Should we expect bold budget ideas?

Should we expect bold budget ideas?

Author: ABC Australia February 4, 2026 Duration: 25:00
The Albanese Government is selling off an estimated $3-billion-dollars’ worth of defence sites, so what does the "significant" overhaul of Australia’s defence property portfolio mean for housing supply? And as the Treasurer Jim Chalmers continues to defend the Government's fiscal management in the wake of the RBA's latest interest rate hike, what does this all mean for the May budget? In the second year of a second term Labor government, can we expect "big bold ideas"? Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now. 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 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: 40:00
As Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continue their big budget sell, Opposition leader Angus Taylor is gearing up to deliver his budget reply -- and big political and ideological battlelines are…
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Duration: 23:00
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has unveiled his highly anticipated fifth budget, claiming it's the "most ambitious and important in decades". Housing tax reform was the centrepiece of the wartime budget, with changes to negative…
Will Labor's budget 'pull up the ladder'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:00
Labor is leaning into housing this budget, with big tax reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax to form the centrepiece. It's all in a bid to address intergenerational inequity — but as Tom tells PK, grandfathe…
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Duration: 29:00
There's been a seismic shift in the Australian political landscape, with One Nation claiming it's first ever lower-house seat. The minor party's landslide victory in the former Coalition heartland of Farrer came with a w…
Will the budget annoy 'rich boomers'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
It's been a budget focused week in politics, but the arrival of a cohort of so-called ISIS brides has stolen some of that pre-budget spotlight. And speaking of budgets, is Treasurer Jim Chalmer's fifth set to be more exc…
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Duration: 1:02:00
It turns out Fran and PK may have invented podcasting? Well, maybe not quite .. but they have been getting behind the microphone to bring you The Party Room for a whopping 10 years! To celebrate a whole decade of the pod…
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Duration: 28:00
Anthony Albanese has unveiled a $10 billion energy security package, including a permanent government-owned fuel reserve, in what the government is calling a major step towards energy sovereignty. The announcement lands…
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Duration: 33:00
The Albanese Government is locking in a trio of tax reforms, with capital gains tax, negative gearing and the taxation of trust funds all set to feature in the budget. PK and Raf Epstein are aligned on the need for the G…
Australia-Japan: friends with benefits? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have held bi-lateral talks, lauding the "quasi-alliance" and friendship between the two-nations. As Jacob tells PK, Anthony Albanese h…