We answer your smart budget questions

We answer your smart budget questions

Author: ABC Australia May 22, 2026 Duration: 34:00
Was this a budget in desperate need of more graphs? Labor’s budget pitch is still making headlines - but it may not be happy about all of them. First, PK and Clare Armstrong unpack the breaking news overnight of another possible return of ISIS-linked Australian women and children from Syria, as well as the fallout over Australian activists detained by Israel while aboard a flotilla headed to Gaza. Then, it’s a bonus Question Time: Budget special! Is Labor going big on reform because it expects to negotiate later? How do pre-budget leaks and “speculation” actually make their way into the media? Where could any budget windfall end up? And could blocked legislation ever trigger a double dissolution? Plus - why do politicians still struggle to explain big economic decisions clearly, and is there still a path back for moderate Liberal voters? Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstong 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
Did Albo's address meet the moment? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a rare national address overnight, warning Australians about "uncertain times" ahead — but sending the message the government has their back. But after frenzied speculation, did…
Is Albanese the 'man with a plan'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to deliver a rare national address this evening — the first national address since the COVID pandemic. While it's not yet clear what it will detail, PK and Clare discuss how the mov…
Carrots, sticks and a gas profits tax [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:00
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the fuel excise cut will "make a difference", but the Treasurer is warning the cut could take weeks to flow through. Opposition leader Angus Taylor has welcomed the move, claiming the…
Albanese reads the room with cheaper fuel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:00
The Prime Minister has announced the fuel excise will be halved and the heavy vehicle road user charge reduced to zero for three months. It comes as National Cabinet also agrees to an energy security plan, with four leve…
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…