Latest Episodes
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Minister David Littleproud on bushfires, drought, and the Nationals
Bushfires continue to burn across NSW and Queensland, the death toll has risen, and the damage to properties, wildlife and the environment is devastating. With conditions predicted to worsen over the summer, climate change has inevitably come into the frame. The Prime Minister and Opposition leader have said policy arguments should be avoided until the immediate crisis has passed, but many - including…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Ross Gittins on the government's 'surplus obsession'
The Australian economy is growing slowly, with people not opening their purses and businesses uncertain about the future. The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates three times this year - the official cash rate is currently at a historic low of 0.75%. Many are arguing monetary policy has run its course, and fiscal stimulus is needed. This week's Essential poll shows voters tend to think so as well, with…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: On the trust divide in politics
Democracy 2025 is an initiative by the Museum of Australian Democracy and the University of Canberra, which aims to stimulate a national conversation on the state of our democracy, including the trust divide between the political class and everyday citizens. A just-released report by the project gives the perspective of federal politicians - key voices in the debate. Members of the last federal parliament…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Deputy PM Michael McCormack on the drought and restive Nationals
While the drought continues to hit the Nationals' constituents hard, the party faces testing terrain on a political level. In this episode of Politics with Michelle Grattan, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack acknowledges the mishandling of the bring-forward of the dairy code, which will increase the negotiating power of milk producers. Tensions blew up in the Nationals party room this week after…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tim Watts on Australia's changing identity
Tim Watts is Labor member for the Victorian seat of Gellibrand, one of the most diverse electorates in Australia. His own family is a microcosm of diversity - Watts comes from a long line of Australians with ancestors deeply rooted in the old attitudes of "white Australia", while his wife is from Hong Kong, and his children Eurasian-Australian. In his new book, The Golden Country, Watts reconciles…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: daughters of Robert Menzies and Arthur Calwell say parliament wasn't always a 'fort'
Last week, a very special event took place in Parliament House. The daughters of Sir Robert Menzies and Arthur Calwell - Heather Henderson and Mary Elizabeth Calwell - came together to reflect on their fathers' legacies, and to offer their perspectives on a different era in Australia's political history. Michelle Grattan moderated the conversation. The event was organised by the Menzies-Calwell Group…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Arthur Sinodinos with some reflections and advice
Arthur Sinodinos will soon leave the Senate, and early next year take up the position of Australian ambassador in Washington. A former staffer and one-time public servant as well as a former minister, in this podcast Sinodinos reflects on the challenges of pursuing reform, has some advice for ministerial staff in dealing with the public service, and warns about dangers for democracy and science posed…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers on the need to change economic course
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it's time to change Australia's economic course "in a responsible and affordable way which doesn't jeopardise the surplus". Chalmers predicts the budget outcome for last financial year, forecast to be a deficit at budget time, could possibly show a surplus, because of high iron ore prices and other factors including an underspend on the NDIS. He argues the government…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Independent MP Helen Haines on using 'soft power'
Helen Haines, MP for the Victorian regional seat Indi, made history at the election as the first federal independent to succeed another independent. She was backed by grassroots campaigners, Voices for Indi, who had earlier helped her predecessor, Cathy McGowan, into parliament. But while McGowan towards the end of her time in the House of Representatives shared real legislative power after the Coalition…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on a slowing economy
This week's June quarter national accounts showed weakness in business investment and consumer spending, reflecting an all-round lack of confidence. Still, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg remains optimistic about the economy. In this episode of Politics with Michelle Grattan, Frydenberg talks about the government's discussions with the Reserve Bank on a new agreement covering the inflation target, saying…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: PM’s advisor Christine Morgan on tackling Australia’s rising suicide rates
The number of suicides in Australia has been rising in the last decade, with more than 3,000 Australians taking their life in 2017, according to the latest available ABS figures. Some of the most vulnerable groups include Indigenous Australians, young Australians, unemployed people, and veterans. Scott Morrison has declared this a key priority area for the government. He has appointed Christine Morgan…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: on the 'creeping crisis' in the public service
Scott Morrison has voiced his intention to shake up the federal public service - seeking to make it more efficient in implementing the government's agenda. A review of the public service led by David Thodey is now finished. Meanwhile, Professor Beth Noveck and Professor Rod Glover have released a timely study of the public service, titled Today's problems, Yesterday's toolkit. Commissioned by the Australia…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Anthony Albanese on Labor's hard times
Anthony Albanese has a blunt message for critics who are accusing Labor of attacking government measures but then voting for them. They should "examine the world as it is rather than as they would like it to be," he says. In the post-election reality the Senate will mostly support the government. This severely limits the opposition's capacity to alter legislation. In this podcast episode, Albanese…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Paul Oosting responds to GetUp's critics
After a bruising election outcome, GetUp is regrouping around a batch of issues - with press freedom the big ticket item. The activist group's national director Paul Oosting, who has been in Canberra for the parliamentary week, says this is "deeply, deeply important to our members right now. It's absolutely the number one issue that they care about". We're absolutely in this campaign for the long haul…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Centre Alliance's Stirling Griff on Newstart
The two Centre Alliance senators, Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick will often be pivotal to the fate of government legislation. The smaller non-Green Senate crossbench this term means that if the government can muster Centre Alliance support, it only needs one other crossbencher to pass bills, as was the case with the government's tax package. In this podcast Michelle Grattan talks with Stirling Griff…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Megan Davis on a First Nations Voice in the Constitution
Last week on this podcast we talked to Ken Wyatt about the government's plan for a referendum – hopefully this parliamentary term – to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution. This week, we continue the conversation on Indigenous recognition with Megan Davis, a law professor and expert member of a key United Nations Indigenous rights body on the debate about an Indigenous 'Voice' which…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and Megan Davis
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Ken Wyatt on constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians
The first Indigenous minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, says on the government's proposal to constitutionally recognise Indigenous Australians: "I'm optimistic about achieving the outcome because if the words are simple, but meaningful, then Australians will generally accept an opportunity to include Aboriginal people in the Constitution." But he concedes Indigenous leaders would not take…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Father Frank Brennan on Israel Folau and religious freedom
Frank Brennan, Jesuit priest and member of the expert panel on Religious Freedom set up by Malcolm Turnbull, says the Israel Folau matter is a "simple freedom of contract case regardless of Mr. Folau's religious views". "I think the question is, did he voluntarily, and for a very large sum of money, agree with his employer to follow a work code which included an undertaking not to make statements on…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: ACTU president Michele O'Neil on John Setka and the government's anti-union legislation
The ACTU leadership has pushed controversial construction boss John Setka to quit his union job but its president Michele O'Neil says the final decision on his leadership rests on the union membership. She told The Conversation "members of unions elect their leadership and that's an important principle". In this podcast episode O'Neil denounces the government's plan to bring back to parliament the…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Richard Eccleston on the electoral mood in Tasmania
University of Tasmania political science professor, Richard Eccleston, says a lack of a coherent energy policy could count against the Coalition in the island state. "The party which seems to offer the more compelling commitment to climate change and renewable production will probably be well placed to capitalize on that [Tasmania's environmental interests]." Eccleston told The Conversation the volatile…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tim Colebatch on the battle in Victoria - and the Senate
Inside Story's Tim Colebatch says three Victorian seats are seen as "pretty certain" wins for Labor - Dunkley, Corangamite and Chisholm. A number of others "are really open" - Casey, La Trobe, Deakin, Flinders and possibly even Higgins. "It does strike me that [the Liberals] they’ve done a lot to show the flag in Victoria. Morrison has been down there frequently". Colebatch tells The Conversation climate…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: William Bowe on the state of election play in WA
Western Australia-based William Bowe, who runs The Poll Bludger website, says "there is a feeling that there is a Labor resurgence in the state". Bowe told The Conversation a "floundering" state economy after the mining boom downturn, with falling house prices and rising unemployment, has created a sense that "prosperity has been lost. And that sense of downward mobility is very dangerous for the government…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Hughes on political advertising - and Clive Palmer
ANU marketing lecturer Andrew Hughes says this is the first election where the advertising spend and activity has been more focussed on digital. He told The Conversation that on Monday, the first day of pre-polling, there was a surge in social media ads - the Coalition had over 230 different ads on Facebook while Labor had over 200. "The sheer volume of ads is probably the highest we’ve ever seen in…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and Andrew Hughes
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Caroline Fisher on the spin machines of #AusVotes19
While the major party leaders seem to have curated their images, University of Canberra assistant professor in communications and media Caroline Fisher says they can't always control how these could be manipulated. Fisher says there has been "a real attempt to soften" Scott Morrison as the "daggy dad" through candid personal selfies. In contrast, Bill Shorten has opted for more professional shots which…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and Caroline Fisher
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers on Labor's budget reaction
Shadow Finance minister Jim Chalmers said Labor was looking for ways to make things fairer for low-income earners who were "largely left behind" in the government's budget. He told The Conversation the measures "would be through the tax system and would most likely be around the low and middle income tax offset which the government introduced". New to podcasts? Podcasts are often best enjoyed using…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan