Politics Now

Last month’s fatal Optus outage exposed vulnerabilities in the triple-zero network.

The Albanese Government's agenda was derailed by some spicy scenes in Senate Estimates this week, with revelations an email detailing the Optus outage was sent to the wrong departmental address.In question time, the heat was on Communication Minister Anika Wells over the outage. The Opposition took the opportunity to lob a barrage of pointed question her way, but did they manage to strike a blow?And while the Coalition was eager to make the Government the story, Andrew Hastie's self-demotion to the backbench and a series of leaks that followed hung over the week like a bad smell. So, how long can the public infighting continue?Brett Worthington and Mel Clarke are joined by Charles Croucher, 9News Political Editor on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel  for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

An email detailing the Optus outage was sent to the wrong government address, a spicy Senate estimates hearing has revealed. But while the inbox wasn't being monitored, it was still active, with Senators asking how it could have been missed.It's a lot like an episode of Utopia — and comes as the Opposition ramps up pressure on Communications Minister Anika Wells.And the Coalition is also questioning the Albanese Government over the return of of wives and children of Islamic State fighters on Friday, with the Government remaining tight-lipped on details. So, are the Opposition finding their feet in Senate estimates?Brett Worthington and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The CEOs of Australia's big telcos have met with Communications Minister Anika Wells after major triple zero outages last month.It comes as Labor introduces legislation to enshrine the powers of a triple zero watchdog — but have they moved "too slow"? What if "red flags" not acted upon lead to failures this bushfire season?And politicians on both sides have marked the two-years on from the October 7 attacks, but social cohesion at home still remains fractured.Brett Worthington 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 Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.auThe Digital Dilemma forum audience registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mkDBl3hw50e7lNHlNQPgEto6v3O4AAJDpceXcOut_3NUNUZLREsyREswREVPRlE3WFBIVlAxMzU2Ny4u Submit questions for The Digital Dilemma here : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-23/your-say-social-media-ban/105751900

In a submission to the Liberal's election review, former Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Andrew Hastie of costing the Coalition the election, according to reporting in the Nine papers.It comes after Andrew Hastie quit the Coalition frontbench, citing key differences over immigration policy. But the West Australian Liberal MP has made it clear he won't be contesting Sussan Ley's leadership — for now.So, as parliament returns for another sitting week, is this disunity a gift for the Albanese government?Brett Worthington and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Editor's note: Andrew Hastie was elected to the House of Representatives for Canning, Western Australia at a by-election in 2015, not during the 2013 election as suggested in the podcast.Read Brett's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/andrew-hastie-resignation-bad-timing-for-sussan-ley/105852022Read Jacob's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/albanese-global-wins-derangement-sydrome/105830526Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Senior Liberal Andrew Hastie has spectacularly quit the Coalition frontbench, saying he could not maintain cabinet solidarity due to disagreements over immigration policy.And while the Liberal MP was emphatic there was "no challenge" to Sussan Ley and the move was "done in good faith", he suggested the centre right was "fractured."It comes just weeks after the Western Australia MP suggested he would be forced to quit the frontbench if the Coalition stuck with its commitment to net zero by 2050 — and follows a series of social media posts including one that suggested Australians were becoming "strangers" in their own country due to immigration.So, does the move still destablise Sussan Ley's hold on the leadership? And what does it mean for the future of the Liberal party?Brett Worthington and David Speers break it all down on this emergency episode of Politics Now.Read Brett's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/andrew-hastie-resignation-bad-timing-for-sussan-ley/105852022Read David's latest analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-01/australia-and-turkiye-negotiate-over-cop31-hosting-rights/105837208 Catch today's Insiders on Background ep by scrolling back in the feed, or here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/politics-now/trump-peace-plan-insiders-on-background/105851006Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli Prime Minister, U.S. President Donald Trump told the world that his peace plan will end the war in Gaza.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just returned home from a whirlwind international trip, immediately turning his attention to domestic matters like Labor's first home-buyer deposit scheme.But from the corridors of the UN to a mosque tour in the UAE - how did the prime minister perform on the global stage? And is Australia now more than just a "bit player" on matters in the Middle East?Meanwhile,  it was Anthony Albanese's speech at the UK Labour Conference that saw eyebrows raised in the Opposition, with Sussan Ley suggesting the PM had "crossed a line". But was it fair game for a second term prime minister?Brett Worthington and Melissa Clarke are joined by Matthew Knott, Foreign Affairs and National Security correspondent at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Prime Minister is back on home soil - and back to hitting the pavement in the electorate.After a week on the world  stage, the government is eager to turn its attention to a major domestic fire they need to fix - Australia’s housing crisis.It insists it’s doing more than just throwing water on the blaze, pointing to the expansion of the government's home guarantee scheme. But is it a genuine fix - or might it add more fuel on the fire?And Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has penned another letter - this time to her own frontbench about KPIs and performance standards.Brett Worthington 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 Brett and Mel  for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Donald Trump once promised he’d bring peace to the Middle East the moment he returned to the White House.Now, he’s backing a new 20-point plan with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - a proposal he says will lead to "eternal peace" in the region. It’s a bold claim for one of the world’s most intractable conflicts - so can it deliver peace in Gaza?And back home, the government has finally sat down with Optus. Conversations have been had, public statements have been made - but will anything come of it?Brett Worthington and Acting Defence Correspondent Olivia Caisley break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel  for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Anthony Albanese has wrapped up a quick UK visit, where he and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have reiterated the close partnership between the two nations. The Australian Prime Minister also spoke at a UK Labour Party conference in Liverpool, where he promised to "defend democracy itself" and lamented the rise of a "politics of fear".  But his attendance raised some eyebrows back home, with Sussan Ley suggesting he "crossed the line."And while Anthony Albanese described Keir Starmer as a “mate”, his leftist Labour ally is facing challenges at home, including rumours of a leadership challenge.  So, what lessons should Australia take from the visit?Brett Worthington and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read Jacob's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-27/climate-announcement-targets-emissions/105801294 Read Brett's analysis here:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-25/hastie-ley-trump-un-palestine-cop-turkiye-bradfield-byelection/105814488Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

How do progressive leaders navigate turbulence of the Trump era? 

Anthony Albanese has been flexing Australia's middle-power muscle at the 80th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly this week.But while he was affirming Australia's recognition of Palestine and spruiking Australia's social media ban for under 16s, broader global shifts were on display. So, how is Anthony Albanese navigating the new world order? And can he balance closer ties with Europe, while remaining in favour with Donald Trump?And a video of Liberal MP Andrew Hastie and a 1969 Ford Falcon has caused quite a stir,  but what does it mean for Sussan Ley's hold on the leadership?Brett Worthington and Melissa Clarke are joined by Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation and Professorial Fellow at the University of Canberra on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

A date has officially been set for a meeting between Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese. The White House has confirmed the one-on-one will take place in Washington next month, with Anthony Albanese telling reporters that the US President had agreed to a meeting "some time ago."On Politics Now David Speers joined Brett Worthington live from NYC to discuss the "risks" and possible rewards for Anthony Albanese from a standalone meeting in the oval office.Read David Speers' analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-24/anthony-albanese-donald-trump-meeting/105801298Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has vowed to revoke Australia's recognition of Palestinian statehood, taking the unusual step of writing to US Republicans to flag the Coalition's position.It came as Anthony Albanese took to the stage at the United Nations General Assembly, where he spoke about Australia's recognition of Palestine and commitment to delivering the two-state solution.Foreign Minister Penny Wong has accused the Opposition Leader of "going rogue" on foreign policy, while Liberal Senator Dave Sharma has labelled the move "perfectly appropriate". But does the decision undermine the idea of "team Australia"?Brett Worthington and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now.Editor's note: In this episode we refer to a conversation between Opposition leader Sussan Ley and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The ABC now understands Israel’s Ambassador reached out to Sussan Ley to organise the call.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel  for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Australia has formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, with the prime minister suggesting the move was "the world saying that the cycle of violence has to stop".But while the declaration was matched by allies, including Canada and the UK, it puts Australia at odds with the United States. So, what impact will the move actually have?Meanwhile, the telecommunications regulator has launched an investigation into the Optus network's outage last week, which is linked to three deaths. Communications Minister Anika Wells delayed her trip to the US to address the crisis, which she's labelled inexcusable.And what's going on with Andrew Hastie's recent Facebook posts?Brett Worthington and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read Jacob's latest pieces here:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-13/donald-trump-anthony-albanese-common/105756898https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-20/sussan-ley-coalition-climate-donor-laws/105778688 Read Brett's latest piece here:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-18/anthony-albanese-png-coalition-climate/105767026Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Australia will soon submit a 2035 target to cut emissions by 62 to 70 per cent to the United Nations.

The Albanese Government has unveiled its long awaited 2035 emissions reduction target, confirming it will sit in a range of 62 - 70 per cent. But in the Coalition ranks, the climate wars have re-emerged with Opposition leader Sussan Ley forced to reassure her party room that she won't pursue net zero by 2050 at "any cost."The Opposition leader has delivered her first major economic speech since taking up the role. But how has her economic vision landed?Brett Worthington and Melissa Clarke are joined by Tom McIlroy, Guardian Australia Political Editor on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Donald Trump has rebuked questions from ABC America's Editor John Lyons, suggesting they were “hurting Australia" when speaking to reporters at the White House.But the real "Easter egg" in the heated exchange was the US President seemingly confirming he would be meeting with Anthony Albanese "very soon" - the clearest indication to date the two leaders will meet.But in a blow to the prime minister, a  much-touted defence treaty between Australia and PNG failed to get off the ground. So, is this just a momentary blip, or the sign of more challenges ahead in the region?Brett Worthington and Claudia Long break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

As the Albanese Government prepares to release its 2035 emissions reduction target, the Coalition's deep divisions on climate change have re-emerged.Senior Liberal Andrew Hastie has threatened to quit — or be sacked — from the Opposition frontbench if the Coalition doesn't abandon the target. While fellow Coalition frontbencher Jonno Duniam is warning of a "mass exodus" if the party pursues the policy "at any cost."On Politics Now, Brett Worthington and Raf Epstein discuss how the internal divisions put Opposition leader Sussan Ley in an "impossible situation" and serve as a test to her leadership.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to Brett and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au