Latest Episodes
Politics podcast: Michaelia Cash on the government's push to restore the ABCC
As the government turns up the heat over its push to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has revealed she is willing to agree to senator David Leyonhjelm's call for a sunset clause in the legislation. "David has raised that with me and ... yes, I would accept an eight-year sunset clause," she said. She said in that time the ABCC would…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Tony Burke on Labor's fiscal challenge
In the first Politics Podcast for 2016, Michelle Grattan and Shadow Finance Minister Tony Burke discuss the challenging gap between government revenue and spending, and what Labor would do to address the problem. Burke pitches Labor’s recent education announcements as being central to its economic vision, describing them as a "strategic economic investment" in what Australia will need post the mining…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Andrew Leigh on MYEFO
Michelle Grattan discusses the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook with Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh, gauging his thoughts on the savings measures announced by the government and how Labor would address the issue of budget repair.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Peter Reith on the Turnbull government
Former Howard government minister Peter Reith, who has just released his recollections of the period in his book The Reith Papers, talks about the challenges facing the Turnbull government including his view that Tony Abbott needs to keep his head down for a while, the pros and cons of increasing the GST and the predicament facing Mal Brough.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Bill Ferris on innovation
The newly appointed chair of Innovation Australia, Bill Ferris, talks about his early experiences investing in start-ups in the 1970s, the need for Australia to bring its ideas and inventions to market, and the way to tackle a business culture that fears failure.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Simon Birmingham on education reform
Michelle Grattan speaks with Education Minister Simon Birmingham about his negotiations for a new higher education package, efforts to crack down on rorting in the vocational educational sector and the government's overhaul of the childcare system.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Christian Porter on domestic violence
Michelle Grattan speaks with Social Services Minister Christian Porter about the government's moves on domestic violence, his thinking on welfare reform and his support for making adoption easier.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: the danger of leasing the Port of Darwin to the Chinese
Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings has strongly criticised the decision to lease the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company, saying it is a deep strategic mistake after a flawed policy process. Speaking to Michelle Grattan, Jennings also canvasses the difficulties of co-ordinating Russian and American military action in the Syrian conflict, and warns Australia could…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Katy Gallagher on transitioning from chief minister to senator
Former ACT chief minister Katy Gallagher, now a federal Labor senator with new responsibilities in the shadow ministry, admits she has found the jump into the bigger political pool challenging. She has also had to do a pivot in her views on increasing the GST. Here she also talks about mental health, federal-state relations and Labor's face-off with Malcolm Turnbull.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: John Blaxland on his new book, The Official History of ASIO
Michelle Grattan discusses the newly released book The Protest Years: The Official History of ASIO 1963-1975 with its author, John Blaxland. Among several controversies, they review the evidence supporting conspiracy theories surrounding the dismissal of the Whitlam government and the fractious relationship between the agency and Labor Attorney-General Lionel Murphy.
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and John Blaxland
Politics podcast: Sarah Hanson-Young on the plight of 'Abyan'
In this interview, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young calls on the government to appoint an independent advocate to protect the interests of the Somali woman known as "Abyan", who is being held on Nauru. Michelle Grattan also probes Hanson-Young on the Greens' electoral prospects following the ascension of Malcolm Turnbull to the prime ministership.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Sam Dastyari unleashed
In The Conversation's first live podcast, which took place in Canberra's Muse wine bar and bookstore, Sam Dastyari gives a candid insight into Labor's strategy to win back government, the threat of the Greens and much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Jamie Briggs on the infrastructure needs of Australian cities
In the cabinet reshuffle that followed the Liberal Party leadership spill, new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appointed Jamie Briggs as the Minister for Cities and the Built Environment. Jamie Briggs joins Michelle Grattan to talk about his new portfolio, the policy pivot away from just roads toward other infrastructure projects like public transport, the changes under the new prime minister and much…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Kim Carr on Labor's new higher education policy
Higher education looms as a key issue in the next federal election. The Labor Party released its higher education policy this week. Shadow Higher Education Minister Kim Carr joins Michelle Grattan to talk about the new policy in depth.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Arthur Sinodinos on why Australia needed a new prime minister
Arthur Sinodinos was a key backer of Malcolm Turnbull. In this interview with Michelle Grattan he talks about why the Liberals needed a change in leadership, what he hopes will change in the running of the Prime Minister's Office and much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Josh Frydenberg on Syria, the refugee intake and the economy
Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg joins Michelle Grattan to talk about the Syrian conflict, Australia's humanitarian refugee intake, the economy, and much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Canning byelection special
Michelle Grattan spent two days this week in Canning, Western Australia, where campaigning is building up for the byelection on September 19. The Liberal Party currently holds the seat by a margin of about 12%. Its former member was Don Randall, who died suddenly in July. In a break from our usual longform format, we conducted short interviews with Labor candidate Matt Keogh, Labor deputy leader Tanya…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Peter Varghese on foreign aid and the Australian world view
The secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Varghese sat down with Michelle Grattan to talk about aid, the integration of AUSAID, Islamic State, the Asian century and much, much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Michael McCormack – the Nationals member for Riverina
Michael McCormack is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and the Nationals member for Riverina. He joins Michelle Grattan to talk about the future of the Nationals’ leadership, the difference in the Nationals’ political style, tax reform and much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Clare O'Neil and the future of progressive politics in Australia
Clare O'Neil is the Labor member for Hotham and with her colleague Tim Watts has written a book, Two Futures. The book discusses Australia in 2040 and what can be done in the short term to improve our future. Clare sat down with Michelle Grattan to talk about the book, the ideas in it and the future of progressive politics in Australia.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Chris Bowen
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and Michelle Grattan step away from the day-to-day politics to talk about Bowen’s new book, The Money Men, in which he writes about twelve of Australia’s most notable treasurers. Bowen talks about the legacies of Treasurers such as Keating, Costello, Cairns and Swan, his research process, writing on the job he hopes to hold, and much, much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles from the ALP national conference
In a special episode recorded live at the ALP national conference, Michelle Grattan sat down with infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese to discuss the conference itself and then with immigration spokesman Richard Marles to talk about the ALP controversially adopting asylum seeker boat turnbacks.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Ben Oquist on the direction of the Greens and the Senate crossbench
Ben Oquist is Executive Director of the Australia Institute and former chief of staff to former Greens leader Bob Brown. Ben sat down with Michelle Grattan to talk about the current direction of the Greens, the Senate crossbench, climate change, and the future of progressive politics in Australia.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Christophe Lecourtier on the 2015 Paris climate conference
The French Ambassador to Australia Christophe Lecourtier sits down with Michelle Grattan to talk about the 2015 Paris climate conference, Australia’s role in tackling climate change, France’s hopes for the meeting, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s attendance and much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Tim Soutphommasane on 'Team Australia' and racism
Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane sits down with Michelle Grattan to talk about Dawn Fraser's comments, "Team Australia", the government's approach to terrorism and asylum seekers, and much more.
1 Host: Michelle Grattan