A ‘difficult’ week for the PM

A ‘difficult’ week for the PM

Author: ABC Australia February 26, 2026 Duration: 0:00
As Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares to hand down his fifth budget, he's promising to focus on "economics over politics" - but what will Labor actually do to address intergenerational inequity?  The prime minister has attempted to walk back labelling former Australian of The Year Grace Tame "difficult", suggesting he was referring to her difficult life - a move Grace Tame has blasted on social media. And Jacob Greber has been on the ground in Farrer, checking the electorates pulse ahead of the impending by-election - so what do voters want from their representative and where are they looking to cast their vote? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly  are joined by Jacob Greber, 730 Political Editor on The Party Room. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Keeping up with the political landscape requires more than just reading headlines; it demands understanding the motivations and maneuvers that shape them. That’s the space occupied by Politics Now, the ABC News production hosted by Patricia Karvelas. This podcast goes beyond the initial news alerts to unpack the significant stories from Australia and across the globe, offering a balanced perspective on the strategies driving the day’s events. Each week from Monday to Wednesday, Karvelas is joined by a rotating panel of the ABC’s own seasoned political journalists, dissecting the latest developments with insight and context. The conversation continues on Thursdays with 'The Party Room,' providing further depth. The aim is to deliver reliable, timely analysis whenever major news breaks, placing trusted coverage directly in your feed. For anyone looking to comprehend the real forces behind the news cycle, this podcast serves as an essential, clarifying resource.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Politics Now
Podcast Episodes
Why Pauline is the 'main character' in the SA election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
All eyes are on the South Australian election this week, which promises to be the first real test of One Nation's skyrocketing support in recent polls. And as ABC Chief Elections Analyst Casey Briggs tells Fran and PK, Q…
Hastie takes on a 'petulant' Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability Andrew Hastie has blasted the US President's social media post criticising Australia and other allies, labelling it a "petulant post from a President under immense pr…
How one swing voter decided the rate hike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:00
In a decision that was widely anticipated, the RBA hiked the interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, taking the cash rate to 4.1 per cent. It wasn't unanimous — in fact just one vote determined the hike — but it comes a…
Was Labor slow to act on fuel fears? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
The Albanese Government has ruled out sending a navy ship to the strait of Hormuz, as fuel woes continue to bite at home. And while the Energy Minister moved to unlock some of our fuel reserves and ease chokepoints late…
Is One Nation capturing young voters? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:00
Is economic grievance the only reason some voters are flirting One Nation — and if so, why aren't more Millennials and Gen Z also supporting the minor party? It looks unlikely Labor will run a candidate in Farrer — so, w…
A big week of resignations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
PK reckons this is the biggest week of politics (so far) this year. And with the Albanese Government announcing a "purely defensive" deployment to the UAE, Iranian soccer players seeking asylum in Australia, Matt Canavan…
Welcome to Matt Canavan’s ‘hyper-Australia’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has claimed the National Party leadership, with Victorian MP Darren Chester elected as Deputy Nationals leader. The new Nationals leader has promised to "fight back" for Australians and ca…
Is Australia 'participating' in the Middle East war? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
The Prime Minister has confirmed Australia will deploy a military surveillance plane and missiles to the middle east, after a request from the UAE. Anthony Albanese has reiterated that Australia's involvement is "purely…