A week of parliamentary drama

A week of parliamentary drama

Author: ABC Australia February 5, 2026 Duration: 34:00
It's been a week of high drama in parliament, from Shakespeare novels to soap opera references, but while the Liberal-Nationals chaos continued to take centre stage the RBA interest rate hike put the spotlight back on the Albanese Government.  It comes as the May budget draws nearer and it seems the Treasurer Jim Chalmers is unwilling to rule out changes to the capital gains tax. So, could big bold reform be on the agenda?  Meanwhile, the deadline Sussan Ley imposed the Liberal and Nationals to negotiate a path back to Coalition is looming, so are either side willing to make concessions? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly break it all down with David Speers, ABC Political lead and host of Insiders on The Party Room Got a burning political query?  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
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Duration: 25:00
The Albanese Government is set to pass its hate speech and gun reform bills through the parliament. It comes after Labor split the omnibus legislation, negotiating with the Coalition and the Greens separately to get the…
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Duration: 26:00
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Duration: 22:00
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Will Ley rejecting hate speech laws backfire? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
It's been a big week in Australian politics, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalling parliament early to deal with hate speech and gun buyback legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack and the surprise…
Kerrynne Liddle doesn't believe in one-size-fits-all [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:00
Kerrynne Liddle represents a lot of firsts. The Arrernte woman is the first indigenous Senator for South Australia, the first indigenous woman to win a parliamentary seat in the state, and may be one of the first (or cer…
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Duration: 13:00
In a surprise move, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the US Ambassador Kevin Rudd will step down from the role at the end of March - a year earlier than expected. Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Ambassador…
Is Albanese's year off to a bumpy start? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
Politics Now is back after a summer recess and PK and Jacob have lots of thoughts about what happened over the break! Extreme weather continues to lash much of the country, with the prime minister announcing relief packa…
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Duration: 19:00
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. The announcement comes in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and under mounting pressure from va…
Gambling ban, the glass cliff and Dutton’s ‘disappearance' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
More than two years on from the Murphy review, where is the Albanese government on gambling reform — and is there growing disquiet in the backbench? Is Sussan Ley facing the glass cliff? Why has Peter Dutton disappeared…
Larissa Waters is a shameless optimist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
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