New Politics: Australian Politics

In this episode of the New Politics podcast, we look at Australia’s broken political structures and rising extremism – from the renewed debate over four-year federal terms and a constitution stuck in the 1890s, to the disturbing double standards in NSW policing after an authorised neo-Nazi rally was allowed to proceed while pro-Palestine protesters were violently suppressed, and finally the Liberal Party’s internal “killing season”, where chaos over net-zero, gender quotas and leadership instability shows a party drifting further from the electorate. We explore why constitutional reform matters, why hate-speech laws aren’t being used against white supremacists, and how the Coalition’s refusal to adapt to modern Australia – on climate, multiculturalism and democratic rights – is pushing it towards long-term electoral irrelevance.Support New Politics, just $5 per week: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

In this bonus episode of the New Politics podcast, we look at the ghost of Gough Whitlam and ask whether a visionary like Whitlam – who delivered universal healthcare, free tertiary education, multiculturalism, women’s rights and First Nations recognition – could even survive in today’s poll-driven, faction-controlled Labor Party. Fifty years after the Dismissal, Australia is still affected by the events from 1975, with Labor, Liberal and National parties offering tiny differences while the public demands real reform on housing, climate, health and education. We explore what a Whitlam government would look like in 2024 – cancelling AUKUS, recognising Palestine, expanding Medicare, rebuilding the ABC and pushing for a republic – and why the lessons learned from the Dismissal turned Labor into a cautious managerial party afraid of bold ideas. Whitlam’s legacy reminds us that government can transform lives, and that Australian politics desperately needs the ambition, imagination and courage that has been forgotten. Support New Politics, just $5 per week:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

(00:00:00) The War on Dissent and Socialism USA (00:01:12) Beautiful, Menacing, and Obscene: Australia’s Addiction to War (00:18:18) Robodebt Reborn: The Cruelty That Never Dies (00:29:56) Treaty and Truth: A New Beginning in Victoria (00:43:07) Socialism in the City: Zohran Mamdani’s Revolution in New York We expose Australia’s growing contradictions – a nation that talks peace while funding war, promises compassion while reviving cruelty, and talks justice while fearing equality. From Sydney’s taxpayer-funded arms expo where protesters were pepper-sprayed by police, to Labor’s quiet revival of Robodebt through private debt collectors, this episode reveals how state power is being weaponised against dissent and the vulnerable. We also cover Victoria’s historic Treaty with First Nations peoples, a breakthrough in truth-telling and Reconciliation now under threat from conservative backlash, and the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York’s first Muslim and African-born mayor – a victory for conviction politics over corporate control.Support and celebrate New Politics, just $5 per week:   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:   ‘Stranger In Moscow’, Tame Impala.‘Swing For The Crime’, Ed Kuepper.‘The King Is Dead’, The Herd.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

(00:00:00) The Great Environmental Backflip and the Joy Division (00:01:09) Green Light, Red Flags: Labor’s Environmental Backdown (00:16:40) Nuclear Déjà Vu: The Coalition’s Broken Record (00:29:26) Between Beijing and Washington: Albanese at ASEAN (00:41:10) Culture Wars on Vinyl: The Joy Division Distraction We examine one of the biggest environmental retreats in years as the Albanese government prepares to hand decision-making powers on coal, gas and water projects back to the states, gutting environmental protection and empowering the fossil-fuel lobby. It’s supposedly about “cutting red tape,” but critics say it’s a green light for mining giants and a betrayal of Labor’s climate promises. We also assess the new “national interest” override, the anger from NT Aboriginal land councils, and the government’s growing resemblance to the Morrison era. Meanwhile, the Coalition revives its nuclear energy obsession as Senator Jane Hume pushes to lift Australia’s nuclear ban, reigniting divisions between Barnaby Joyce and the moderates. Plus, Anthony Albanese’s balancing act at the ASEAN summit – caught between China and the US – and Sussan Ley’s bizarre attack on the Prime Minister for wearing a Joy Division T-shirt. Sharp analysis, politics without spin, and all the week’s contradictions in Australian politics.Support New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘Bonnie And Clyde’, Serge Gainsbourg (French Accent remix).‘Satellite Anthem Icarus, Boards of Canada.‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, Joy Division.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

(00:00:00) Alliance Games and the Price of Truth (00:01:09) The Albanese–Trump Deal and the $8.5 Billion handshake (17 mins) (00:18:46) Sparks Over The South China Sea (11 mins) (00:29:56) Barnaby Joyce and One Nation: Who Really Cares (8 mins) (00:38:45) A Ceasefire That Still Kills in Gaza (5 mins) (00:43:35) The ABC Hatchet Job on Hedges (15 mins) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s long-awaited meeting with Donald Trump delivers smiles, handshakes and a critical minerals deal that deepens Australia’s dependence on Washington. Beneath the diplomacy lies a bigger story – how this deal sidelines China, fuels the mining magnates and leaves Australia as the world’s quarry. Meanwhile, rising tensions in the South China Sea, Barnaby Joyce’s flirtation with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, and the collapse of the Gaza “ceasefire” expose a world of political theatre and moral failure. From AUKUS to media censorship and Chris Hedges’ fight for truth, this episode dissects power, propaganda and the high price of speaking out.Support New Politics, just $5 per month: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘Spitfire’, Public Service Broadcasting.‘Confessions Of A Window Cleaner’, Ed Kuepper.‘Dātura’, Tori Amos.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

In this week’s podcast, Labor’s superannuation retreat exposes a government afraid to lead – Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ watered-down super tax gives wealthy Australians another break while real reform on housing, climate and tax fairness slips further away. We examine the bizarre corruption scandal of the Australian Parliamentary Sports Club – with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presiding over a registered lobby group – and the vindictive legal crusade of former senator Linda Reynolds against Brittany Higgins, highlighting Australia’s broken defamation laws. Plus, Donald Trump’s so-called Gaza “ceasefire” reveals more illusion than peace, as Israel’s narrative control collapses and global calls for justice and accountability grow louder.Support New Politics, just $5 per month: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘Off The Grid’, Beastie Boys.‘Confessions Of A Window Cleaner’, Ed Kuepper.‘Talking To A Stranger’, Birds of Tokyo (cover).‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

We expose the hypocrisy behind the National Press Club’s cancellation of Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Chris Hedges, silenced for planning to speak about the collapse of journalism and the genocide in Gaza. We reveal how corporate sponsors like Raytheon, BAE Systems and Thales – all supplying weapons to Israel – help shape media censorship in Australia’s so-called home of free speech. We also examine the Optus Triple-0 outage, which blocked hundreds of emergency calls and caused three preventable deaths, highlighting the failure of neoliberalism and the dangers of outsourcing essential public services. And as the Liberal Party descends further into chaos, with Andrew Hastie’s aborted leadership challenge, Jacinta Price’s infighting and Peter Dutton’s factional damage, we ask whether Australia’s conservative movement is now ideologically bankrupt and politically finished. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics, just $5 per month: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘All I Need’, AIR (feat. Beth Hirsch).‘Ameno’, +eRa+.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

Anthony Albanese is back from his international tour, pitching stability and steady progress – but is “slow and steady” enough, or just political stagnation? We unpack the prime minister’s speeches at the UK Labour conference, his meeting with King Charles, and what his cautious style means for Australia’s future. Labor may have the advantage of a fractured Liberal Party, but with Andrew Hastie pushing a hard-right agenda and Sussan Ley struggling to hold her party together, the opposition’s leadership battles could shift quickly. We also examine Labor’s $790 million Nauru contract with a US private prison company, concerns over the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and the so-called Gaza peace plan backed by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu – a deal that looks more like forced surrender than genuine peace. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: Song listing: ‘Atomic Moog 2000’, Cold Cut.‘Crooked River’, Richard Pleasance. ‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

America’s democratic decline under Donald Trump’s second term is reshaping global politics – institutions are undermined, conspiracy theories drive policy, and US credibility is collapsing on the world stage. As China, Russia, India, and Brazil strengthen BRICS alliances, Australia faces tough choices on AUKUS, tariffs, and its role in a fractured order. While the media obsesses over Anthony Albanese’s “date” with Trump, the bigger story is Australia’s recognition of Palestine at the UN, a symbolic but historic shift signalling cracks in decades of Western obstruction and reshaping global debates on justice, sovereignty, and accountability. Support New Politics, just $5 per month: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘Living In America’, James Brown (Mixerm8’s dub version).‘Satellite Anthem Icarus, Boards of Canada.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

Australia’s first national climate risk assessment warns of rising seas, deadly heat, and collapsing ecosystems, raising doubts about whether Anthony Albanese’s 2035 emissions target is bold enough. Meanwhile, the Royal Children’s Hospital caves to Zionist lobby pressure, cancelling a Gaza-related health panel as the UN declares Israel guilty of genocide. Abroad, Albanese falters in Papua New Guinea, Richard Marles unveils $1.7 billion Ghost Shark drones, and the Coalition sinks further into political chaos. #AUSPOL #ClimateEmergencySupport New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘Confessions Of A Window Cleaner’, Ed Kuepper.‘Wherever We Go’, Vera Blue. ‘Hungry Face’, Mogwai. ‘The Hard Road’, Hilltop Hoods. ‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

In this bonus episode of the New Politics podcast, host David Lewis unpacks Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) – once dismissed as fringe but now at the centre of global economic debate. We explore its intellectual roots, from Georg Friedrich Knapp and Abba Lerner to modern voices like Warren Mosler, Bill Mitchell, L. Randall Wray and Stephanie Kelton, and examine how MMT shapes today’s policy battles over climate change, unemployment and inequality. From Japan’s record debt levels to US COVID stimulus, Canada’s healthcare experiments and China’s infrastructure spending, real-world tests are mounting, sparking fierce clashes between advocates who see MMT as a tool for resilience and critics who warn of runaway inflation. Is it the future of economic management or a dangerous illusion?#ModernMonetaryTheory #MMTExplained #EconomicsPodcast #FiscalPolicy2025 #GreenNewDeal #GlobalEconomyReading list:Kelton, S. (2020). The deficit myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the birth of the people’s economy. PublicAffairs.Knapp, G. F. (1905). The state theory of money. Macmillan.Lerner, A. P. (1943). Functional finance and the federal debt. Social Research, 10(1), 38–51.Levy Economics Institute. (2025). The rise of the modern monetary system (Working Paper No. 1234). Levy Economics Institute of Bard College. https://www.levyinstitute.org/publications/the-rise-of-the-modern-monetary-systemMitchell, W. (2025, August 8). The failure of austerity and the construction slowdown in the UK [Blog post]. Bill Mitchell – Modern Monetary Theory. https://billmitchell.org/blog/?p=62704Mitchell, W., Wray, L. R., & Watts, M. (2019). Macroeconomics. Red Globe Press.Murphy, R. P. (2025). MMT: Dead wrong [Audio podcast episode]. Mises Institute Podcast. Mises Institute. https://mises.org/library/mmt-dead-wrongPalley, T. I. (2019). Modern Monetary Theory (MMT): A policy polemic for depressed times. Real-World Economics Review, 89, 147–160. http://www.paecon.net/PAEReview/issue89/Palley89.pdfPhys.org. (2025, May 15). Economist: Modern Monetary Theory could benefit Canada. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-modern-monetary-theory-economist-canada.htmlTcherneva, P. R. (2020). The case for a job guarantee. Polity Press.Wray, L. R. (2015). Modern Monetary Theory: A primer on macroeconomics for sovereign monetary systems (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.

This week, we expose Australia’s latest media hysteria: Xi Jinping’s speech to commemorate defeating fascism in 1945 mistranslated into a China scare campaign, recycled “Dictator Dan” attacks on Daniel Andrews, Jacinta Price’s divisive immigration comments sparking outrage and more Liberal Party chaos, the Zionist intimidation at Bondi Beach, Lachlan Murdoch’s takeover of News Corporation, and Victoria’s historic Indigenous Treaty.  #AusPol #ChinaRelations #JacintaPrice #LiberalParty #FreePalestine #MurdochMedia #VictoriaTreaty #NewPoliticsPodcast  Support New Politics, just $5 per week.   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Arion [Nothing Changes Under The Sun]’, Blue States.‘A Stranger In Moscow’, Tame Impala.‘Kya Kyana’, Flewnt.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

The “March for Australia” rallies claimed to be about housing and migration, but quickly exposed themselves as platforms for white nationalism, racism, and neo-Nazi activity. We break down how politicians, right-wing media, and even the Prime Minister’s weak response helped legitimise extremism, while also exposing the pro-Israel propaganda behind the Gold Coast Mayors Summit and Labor’s growing secrecy on FOI, asylum seekers, and whistleblower protections. What kind of democracy does Australia really want?Support New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  #auspol #MarchForAustraliaSong listing:   ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Global Reach’, Alec Williams & Chieli Minucci.‘All Along The Watchtower’, Afterhere (Bob Dylan cover).‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).

Housing affordability dominates the headlines as the Albanese government repackages its 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers, but with global evidence showing such policies push up prices without fixing supply, is this just more political spin? We examine why restrictive zoning, slow planning, and the lack of social housing remain the real barriers to affordable homes, and the government needs to understand that housing is a human right, not just an investment. Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador, but it raises questions about the credibility of ASIO, double standards on Israel’s war crimes, and whether this move is linked to Australia’s upcoming recognition of Palestine. And the Coalition’s climate wars are tearing the party apart yet again, with Nationals MPs, Gina Rinehart, and conservative media undermining net zero while corporate Australia and voters demand action – leaving Sussan Ley’s leadership on the brink and Labor with a political gift that just keeps on giving.  #AusPol #HousingCrisis #ClimateChaos #MiddleEastPoliticsSupport New Politics:   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:   ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Man of Constant Sorrow’, Skeewiff.‘The Last Goodbye’, Odesza.‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).

We unpack the government’s Economic Reform Roundtable, where Anthony Albanese brought together business, unions, and welfare groups to debate productivity, equity, housing, and workplace reform – but with predictable demands and little real change on offer. We examine the growing push for a four-day working week, a reform once dismissed as radical but now backed by evidence of higher productivity, better wellbeing, and lower emissions.On the international stage, Benjamin Netanyahu’s attack on Albanese over Palestine recognition backfired, exposing his crumbling authority while highlighting Australia’s potential shift towards sanctions and accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Back home, Labor consolidates power despite Albanese’s low personal popularity, the Liberals under Sussan Ley remain stuck in negativity, and Tasmanian Labor tries to arrest its chaos under new leader Josh Willie.#AusPol #NewPoliticsPodcast #TasPol  Support New Politics, just $5 per month: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:   ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Confessions Of A Window Cleaner’, Ed Kuepper.‘Whisper’, Coldplay.‘Familiar’, Agnes Obel.‘Wild’, Spoon.‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that Australia will recognise the state of Palestine at the UN in September marks a historic foreign policy shift, yet conditions are placed solely on Palestine while Israel faces none. This episode examines the unfinished business of UN Resolution 181, Australia’s role under ‘Doc’ Evatt in 1947, and the urgent need for real action – sanctions, reparations, and accountability for Israel’s war crimes – while exposing double standards in the media over the killing of 240 journalists in Gaza. We also analyse the political absurdity of the Liberal Party’s reaction to the Reserve Bank’s rate cut, the deeper problem of reflex opposition, and the government’s secrecy over its climate risk assessment, which reveals billions in climate damage and counterproductive policies that threaten Australia’s future.Support New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Dayvan Cowboy’, The Boards Of Canada.‘Stonecutters’, Dope Lemon.‘Wild’, Spoon.‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).

In this episode of New Politics, we cover the massive Sydney Harbour Bridge protest where up to 300,000 Australians defied torrential rain to demand justice for Palestine, an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and immediate recognition of a Palestinian state. We examine the political fallout for NSW Premier Chris Minns, growing dissent within Labor ranks, and the Albanese government’s slow, cautious response and vague promises of action. We also unpack a controversial proposal to ban under-16s from social media using invasive ID checks – appeasing Rupert Murdoch rather than protecting children – and explore the overlooked but significant Indigenous economic reforms announced at the Garma Festival. #AUSPOL #MarchForHumanitySupport New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘The Hanging Tree’, James Newton Howard, with Jennifer Lawrence.‘Confessions Of A Window Cleaner’, Ed Kuepper.‘Take Me Home’, A.B. Original & Gurrumul.‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).

AUKUS turns costly as Australia signs a 50-year treaty with the UK – without US backing. The Nationals reignite the climate wars, aged care reforms are delayed, and Gareth Ward remains in Parliament despite a criminal conviction. Plus, we analyse Australia’s tepid response to the crisis in Gaza and growing calls for Palestine recognition.  Support New Politics, just $5 per month:   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Effloresce And Deliquesce’, The Chills.‘Dātura’, Tori Amos.‘Wherever We Go’, Vera Blue.‘Trouble’, Vox Noir, SATV Music.‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).

The first sitting week of Australia’s new federal Parliament has begun with a show of strength from the Albanese Labor government, now holding a record-breaking majority. In this episode, we explore what Prime Minister Albanese’s “year of delivery” means for health, housing, education and infrastructure – and whether Labor can meet expectations or fall into complacency. We examine the Coalition’s ongoing crisis under Sussan Ley, with internal chaos, ideological confusion and media sabotage dragging the party further into irrelevance. We also cover the powerful pro-Palestine protests outside Parliament and question why the government, led by Penny Wong, has focused more on silencing dissent than holding Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. Plus, we look at the campaign to lower the voting age to 16 in Australia, and what it means for democracy and youth political engagement. And finally, we unpack the result of the Tasmania election and what it reveals about modern power-sharing politics – and Labor’s persistent reluctance to work with the Greens. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics. just $5 per month: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com Song listing:‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.‘Talking To A Stranger’, Birds of Tokyo (cover).‘Under The Sea’, Digby Jones.‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).

In this episode, we break down a big week in Australian politics – from Anthony Albanese’s strategic reset of Australia–China relations through diplomacy and trade, to the Coalition’s continued Cold War-style fearmongering and media hysteria over Taiwan. We examine the fallout from the Jillian Segal anti-Semitism report, which critics argue could suppress dissent on Israel and erode democratic freedoms, and question its links to right-wing lobby groups. We also explore Australia’s continuing housing crisis, with leaked Treasury figures revealing a likely shortfall of up to 460,000 homes by 2030, and ask whether modular, high-density living can shift the culture of oversized McMansions. Plus, with Tasmania heading to the polls amid chaos, independents on the rise, and major parties refusing alliances, is this the future of post-major-party politics in Australia? Support New Politics, just $5 per month: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com Song listing:‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, A 440 VS U2 instrumental remix.‘Just Give 'em Whiskey’, Colourbox.‘Bonnie And Clyde’, Serge Gainsbourg (French Accent remix).‘Confessions Of A Window Cleaner’, Ed Kuepper.‘Get Back’, The Beatles (remix).