Politics Now

As Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares to hand down his fifth budget, he's promising to focus on "economics over politics" - but what will Labor actually do to address intergenerational inequity? 
The prime minister has attempted to walk back labelling former Australian of The Year Grace Tame "difficult", suggesting he was referring to her difficult life - a move Grace Tame has blasted on social media.
And Jacob Greber has been on the ground in Farrer, checking the electorates pulse ahead of the impending by-election - so what do voters want from their representative and where are they looking to cast their vote?
Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly  are joined by Jacob Greber, 730 Political Editor on The Party Room.
Got a burning question?
Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was briefly evacuated from the Lodge overnight, due to a bomb threat linked to performances in Australia by a classical Chinese dance and music group that is banned in China.
It comes as threats against parliamentarians are on the rise and just weeks after the AFP Commissioner warned that federal politicians and high office holders were being targeted by violent offenders.
So, as the threat is condemned across the political aisle, is the price of public life becoming too high? And will calls for the temperature to be lowered actually cut through?
And as inflation comes in hotter expected once again, does it put further pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers to find savings in the upcoming budget?
Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.
Got a burning question?
Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Anthony Albanese has voluntarily written to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to offer support for removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession.
Australia is the first Commonwealth country to back the proposal, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made it clear his government doesn't have any plans to hold a referendum on becoming a republic, instead announcing this morning that high speed rail from Newcastle to Sydney could be "shovel ready" in two-years time. So, is this long promised train any closer to becoming a reality?
And the landmark Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion has officially begun, with Commissioner Virginia Bell outlining the scope of the inquiry.
Patricia Karvelas and Claudia Long break it all down on Politics Now.
Got a burning question?
Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected] Claudia's exclusive here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-23/working-with-children-check-parents-sick/106370632

Anthony Albanese has continued his hardline rhetoric on so-called ‘ISIS Brides’, but now Opposition leader Angus Taylor has upped the ante, with a bill that would make it illegal to assist Australians with links to the Islamic State return home. The Albanese Government has dismissed the idea, what role is One Nation having on the changing tone of the debate? 
And the PM has been busy hitting the airwaves on commercial radio stations in the electorate of Farrer, but as a by-election looms in Sussan Ley's seat what is Anthony Albanese signalling with his visit?
Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong break it all down on Politics Now.
Got a burning question?
Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected] PK's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-23/one-nation-coalition-labor-isis-brides/106369478 Read Clare's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-22/albanese-government-premiers-peter-malinauskas-david-crisafulli/106349260

The Federal Government hardens its stance on 'ISIS families' trying to leave Syria.