Voters sent Labor a message. Are they listening?

Voters sent Labor a message. Are they listening?

Author: ABC Australia September 3, 2026 Duration: 41:00
Labor has now come face-to-face with the threat from One Nation. One Nation's decisive victory at the WA state by-election of Secret Harbour came with a message for Anthony Albanese and Federal Labor — so are they listening? And how are they positioning? And a war over words broke out this week, after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson accused the PM of inciting violence by labelling far-right populist parties "divisive, dangerous and downright dishonest". There was pushback across the political spectrum, with some including conservative Liberal MP Garth Hamilton calling out the "hypocrisy at play". Meanwhile, online safety was back up in lights as the Albanese Government looks to introduce draft legislation on a digital duty of care in coming weeks. And the Coalition has announced its new tobacco policy, which would slash the tobacco excise by 80 per cent. So, will the policy have cut through, and does it put pressure on the Government? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Jason Koutsoukis, The Saturday Paper's special correspondent 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: 50

Politics Now
Podcast Episodes
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