Latest Episodes
Politics with Michelle Grattan: ANU Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt on the challenges universities face
Australia's higher education sector is under heavy scrutiny. Still recovering from the impact of COVID and criticised for its treatment of staff, it faces strong pressures to step up its performance. The government launched a broad review of the sector in late 2022 to inform a Universities Accord. The interim report was released in July, with the full report coming in December. Professor Brian Schmidt…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Asia expert Richard McGregor on Anthony Albanese's coming visit to China
Anthony Albanese has now confirmed he'll be heading to China before the end of the year. He is the first Australian prime minister to visit since 2016, and it is the culmination of an improvement in China-Australia relations since the change of government. In this podcast, we're joined by Richard McGregor, an expert on China and senior fellow at the Lowy Institute. He was at the high level dialogue…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: RedBridge's Kosmos Samaras on what the public are saying about the Voice
Over recent months, support for the Voice has fallen from a clear majority to a minority. With polling day set for October 14, the "yes" and "no" camps are battling it out to capture those still undecided. In this podcast, RedBridge Group's Kosmos Samaras joins The Conversation to dig into the research on voters' attitudes. RedBridge, consultants on political communications, has been doing both quantitative…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: Danielle Wood to head Productivity Commission, Alan Joyce bows to public anger, PM jets off again
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the latest national accounts and Jim Chalmers' announcement that Grattan Institute CEO Danielle Wood will take over as head of the…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Battle of the Voice - Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin and former deputy prime minister John Anderson
October 14 is the day Australians will head to their polling booths to vote for or against an Indigenous Voice being enshrined in the Constitution. Anthony Albanese announced the date in a speech in Adelaide on Wednesday, as politicians across the spectrum and Indigenous "yes" campaign leaders rallied around the country. In this podcast, we are joined by the campaign director for Yes23, Dean Parkin…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: Date for Voice referendum to be announced on Wednesday
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the news that the Prime Minister next Wednesday will reveal the date for the Voice referendum. They also canvass the Intergenerational…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: WA Premier Roger Cook on Labor's conference and his state's issues
Labor this week had its first face-to-face national conference in five years, and it all went Anthony Albanese's way. He won on AUKUS and rallied the party faithful, who did not rock the government's boat. For this podcast we caught up with the new Western Australian Premier Roger Cook on the sidelines of the conference, and canvassed a range of issues, including his recent backdown on the state's…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Labor president Wayne Swan on the party's coming national conference
Next week the Labor Party will hold its national conference in Brisbane. It's the first face-to-face conference in five years. These conferences don't have anything like the bite they once did, but there's still a chance for the party's rank and file to have a shout about issues. More than 400 delegates will be there. Most of the delegates are aligned to a faction, and for the first time in decades…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: Voice proponents and opponents draw succour from heritage backdown; ALP toughens Palestine policy to placate party; more questions follow Lehrmann inquiry
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the announcement from Western Australian Premier Roger Cook that a controversial cultural heritage law would be overturned, with…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: Double dissolution hot air, PM dodging Treaty question, Morrison hit with counter punch after Robodebt speech
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss whether there's much in the PM's double dissolution threat, and his defensiveness when pressed on Treaty in an ABC interview. As…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: 'yes' campaigner Thomas Mayo and 'no' advocate Derryn Hinch on the Voice
The Garma Festival is being held over the next few days in Arnhem Land. There will be a great deal of talk this year about the Voice. Anthony Albanese will speak on Saturday, but he won't announce the date for the referendum. Peter Dutton isn't attending. Meanwhile in parliament this week the opposition has sought to turn the discussion of the Voice to the issue of treaty, also a feature of the Uluru…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: ACCI Head Andrew McKellar on industrial relations and boosting Australia's productivity
Australia's inflation moderated somewhat this week. But in economic terms, there will be more tough months ahead for households and for businesses. Meanwhile, the relationship between business and the Albanese government is somewhat scratchy. From the point of view of business, the Government is delivering to the unions. Business is particularly critical of the Government's industrial relations changes…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Battle of the Voice – Greens senator Dorinda Cox & Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle
The Voice to Parliament reached another milestone this week, with the official essays for the Yes and No cases published online by the Australian Electoral Commission. These will be sent to all Australian electors in the lead up to the vote, which will be in the last quarter of the year In recent weeks, polls have suggested the "yes" vote is on the slide, and has an uphill battle if it is to be successful…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: On ditching the Commonwealth Games, the Voice pamphlet, Labor's factions
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss Premier Dan Andrews' surprise decision to pull Victoria out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. They also canvass the official…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Michele Bullock's appointment as Reserve Bank Governor
For months, speculation has swirled about the appointment of a new governor of the Reserve Bank, a key position in the management of the Australian economy. The present governor, Philip Lowe, has faced sharp criticism, especially over his prediction interest rates would be held steady until 2024, which proved wrong. It always seemed unlikely he would get another term. Now the government has named his…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten on Robodebt report's sealed section, and progress on NDIS reform
The Robodebt royal commission's report has excoriated a raft of former ministers, especially Scott Morrison, who was a main instigator of the program, as well as public servants who were involved. What we don't know is who has been referred for prosecution or other action, because the names are in a sealed section of the report. When in opposition, Bill Shorten pursued the scandal, mobilising a class…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Author Bruce Wolpe on the "shocking" consequences for Australia of a Trump 24 win
Next year's American presidential election is shaping up to be extraordinary. Donald Trump is favoured to be the Republican candidate, despite facing multiple charges over removing classified documents. President Joe Biden has indicated he intends to run again, despite the fact he'll be 82 at the time of the poll and 86 if he completed another four-year term. In this podcast, author Bruce Wolpe - a…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: A wild and badly behaved parliamentary fortnight
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the free-for-all between Coalition, government and Greens in the final sitting fortnight before the winter break. The Coalition's…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Special Minister of State Don Farrell wants donation and spending caps for next election
The next federal election could be conducted under dramatically reformed electoral laws, with caps on spending and donations, and a much lower disclosure threshold for the disclosure of donations. The changes, being worked up by Special Minister Don Farrell, would also trim the wings of third parties, such as Simon Holmes à Court's Climate 200. Farrell tells The Conversation's Politics Podcast he is…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Community Independent Dai Le on what voters are saying
For most voters, the cost of living is their major current concern. Rising interest rates and high prices for power, groceries and other necessities are hurting in particular lower and middle income people. Nowhere is this more the case than in Sydney's western suburbs. Independent Dai Le, who holds the seat of Fowler in Sydney's west, managed to pull off the unthinkable at last year's federal election…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: Coalition attacks on Katy Gallagher, Voice losing traction, future fund holdout
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the opposition's attack on Finance Minister Katy Gallagher for allegedly misleading parliament in 2021 about what she knew of Brittany…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Industry minister Ed Husic on the artificial intelligence revolution
Artificial intelligence is a challenging policy area that's moving towards the centre stage of public and government attention. Some experts emphasise the immense potential of AI, while others are deeply troubled about the ramifications the technology may have on humans. AI has the potential to open up employment opportunities, but also to replace many jobs. The Albanese government has recently begun…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Liberal MP Bridget Archer urges other moderates to speak up as she presses for party change
The Coalition's decision to oppose the Voice to Parliament has put its moderate members in a jam. Some moderates are active yes advocates, while others are trying to keep low profiles. Bridget Archer, the outspoken Liberal MP for Bass, is a vocal yes campaigner. More generally, she is also taking a lead in urging the Liberal party to undertake root-and-branch reform. Archer is pushing for extensive…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: PwC scandal, McGowan quitting politics, PM's trip to Singapore and high inflation figure
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the PwC scandal, where the consulting firm broke a confidentiality agreement relating to planned taxation legislation by the Abbott…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Labor's Julian Hill on employment, AI, Julian Assange and TikTok
The federal budget gave a much-needed, but very modest, increase to those on JobSeeker and associated payments. However, it didn't address that other important issue of the unemployed: how to help as many JobSeekers as possible to get into work, whether full- or part-time. This will be canvassed in the government's coming white paper on employment. It's already, however, before a parliamentary inquiry…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan