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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

In the aftermath of former frontbencher Andrew Hastie’s fighting words, opposition leader Sussan Ley continues to struggle with persistent internal tensions in the Coalition over its direction on immigration policy. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to shadow minister for immigration Paul Scarr about why he rejects rhetoric about ‘mass migration’ and argues that those seeking to inflame emotions are hurting the national interest. The Queensland senator speaks about his passion for connecting Liberal party values with multicultural communities in Australia, and gives us a glimpse of his well-loved antique collection

Shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr on the ‘mass migration’ myth

This week, the Albanese government has been criticised for a tactical backdown on its plan to wind back tax concessions on superannuation balances worth more than $3m. But the assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities and treasury, Andrew Leigh, argues that this change in approach has maintained fairness in the super system. The MP for Fenner also talks to political editor Tom McIlroy about the challenge of AI for lawmakers, why competition policy is key to productivity growth and his early morning training for an upcoming ultramarathon

AI and the productivity challenge with Andrew Leigh

As Labor’s new aged care system gets set to begin on 1 November, Greens senator Penny Allman-Payne speaks about her father’s recent move into residential aged care and the personal stories she has heard as chair of a Greens-led inquiry into the sector. She speaks with Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, about how she has seen lives put at risk by a for-profit system, and why she thinks the government is not doing enough for those waiting for a home care package

The human cost of a broken aged care system with Penny Allman-Payne

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

Katharine Murphy speaks to New South Wales energy minister Matt Kean about the state’s plan to cut emissions in half by 2030 – a move that has added pressure on the Morrison government to act on climate change Matt Kean urges moderates to push party harder on net zero

Matt Kean on climate change, the Coalition and the economic case for net zero

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