Australian Politics

Political editor Karen Middleton and Guardian Australia's political team examine what’s happening in Australian politics and why it matters to you

Amanda Rishworth on tackling gender-based violence

This Monday marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, speaks with the social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, about battling online misogynists, and stopping the welfare system empowering angry exes

11-22
39:12

Guardian Essential report: Australians worry about the climate crisis and the economy as Trump returns

Guardian Australia chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, and Essential Media executive director, Peter Lewis, talk about what Australians think about Donald Trump’s election win

11-20
28:32

Clare O’Neil on Labor’s plan to fix the housing crisis

Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, speaks with the federal housing and homelessness minister, Clare O’Neil. They discuss whether a double dissolution is on the horizon, the role housing will play in the upcoming federal election campaign and how the housing crisis is more than just a problem of economics

11-15
32:57

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

11-08
45:58

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

11-01
40:54

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

10-25
39:47

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

10-23
23:48

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

10-18
38:14

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

10-11
33:46

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

10-09
27:47

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

10-04
41:48

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

09-27
34:24

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

09-25
30:12

A former White House staffer on if the US election will be won on vibes

Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with former Kamala Harris White House staffer and PhD candidate Cory Alpert about the upcoming US election. Alpert explores some of the complexities of the US electoral system, the ‘October surprise’, and the impact of algorithms on the race to the White House

09-20
44:18

Catherine King on reforming Australia’s aviation sector

This week the federal opposition suggested that perhaps Qantas should be forced to sell off its low-cost stablemate Jetstar. This followed the recent release of the federal government’s aviation white paper, which includes ideas on how to make flights cheaper, boost competition and hold airlines to account for delays and cancellations. Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, talks with the minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government, Catherine King, about her government’s plans for wide-ranging aviation reform and whether travellers will get a better deal

09-13
32:51

Guardian Essential report: are Labor’s student visa caps good politics?

Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, and Peter Lewis from Essential Media talk about the public support for Labor’s international student visa caps, and if the politics behind the reform are being driven by the upcoming election

09-11
24:22

Steven Miles on winning back Queensland voters to win a fourth term

Guardian Australia’s political reporter Amy Remeikis speaks with Queensland’s premier, Steven Miles, about the Great Barrier Reef, the housing crisis, youth crime and the upcoming election. You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

09-06
33:49

Saul Eslake on falling inflation and when interest rates might finally come down

Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with independent economist Saul Eslake about the government’s attempts to deal with inflation and why prices are still so high

08-30
39:10

Guardian Essential report: is calling Peter Dutton divisive playing into his political strategy

Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, and Peter Lewis from Essential Media talk about voters’ opinions of Peter Dutton’s call to stop people fleeing Gaza from entering Australia and whether he is driving division for political gain You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

08-28
28:12

Andrew Bragg on housing, the ‘poison’ of Nimbyism, and the NSW Liberal council election debacle

Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with New South Wales Liberal senator Andrew Bragg about the Coalition’s plan on housing, and the federal implications of the NSW Liberals’ catastrophic failure to lodge paperwork for the local government elections

08-23
34:27

Lis Stanger

They had the opportunity to do something for the nearly decade-long period they were the government, rather they became expert at rewarding their own and punishing everybody else. How about they fighting against the enquiry into financial institutions, major rent seekers.

08-23 Reply

Shaun Scott

why does the media continue to give the COALititon air time. there is no one inspiring in their ranks.

02-18 Reply

william tayor

God, listening to the coalition decreases your intelligence. maybe pull them up on some of their lies and spin instead of letting them waffle on.

02-10 Reply

william tayor

I wish more reporting was around the shadow far right industry front groups who were funding and delivering 'talking points' to the No campaign and the links they have to the main no players. also how manning companies and big buisnes, whilst public facing Yes, were secretly funding these right-wing lobost groups. Talk about having your cake and eating it too. They got what they paid for and got away without losing face.

10-15 Reply

Lis Stanger

Housing issues in this country are a result of policies implemented by the Howard Coalition and the power of the investor class to ensure beneficial policies stay in place.

09-18 Reply

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