The Coalition is 'done'. Are Ley and Littleproud too?

The Coalition is 'done'. Are Ley and Littleproud too?

Author: ABC Australia January 22, 2026 Duration: 28:00
Politics Now
News
In a stunning turn of events, the Nationals have officially split with Liberal party, blowing up the Coalition. Nationals leader David Littleproud accused Opposition leader Sussan Ley forcing his party into an "untenable" position and said they could not sit in Coalition under her leadership.  It comes on the National Day of Mourning for Bondi, which was intended to be a day of unity and healing for the country. So, is this the end of the Coalition for good? And while questions are swirling about Sussan Ley's leadership, there are also questions about David Littleproud's hold on his position. On a week where it looked like the Prime Minister would be in the hot seat, how did the Opposition again become the story? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent for The Conversation on The Party Room. Read PK's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-22/optics-diabolical-liberals-nationals-split-chaos-reigns/106256942  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

Official website RSS
instagramyoutubetiktok
Politics Now
Podcast Episodes
Capping off a 'binfire' political week [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
Australia has been in the firing line of another Donald Trump "spray", with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declaring he "won't comment on commentary." As other Labor frontbenchers strike a similar tone, PK tells Fran La…
Progressive patriotism v sovereignty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed National Cabinet will meet again to coordinate a national response to the ongoing fuel crisis. But should the meeting be happening now, rather than next week? And as the reve…
All fetta! Australia-EU trade deal inked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:00
After nearly a decade of negotiations, Australia and the European Union have signed a landmark free trade agreement. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed it "a defining moment" for the relationship, while EU Commission…
Which political party is listening to Australians? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
The Labor Malinauskas Government claimed a landslide victory in the South Australian election over the weekend, cementing what PK calls the Premier's "political rockstar" status in the state. But One Nation also managed…
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…

«1234567...10»