Summary
Australia's political landscape faces significant challenges as rising inflation and interest rates put pressure on the Labor government. Economic indicators suggest that the government is struggling to maintain public confidence, with inflation rates higher than many OECD countries and predictions of further interest rate hikes. Analysts highlight a growing tension between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers, particularly regarding budget management and spending cuts, as both leaders grapple with declining approval ratings.
The discussion also touches on the broader implications of economic mismanagement for Labor's electoral prospects, particularly as state elections loom. The Victorian government's budgetary woes, exacerbated by falling property values and reduced tax revenues, signal potential political fallout that could affect federal dynamics. The hosts emphasize that the management of the economy will be crucial for Labor's fortunes in upcoming elections, with public sentiment increasingly critical of the government's handling of inflation and interest rates.
On the global stage, the podcast explores the impact of Donald Trump's political legacy, suggesting that his influence may be contributing to the decline of far-right governments in various countries. The hosts note that anti-Trump sentiment could be galvanizing voters against right-wing parties, as evidenced by recent electoral outcomes in the U.S. and Brazil. They also discuss the rising political engagement of younger voters, particularly in non-compulsory voting systems, highlighting how social media and innovative campaigning strategies are reshaping political landscapes worldwide.
Show Notes
Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss how the diving economy will impact Anthony Albanese’s – and Jim Chalmers’ – approval ratings. If the relationship between the prime minister and treasurer is so crucial for the nation, what happens when that relationship breaks down? They also examine the many elections playing out globally. Has Donald Trump’s association with rightwing parties around the world hurt his own cause? And One Nation is under scrutiny again, this time for a political cartoon depicting Bluey ramming politicians with a car
More from Full Story
As the New South Wales supreme court trial of former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon reaches its sixth week, the jury has heard covert recordings, witness testimonies and posthumous text messages. The court continues to weigh the prosecution’s case against the defence’s claim of self-defence in the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Taylah Strano is joined by Guardian reporter Kat Wong to unpack the key evidence and latest updates from the courtroom
It’s election season: the US midterms are just days away and Israel, Brazil and Serbia have all had consequential elections this week. Alastair Campbell from The Rest is Politics podcast speaks with the political editor, Tom McIlroy, about our ‘high-octane political environment’ and why he argues that populist politics began in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. After last week’s alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, Campbell also reflects on how the UK responded to violence towards its own politicians – including Jo Cox, David Amess and Ann Widdecombe. The former journalist and staffer to Tony Blair has just released his 22nd book, Persevilience: The Word the World Needs Now, and will be touring Australia next month
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy talk about Barack Obama’s war of words with Donald Trump, after the former president spoke at a campaign rally in Ohio and compared Trump’s White House changes to the Cheesecake Factory. But how effective is Obama on the Democratic party campaign trail? What are the risks around personal attacks? And how much does Obama’s legacy help or hinder when it comes to the midterms? Reged and Jonathan also look at the backlash over an attack ad from the campaign of Republican nominee for governor of Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy, and why some are saying it’s a new low for US politics. Finally, how has the perception of corruption in government become such a key issue for voters on both sides of the aisle?
As consequential elections around the world make global headlines, another election closer to home is flying under the radar. New Zealand’s election on 7 November could define the hopes of a country desperate to change its future, where young citizens are crossing the Tasman in droves due to dwindling opportunities in their home country. The Guardian’s New Zealand correspondent, Eva Corlett, speaks to Matilda Boseley about the minor parties that could hold all the power, and what it could tell us about Australia’s political direction
Back in 2017 the then prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced an ambitious expansion of Australia’s towering public infrastructure project, Snowy Hydro 2.0. Estimated at a cost of about $2bn, Turnbull had made the decision after the closure of a number of coal-fired power plants and a political fight over major blackouts in South Australia. But nearly 10 years later, the project is still not finished and now the price tag has ballooned to $25bn. The climate and environment editor, Adam Morton, speaks to Reged Ahmad about the long, expensive wait for Snowy Hydro 2.0