Show Notes
It has been one of the most shocking and horrific weeks in Australian politics. On Monday, the independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines, was struck by a car in what police allege was a deliberate attack outside her electorate office. The political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to Helen Haines’ friend and former parliamentary colleague Zoe Daniel. The previous MP for the Melbourne seat of Goldstein says Haines had a pivotal role in the breakthrough of the teal independents in the 2022 election. Daniel was also a foreign correspondent during Donald Trump’s first term as president. She witnessed the fraying of American political culture on the ground and warns that some of the dangerous forces at play in the US are visible here too
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The Albanese government has a lot of unfinished business as the end of the political year fast approaches. This sitting week, Labor struggled to pass its budget saving measure to reduce private health insurance rebates for over-65s. Independent MP Monique Ryan was a vocal critic of the bill and argues that the government is continually on the ‘back foot’. Speaking with the political editor, Tom McIlroy, she is critical of the way the government has brought a number of key proposals to the parliament. The member for Kooyong also responds to speculation that her former political rival and treasurer in the Morrison government, Josh Frydenberg, is considering a possible return to Canberra – after the launch of his memoir this week This episode was corrected on 19 October 2026. An earlier version included mention of increasing the rate of the GST to 20%. Josh Frydenberg has not called for such a change
Improving economic productivity is crucial for raising living standards, and Australia’s productivity growth has been sluggish for years. When the Reserve Bank hiked interest rates to a 15 year high last week, the governor, Michele Bullock, even described productivity as ‘doing nothing’. The chair of the Productivity Commission, Danielle Wood, speaks with political editor Tom McIlroy about the policy challenges of encouraging AI integration, improving housing affordability and managing the impacts of the climate crisis
With a sharp, aggressive strategy, the Australian Greens’ newly elected leader vows to take on corporate power and bring a “red hot fight” to coal and gas approvals. But following a turbulent week and internal party room fractures, can Senator David Shoebridge and his polarising approach rally progressive voters without deepening splits? Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks with the new party leader about taking on One Nation, pushing back on Aukus, and his vision for the party’s future.
Immigration is the hot-button issue lighting up this month’s polling. Elsewhere, the Coalition have hit their equal-lowest ever primary vote, despite mounting scrutiny on Labor’s handing of the economy and inflation, and other dramas dogging the government. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks with Essential Media chair Peter Lewis about how many votes can be won in the bruising and often incendiary brawl over migration policy.
On Monday, Jim Chalmers released Treasury’s economic forecast for the next 40 years – in the Albanese government’s second intergenerational report. The outlook shows major challenges on geopolitics, the AI transformation, and for the first time, deaths will overtake births in Australia within a few decades. The treasurer speaks with Guardian Australia’s political editor Tom McIlroy and economics editor Patrick Commins about why he’s optimistic Labor’s policy agenda is preparing the country for an unpredictable future