Australian Politics

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Guardian Australia's political editor Tom McIlroy and team at Parliament House examine what’s happening in Australian politics and why it matters to you

2 DAYS AGO

Finance minister Katy Gallagher on her 'most challenging' budget

The criticisms of Tuesday’s federal budget have already started. Labor is facing allegations of broken promises over changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. And there is frustration in the electorate about the government’s $50bn increase in defence spending over the next decade, while also significantly reducing the growth in NDIS spending. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to finance minister Katy Gallagher who, along with treasurer Jim Chalmers, is leading the decision making on a budget that claims to address intergenerational fairness – while also being responsible and resilient in an uncertain global environment

25 min
3 DAYS AGO

Michelle Milthorpe on fighting One Nation in Farrer

This Saturday’s byelection in Sussan Ley’s former seat of Farrer is expected to be a tight two-horse race between a community independent and a One Nation candidate – with none of the major parties in serious contention. The independent candidate, Michelle Milthorpe, speaks to the political editor, Tom McIlroy, about her second time vying for the regional seat, why she resists being labelled as a ‘teal’ and her position on climate and environmental policies in her electorate

28 min
6 DAYS AGO

Annastacia Palaszczuk on resilience

When Annastacia Palaszczuk led a Labor opposition to win government in the 2015 Queensland election, she was labelled an ‘accidental premier’. She later became a three-term premier who ended on her own terms. In conversation with political editor Tom McIlroy, she speaks about how her resilience was formed by profound personal loss through miscarriage and IVF treatments – which she describes in her new memoir. Palaszczuk also discusses how ‘heartbreaking’ it is to watch David Crisafulli’s government reverse her renewable energy policies and attributes Pauline Hanson’s long political career to being ‘relatable’. Note: This interview was recorded before police charged Palaszczuk’s partner, Vahid Reza Adib, with rape, sexual assault and deprivation of liberty. Adib was granted police bail and will face court at a later date. He made no comment outside the police station on Friday afternoon

33 min
30 APR

Guardian Essential poll: Pauline Hanson has another breakthrough

The One Nation leader now has a higher job approval rating than Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor, and for the first time in the Essential poll – the right wing populist party is outperforming the Coalition. After Anthony Albanese confirmed on Wednesday that the upcoming federal budget will not include a tax on existing gas export contracts, political reporter Josh Butler and columnist Peter Lewis examine voters’ support for taxing profits on gas exports. They also discuss the government’s challenge of preparing a budget for an electorate that is increasingly pessimistic about the country’s economic future this year

26 min
24 APR

The minister for veterans' affairs on Anzac Day, Ben Roberts-Smith and increased defence spending

Before his trip to Papua New Guinea for Anzac Day commemorations, the minister for veterans’ affairs and defence personnel, Matt Keogh, speaks with political editor Tom McIlroy. Keogh discusses the government’s progress after the royal commission into defence and veterans’ suicide, which handed its recommendations to government two years ago. The Perth MP also responds to the continued display of Ben Roberts-Smith’s military uniform and medals in the Australian War Memorial – despite the recent war crime charges of murder, which the former SAS soldier strongly denies

29 min
23 APR

Disability minister Mark Butler on the 'necessary' cuts to an NDIS under pressure

Nearly 15 years after Julia Gillard introduced the national disability insurance scheme, the Albanese government announced the most significant reforms to the scheme on Wednesday. It’s expected that the billions of budget savings will mean at least 160,000 participants will no longer be able to access the scheme within the next four years. The minister for disability, health and ageing Mark Butler speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about how the cost of the NDIS became ‘not sustainable’ and the material impact of the reforms on participants. Butler’s announcements have already been widely criticised, and he responds the government’s decision to announce sweeping cuts while also increasing defence spending considerably last week

29 min
17 APR

Ask me anything: the future of Aukus, sanctions on Israel and more ACT senators

What’s the line in the sand for Albanese to rethink the multibillion-dollar Aukus agreement? Why won’t the government implement sanctions on the US and Israel – similar to those imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine? And should the Senate expand to better represent the needs of a growing population, such as in the ACT? Tom McIlroy, Dan Jervis-Bardy, Krishani Dhanji and Josh Butler from Guardian Australia’s politics team in Canberra answer questions from listeners and readers

30 min
10 APR

Gabrielle Chan on farmers managing fuel and fertiliser shortages during a war

Journalist, author and farmer Gabrielle Chan speaks to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about the experiences of rural and regional Australians whose work and everyday life have been upended by supply chain disruptions caused by the war in Iran. The former political reporter also talks about the rise in Pauline Hanson’s popularity ahead of the Farrer byelection, which is expected to be a strong contest between a One Nation and independent candidate

27 min

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Tom McIlroy

Host
Josh Butler

Host

4.6

out of 5

1,205 Ratings

Great Premier Discussion

1 May

Sleep depraved

Tom’s discussion with Anna was moving. I remember Anna facing the media with ~7 Labour MLAs left. Great dedication to Qld, and she worked tirelessly to then go on and become our premier. Thank you.
Clare O’Neill and the housing crisis

03/10/2025

Nannalit

Clare O’Neill is a superb politician, she knows her stuff whatever portfolio she is given. The interviewer was good on housing questions, but when he asked about climate change action he failed to follow up with why the govt is continuing to approve fossil fuel expansions and neglect the environment. Clare is so good she probably would have a given plausible sounding answer, but the govt is failing badly climate mitigation.
One of my favourites

17/04/2025

Nick5797

This was my favourite Saturday listen for a long time- I’m sad only to see it updated only twice a month now. I enjoyed immensely the long form interviews where you got to listen to (mostly) intelligent conversations with particular politicians (whether I like/agree with them or not) and policy experts. I don’t care who hosts, or if you rotate it around between the politics team…but please bring it back more frequently!
Is the Guardian hate media?!

26/06/2025

180BGuy

Interview with Liberal Julian Leesa was pathetic. No probing questions or challenges to his assertions. This was like a Liberal party PR puff piece. I expect more critical questioning from the Guardian

Guardian Australia's political editor Tom McIlroy and team at Parliament House examine what’s happening in Australian politics and why it matters to you