Australian politics live podcast

Political editor Tom McIlroy and economics editor Patrick Commins speak with Jim Chalmers about the criticisms that his ‘reforming’ and ‘ambitious’ budget, while historic, stands to benefit only a relatively small number of Australians. The treasurer also explains why the budget didn’t include an increase in tax for gas exports, and how this government is putting forward an economic strategy to address the anxieties that lead voters to turn to populism on the right

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The minister for energy and climate change, Chris Bowen, tells Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, that despite shortages at petrol stations around Australia, there have so far been no disruptions to the country’s fuel supply. Bowen responds to criticisms about the Albanese government’s communication to the public, as the second month of the US-Israel war on Iran continues to send shockwaves around the world. The minister also argues that rationing fuel is not necessary for now, and that having a staged plan with the states is good government at work

After Australia became one of the first countries to back the US’s war on Iran, this month’s poll shows voters are questioning Canberra’s relationship with the US and an increasingly unpredictable Donald Trump. Political reporter Josh Butler and Essential Media executive director Peter Lewis discuss why Australians want the government to broaden our diplomatic relationships and if voters are blaming the government for being dragged along on Trump’s latest alarming intervention

This week, as fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran continues, a fuel crisis lashed Australian hip pockets harder than ever before. All while the Liberal party faces its own existential reckoning: voters moving moving further right towards One Nation. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to the shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability, Andrew Hastie, about Australia’s response to the global fuel shock, why he thinks we need to re-industrialise and his vision for the Liberal’s response to One Nation

With the US and Israel’s war on Iran continuing to send waves of disruption around the world, Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to two guests about the impact of the conflict on Australia. Jennifer Parker, a defence and national security expert who has served three times in the Middle East with the Australian navy, talks about the US strategy for the conflict and what the chokepoint in the strait of Hormuz means for Australia’s economic and defence stability. Phillip Coorey, the political editor of the Australian Financial Review, discusses the political challenge for Labor – as Jim Chalmers responds to this week’s rate hike by the Reserve Bank, while also managing predictions of economic shocks caused by the war

Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to new shadow minister for the digital economy, science, innovation and cybersecurity Aaron Violi, who was promoted to the frontbench in a reshuffle by opposition leader Angus Taylor. Prior to politics, Violi worked in the digital economy and says the government has been unprepared for the disruption of AI. Violi also discusses the Coalition’s policy challenge of balancing concerns about immigration and the cost of living, as the opposition tries to rebuild trust after months of internal conflict over their leadership

The economist, author and politician Yanis Varoufakis speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about his blunt assessment about the ability of the global economic system to address the biggest challenges of the 21st century. They also discuss Europe’s failures in Russia’s war on Ukraine, the candid admissions of Donald Trump on the reality of climate change and how AI has changed the relationship between individuals and capital. Speaking from Athens before his national tour with the Australia Institute this week, the former finance minister for Greece also speaks about his recent charge for the alleged promotion of recreational drugs and why he thinks this was politically motivated

Hardline exchanges over the 34 Australian women and children stuck in Syria have continued this week, with the opposition saying the group should be blocked from returning due to their ties with Islamic State. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to shadow minister for home affairs and immigration Jonno Duniam, who argues that the government has had a ‘hands-off’ approach so far. In the lead-up to next week’s return to parliament with a new shadow frontbench, the Tasmanian senator also discusses the Coalition’s plan to propose laws that would make it an offence to help people linked to terrorist hotspots and organisations

Since October, the Guardian Essential poll has been following the rise in support for One Nation but this month’s results might also ring alarm bells for Labor. This is because nearly half of Labor voters said they would be open to voting for One Nation at the next federal election. Political reporter and chief of staff Josh Butler and Essential Media executive director Peter Lewis discuss why One Nation’s surge is more than just a ‘noisy’ protest about the Coalition, and why Pauline Hanson’s party is attracting voters across the political spectrum

Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Andrew Hauser speaks to economics editor Patrick Commins and business and economics reporter Luca Ittimani about the 2025 surprises that led to the first interest rate rise in two years. Hauser also responds to last week’s criticisms by Tim Wilson, the newly appointed shadow treasurer, that the RBA has not down enough to curb inflation. And we put to the deputy governor your audience questions about house prices, economic inequality and how shoppers can respond when they think companies are ‘taking the p’

In his first comments after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Anthony Albanese says that the ex-prince has had an extraordinary fall from grace. And while the prime minister is a firm republican, this disgrace will not prompt another referendum. Speaking with Guardian Australia’s political editor Tom McIlroy, the PM hits back at Pauline Hanson’s comments about Muslim Australians. He also discusses what would happen if the 34 wives and children of Australian Islamic State fighters stuck in Syria made their back to Australia

Protesters around Australia, including Nick McKim and other Greens MPs, gathered to express opposition to the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, this week. The Greens senator tells political editor, Tom McIlroy, that the confronting scenes of police aggression towards protesters in Sydney was a “massive overreach”. McKim is the Greens spokesperson for economic justice and treasury, and is now leading a parliamentary inquiry into the 50% capital gains tax discount. Labor has not ruled out possible changes to the generous tax breaks for investors ahead of the May budget. The Tasmanian senator argues that, with Greens’ support, the government can “marry up the politics and the policy” to meaningfully addressing the housing crisis