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The Guardian

Guardian Australia's political team examine what’s happening in Australian politics and why it matters to you

Australian Politics

This week, Labor expanded Australia’s first home guarantee to allow more buyers access to a mortgage with a reduced deposit of 5%. But the plan has many critics. Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the federal minister for housing and homelessness, Clare O’Neil, about why she thinks the government is pulling on the correct levers to address the housing crisis

Clare O’Neil on Labor’s scheme for first home buyers

Political reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to executive director of Essential Media Peter Lewis about Australian voters’ views on the government’s climate action ambition and the immigration debate. Lewis also explains why he thinks The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a perfect analogue of the prime minister’s approach to politics in the midst of global instability

Guardian Essential Report: Albanese’s pragmatism during messy times

Political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Amanda Rishworth, the minister for employment and workplace relations, about the Albanese government’s upcoming reform agenda for workers. They also discuss the latest figures on enterprise agreements and why she thinks AI is more likely to ‘augment’ rather than displace workers in the near future

Amanda Rishworth on the future of work and AI

The Albanese government has now put a number on its climate ambition: a target of a 62-70% emissions cut by 2035 compared to 2005 levels. It comes after the release of the national climate risk assessment, which described a disastrous future for Australians on a warming planet. In this bonus episode of the Australian Politics podcast, climate and environment editor Adam Morton speaks to the chair of the Climate Change Authority, Matt Kean, on the advice that informed the government’s long-awaited emissions reduction target for 2035

Matt Kean on Australia’s future in a climate crisis

In a defining week for climate action, the Albanese government has unveiled a commitment to cut emissions between 62% and 70% on 2005 levels by 2035. But vocal climate advocate Senator David Pocock says a minimum of 75% is needed to ‘do our bit’. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to the ACT independent about his pessimism about political leadership on climate ambition – despite the government’s own warnings against a lack of action. He also discusses his criticism of ANU leadership, Labor’s declining political will on gambling reform and why he thinks Canberra is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets

David Pocock on the 2035 climate targets and political will

The fallout in the Liberal party over Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s inflammatory comments about Indian migrants has now culminated in her sacking from the shadow ministry by Sussan Ley. In the lead-up to this decision by the opposition leader, Victorian senator Jane Hume described it as a situation that ‘escalated well out of control’. Hume speaks to chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy about the need for her party to rebuild the trust of mainstream Australia – and why she thinks this was eroded during the election campaign

Jane Hume on rebuilding trust in the Liberal party

While many Australians are feeling relieved about the end of a cold winter, the minister for emergency management and regional development is already eyeing the upcoming summer bushfire season. Kristy McBain talks to chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy about the importance of social license for renewables and climate action in regional Australia, and shares her latest audiobook playlist for long drives to weekend sport

Kristy McBain on natural disaster preparation and ambitious climate targets

Fresh off the government’s reform roundtable and an address to the press club on skilling Australia’s future, the minister for skills and training, Andrew Giles, says he’s focused on making sure every Australian is able to reach their full potential in the workforce. He talks to Tom McIlroy about how to solve Australia’s skill shortage, the importance of skills recognition in the economy, why fairness is so important to the skills sector and the key to growing the economy

Andrew Giles on how to fix Australia’s skill shortage

Why do most Australians back recognising a Palestinian state, yet nearly half dismiss it as merely symbolic? The executive director of Essential Media, Peter Lewis, shares the latest poll findings with the Canberra chief of staff, Josh Butler, about Palestine, as well as fears of AI-driven job losses fuelling strong calls for regulation, a four-day work week and the need for bold reform

Guardian Essential report: the paradox of recognition, why do Australians back Palestine but doubt its impact?

Fresh from the government’s economic roundtable, the independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender is optimistic about the future of tax reform in Australia. Talking to chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy, she argues Labor must speed up approvals for housing and clean energy, shift the tax mix to ease pressure on young people and boost investment, and responsibly embrace the ‘freight train’ that is AI

Allegra Spender on why tax reform will make young people’s lives better

Last week Labor senator Fatima Payman made national headlines when she broke ranks with her party and voted in support of a Greens motion to recognise a state of Palestine. The Western Australian senator now claims she has been ‘exiled’ by the Labor party after the vote. Political editor Karen Middleton speaks to Nour Haydar about the consequences of crossing the floor

Fatima Payman and the cost of voting with her conscience

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