Latest Episodes
Politics podcast: Nick Xenophon on working the new parliament
As the curtain falls on the year, one of the most powerful players in the new parliament looks back on his successes. Nick Xenophon nominates whistleblower protections and procurement law changes negotiated alongside the government's industrial relations legislation as major achievements. "The government has agreed to sweeping changes to whistleblower protections in this country. Compensation for whistleblowers…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Josh Frydenberg on climate change and the 2017 review
After ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, the government is looking ahead to its 2017 review of climate change policy. Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg tells Michelle Grattan the government will have more to say about the review before Christmas. "The key is to ensure we're on track to meet our 2030 targets, which is a 26-28% reduction in our emissions by 2030 on 2005 levels…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Jenny Macklin on Labor's approach to welfare
In times of budgetary constraint, the cost of Australia's welfare system has been regarded by many in the Coalition as a burden and a drag on economic growth. The shadow minister for social services and families, Jenny Macklin, has a different take. "Sadly I think the Liberal-National Coalition have an ideological view that the welfare system is too generous – even though the international evidence…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Barnaby Joyce on the state of the National Party
Earlier this week, footage aired of Attorney-General George Brandis speculating that Queensland's Liberal National Party might demerge. But Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says this won't happen. "It's not going to happen. You know why? Because the people who make that decision is not George, or myself or anybody else, it's the membership and the membership would have to decide…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Rory Medcalf on the security implications of Donald Trump's presidency
For allies of the United States, the reality of a Donald Trump presidency has just begun to sink in. Former Australian diplomat and intelligence analyst, Professor Rory Medcalf, who heads the National Security College at ANU, tells Michelle Grattan that for Australia, the shock of the Trump presidency will mean that we have to think much more seriously about what our foreign policy and national security…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Julian Leeser on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act
Many in the government have clamoured for changes to be made to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Liberal backbencher Julian Leeser, however is not one of them. The member for the northern Sydney seat of Berowra tells Michelle Grattan there are definitely people within the Liberal Party who share his view that Section 18C "achieves a good balance between allowing people the freedom of speech…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Kim Beazley on the US election
Kim Beazley's time as Australia's ambassador to the United States came to an end earlier this year, but he is riveted by next week's presidential election. "When I was the ambassador to Washington I just missed politics every day. In this year, I am missing the United States every day," he says. Beazley tells Michelle Grattan that "slightly, on balance" Hillary Clinton is more likely to win. "But the…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and Kim Beazley
Politics podcast: John Blaxland on The Secret Cold War - The Official History of ASIO
In the third volume of The Official History of ASIO series, historians Dr John Blaxland and Dr Rhys Crawley examine the organisation's role in the years leading to the end of the Cold War. Blaxland tells Michelle Grattan that this is a story about looking at Australia in the '70s and '80s "through the glasses of an ASIO officer or an ASIO agent". During the period covered in the book, Blaxland says…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and John Blaxland
Politics podcast: Stirling Griff and Skye Kakoschke-Moore on life in the Senate
Nick Xenophon's two new Senate colleagues, Stirling Griff and Skye Kakoschke-Moore, are no strangers to the political process, having both worked with Xenophon behind the scenes. In a joint interview, they tell Michelle Grattan about their contrasting experiences in becoming politicians. Kakoschke-Moore says she has had the benefit of being around Xenophon for nearly six years. "So I understand the…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Tanya Plibersek on marriage equality and education funding
In the wake of Labor's rejection of the proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite, speculation has fallen on whether it will maintain its planned policy of enforcing a binding vote on marriage equality after the next election. Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek tells Michelle Grattan she doesn't think the issue will come up at the party's next national conference. "I know that the Liberals are trying…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Mark Dreyfus on George Brandis' solicitor-general controversy
A contentious move by Attorney-General George Brandis to restrict access to legal advice from the solicitor-general is continuing to raise controversy and questions about its legal validity. Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus tells Michelle Grattan that he sees this as "the most extraordinary power grab by the Attorney-General in the history of the office". "We already know that he's held up requests…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Simon Birmingham on the new VET student loan scheme
A new vocational education and training student loan scheme will aim at putting a stop to rorting by dodgy private colleges. Education Minister Simon Birmingham tells Michelle Grattan the new scheme is being built from the ground up. "First and foremost, [there will be] strong barriers to entry for the types of vocational education providers who can offer loans as part of it," he says. The reforms…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Scott Ryan on the same-sex marriage plebiscite and political donations
Monday's government-Labor meeting over the proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite ended in a stalemate. But Special Minister of State Scott Ryan tells Michelle Grattan the government has made it very clear it will consider in "good faith" any proposal Bill Shorten and Labor bring forward. "The meeting was an opportunity for them – even if they didn't have the power to make formal suggestions – to actually…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Peter Jennings on Turnbull's trip to the US
At the UN next week Malcolm Turnbull will be among many leaders responding to the large movements of refugees and migrants across the world. Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, tells Michelle Grattan that the purpose of US President Barack Obama's meeting is to get other countries to accept more refugees through legal channels. "I don't think he's going…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Don Watson on the rise of Trump
Earlier this year, Australian writer Don Watson visited the United States, observing the race for president. Rather than examine the "rust belt" or "down-at-heel" cities, Watson chose America's heartland. "I found in Wisconsin many of the underlying themes of this election. And that sort of Gothic quality of the United States where everything has a very deep and often dark story behind it." Watson…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Eric Abetz on the conservatives in the Liberal Party
In the first sitting of the new parliament, conservatives within the government have muscled a proposed amendment to the Racial Discrimination Act onto the agenda. Senator Eric Abetz, a strong advocate for change, tells Michelle Grattan that he doubts it will be dealt with this year. "It will be introduced and then I think it would make sense for it to go through the normal processes. It may well go…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Fred Smith on The Dust of Uruzgan
Fred Smith is no ordinary Australian diplomat. In postings served in the Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan, he built relationships with tribal leaders while continuing his side-career as a folk musician. Smith, who has written about his experiences in a book, The Dust of Uruzgan, tells Michelle Grattan for the first three or four months he stashed his guitar under the bed. "You know, I wanted to be taken…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Bob Brown on Malcolm Turnbull and the same-sex marriage plebiscite
Since retiring from politics in 2012, former Greens leader Bob Brown has continued to offer sharp perspectives on issues of national debate. After giving the closing address at the Canberra Writers' Festival at the weekend, Brown tells Michelle Grattan that Malcolm Turnbull should have "stood up to the right wing" of his party at the end of 2015. "We now have a reactionary and conservative government…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Derryn Hinch on becoming a senator
Incoming Victorian senator Derryn Hinch has the potential to be an ally or an enemy to the government's agenda. Describing his political philosophy, Hinch says he isn't in the Senate "just to be opposition". "If I was in America I'd be a Democrat. I'm conservative on some issues. Very conservative. And that's over law-and-order issues and I've campaigned on those over the years. If I'm a socialist…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Karen Middleton on Albanese – Telling It Straight
This week, political reporter Karen Middleton is releasing a book about the life and career of Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese. At its heart is a deeply personal story of Albanese's absent father. As a boy, Albanese believed his father had died in a car accident shortly after his parent's marriage. But at the age of 14 his mother told him the truth. Middleton tells Michelle Grattan she came to…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Anne Aly on counter-terrorism policy
When parliament returns later this month, Labor's Anne Aly will become the first Muslim woman to take a seat in the lower house. Aly is an internationally renowned scholar on counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation. In 2014, she was the only Australian expert invited to attend Barack Obama's summit on countering violent extremism. Aly tells Michelle Grattan she has spoken with many people who have…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Linda Burney on the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk-off
Next week, Australians will look back at one the most significant moments in the struggle for Indigenous rights. August 23 marks the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk-off, when Vincent Lingiari led a group of 200 Aboriginal workers and their families off a Northern Territory pastoral station in protest against their exploitative pay and working conditions. Labor's spokesperson for human services…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Tom Calma says Nigel Scullion should go
The royal commission into the Northern Territory's youth detention and child protection systems has had a shaky start. The Four Corners program that spurred the federal government into action has also raised questions about its previous knowledge of reports of abuse at the Don Dale detention centre. Chancellor of the University of Canberra Tom Calma, who is co-chair of Reconciliation Australia and…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Tiernan Brady on the campaign for same-sex marriage
Tiernan Brady was the political director of the "yes" campaign during the Irish referendum on same-sex marriage. With the government pushing ahead with plans for a plebiscite on the issue, Brady is in Australia to help advise local advocates. Brady tells Michelle Grattan one of the most important aspects of the Irish referendum was that they recognised that it should always be about "a real person…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Jim Chalmers on Labor's approach to the economy
Labor begins its next phase in opposition with bigger numbers in the parliament and with a new level of confidence as it confronts the government. Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation Jim Chalmers tells Michelle Grattan Labor has a pretty good record of "supporting what they can" of government savings measures. "The way I like to describe it is when it comes to the budget, you…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan