Politics Now

In a surprise move,  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the US Ambassador Kevin Rudd will step down from the role at the end of March - a year earlier than expected.Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Ambassador Rudd's work helping further the AUKUS pact, securing Julian Assange's release in 2024 and building relationships across both sides of politics in the US.It comes as the government announces a national day of mourning for the Bondi victims on January 22nd - and just a day after the prime minister recalled parliament early, with MPs to return to Canberra next week to work through legislation on hate speech and gun buy backs in the wake of the terrorist attack.Patricia Karvelas breaks it all down on this Politics Now emergency episode.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Politics Now is back after a summer recess and PK and Jacob have lots of thoughts about what happened over the break!Extreme weather continues to lash much of the country, with the prime minister announcing relief packages for some of the impacted communities - but the devastating events haven't distracted from questions about why the Albanese Government took so long to announce a national Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.Recorded right before the prime minister recalled parliament, MPs are now set to descend on Canberra next week to pass the government's proposed hate speech laws -  we'll bring your more analysis on that across Politics Now throughout the week.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.The announcement comes in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and under mounting pressure from various groups.The PM says the inquiry will address four key areas and Commissioner Virginia Bell will have to report back by December 14, 2026. Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong 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]

More than two years on from the Murphy review, where is the Albanese government on gambling reform — and is there growing disquiet in the backbench?Is Sussan Ley facing the glass cliff? Why has Peter Dutton disappeared from the media? And would moderate Liberals ever consider becoming independents and joining with the Teals?Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly get stuck into all of your curly questions for this special summer episode of The Party Room.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Greens Leader Larissa Waters has described herself as someone who was elected to “get shit done”. But what does that actually mean?As the first Greens Senator for Queensland, and just the second female leader for the party, Larissa Waters has risen to lead after a difficult election where the party was rejected in some of its inner city heartland, losing its long time leader Adam Bandt.So how does Larissa Waters think about leadership and compromise - and is she actually the ultimate deal maker?In this special Politics Now: The Interview summer series, recorded in the final parliamentary sitting week of 2025, Patricia Karvelas sits down with movers and shakers across the Australian political sphere to unpack the person behind the politics.In this episode Patricia Karvelas is joined by Larissa Waters to explore how she maintains her optimism, managing political leadership as a single mum, and the tension between action and outcome.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]