Insiders

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POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Every Sunday morning, the ABC's national political lead David Speers unpacks the major stories shaping Australia's future. Each episode includes a major interview with an Australian politician and an extensive discussion with a panel of the country's best journalists. This show will help you understand the major factors behind the decisions and debates driving a national conversation.

1 JAN

On Background: Election year preview

Happy new year. And happy election year! We may not know exactly when Anthony Albanese will send us all to the polls – but we do know it has to happen by May. So, for this special holiday edition, we thought it would be worth setting the table for what we can expect over the weeks and months ahead. What are the issues that will decide this election? How are the major parties approaching them? And what can we expect from Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton in this campaign? David Speers speaks to Patricia Karvelas to look into the political crystal ball for 2025.

29 min
30/11/2024

Parliament adjourns for the year, as election looms

The Albanese Government heads into the summer break with a major win.

44 min
28/11/2024

On Background: Immigration crackdown

The final week of parliament for the year has involved an avalanche of legislation. Most of it has been well ventilated and debated over recent months – think social media age limits or changes to the Reserve Bank board structure. But there was a batch of bills involving tough immigration reforms that didn’t receive as much attention. These changes involve new deportation powers and travel bans – and they’re due to whip through with bipartisan support – despite howls of protest from human rights groups. By the time you’re listening, they’re likely to have passed the Senate. David Speers speaks to Dr Abul Rizvi, a former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration, about what these changes will mean in practise.

21 min
27/11/2024

Analysis: A week of parliamentary whiplash and the PM's dropped promises

Before the last election, Anthony Albanese often talked about "kicking with the wind" in the final quarter. Now, he's talking about "leaving nothing on the field", even if he's leaving a few promises behind in the interests of improving Labor's election chances.

6 min
23/11/2024

Social media ban set to pass, as Govt dumps misinformation bill

As the clock ticks down on the parliamentary year – it's do or die for a stack of government reforms.

54 min
22/11/2024

On Background: Global climate crossroads

The direction of global action on climate change is at a juncture. Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House and his promise to rip-up the Biden administration’s climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act is prompting a reassessment of the landscape. In Azerbaijan, the UN’s climate change talks are in their final days trying to reach agreement on financing to help developing countries take climate action... the ambition of some countries tempered by the antipathy of others. While here in Australia, work is underway on what our 2035 targets might look like; where and when that lands is not yet clear. Melissa Clarke, filling in for David Speers, speaks to Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority and the former NSW state Liberal Treasurer, to give us a rundown of the feeling on the ground at COP29.

21 min
16/11/2024

Will Trump fire Kevin Rudd?

The Prime Minister on the global stage this week talking trade and what the return of Donald Trump means for the world. While here at home the government is preparing to push a raft of legislation through parliament in the last sitting fortnight of the year… as speculation mounts it could be the last before an election. Patricia Karvelas anchors Insiders from Canberra this week, while David Speers interviews the Prime Minister in Lima, Peru from the APEC security conference. Karvelas is joined by Annabel Crabb, Peter Hartcher and Katina Curtis on the couch.

54 min
14/11/2024

On Background: How to stop big money influencing elections

The concern over big money having an outsized influence on Australia’s politics prompted the Government to promise electoral reform. This is expected to include caps on individual donations and campaign spending, as well as real-time disclosures of donations. Now - with limited time left in parliament before the next election - the pressure to reveal the plan is on.

19 sec

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Every Sunday morning, the ABC's national political lead David Speers unpacks the major stories shaping Australia's future. Each episode includes a major interview with an Australian politician and an extensive discussion with a panel of the country's best journalists. This show will help you understand the major factors behind the decisions and debates driving a national conversation.