Politics Now

Dan Andrews had a front row seat to China flexing its military might this week.

The government has quietly signed a $408 million (and then some) deal with Nauru to house members of the so-called NZYQ cohort.The deal was only made public via an end-of-week departmental upload, and the full cost could reach $2.5 billion. Why the silence, and what does it say about the politics of migration and dissent inside Labor right now?Meanwhile, immigration has dominated the national conversation this week, with protests on the streets and language from the government and Opposition under scrutiny. Plus, aged care, and some controversial photo ops in China - there’s been plenty more in the background of this sitting week.Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Phil Coorey, political editor for The Australian Financial Review to unpack a high-stakes week in federal politics on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The government is under increasing pressure to explain changes to Freedom of information laws, which could make it harder for journalists and members of the public to gain access to documents. Labor says the current system is outdated and clogged with trivial requests, but critics warn the changes will come at the cost of transparency. And the issue of migration is still dominating discussion in Canberra as fallout from the weekend's protests continue.Patricia Karvelas 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 PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The government is facing increased criticism over the delays to the introduction of its new aged care reforms. It comes as Department of Health data reveals that 5000 Australians died in the last financial year while waiting for a home care package. There are also questions being raised about Labor's plans to change Freedom of Information laws to make it harder to access government data. And the fall out from the weekend's anti-immigration protests continue.Patricia Karvelas and RAFAEL EPSTEIN break it all down on Politics Now.

Anti-immigration rallies took place over the weekend with known neo-Nazis speaking at events in Melbourne and Sydney. The Albanese government issued a statement saying that  “All Australians, no matter their heritage, have the right to feel safe and welcome in our community” and condemned the march as “hateful”. But is this enough?The government also made a $400 million deal to deport 280 non citizens to Nauru whose visas to Australia were refused on character grounds....and there wasn't a peep out of the Labor backbench. Why is there such a lack of debate within Labor's new ranks?Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber 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

For years, experts have warned of the dangers of the so-called sovereign citizen movement. 

Parliament is back in full swing, and it's been a blockbuster sitting week in Canberra - with plenty on the agenda for both major parties, and even more happening off it.The biggest story by far? The government’s dramatic decision to downgrade ties with Iran after ASIO revealed credible evidence the regime orchestrated antisemitic attacks on Australian soil. The Prime Minister’s message was clear - aggression and interference won’t be tolerated. But the Opposition says it all came too late.As that continues to unfold, a curious diplomatic moment has also raised eyebrows between Defence Minister Richard Marles and his US counterpart, despite a very public photo.Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Network Ten Political Editor Ashleigh Raper to unpack a high-stakes week in federal politics on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

A developing story out of Victoria - a police double fatality and an active manhunt - has drawn federal attention to the rise of sovereign citizen ideology in Australia. Are our national security agencies watching closely enough?Meanwhile, the government has doubled down on its decision to significantly downgrade diplomatic ties with Iran, after ASIO confirmed it had credible evidence the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) orchestrated at least two anti-Semitic attacks in Australia.Patricia Karvelas 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 PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Iran has “crossed a line” and “put Australian lives in danger".Flanked by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, the Prime Minister confirmed Australia will list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, following ASIO's “credible intelligence” to determine the Iranian government was behind attacks against the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in Bondi in Sydney.Meanwhile, Sussan Ley faces serious internal pressure over the Coalition’s climate policy, as leadership tensions flare once again over net zero.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 Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Parliament is back - and the government has come out swinging on housing, fast-tracking its First Homebuyer Guarantee and pausing energy efficiency requirements. But is it bold enough to meet the moment?Meanwhile, the Coalition’s internal split on net zero takes centre stage, with backbencher Barnaby Joyce reigniting debate on Australia’s climate commitments - and the government is more than happy to let it play out.Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Economic Reform Roundtable has concluded, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers has vowed to tackle “intergenerational equity” in the tax system.

It’s been a big week in Canberra, with unions, business leaders, and politicians of all stripes descending on Parliament House for the Economic Reform Roundtable. The vibe? 'Optimistic' and 'open' - no one wanted to be the spoiler, and everyone wanted to avoid “regulatory hairballs,” to quote Productivity Commissioner Danielle Wood. But as the meetings wrap up, the real test begins: which ideas will turn into actual policy?Also this week, Australia’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehood continues to reshape our foreign policy landscape. Diplomatic tensions with Israel are still simmering - but in the same week, Australia is also engaging in efforts to strengthen the rules-based international order, aligning itself with the Western response to the historic meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Guardian Australia’s Chief Political Correspondent Tom McIlroy to break down on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

“Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry.”That’s the sharp response from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled Anthony Albanese a “weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews". As the war of words escalates, what are the implications of the deteriorating relationship?Meanwhile, day two of the Economic Reform Roundtable is underway in Canberra - but the Prime Minister isn't in attendance.Patricia Karvelas 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 PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Australia has cancelled the visa of a Netanyahu government MP.Israel has swiftly retaliated, revoking visas for Australia's representatives to the Palestinian Authority. What does this latest tit-for-tat mean for the already strained relationship?Meanwhile, Canberra is buzzing as the guest list for the Economic Reform Roundtable arrives. The government’s word of the day is “optimistic” - but what message are they really trying to send as day one kicks off?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 Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Australia’s productivity chief, Danielle Wood, has delivered a pointed reminder that growth hasn’t been a policy priority for far too long.With the Economic Reform Roundtable starting tomorrow, it’s one of the final public bids for what should top the government’s agenda. But with the messaging tightly controlled, is the outcome already locked in?And following a string of stories of abuse in childcare centres across the country, how long is too long to wait for real reform that makes childcare safe?Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au