response line:1800 015 188ACT 24/7 Crisis Line:(02) 6280 0900Tas Family Violence Counselling and Support Service:1800 608 122SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line:1800 800 098WA Women's Domestic Violence 24h Helpline:1800 007 339NT Domestic violence helpline:1800 737 732

In a surprise move,  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the US Ambassador Kevin Rudd will step down from the role at the end of March - a year earlier than expected.Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Ambassador Rudd's work helping further the AUKUS pact, securing Julian Assange's release in 2024 and building relationships across both sides of politics in the US.It comes as the government announces a national day of mourning for the Bondi victims on January 22nd - and just a day after the prime minister recalled parliament early, with MPs to return to Canberra next week to work through legislation on hate speech and gun buy backs in the wake of the terrorist attack.Patricia Karvelas breaks it all down on this Politics Now emergency episode.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

Politics Now is back after a summer recess and PK and Jacob have lots of thoughts about what happened over the break!Extreme weather continues to lash much of the country, with the prime minister announcing relief packages for some of the impacted communities - but the devastating events haven't distracted from questions about why the Albanese Government took so long to announce a national Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.Recorded right before the prime minister recalled parliament, MPs are now set to descend on Canberra next week to pass the government's proposed hate speech laws -  we'll bring your more analysis on that across Politics Now throughout the week.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

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.The announcement comes in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and under mounting pressure from various groups.The PM says the inquiry will address four key areas and Commissioner Virginia Bell will have to report back by December 14, 2026. Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong 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

More than two years on from the Murphy review, where is the Albanese government on gambling reform — and is there growing disquiet in the backbench?Is Sussan Ley facing the glass cliff? Why has Peter Dutton disappeared from the media? And would moderate Liberals ever consider becoming independents and joining with the Teals?Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly get stuck into all of your curly questions for this special summer episode of The Party Room.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

Greens Leader Larissa Waters has described herself as someone who was elected to “get shit done”. But what does that actually mean?As the first Greens Senator for Queensland, and just the second female leader for the party, Larissa Waters has risen to lead after a difficult election where the party was rejected in some of its inner city heartland, losing its long time leader Adam Bandt.So how does Larissa Waters think about leadership and compromise - and is she actually the ultimate deal maker?In this special Politics Now: The Interview summer series, recorded in the final parliamentary sitting week of 2025, Patricia Karvelas sits down with movers and shakers across the Australian political sphere to unpack the person behind the politics.In this episode Patricia Karvelas is joined by Larissa Waters to explore how she maintains her optimism, managing political leadership as a single mum, and the tension between action and outcome.Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.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

Pollsters are already preparing for an interesting year ahead.One Nation's support has surged, while Coalition support has slumped. So, are politicians, or policies, driving voter support?And with the Millennial and Gen Z cohort the largest voter bloc and growing, are the major parties switched on to this changing electorate? And what are the trends and issues that could define politics in 2026?Kos Samaras and Tony Barry from the Redbridge group join Fran Kelly for a special episode of The Party Room.Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.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

Josh Burns is a bit of a rising star in the Australian Labor Party. The Member for Macnamara is an increasing presence in the party - often unafraid to front a microphone or camera. He’s seen as part of the new generation of Labor, but is he pushing for change in the background - or is he biting his tongue and working within the system? And while Josh Burns says he never wanted to become known as “the Jewish MP”, it has become a defining feature of his political identity - so how does that sit with him?In this special Politics Now: The Interview summer series, recorded in the final parliamentary sitting week of 2025, Patricia Karvelas sits down with movers and shakers across the Australian political sphere to unpack the person behind the politics.In this episode Patricia Karvelas is joined by Josh Burns to unpack identity, pathways for making change, and his relationship to fatherhood.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

It's Politics Now - The Party Room - live! In this Canberra Theatre live show, recorded at the start of December, Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas were joined on stage by Jacob Greber to wrap up a massive year in politics — and look at where things are headed in 2026.Anthony Albanese started the year staring down the prospect of election defeat but ended it with a thumping majority and Australia's own 'royal wedding'. While the Coalition faced the prospect of "extinction" after an election wipe-out, and new leader Sussan Ley struggled to find her feet amongst the infighting.But as the cost-of-living bites, it's not all smooth sailing ahead for the Government. So will 2026 be the year for political bravery?Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.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

He’s often described as a Liberal moderate - but that’s a label this MP is uncomfortable with.The member for Goldstein Tim Wilson spent a term in the political wilderness after losing his seat to an independent, narrowly winning it back at the 2025 election.In returning to Canberra, he’s been eager to bring the Liberal party back to its economic roots, and has been openly ambitious about his future in the party. So how does Tim Wilson see the future of the party, and his role in it?In this special Politics Now: The Interview summer series, recorded in the final parliamentary sitting week of 2025, Patricia Karvelas sits down with movers and shakers across the Australian political sphere to unpack the person behind the politics.In this episode Patricia Karvelas is joined by Tim Wilson to discuss the solace found in art, his relationship to sexuality, identity, and free speech, and if he's working towards being PM.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

Australia is often celebrated for its multiculturalism, and lauded as an immigration success story.But in politics, debates over immigration are complex, and long established through multiple political cycles.And while the Coalition has delayed unveiling its immigration policy in the wake of the tragic Bondi attack, conversations around immigration have permeated through some of the commentary.So, what do the numbers actually show?Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on a special edition of Politics Now.Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.Find the companion housing episode here:  https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/politics-now/why-the-housing-crisis-is-such-a-wicked-problem/106123762Got 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

Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has acknowledged he could have done more to combat antisemitism, and is "fully supporting and adopting" antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal's plan. Patricia Karvelas, Fran Kelly and Karen Middleton were mid-way through recording The Party Room when the news came through, but we hit pause bring you the latest on the announcement and its implications. And as the horror of the Bondi terrorist attack continues to reverberate across the world, there's no doubt it's changed Australia, so has it also changed the political year ahead?Guest: Karen Middleton, Political Journalist and Contributor to the Monthly 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

Three days after the horrific attack on Jewish people at Bondi Beach, political lines are being drawn.The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this morning reiterated his horror at the attack, with both federal and state governments moving to speed up gun reform.But the Coalition has focused in on those in the Australian Jewish community who feel the government didn’t hear their warnings about safety - and have flagged migration as a key issue that needs change following the attack.Patricia Karvelas and Isobel Roe break it all down on Politics Now.If you or anyone needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14Got 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

The fallout from the Bondi Beach terrorist attack is continuing to ricochet across Australia and around the globe. Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns have reaffirmed their commitments to bring in stronger gun laws, but the architect of Australia’s gun laws, John Howard, has warned he doesn’t want gun control to become a diversion from combating antisemitism.Patricia Karvelas and Laura Tingle, ABC Global Affairs Editor break it all down on Politics Now.If you or anyone needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14Got 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

In the wake of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, the Prime Minister has vowed to "dedicate every single resource required" to the response. Anthony Albanese has labelled the terrorist attack an act of "pure evil antisemitism" and promised that Australians will eradicate the "scourge" together.As National Cabinet gets set for an emergency meeting this afternoon, the Prime Minister says he's putting gun reform on the agenda, with a proposal to be considered that would include putting limits on the number of guns that can be used or licenced by individuals and a review of licences over a period of time.And while investigations continue, Opposition leader Sussan Ley says anti-Semitism has been left to "fester" in Australia, and has urged the Government to implement the recommendations from the antisemitism envoy in full.If you or anyone needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14Jacob Greber and Clare Armstrong 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

The Albanese Government's agenda has been overshadowed by scrutiny on political entitlements and expenses. And while Communications and Sport Minister Anika Wells is in the firing line, she's far from the only politician to access the scheme. So, how is the saga going to end — and do the perks pass the 'group chat' test?It comes as the Opposition prepares to unveil its immigration strategy, in a bid to claw back votes from One Nation. Speaking of One Nation, Barnaby Joyce has officially made the switch and will now sit as the One Nation MP for New England. As Fran Kelly and Sarah Ferguson discuss with Phil Coorey, the move also grants the group party status, but does it lend further legitimacy to the brand?Guest: Phil Coorey, Australian Financial Review Political EditorGot 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

Housing remains the key issue for governments of all stripes, and was the cornerstone of both major parties' election campaigns.But since the election, the housing market has only become increasingly unaffordable. And while Labor’s 5 per cent first homebuyer deposit scheme has had major uptake, experts are warning it could drive up prices at the entry level end of the market.So, what policies and levers can federal and state governments pull to increase supply? Could gentle density rather than urban sprawl and skyscrapers be the answer? And is the Albanese Government’s target of 1.2 million homes by 2030 achievable?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

AUKUS is going "full steam ahead" — that's the message from the Trump administration. But is it all smooth sailing ahead for the security partnership?Meanwhile, Communications Minister Anika Wells is facing choppy waters, as further developments in the entitlement saga continue to emerge. So, can she survive the political turbulence? And could this lead to an overhaul of politicians' entitlements?Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein 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