Episodes

  • Zoe Daniel on her friend Helen Haines and the alleged attack in Indi

    Zoe Daniel on her friend Helen Haines and the alleged attack in Indi
    Oct 23 2026
    It has been one of the most shocking and horrific weeks in Australian politics. On Monday, the independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines, was struck by a car in what police allege was a deliberate attack outside her electorate office. The political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to Helen Haines’ friend and former parliamentary colleague Zoe Daniel. The previous MP for the Melbourne seat of Goldstein says Haines had a pivotal role in the breakthrough of the teal independents in the 2022 election. Daniel was also a foreign correspondent during Donald Trump’s first term as president. She witnessed the fraying of American political culture on the ground and warns that some of the dangerous forces at play in the US are visible here too
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    29 mins
  • Why does Australia have a productivity problem?

    Why does Australia have a productivity problem?
    Oct 9 2026
    Improving economic productivity is crucial for raising living standards, and Australia’s productivity growth has been sluggish for years. When the Reserve Bank hiked interest rates to a 15 year high last week, the governor, Michele Bullock, even described productivity as ‘doing nothing’. The chair of the Productivity Commission, Danielle Wood, speaks with political editor Tom McIlroy about the policy challenges of encouraging AI integration, improving housing affordability and managing the impacts of the climate crisis
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    28 mins
  • Monique Ryan on Labor’s difficult week and Josh Frydenberg’s possible return

    Monique Ryan on Labor’s difficult week and Josh Frydenberg’s possible return
    Oct 16 2026
    The Albanese government has a lot of unfinished business as the end of the political year fast approaches. This sitting week, Labor struggled to pass its budget saving measure to reduce private health insurance rebates for over-65s. Independent MP Monique Ryan was a vocal critic of the bill and argues that the government is continually on the ‘back foot’. Speaking with the political editor, Tom McIlroy, she is critical of the way the government has brought a number of key proposals to the parliament. The member for Kooyong also responds to speculation that her former political rival and treasurer in the Morrison government, Josh Frydenberg, is considering a possible return to Canberra – after the launch of his memoir this week
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    32 mins
  • David Shoebridge on his plan to beat One Nation & replace Labor

    David Shoebridge on his plan to beat One Nation & replace Labor
    Oct 1 2026
    With a sharp, aggressive strategy, the Australian Greens’ newly elected leader vows to take on corporate power and bring a “red hot fight” to coal and gas approvals. But following a turbulent week and internal party room fractures, can Senator David Shoebridge and his polarising approach rally progressive voters without deepening splits? Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks with the new party leader about taking on One Nation, pushing back on Aukus, and his vision for the party’s future.
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    34 mins
  • Guardian Essential report: what do Australians really think about immigration?

    Guardian Essential report: what do Australians really think about immigration?
    Oct 1 2026
    Immigration is the hot-button issue lighting up this month’s polling. Elsewhere, the Coalition have hit their equal-lowest ever primary vote, despite mounting scrutiny on Labor’s handing of the economy and inflation, and other dramas dogging the government. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks with Essential Media chair Peter Lewis about how many votes can be won in the bruising and often incendiary brawl over migration policy.
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    25 mins
  • Jim Chalmers on how Australia’s economy can survive in an uncertain world

    Jim Chalmers on how Australia’s economy can survive in an uncertain world
    Sep 22 2026
    On Monday, Jim Chalmers released Treasury’s economic forecast for the next 40 years – in the Albanese government’s second intergenerational report. The outlook shows major challenges on geopolitics, the AI transformation, and for the first time, deaths will overtake births in Australia within a few decades. The treasurer speaks with Guardian Australia’s political editor Tom McIlroy and economics editor Patrick Commins about why he’s optimistic Labor’s policy agenda is preparing the country for an unpredictable future
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    26 mins
  • Tony Burke on Labor’s immigration shake-up

    Tony Burke on Labor’s immigration shake-up
    Sep 18 2026
    Home affairs minister Tony Burke delivered a speech at the National Press Club on Thursday, announcing immigration reforms to achieve Labor’s forecasts for net overseas migration. After being postponed at short notice six weeks ago, Burke’s speech comes in the same week that One Nation announced its policy to significantly cut the number of temporary migrants in Australia. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Burke about why the government is making the changes, the limitations that come from not successfully securing Coalition support, and why new migrants aren’t to blame for the housing crisis
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    19 mins
  • Sarah Hanson-Young on big tech’s ‘attack on democracy’

    Sarah Hanson-Young on big tech’s ‘attack on democracy’
    Sep 11 2026
    This week, the Albanese government released its draft digital duty of care legislation and announced reforms to allow social media users to opt out of algorithms. The Coalition has ruled out their support, so the Greens will be crucial to the changes passing the Senate. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young about why she thinks this will be a ‘battle for our generation’. They also discuss her party’s decision to support Labor’s plans for a new landmark koala national park in NSW. The deal has divided environmentalists and the Greens, with three senators crossing the floor on Thursday, because the proposal will controversially allow big industry to offset their climate pollution under certain conditions
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    28 mins