The Party Room

The legal feud between Elon Musk and the Australian Government is intensifying. The PM has labelled Mr Musk an "egotist", while Elon Musk has lashed out at what he says is the Australian government's "censorship". So just how expansive are the Australian government's powers here? And recent polling shows voters are feeling the cost of living crunch, so can the government offer relief in the upcoming budget without adding to inflation? Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. EDITORS NOTE: PK and Fran mention the statistic of 30 women killed by violence in Australia so far this year - this statistic comes from The Australian Femicide Watch. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Political leaders face a tough test amid concerns about social cohesion following a difficult week for Australians, who’ve been left reeling over two stabbing attacks. Six people were killed in a knife attack at Bondi Junction shopping centre and just days later authorities declared a “terror incident’ following the stabbing of an Assyrian Orthodox Bishop during a live streamed church service in Western Sydney, which sparked a riot. And the judgement in the defamation trial Bruce Lehrmann brought against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson was handed down this week, with Justice Lee finding that on the balance of probabilities, Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House. Kate McClymont, chief investigative reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has suggested the Albanese Government is considering recognising Palestinian statehood, saying a two-state solution is "the only hope" for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  Despite bi-partisan support for a two-state solution, the Opposition has slammed Minister Wong's statement. Shadow Deputy leader Sussan Ley has suggested the move was "emboldening terrorists." Karen Middleton, Political Editor at the Guardian joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Albanese Government has failed to pass its rushed immigration detention bill. The Coalition formed an unusual alliance with Greens and the crossbench to delay a vote on the bill, claiming more scrutiny was needed. And the issue has raised broader questions about the government's transparency, with other with other key pieces of legislation like the Religious Discrimination bill shrouded in secrecy. Paul Karp, Chief Political Correspondent at Guardian Australia joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Former US President Donald Trump has reprimanded former PM Kevin Rudd in an interview, saying he heard he was "a little bit nasty" and warning if that if Ambassador Rudd is "at all hostile he won't be there for long". So, what could this mean for future US-Australian relations under a Trump Presidency? Meanwhile the PM has announced he won't proceed with a religious discrimination bill unless it has bipartisan support. And Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has visited Australia, holding diplomatic talks with Foreign Minister Penny Wong. But his meeting with former PM Paul Keating is raising eyebrows. Phil Coorey, Political Editor of the Australian Financial Review joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Government appears to be on the verge of a major shift in funding Australia's aged care system. It comes after taskforce set up to review funding models suggested moving more to a means tested user pays system.  And the Coalition is continuing its push for nuclear energy, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stating they will name “six” possible locations for nuclear reactors in the coming weeks. So what are the politics behind the Coalition's approach? Charles Croucher, Chief Political Editor for 9News joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Australia hosted ASEAN leaders in a special summit in Melbourne this week as key differences over China were set aside.

In an explosive briefing, ASIO boss Mike Burgess revealed a former Australian politician "sold out their country" after being recruited by a foreign intelligence service. In the wake of the revelations, former Treasurer Joe Hockey has called for the person to be named. And the stakes are high at the Dunkley by-election this weekend. And while the Government managed to pass its contentious changes to stage 3 tax cuts through parliament, recent polls have given the Opposition a confidence boost. It comes as new gender-pay-gap data reveals disparities across certain industries, and as former Prime Minister Scott Morrison exits parliament. Anna Henderson, SBS World News Chief Political Correspondent joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

A political storm has broken out, after a boat with 40 asylum seekers landed in a remote section of the WA Coast. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has criticised the Government for being weak on border security, while the Prime Minster accused the Opposition leader of acting like a "cheer squad for people smugglers." And there's been a push for random drug and alcohol testing in Parliament. It follows the behaviour of two National Party members, but is it realistic? And Australia's surface naval fleet is being reshaped, but will the overhaul help plug capability gaps? David Crowe, Chief Political Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Footage of Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce lying on his back on a Canberra footpath, drunk and swearing into his phone has raised questions about the conduct of Parliamentarians, and his future in the party. And the Albanese Government tabled its Closing the Gap statement this week, with the Prime Minister condemning "inexcusable" findings on Indigenous disadvantage. So, how will the Government try to shift the dial? Narelda Jacobs,10 News First Midday and Afternoons Presenter joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Parliament returned from summer break this week, and the Albanese Government has already managed to secure wins on some key policies. The Opposition conceded it wouldn't "stand in the way" of Labor's changes to stage 3 tax cuts. And after much negotiation, the Greens and Senate crossbencher David Pocock's agreed to support the Government's IR bill.  Cameron Stewart, Chief International Correspondent at The Australian joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Albanese Government has returned from the summer break with a bang, announcing changes to the contentious stage 3 tax cuts. And while the redesign means a larger tax cut for over 11 million Australians, will the benefits outweigh a broken promise for voters? And what else can we expect from the political year ahead? David Speers, ABC Political lead and host of Insiders joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. David Speers, ABC Political lead and host of Insiders joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Albanese Government has changed its position on a ceasefire in Gaza this week, signing the U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.The Opposition has criticised the move, suggesting the Government caved to "domestic pressure".  And the government has ended the year at a low-point, but 2023 was really a year in two halves. So, how will Labor try and rebuild momentum in 2024? Karen Middleton, Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas for the final The Party Room of 2023. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Parliament is about to wrap for Christmas break, but not before the Albanese Government managed to pass its controversial Preventative Detention legislation. The passage of the bill comes after a messy couple-of-weeks for the Government, but will this be the reset they need? And the long-awaited NDIS Review has finally been released, so how will the Government look to futureproof the scheme? Charles Croucher, Chief Political Editor for Nine News joins Fran Kelly and Afternoon Briefing Host Greg Jennett on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

As the end of the parliamentary year draws closer, cost of living pressures and recent political missteps are plaguing the Albanese Government. And Opposition leader Peter Dutton hasn't missed the opportunity to pounce, telling his partyroom he has a 'one-term' election strategy. So, is this just the standard first term slump for the government, or something different? Anna Henderson, Chief Political Correspondent at SBS World News joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced sustained pressure to disclose whether he confronted Chinese President Xi Jingping over a naval incident that saw Australian divers injured by a Chinese warship’s sonar. And the Government has attempted to seize back the domestic agenda and distract from the fallout, releasing a suite of new policies. But has it worked? Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation and Professorial fellow at the University of Canberra joined Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly on The Party Room.

As the Israel-Gaza war escalates, tensions are also intensifying in Australia. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has been critical of the Government’s response, while the Prime Minister has accused the Opposition leader of “weaponsing anti-Semitism”. And the Government is pushing through emergency legislation to deal with the fallout of the High Court’s decision that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful, which has already led to the release of 83 former detainees. But will that be enough? Cameron Stewart, Chief International Correspondent at the Australian joins Patricia Karvelas and David Speers on The Party Room

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's long awaited visit to China was largely overshadowed by domestic issues this week, with Optus experiencing a nationwide outage and the RBA lifting interest rates to a 12-year high.

As the Israel-Gaza war continues to escalate, there's been a subtle change in how the Australian Government is referring to the unfolding crisis.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with US President Joe Biden in Washington, with the two leaders reinforcing bilateral and security ties. But can Australia further strengthen ties with the US, while also rebuilding its economic relationship with China? And the state visit came amidst the backdrop of the escalating Israel-Gaza conflict. So how are global tensions playing out in politics here at home? Peter Hartcher, Political and International Editor at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room.

Two Muslim federal Labor Ministers have spoken out against collective punishment of Palestinians while defending the right of Israel to retaliate against Hamas.

After the Indigenous Voice referendum was voted down by the Australian public, the fallout from the majority No vote continues to play out in Canberra and across the country.

Amid the grief and horror of the Hamas terrorist attacks and Israel's retaliation, the federal opposition criticised the government's response, prompting the Prime Minister to accuse Peter Dutton of politicising the tragedy.

With just days to go until the Referendum, Carly and Fran take a look at the campaign and what you need to know before you vote. We'll also outline the arguments we've heard from both sides about the vote.

The Government has announced a crackdown on “grotesque abuses” and exploitation in the immigration visa system, focusing on migration agents and dodgy vocational education training centres who are rorting the system. And as the referendum on the Voice to Parliament draws closer, campaigning from both sides has ramped up. But with nearly one million Australians already casting their ballots at pre-polling, what messages are cutting through? Isabella Higgins, Indigenous Affairs reporter joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

There have been concerns about increased levels of racism during the campaign, particularly as the debate gets more heated and the date draws closer. So what will a yes or a no mean for reconciliation in this country? And how will the referendum be viewed overseas?

Just over 2-weeks out from the Voice referendum, the leader of the No campaign Warren Mundine has labelled the Uluru Statement from the Heart "a declaration of war", while leading Yes campaigner Noel Pearson has spoken of love and "the pathway to peace".  And after nine-years in the top job, Dan Andrews has stepped down as the Premier of Victoria. He became a household name across the country, but what impact did he have on federal politics? John-Paul Janke, co-host of ‘The Point’ on NITV/SBS joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Prime Minister says 80% of Indigenous people support the Voice, but where does that number come from? In this episode we take a closer look at what we know about how Indigenous people will vote. Also, some Indigenous people who are voting “No” say they want to see Treaty first. It’s not what we are voting on in this Referendum but throughout the campaign we’ve often heard about Treaty. So what would a treaty look like in the future and is it likely to happen?

If Australia was to adopt the Coalition's demand to replace coal-fired power stations with nuclear, it would come with a $387 billion dollar price tag according to the Albanese government. But is nuclear energy really "a unicorn and a fantasy" for Australia? And with just over three-weeks until referendum day, is the tone of the Voice debate changing? Katharine Murphy, Political Editor at the Guardian Australia joins Fran Kelly and David Speers on The Party Room.

There are all sorts of claims and down-right lies doing the rounds in the run up to the referendum. Misinformation and disinformation have become a huge issue in this campaign, with both sides accusing the other of either hiding the truth or spreading untruths.  In this episode, we look at how the campaigns are going and why false claims and fear seem to have taken hold over facts.

The Government’s signature $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund has passed Parliament, after securing the support of the Greens. But with both sides claiming a victory, who was the real winner? And this week, Qantas lost its High Court appeal over the sacking of 1700 workers during the pandemic, with the Government jumping on the opportunity to distance itself from the embattled airline. Charles Croucher, Chief Political Editor at Nine joins Patricia Karvelas and David Speers on The Party Room.

Australia has held 44 referendums since 1901, but only 8 of them have succeeded. So why are constitutional changes so unpopular? The polling science does provide some insight into why the bar is set so high for these campaigns, and a historical view gives us a hint of what may lay in store for the upcoming vote. Crucially, this episode also explains exactly what you can and can’t write on your ballot paper to make sure your vote is valid.

Alan Joyces’ early departure from Qantas, hasn’t eased any of the political pressure piling on the Government. The Transport Minister has struggled to explain her decision to block Qatar Airways from increasing flights to Australia, while the Opposition has accused the Government of a crisis of transparency. Shane Wright, Senior Economics Correspondent with the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room.

There’s been plenty of focus on youth crime and disadvantage in Aboriginal communities this year,. How can we actually improve the lives of young Australians who are terribly over-represented in our justice system? In this episode, two Indigenous community leaders committed to making a difference explain their very different perspectives on the impact a Voice to Parliament could make on communities around the nation.

The Prime Minister has set the date for the referendum on the proposed Voice to Parliament, with campaigning set to ramp up from both sides. Anthony Albanese has urged Australians “not to close the door” on constitutional recognition, while the Opposition has continued to claim the proposal is divisive.  But what strategies will we see from both the Yes and No campaigns to get undecided voters over the line? Dana Morse, ABC Political Reporter joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Many of the ideas for the Voice and the coming Referendum were shaped at a summit five years ago. But some of the major fights started there too. In 2017, Indigenous leaders from around the nation met at Uluru for a constitutional convention that sought to build consensus between communities on a journey towards constitutional recognition of Australia’s First Nations people. That convention resulted in the creation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a crucial document that articulated a vision of a better future. But there was not unanimous support for this process at the summit, sparking many of the arguments within the Indigenous community that have persisted in the lead-up to the 2023 referendum. Find all episodes of The Voice Referendum explained on the Listen app

The latest Intergenerational Report has provided a snapshot of an older, less productive Australia in 40-years time. So, is it time to seriously consider big tax reform? And how does life experience inform the decisions politicians make? Annabel Crabb, Host of ABC’s Kitchen Cabinet joins Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly on The Party Room.

The last attempt to change Australia's constitution was 24 years ago and it failed miserably. So when we are all asked to vote later this year on the creation of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, what are we voting for? What would a Voice actually do? And why is it so important? In this first episode of the ABC's new podcast series explaining the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum, Fran Kelly and Carly Williams look at the question we will be asked to vote on, and the constitutional amendment itself. Find all episodes of The Voice Referendum explained on the Listen app

An additional $3.5 billion to boost housing supply and limiting rental increases to once every 12-months, were the key outcomes of the National Cabinet meeting this week.  But the Greens say the rental measures don't go far enough, describing them as "smoke and mirrors." Anna Henderson, SBS World News Chief Political Correspondent joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Housing has been an ongoing pressure point for the Albanese Government. And next week, the Prime Minister will meet with state leaders at National Cabinet to secure action on housing supply and rental reforms, but what will we realistically see come from the meeting? And the Opposition has used Question Time to pepper the Government with questions over the proposed Voice to Parliament.  So, does the Coalition’s re-election strategy depend on the Voice failing? Phil Coorey, Political Editor at the Australian Financial Review joins Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly on the Party Room.

Parliament has returned after the mid-winter break, but the Government is still facing resistance from the Greens over its signature housing bill. So, just how real is the threat of a double dissolution election if the bill fails to pass the Senate for a second time? And the PM sought to deflect questions about the government’s commitment to Treaty, a key element of the Uluru Statement of the Heart, accusing the Opposition of trying to muddy the water over the Voice. Laura Tingle, Chief Political Correspondent for ABC’s 7.30  and Paul Karp, Chief Political Correspondent at the Guardian join Fran Kelly on The Party Room.

This week, the annual rate of inflation slowed to 6 per cent, down from the dizzying high of 7.8 per cent in December.  The rate was lower than economists had forecast and welcome news for households, businesses and the government. But what will it mean for the RBA’s decision on interest rates next month? And there are allegations government contractors provided suspect payments to Pacific politicians and officials involved in Australia’s offshore detention program in Nauru and PNG. Jacob Greber, Senior Correspondent with the Australian Financial Review joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room.

The official Voice to Parliament pamphlet has been released, with parliamentarians from both sides laying out the Yes and No case. But, the pamphlet isn’t fact checked, and there are already concerns the material contains misinformation. Meanwhile, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley could face a serious preselection challenge in her seat of Farrer. So, what does it mean for the future of the Liberals, if the most senior female in the party is at risk of losing to another candidate? James Massola, National Affairs Editor at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room.

A week after the Royal Commission’s Robodebt report was handed down, the fall-out is continuing. Calls are growing for former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison to step down from Parliament, while many want the ‘sealed section’ of the report made public. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been busy on sidelines of the NATO summit. He’s made some significant deals and announced an additional 30 Bushmaster vehicles for Ukraine. So, just how important was the visit for Australia’s national security? Karen Middleton, Chief Political Correspondent for the Saturday Paper joins Fran Kelly and David Speers on The Party Room.

The RBA hit pause on increasing interest rates for July, providing some reprieve for millions of households. But how else can inflation be tackled? And are we still moving towards a recession? And the Government has altered its strategy on the Voice to Parliament, outlining four priority policy areas for the body. But there’s also been a shift in the language around the campaign, with Peter Dutton decrying the "elites" on the Yes side, while Linda Burney warns of "Trump style politics" from the No camp. Ian Verrender, ABC Business Editor joins Fran Kelly and David Speers on The Party Room. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

On the eve of the new national integrity commission, two senior Liberals are embroiled in corruption scandals. The NSW ICAC has found former Premier Gladys Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct. The finding coincides with mounting allegations against former Federal Minister Stuart Robert who denies he helped a consulting firm secure lucrative government contracts. And as the world assesses the fallout from the aborted Wagner rebellion in Russia, Australia has announced more help for Ukraine. The $110 million package has been criticised by the Opposition as a "garage sale" of old equipment. So, are we being stingy and what does the Moscow insurrection mean for the war? Peter Hartcher, political and international editor at the Sydney Morning Herald joins Patricia Karvelas and David Speers on the Party Room.

The Greens and the Coalition have teamed up to delay the Albanese Government’s key housing bill. They say they want the government to provide more rental reform, but could the delay be the first step for the PM to trigger a double-dissolution election? And the Indigenous Voice referendum bill has passed Parliament, so what happens next?  Dana Morse, ABC Political Reporter joins Patricia Karvelas and David Speers on The Party Room

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has intensified his language against the Voice to Parliament, suggesting the proposed body would "re-racialise" Australia. Is his leadership, and hopes to win the next election, dependant on the referendum failing? And this week India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Australia and received rockstar welcome. But did his visit really boost bilateral relations? Legendary journalist and political commentator, Niki Savva joins Patricia Karvelas and David Speers to unpack. More Information Got a burning political query? Send a voice recording in for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

This weekend marks a year since Anthony Albanese defeated Scott Morrison at the election. 12-months on, what has Labor achieved in Government?  Meanwhile, turmoil at home has forced US President Joe Biden to postpone his trip Down Under. Charles Croucher, Chief Political Editor for 9News and former US Correspondent joins Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly on The Party Room.