The Frontbench

Jim's spending addiction, rate rises, and Pauline at the pub

The Frontbench

Show Notes

The Frontbench exposes what's really happening behind closed doors at Parliament House. Join Political Editor Peter van Onselen and Reporter Nicholas Comino each Tuesday as they tell you who's winning, who's losing, the drama behind the scenes and how the big decisions in Canberra affect you. In this week's episode, Peter and Nicholas kick off with a critique of the government's spin on the latest budget deficit figures and the ongoing impact of interest rate rises on the cost of living. They debate the growing threat of AI in relation to national security, balancing the risks of cyber attacks against the urgency of the global 'AI arms race'. Finally, they delve into the continued surge of One Nation's popularity, particularly in regional areas, where Peter reveals what it was like interviewing and following Pauline Hanson for a day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from The Frontbench

Oct 20, 2026

The Frontbench exposes what's really happening behind closed doors at Parliament House. Join Political Editor Peter van Onselen and Reporter Nicholas Comino each Tuesday as they tell you who's winning, who's losing, the drama behind the scenes and how the big decisions in Canberra affect you. In this episode, Peter and Nicholas dissect the recent parliamentary week, starting with the apparent contradictions between Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers over resolving an ATO dispute for businesses. They examine the Greens' internal turmoil, as newly-appointed leader David Shoebridge faces a major crisis surrounding one of his senators. The discussion also covers the Albanese government's controversial sell-off of historical defence land, including Sydney's Victoria Barracks, and the persistent rumours of Josh Frydenberg’s political comeback following his book launch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2026

The Frontbench exposes what's really happening behind closed doors at Parliament House. Join Political Editor Peter van Onselen and Reporter Nicholas Comino each Tuesday as they tell you who's winning, who's losing, the drama behind the scenes and how the big decisions in Canberra affect you.In this episode Peter and Nicholas discuss the shifting dynamics in Australian politics, focusing on One Nation's strategic posturing in recent polls and Pauline Hanson's hypothetical offer of supply to the Coalition. The pair also delve into the rumours of Josh Frydenberg's political comeback in Kooyong, and preview the upcoming parliamentary session, highlighting the internal Labor struggles surrounding Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9, 2026

The Frontbench exposes what's really happening behind closed doors at Parliament House. Join Political Editor Peter van Onselen and Reporter Nicholas Comino each Tuesday as they tell you who's winning, who's losing, the drama behind the scenes and how the big decisions in Canberra affect you.In this episode Peter and Nicholas analyse the Coalition’s proposed cuts to immigration and the shifting public sentiment on mass migration. They also examine The Greens appointing David Shoebridge as the new leader, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's soft power diplomacy at the Pre-COP31 summit, and the Reserve Bank of Australia's recent interest rate hike, including Michelle Bullock’s pointed remarks on government spending and stagnant productivity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 22, 2026

The Frontbench exposes what's really happening behind closed doors at Parliament House. Join Political Editor Peter van Onselen and Reporter Nicholas Comino each Tuesday as they tell you who's winning, who's losing, the drama behind the scenes and how the big decisions in Canberra affect you.

Sep 17, 2026

The Daily Mail’s political podcast, The Frontbench, exposes what's really happening behind closed doors at Parliament House. Join Political Editor Peter van Onselen and Reporter Nicholas Comino each Tuesday as they tell you who's winning, who's losing, the drama behind the scenes and how the big decisions in Canberra affect you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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