Shows
Politics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor on tax top-ups and budget bottom lines Mick Tsikas/AAPAs the election starter’s gun is about to be fired, Tuesday’s budget announced modest income tax cuts as the government’s latest cost-of-living measure. The Coalition has opposed the tax relief, with Peter Dutton’s Thursday budget reply to put forward his policy counters on the cost of living.
Meanwhile, the domestic economic debate is being conducted as President Donald Trump prepares to unveil more tariffs, which are likely to produce further uncertainty in the world economy.
On this podcast we are joined by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Treasurer Angus Ta...2025-03-2627 min
Politics with Michelle GrattanNegotiating with the Greens and negotiating with Trump: election special episode with Michelle Grattan and Amanda DunnMichelle Grattan and The Conversation's Politics Editor Amanda Dunn discuss the big issues of the week and answer your questions.Mentioned in this episode:How Australian Democracy Works'How Australian Democracy Works' edited by Politics Editor Amanda Dunn is out now in all good book stores.Sign up to The Conversation's newsletterhttps://theconversation.com/au/newsletters2025-03-2121 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanTariffs, a tricky road for Dutton and the future of Pine Gap: election special episode with Michelle Grattan and Amanda DunnMichelle Grattan and The Conversation's Politics Editor Amanda Dunn discuss the big issues of the week and answer your questions.Mentioned in this episode:Sign up to The Conversation's newsletterhttps://theconversation.com/au/newslettersHow Australian Democracy Works'How Australian Democracy Works' edited by Politics Editor Amanda Dunn is out now in all good book stores.2025-03-1418 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanCyclone Alfred wreaks havoc as leaders await Trump tariff decision: election special episode 2 with Amanda Dunn and Michelle GrattanCyclone Alfred wreaks havoc as leaders await Trump tariff decision: election special episode 2 with Amanda Dunn and Michelle GrattanFrom cyclones to school funding announcements, there have been lot of issues - and disruptions - for the prime minister and opposition leader.As we gear up for a Federal election, Politics + Society Editor Amanda Dunn and Political Correspondent Michelle Grattan sit down to talk about this week's key issues. Mentioned in this episode:Listen to Scam Factories on The Conversation Weekly🔎 search for The Conversation Weekly
Scam Factories takes you...2025-03-0716 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanChinese warships, a dirt file and a firming election date: election special episode with Amanda Dunn and Michelle GrattanChinese warships, a dirt file and a firming election date: election special episode with Amanda Dunn and Michelle GrattanMentioned in this episode:Listen to Scam Factories on The Conversation Weekly🔎 search for The Conversation Weekly
Scam Factories takes you inside Southeast Asia’s brutal scam compounds.
We meet the people lured into the industry, reveal how they become trapped and trafficked and track their desperate attempts to escape.
We track the organised crime groups and corrupt politicians linked to the operations and chart the industry’s explosive growth: hundreds of thousands of people...2025-02-2818 min
Experience ANUMeet the Author- Misha Ketchell, Frank Bongiorno, Michelle Grattan and Mark KennyMisha Ketchell was moderating a discussion with Frank Bongiorno, Michelle Grattan and Mark Kenny, contributors to the new collection of essays, How Australian Democracy Works. And why we need it more than ever, edited by Amanda Dunn, a book in which The Conversation‘s best authors reveal the real story of how power works in Australia.2025-02-261h 02Politics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Albanese dumps Nature Positive legislation and considers shrinking the electoral reform bill Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dumped – for the second time – the government’s controversial “Nature Positive” legislation, which had run into strong opposition from the Western Australian Labor government.
Albanese, speaking on The Conversation’s Politics podcast ahead of a fortnight parliamentary sitting starting next week, said there was not enough support for the legislation, which had been on the draft list of bills for next week, circulated by the government.
This is the second time the Prime Minister has pulled back from the legislation. Late last year he also said it did not have enough suppo...2025-02-0147 min
Climate ConversationsClimate News: From pessimism to enthusiasm: Matt Kean on COP29Former NSW Liberal Party Treasurer, Matt Kean (pictured), talks with Michelle Grattan about how he felt before and after COP29 at Baku - "Politics with Michelle Grattan: Climate Change Authority head Matt Kean says ‘put more solar panels on commercial rooftops’";
"Social media can harm children's mental health. The question now is whether a ban will help or make it worse";
"A $13 billion, 30-year flop: landmark study reveals stark failure to halt Murray-Darling River decline";
"From Limits to Growth to Earth for All with Sandrine Dixson-Declève";
"Grant is a coal miner...2024-12-0114 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: shadow communications minister David Coleman says misinformation legislation ‘one of the worst bills ever’ Mick Tsikas/AAPThe government has embarked on a raft of new online safety measures aimed at protecting Australians from the excesses of misinformation and social harm online.
However, these policies have been met with backlash. Experts criticise the plan to enforce an age limit of 16 on social media access. Both the federal opposition and several crossbenchers have come out against Labor’s misinformation bill.
At the same time, the government has to produce its long-anticipated changes to gambling advertising.
On this podcast episode we’re joined by shadow communications minister David Coleman to d...2024-11-1423 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood on the keys to growing Australia’s weak productivityoriginal Dean Lewins/AAP“Productivity” might sound a nerdy word to many, but improving it is vital for a more affluent life for Australians in coming years. At the moment it is languishing.
Investigating ways in which our national productivity can be improved is at the heart of the work of the Productivity Commission, headed by Danielle Wood.
Wood is an economist and former CEO of the Grattan Institute. Picked by Treasurer Jim Chalmers for the PC job, she has already acquired a reputation for being willing to express forthright views, even when they don’t suit...2024-10-0827 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Bornstein on how big companies are taking away employees’ private rights David Crosling/AAPGovernments around the world are battling to regulate big tech companies. As the world becomes more interconnected, people are increasingly aware of the vast, often negative, influence these companies play in our lives.
More generally, many corporations extend their power over their employees to their non-work lives.
Josh Bornstein is a lawyer specialising in employment and labour relations law. His new book, titled Working for the Brand: how corporations are destroying free speech, examines the problematic reach of the corporate hand into the private sphere.
He joined the podcast to...2024-10-0124 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Robert French on the realities of a social media age ban Lukas Coch/AAPThe Albanese government has announced it will ban children from accessing social media. This follows work by the South Australian government, which commissioned a report on implementing a ban.
That report was done by Robert French, the former High Court Chief Justice and current chancellor of the University of Western Australia. Though it was prepared as a basis for SA legislation, French has provided a model that could be used in drafting a federal law.
French joined the podcast to discuss his model.
On the ban itself, French outlines some...2024-09-1023 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Reserve Bank’s Andrew Hauser says don’t read too much for Australia from US rates messageDiscussion between Deputy Governor of The RBA Andrew Hauser and Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood during Australia's Economic Outlook business luncheon. Britta Campion/AAPInflation remains top of mind as the Reserve Bank of Australia continues to keep interest rates on hold at a time when the United States Federal Reserve signals that it will start cutting rates.
One of the new lead architects behind the RBA’s thinking is Deputy Governor of the bank Andrew Hauser. Hauser formerly worked at the Bank of England and was chosen by Jim Chalmers, the first-ever senior appointment from ov...2024-08-3025 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Joe Hockey says Kamala Harris and Anthony Albanese share views Gabrielle Lurie/APThis year’s Democratic National Convention has been an event filled with excitement and optimism, a far cry from where the Democrats were just weeks when Joe Biden was their presidential candidate.
With Kamala Harris as their nominee, the Democrats have gained support in the polls and with a big surge in donations and volunteers. A question lingers, however, about whether they can maintain their momentum, as Harris still hasn’t faced a major press conference or TV interview.
We’re joined on the podcast by former Australian ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey...2024-08-2223 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics With Michelle Grattan: Andrew Wilkie says government ‘scared stiff’ of gambling companies Mick Tsikas/AAPGambling reform has become a major issue of tension for the government as it prepares to respond to a cross-party committee inquiry led by former Labor member, the late Peta Murphy.
The inquiry’s report, released last year, unanimously recommended a ban on gambling advertising within three years.
There is strong public and backbench support within Labor for a ban, but the government fears the consequences it would have on free-to-air TV. It is set to release a compromise position within weeks.
Joining the podcast is Independent member for Clark, An...2024-08-1419 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Fatima Payman on the challenges and opportunities of being a crossbencher Lukas Coch/AAPWestern Australian Senator Fatima Payman quit Labor after defying the party’s “solidarity” rule. Her action, spurred by the Gaza issue, has intensified Labor fears about the possible impact of the Muslim vote in some of its safe seats at the election.
The now-independent senator joined the podcast to discuss her decision, the challenges of regrouping as a crossbencher, and the impact of the Muslim vote.
Payman is bluntly against Muslims forming their own party:
I don’t think it would be wise to have a Muslim party. And so if I was...2024-07-1030 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Ted O'Brien on reaching for the nuclear button Flavio Brancaleone/AAPThe Coalition is taking a major political gamble with its nuclear power policy, which is facing criticism from a range of experts.
The opposition has announced seven proposed sites for power stations but has yet to provide costings and other details.
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O'Brien, who spearheaded the policy’s development, in coming months has to carry the detailed argument for it against strong headwinds.
Ted O'Brien is our guest today.
Polling shows Australians are split about nuclear power but O'Brien is confident lo...2024-07-0333 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on ‘calling out’ claims about the energy transition’s cost Lukas Coch/AAPThe climate wars have been reignited with the Coalition’s release of its controversial plan for nuclear power, an option totally rejected by the government.
Meanwhile, a report this week from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AMEO) has indicated the government needs to speed up efforts in what has become a challenging energy transition.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen joins the podcast to discuss the issues.
On the cost of the energy transition, which the opposition has claimed will be between $1.2 trillion and $1.5 trillion, Bowen says
...2024-06-2628 min
Climate ConversationsClimate News: Clive Hamilton and George Wilkenfeld have a change of consciousness and write 'Living Hot: surviving and thriving on a heating planet'Clive Hamilton and George Wilkenfeld continue to be urgently concerned about mitigation, but now see adaptation to be the primary issue of concern for all levels of government - listen to Hamilton as he talks with Michelle Grattan on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: "Politics with Michelle Grattan: Clive Hamilton on how Australians must adapt to ‘Living Hot’"
"The Arctic is heating up nearly four times faster than the whole planet, study finds";
"The impact of climate change on language loss";
"Why do so few people cycle for transport in Australia? 6 ideas on how to rea...2024-06-0850 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Clive Hamilton on how Australians must adapt to ‘Living Hot’ The debate over climate change mostly focuses on how to best to limit emissions in the effort to prevent disastrous global warming. However in a new book, Living Hot, Clive Hamilton and George Wilkenfeld challenge current priorities, arguing rising temperatures can’t be contained fast enough and we need to turn our attention to “adaptation”.
Clive Hamilton, who is Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University, joined us to talk about what Australia can do to not only survive but thrive under these conditions.
Hamilton explains why he’s pessimistic about how much we can limi...2024-06-0625 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Norton on the Albanese government’s interventionist policy to cut foreign student numbers shutterstockMigration has become a major battleground between the government and opposition. While they have different policies, each side is targeting foreign students in their plans for cuts in the intake.
The government will apply caps, decided by the minister, on the numbers of foreign students for particular universities, with some concessions for those institutions investing in new student accommodation.
Andrew Norton, professor in the practice of higher education policy at the ANU, joined the podcast to dissect the policy.
He stresses how wide the minister’s prerogative under the policy will be:...2024-05-2919 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Bragg flags a coalition would use ‘coercion’ of the states to get more new houses built Housing remains one of Australia’s most pressing issues in both state and federal politics. The RBA keeping rates up and high mortgage repayments have left many Australians struggling. For those Australians who don’t own a home, it’s becoming increasingly hard to get into the housing market.
The opposition has blamed the high levels of migration for why Australians feel so much housing pain. Peter Dutton has promised to reduce the permanent migration program (which brings in many skilled workers) as part of getting net overseas migration down. He says more than 100,000 homes could be freed...2024-05-2527 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Budget fight looms on Future Made in Australia tax breaks Mick Tsikas & Lukas Coch/AAPTreasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday handed down his third budget. It had a second successive surplus and sweeteners, including relief on energy bills, and tax breaks for development of green hydrogen and critical minerals processing.
The opposition will back the energy bill subsidy but oppose the tax breaks in the Future Made in Australia policy.
In this podcast we were joined by Angus Taylor, who is shadow treasurer, and Chalmers.
On the $300 household energy relief, Taylor says it’s an acknowledgement of a government broken election promise:
...2024-05-1523 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: James Paterson on prospects for passage of the government’s deportation bill Mick Tsikas/AAPNext week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who won’t cooperate with efforts to deport them.
The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush through in the last parliamentary sitting, went to a Senate inquiry that reported this week. In dissenting comments, the Coalition urged a number of amendments.
On Friday the High Court brings down a crucial judgement in a case involving a detainee who is refusing to cooperate.
To discuss the Coalition’s position on the bill...2024-05-0823 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Anne Summers says we need much more information on male perpetrators of violence against women Dean Lewins/AAPThe Prime Minister and state and territory leaders met on Wednesday as the national cabinet to discuss a crisis gripping Australia – the horrific number of women murdered this year.
The killings have shocked the nation and led to mass demonstrations across the country last weekend.
In this podcast, we’re joined by Dr Anne Summers, a longtime writer and advocate on women’s issues.
Half a century ago, Summers helped start Elsie, Australia’s first women’s refuge. She’s currently a professor at the University of Technology Sydney’s business schoo...2024-05-0130 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget Lukas Coch/AAPWith Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest.
As this week’s consumer price index showed, the battle with inflation has not yet been won. The government can’t afford to have an over-generous budget add to inflation and further delay a pre-election reduction in interest rates.
In this podcast, we’re joined by independent economist Chris Richardson to discuss the budget and Australia’s economic outlook.
Richardson say...2024-04-2421 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Independent MP Dai Le on the church attack in her electorate Lukas Coch/AAPAfter the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in an Assyrian Orthodox Church in Wakeley on Monday, and the killings in Bondi Junction shopping centre just two days earlier, many people in Sydney and in Australia more widely are tense.
The shopping centre incident, in which the perpetrator was a mentally-ill 40-year-old man, was not seen by the police as terrorism; the church attack, by a 16-year-old youth, was.
With constant protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza and fears about a wider Middle East conflict, social harmony among religions and cultures in...2024-04-1713 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Burns on being a Jewish MP during a terrible conflict
James Ross/AAPThe death of Australian Zomi Frankcom and other World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza in an Israeli strike has led to yet more intense and critical scrutiny over how Israel is prosecuting the war against Hamas.
This week Foreign Minister Penny Wong has floated the possibility of recognition of a Palestinian state ahead of a two-state solution. Her comments were condemned by Peter Dutton as “irreparably” damaging Australia’s relations with Israel.
To discuss the government’s position on this and the Middle East crisis, we’re joined by Labor MP Josh Burns...2024-04-1126 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Kim Beazley on Kevin Rudd, being an ambassador, and a possible second Trump presidency
Alan Porritt/AAPKim Beazley, a former Labor leader, served as Australia’s ambassador in Washington between 2010 and 2016. He is widely respected for his expertise in foreign and defence policy.
In this podcast episode, Beazley discusses the brouhaha over Donald Trump’s denigrating comments about Kevin Rudd, the present Australian ambassador in Washington. We also canvass wider alliance issues and the recent visit to Australia by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who included a meeting with Paul Keating among his engagements.
On Kevin Rudd’s future, Beazley says:
I have hopes that he could...2024-03-2620 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Cyber expert Lesley Seebeck on TikTok’s future in Australia
Imaged Provided by Lesley SeebeckThe United States House of Representatives has passed a bill to force TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, to either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese company or face a ban in the US.
While the measure won’t come into effect until the American Senate agrees, it has re-engaged a debate over TikTok’s risk to national security, as well as its impact on young people and the implications for free speech if there was a ban.
The Albanese government has flagged it won’t blindly follow the US action but instead will rel...2024-03-2025 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: John Blaxland on spies, AUKUS, and an unsettled Washington
Australian National University / https://researchprofiles.anu.edu.au/en/persons/john-blaxlandLast week, ASIO boss Mike Burgess gave his annual assessment of threats to Australia’s domestic security. In his speech, Burgess sensationally revealed that a former politician had “sold out their country” to a foreign regime.
Burgess’s refusal to name the person, citing the need to protect ASIO’s tradecraft, invited speculation and debate. Nor would he specify the country, but a subsequent report said it was China.
In this podcast, we’re joined by Professor John Blaxland, Professor of International Security & Intelligence Studies at t...2024-03-0643 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Jason Clare on the future of education in Australia
LUKAS COCH/AAPThe government has released its Universities Accord report, produced by a committee chaired by Mary O'Kane, a former vice-chancellor at the University of Adelaide.
The recommendations will be considered by the Minister for Education, Jason Clare and the government over the coming months, although Clare has given a few hints about what his response might be on certain issues.
One proposal Clare clearly favours is for an Australian Tertiary Education Commission which the report says would “provide the leadership and stewardship necessary to transform the tertiary education system”. Clare says it would give...2024-02-2635 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Antony Green, Kos Samaras and Tim Costello on Dunkley contest
DIEGO FEDELE/AAP (Left) & Supplied by opposition (Right)The March 2 byelection in the outer suburban Melbourne seat of Dunkley is the third byelection this term but the first in a Labor-held electorate. It has been caused by the death late last year of Peta Murphy, after a long battle with cancer.
Labor’s margin sits at 6.3% in Dunkley, an electorate that has swung between the major parties.
Labor goes into the byelection as the favourite, as it seeks to sell its changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts. Most voters will be better off under the ne...2024-02-2027 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Assistant minister Malarndirri McCarthy says there’s ‘no rush’ on treaty and truth-tellingyeah LUKAS COCH/AAPThe federal government has released its latest implementation plan for Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
What are multiple gaps are still vast, with many areas not on track to meet their targets.
After the failed Voice referendum, the government is looking to the next steps for First Nations people. To discuss this week’s policy announcement, the centrepiece of which is a $700 million jobs program for people in remote areas, we’re joined by Malarndirri McCarthy, senator for the Northern Territory and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians.
McCarthy says...2024-02-1525 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on fuel efficiency standards and the energy transition
MICK TSIKAS/AAPThe government has announced long-awaited fuel efficiency standards, which will place a yearly cap on the total emissions output for new cars sold in Australia. The new regime will move Australia in the direction of comparable countries, but it has its critics.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen joins the podcast to discuss this policy, as well as the government’s progress on the energy transition, which is facing resistance in some regional and rural communities.
On the fuel standards, Bowen insists there’s no downside.
I don’t see...2024-02-0824 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Angus Taylor on tax and the economy
MICK TSIKAS/AAPWith the government’s changes to the stage 3 tax cuts to favour lower and middle income earners, and a looming by-election in the Victorian seat of Dunkley, eyes are now on the opposition for its response to Labor’s new package.
In our first podcast of 2024, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor discusses the tax broken promise, where the economy is heading, falling inflation, and more.
On the government’s tax backflip he says:
I think Labor has shifted to a robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul mindset now. They clearly believe in zero-sum economics, a zero-sum politi...2024-02-0128 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers says Australians will be better off next yearoriginal LUKAS COCH/AAPIt’s been a difficult year for the economy, and the year ahead also is looking challenging. Treasurer Jim Chalmers, overseer of the government’s economic policy, joins us on the podcast to talk about the latest budget numbers, interest rates, changes to the Reserve Bank board, Australia’s debt, cost of living measures and more.
On 2024, Chalmers expects Australians to be better off this time next year:
That’s certainly the expectation.[…] If you look at the forecasts in the mid-year budget update, the Treasury expects inflation to moderate further, they expec...2023-12-1524 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten on making the NDIS fit for purpose
MICK TSIKAS/AAPBill Shorten, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services, has released the review of the NDIS, which recommends sweeping changes to the scheme. The reforms to come will see the states take up much of the responsibility for providing services for people with more minor issues, especially children with developmental delays.
Shorten joined the podcast to talk about the way ahead for a scheme that has run off the rails and become financially unsustainable.
At the centre of the changes is that:
We want to make sure...2023-12-0720 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen’s struggle to promote consensus on climate action at COP28
BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPChris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, next week
heads to COP28 in Dubai, leading the Australian delegation. He joins the podcast to talk about the meeting, which he hopes will be easier than last year’s.
Well, I want to see a big step forward. Now, at the last COP we were just flat out, and it was a bit of a surprise to all of us, frankly, flat out, me and like-minded ministers, just defending what was agreed at Glasgow. We didn’t really get the chance to argue for a bi...2023-12-0125 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Greens Barbara Pocock on the quest for greater transparency
Lukas Coch/AAPGreens Senator Barbara Pocock – who has a background in economics and industrial relations and formerly worked at the Reserve Bank, in the federal public service and as an academic – has been in parliament only since the 2022 election, but she has already made a mark.
Pocock has been one of the federal parliamentarians who has been holding the big consultancy firms to account this year.
PWC especially has felt the heat over its improper use of confidential government tax information for its commercial gain. The behaviour of the other consultancies has also been unde...2023-11-2225 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: James Paterson on the High Court’s decision on detention and rising anti-Semitism
Mick Tsikas/AAPLast week the High Court ruled that holding high-risk asylum seekers in indefinite detention was unconstitutional. As a consequence of the court decision, more than 80 people, some of whom were convicted of serious crimes including murder and rape, have been released. The government will rush in legislation on Thursday to deal with the fallout.
In this podcast, Liberal senator and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security James Paterson joins The Conversation to discuss the High Court’s ruling, his concerns about increasing anti-Semitism across the country, the rising cyber risks, and Australia’s fu...2023-11-1514 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Former climate minister Greg Combet on Australia’s mission to reach net-zero
David Moir/AAPAs climate minister in the former Labor government, Greg Combet has endured the rigours of the “climate wars”. He oversaw the highly contentious move to put a price on carbon, which ultimately came to grief under the Abbott government.
Fast forward a decade: now Combet has been appointed by Anthony Albanese to chair the government’s new Net-Zero Economy Agency. This agency, due later to become a statutory authority, is described on its website as:
responsible for promoting orderly and positive economic transformation across Australia as the world decarbonises, to ensure Australia, its re...2023-11-0834 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Economist Chris Richardson on a likely interest rate rise and the fall in living standards
Lukas Coch/AAPThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a report this week calling on Australia to raise interest rates again, adding to the speculation the Reserve Bank will increase the cash rate on Tuesday.
If that happens it will be yet another blow to many household budgets, already under strain from the rises in the prices of food, fuel and power.
In this podcast, independent economist Chris Richardson joins The Conversation to discuss the expectations about a rate rise, “sticky” inflation, the fall in the standard of living, the difficulty of the government responding to t...2023-11-0115 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Don Farrell’s high noon for European free trade deal, and hopes for lobster exports to China
Lukas Coch/AAPLast weekend Australia had a big win when China agreed to review over the next five months its prohibitive tariffs on Australian wine, This weekend Trade Minister Don Farrell hopes to finally land a long-awaited free trade deal with the European Union, for which negotiations have been going on for years.
Farrell tells the Conversation’s podcast that if agreement can’t be reached, Australia will need to walk away because the Europeans will be entering election season.
At the end of the day, my job is to make a decision on the...2023-10-2522 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Kim Beazley on Albanese’s US trip, Biden in the Middle East, and the Voice’s defeat
Richard Wainwright/AAPThe prime minister heads to Washington next week for a state visit. Talks between Anthony Albanese and President Joe Biden will canvass progress on implementing the AUKUS agreement, Ukraine, China and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, and of course the Middle East crisis. Biden will have just returned from his visit to Israel and will brief the PM on the situation, which has worsened by the day.
In this podcast, Kim Beazley, defence minister during the Hawke government, former Labor leader, and former Australian ambassador to the US, joins The Conversation to talk...2023-10-1827 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Jim Chalmers on jobs and work
Lukas Coch/AAPTreasurer Jim Chalmers released his White Paper on employment this week.
Its aim is for everyone who wants a job to be able to get one without having to search for too long.
The paper says that a surprisingly large number of people are looking for work or for more hours of work, some three million, and that’s when unemployment is at a low 3.7% and we have labour shortages in multiple sectors.
Chalmers recognises that Australia’s labour market is “really resilient” and the government started in a position of “genu...2023-09-2926 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Assessing Daniel Andrews, the extraordinary Pezzullo story, senators give Qantas chiefs a hard time
Lukas Coch/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics editor Amanda Dunn discuss Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’ exit, as well as the revelation of extraordinary texts from leading public servant Mike Pezzullo promoting his views to the Coalition government through a Liberal insider.
They also canvass the Senate inquiry into the Qatar Airways saga, with Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and its new CEO Vanessa Hudson g...2023-09-2708 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Danielle Wood to head Productivity Commission, Alan Joyce bows to public anger, PM jets off againAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the latest national accounts and Jim Chalmers’ announcement that Grattan Institute CEO Danielle Wood will take over as head of the Productivity Commission. The appointment came as a surprise, after Chris Barrett, chosen for the position only recently, decided he had a better offer – he will become head of the Victorian Treasury.
They also canva...2023-09-0607 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Danielle Wood to head Productivity Commission, Alan Joyce bows to public anger, PM jets off again
James Ross/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the latest national accounts and Jim Chalmers’ announcement that Grattan Institute CEO Danielle Wood will take over as head of the Productivity Commission. The appointment came as a surprise, after Chris Barrett, chosen for the position only recently, decided he had a better offer – he will become head of the Victorian Treasury.
They...2023-09-0607 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Battle of the Voice - Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin and former deputy prime minister John Anderson
Dean Lewins; Mark Jesser/AAPOctober 14 is the day Australians will head to their polling booths to vote for or against an Indigenous Voice being enshrined in the Constitution.
Anthony Albanese announced the date in a speech in Adelaide on Wednesday, as politicians across the spectrum and Indigenous “yes” campaign leaders rallied around the country.
In this podcast, we are joined by the campaign director for Yes23, Dean Parkin, and former deputy prime minister John Anderson, who sits on the no campaign’s advisory board. We spoke with each of them on the eve of Albane...2023-08-3020 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Date for Voice referendum to be announced on Wednesday
Mick Tsikas/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the news that the Prime Minister next Wednesday will reveal the date for the Voice referendum. They also canvass the Intergenerational Report, which gazes into the 2060s, as well as Labor’s national conference, that endorsed AUKUS. During the conference Anthony Albanese emphasised the importance of the party staying in office to bed down...2023-08-2307 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: WA Premier Roger Cook on Labor’s conference and his state’s issues
Richard Wainwright/AAPLabor this week had its first face-to-face national conference in five years, and it all went Anthony Albanese’s way. He won on AUKUS and rallied the party faithful, who did not rock the government’s boat.
For this podcast we caught up with the new Western Australian Premier Roger Cook on the sidelines of the conference, and canvassed a range of issues, including his recent backdown on the state’s cultural heritage law.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that w...2023-08-1819 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Voice proponents and opponents draw succour from heritage backdown; ALP toughens Palestine policy to placate party; more questions follow Lehrmann inquiry
Mick Tsikas/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the announcement from Western Australian Premier Roger Cook that a controversial cultural heritage law would be overturned, with the former legislation reinstated with amendments. The law was put in place after mining giant Rio Tinto blew up the Juukan Gorge, a sacred place for First Australians.
They also canvass the govern...2023-08-0906 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Double dissolution hot air, PM dodging Treaty question, Morrison hit with counter punch after Robodebt speech
Mick Tsikas/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss whether there’s much in the PM’s double dissolution threat, and his defensiveness when pressed on Treaty in an ABC interview.
As well, they canvass the Reserve Bank’s reprieve for mortgage holders, which will be only small comfort to those coming off fixed rates. Meanwhile in parliament, Scott Morrison’s r...2023-08-0207 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Battle of the Voice – Greens senator Dorinda Cox & Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle
Lukas Coch/AAPThe Voice to Parliament reached another milestone this week, with the official essays for the Yes and No cases published online by the Australian Electoral Commission. These will be sent to all Australian electors in the lead up to the vote, which will be in the last quarter of the year
In recent weeks, polls have suggested the “yes” vote is on the slide, and has an uphill battle if it is to be successful.
In this podcast, we talk with two Indigenous senators, The Greens’ Dorinda Cox, and Liberal Kerrynne Liddle. Cox is...2023-07-2022 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: On ditching the Commonwealth Games, the Voice pamphlet, Labor’s factions
James Ross/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss Premier Dan Andrews’ surprise decision to pull Victoria out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. They also canvass the official yes and no cases issued this week for the Voice referendum, and Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh’s strong speech warning of the excessive level of factional control within the Labor Party.
Michelle G...2023-07-1907 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Michele Bullock’s appointment as Reserve Bank Governor
Lukas Coch/AAPFor months, speculation has swirled about the appointment of a new governor of the Reserve Bank, a key position in the management of the Australian economy.
The present governor, Philip Lowe, has faced sharp criticism, especially over his prediction interest rates would be held steady until 2024, which proved wrong. It always seemed unlikely he would get another term.
Now the government has named his successor – the present deputy governor Michele Bullock. She will be the first woman to hold the position.
From the government’s point of view, it is a ca...2023-07-1410 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Author Bruce Wolpe on the “shocking” consequences for Australia of a Trump 24 win
Allen&Unwin/Bruce WolpeNext year’s American presidential election is shaping up to be extraordinary. Donald Trump is favoured to be the Republican candidate, despite facing multiple charges over removing classified documents. President Joe Biden has indicated he intends to run again, despite the fact he’ll be 82 at the time of the poll and 86 if he completed another four-year term.
In this podcast, author Bruce Wolpe - a senior fellow at the United States Centre at the University of Sydney, who previously worked with the Democratic Party in Congress, discusses his new book “Trump’s Australi...2023-07-0629 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: A wild and badly behaved parliamentary fortnight As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the free-for-all between Coalition, government and Greens in the final sitting fortnight before the winter break.
The Coalition’s offensive on Katy Gallagher over the Higgins saga backfired when Liberal Senator David Van was accused of inappropriate behaviour and kicked out of the Liberal party room (he later quit the party).
The gove...2023-06-2209 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Community Independent Dai Le on what voters are saying
Lukas Coch/AAPFor most voters, the cost of living is their major current concern. Rising interest rates and high prices for power, groceries and other necessities are hurting in particular lower and middle income people.
Nowhere is this more the case than in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Independent Dai Le, who holds the seat of Fowler in Sydney’s west, managed to pull off the unthinkable at last year’s federal election. Le, who financed her campaign with a very modest budget, defeated Labor’s Kristina Keneally, who was attempting to move from the Senate t...2023-06-1629 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Coalition attacks on Katy Gallagher, Voice losing traction, future fund holdout
Mick Tsikas/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the opposition’s attack on Finance Minister Katy Gallagher for allegedly misleading parliament in 2021 about what she knew of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation.
They also canvass the recent poll showing support for the Voice has fallen below a majority for the first time, with Indigenous leader Noel Pearson calling for a shift in...2023-06-1408 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: PwC scandal, McGowan quitting politics, PM’s trip to Singapore and high inflation figure
Dan Himbrechts/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the PwC scandal, where the consulting firm broke a confidentiality agreement relating to planned taxation legislation by the Abbott government. They also canvass Mark McGowan’s quitting politics, Anthony Albanese’s trip to address the Shangri-la Dialogue, and the higher-than-expected inflation figure released from the Bureau of Statistics, which comes just before the Reserv...2023-05-3107 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: On the Voice, the Quad, and Indian PM Modi’s visit
Dean Lewins/AAPAs well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss whether Labor needs to panic about a polling decline in support for the Voice, the Quad meeting on skates, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s celebrity welcome.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this art...2023-05-2409 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanThe day after the night before - Chalmers and Taylor on the budget
Mick Tsikas; Dan Himbrechts/AAP, Author provided (no reuse)Will the budget make inflation worse? Are its boosts to welfare payments just the first step for the Labor government? Could the projected one-off surplus be followed by another one or more? What (if any) of the budget measures will the Coalition oppose? There’s quite a bit about this budget that, as the saying goes, “only time will tell”.
In this podcast, Treasurer Jim Chalmers defends his budget from those economists who claim it will be inflationary, and strongly rejects suggestions it doesn’t have much for middle i...2023-05-1032 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Simon Birmingham on the Voice, Aston, the Liberals, UraniumThe Liberals have formally decided to oppose the Voice. Peter Dutton has declared he will campaign against it, a high risk strategy when polls are showing a majority of Australians currently support a “yes” vote.
Noel Pearson was scathing of the Liberal Party, calling the decision not to support the Voice “a Judas betrayal of our country”. Moderate Liberal MP Bridget Archer will campaign for the “yes” case.
In this podcast, Michelle Grattan and Senator Simon Birmingham, leader of the opposition in the senate, and one of the few remaining moderates in the party, discuss the Voice, t...2023-04-0626 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Michael Brennan on Australia’s parlous productivity growthThe Productivity Commission’s nine-volume report has a tough central message. It says productivity policy has to focus on the areas that have proven the hardest in the past, rather than those where previously progress has been most readily achieved.
One key take from the report is that Australia is performing poorly in growing its productivity.
The commission makes recommendations across the policy spectrum, from education and health through workplace relations and migration to data and technology.
It points to the difficulty of improving productivity in the public sector, and more generally to th...2023-03-2335 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Antony Green, Professor Andy Marks and Ashleigh Raper on the NSW electionVoters in New South Wales are heading to the polling booths on March 25. For both Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns, it is their first election as leader. The Coalition government has held power since 2011. Labor needs to gain a net nine seats to form majority government. If Labor wins, the party will be in power in every state and territory except Tasmania.
There are 10 seats in this election that are on a margin of less than 6%, including Minns’ seat of Kogarah on 0.1%. In several contests the fate of “teal’ candidates will be watched. Spending and do...2023-03-1630 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Senator Malarndirri McCarthy on Alice Springs and the VoiceIn this podcast, Michelle talks with Malarndirri McCarthy, Labor senator for the Northern Territory and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians. McCarthy is a former journalist and also served in the territory parliament, including as minister for children and families.
2023-02-0719 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Energy expert Bruce Mountain on what to do about the gas crisisThe aftermath of the Albanese government’s first budget has seen the political and policy debate turn sharply onto the spectre of households and businesses facing sky-high power prices over the next 18 months.
The government is now scrambling to craft a policy to bring the domestic price of gas down.
In this podcast, Michelle Grattan talks with Professor Bruce Mountain, Director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre at Victoria University, about this power price crisis, and the options available to deal with what he calls “a weeping sore”.
Mountain offers four key ways to add...2022-11-0220 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan:Jim Chalmers, Angus Taylor and Danielle Wood on the budgetTreasurer Jim Chalmers says of his first budget: “Inflation is the dragon we need to slay”. Chalmers’ worry about inflation was reinforced by Wednesday’s release of the September quarter CPI, which showed inflation at 7.3%.
In this podcast, we talk to Chalmers, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, and the head of the Grattan Institute Danielle Wood. Among the topics we canvass are the budget’s broad fiscal settings, the huge increases in power prices it forecasts, the pressures for tax and spending reforms in future budgets, the government’s housing initiative, and the implications of the childcare policy for women’s...2022-10-2623 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Rod Sims on tax reform and the gas price crisisThe government has flirted with, and now ruled out, changing the Stage 3 tax cut in the October 25 budget, which appears set to be dominated by some deep spending cuts. In the longer term, however, debate will continue over the need to reform Australia's tax system, as the calls on revenue to finance big programs increase.
Meanwhile, the government is locked in a battle to get high domestic gas prices down, with its light touch policy towards the gas producers not having much impact.
In this podcast, Michelle Grattan talks with Rod Sims, former chair of t...2022-10-1322 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten on NDIS reform and the Optus falloutThe National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a landmark reform of the last decade. But while delivering much benefit, it has operational problems and its cost has escalated dramatically – currently around $30 billion annually, there have been suggestions it could reach $60 billion. The scheme looms as one of the major pressures on the Albanese government’s budgets in coming years.
In this podcast, Michelle Grattan talks with Bill Shorten, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services about the issues around the scheme and the reforms needed to improve its operation and contain its cost...2022-10-0630 min
UNSW Canberra PodcastsIn Conversation with Troy Bramston and Michelle GrattanThe John Howard Prime Ministerial Library and Museum of Australian Democracy held ‘In Conversation with Troy Bramston and Michelle Grattan’ on Tuesday, 1 June 2022 at Old Parliament House.
Bramston discussed his new book, Bob Hawke: Demons and Destiny, the definitive full-life biography of Australia's 23rd prime minister; the only one that Hawke cooperated with after exiting the prime ministership.
The biography is based on an exclusive series of interviews with him – the last that he gave – as well as unfiltered access to his extensive trove of personal papers.2022-06-151h 01
The Conversation WeeklyAustralian election: how the country’s political landscape is shiftingAs Australians prepare to vote in federal elections on May 21, in this episode we explore how the country’s political landscape is shifting – and why it's not looking good for Prime Minister Scott Morrison.Featuring Michelle Grattan, a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra and political correspondent for The Conversation in Australia. Grattan, who is one of Australia's most respected political journalists, also hosts the Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast for The Conversation.We'd love to hear what you think about The Conversation Weekly. Please let us know via our listener survey, whic...2022-05-1830 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Grattan Institute’s Danielle Wood on election’s thin policy debateDanielle Wood is the CEO of the Grattan Institute, an independent think tank, Its purpose is to research and advocate policies to improve Australians’ lives.
Wood laments the dearth of policy debate in this election.
“There was a lot of optimism when we were coming out of COVID that this might be a period of genuine policy reform. It certainly was a period that laid bare a lot of challenges. We saw trust in government go up and there was a lot of talk of building back better in the sense that government might do some...2022-05-1123 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Frydenberg ‘thinking about the budget’ over ChristmasIn her last podcast for the year, Michelle Grattan speaks with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg about the mid-year budget update, his optimism about the economy, and the election.
Although Scott Morrison has the option of a March poll, Frydenberg says he is working on the assumption he’ll deliver a budget on March 29, which would put the election in May.
Frydenberg says he’ll be “spending my Christmas period doing other than eating turkey and having a quiet beer on the balcony and looking at the beach in Lorne. I will be thinking about the budget, thinki...2021-12-1728 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanMichelle Grattan on Labor’s climate policy and Liberal’s fight for WarringahAs well as Michelle Grattan’s usual interviews with experts and politicians about the news of the day, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where all things political will be discussed with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
This week they discuss Labor’s newly announced climate policy which includes a target of 43% emissions reduction. They discuss how this plan differs from the Coalitions target and the support it has from key business groups.
They also canvass the push for former NSW Premier Gladys Berejilikan to run for the federal election i...2021-12-0707 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanScott Morrison has decided electric cars won’t threaten Aussie weekendsAs well as Michelle Grattan’s usual interviews with experts and politicians about the news of the day, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where all things political will be discussed with members of The Conversation’s politics team.
Scott Morrison is gearing up for the election in the first half of 2022. As the country emerges from COVID constraints, the PM is trying to make up for lost time on the ground, travelling in NSW and Victoria this week. He’s selling some of the nitty gritty of his emissions reduction policy, including a plan to...2021-11-1009 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanMustering the government’s rural rump into the 2050 tentAs well as Michelle Grattan’s usual interviews with experts and politicians about the news of the day, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where all things political will be discussed with members of The Conversations’s politics team.
In this week’s episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle discuss the tortuous negotiations with the Nationals over the 2050 net zero target the PM intends to take to Glasgow. The Nationals claim they’re not holding the government to ransom, but they’re playing hardball in extracting protections for the regions.
They also ca...2021-10-1907 min
Lowy Institute ConversationsMichelle Grattan and Katharine Murphy on Australian foreign policyIn this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Director of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Natasha Kassam talks with Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at the Conversation, and Katharine Murphy, Political Editor of Guardian Australia. They discuss how Australian foreign policy has played a changing role in Australian politics, how Prime Minister Scott Morrison has moved from ‘negative globalism’ to being a multilateralist, Australia’s response to COVID-19 and ‘Fortress Australia’, and the fraught politics of climate change. Michelle Grattan is one of Australia’s most respected political journalists, who has been a member of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery for...2021-07-0738 minLowy InstituteMichelle Grattan and Katharine Murphy on Australian foreign policyIn this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Director of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Natasha Kassam talks with Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at the Conversation, and Katharine Murphy, Political Editor of Guardian Australia. They discuss how Australian foreign policy has played a changing role in Australian politics, how Prime Minister Scott Morrison has moved from ‘negative globalism’ to being a multilateralist, Australia’s response to COVID-19 and ‘Fortress Australia’, and the fraught politics of climate change. Michelle Grattan is one of Australia’s most respected political journalists, who has been a member of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery for...2021-07-0738 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: Australia's new Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, climate policy and UNESCOAs well as Michelle Grattan’s usual interviews with experts and politicians about the news of the day, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where all things political will be discussed with members of The Conversations’s politics team.
In this episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle dive into the National party spill, which resulted in Barnaby Joyce grabbing back his old leadership job, what this means for the Nationals at the election, and the climate change policy position this puts Scott Morrison in.
They also discuss the recommendation by UNESC...2021-06-2207 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The Hill: the Biloela Tamil family, G7 and the upcoming parliamentary fortnightAs well as Michelle Grattan’s usual interviews with experts and politicians about the news of the day, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where all things political will be discussed with members of The Conversations’s politics team.
In this episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle dive into Tuesday's announcement that the Bioela Tamil family will now live in Perth while their court proceedings are underway, after being incarcerated on Christmas Island since 2019. They also discuss Scott Morrison's meeting with US President Joe Biden, and Michael McCormack's sitting in the PM's par...2021-06-1507 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanWord from The HillAs well as Michelle Grattan's usual interviews with experts and politicians about the news of the day, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes "Word from The Hill", where all things political will be discussed with members of The Conversations's politics team.
In this week's episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discusses with Michelle current issues and what's coming up.
The pair dive into Speaker of The House Tony Smith's efforts to reform Question Time, Scott Morrison's agenda for the G7 Summit - taking place this weekend in the United Kingdom, and Victoria's slow emergence out o...2021-06-0810 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Patricia Sparrow on the Royal Commission into Aged CareThe Royal Commission into Aged Care has now delivered its final report, and its findings are an indictment of the inadequacies of the present system. The report calls for a refocus within the aged care system, placing the people receiving care at the centre.
However the feasibility and affordability of the 148 recommendations are yet to be assessed.
Patricia Sparrow is CEO of Aged & Community Services Australia, a peak body which represents not-for-profit members providing residential care for some 450,000 people throughout the country.
Speaking to Michelle Grattan, she says she is disappointed the commmission...2021-03-0419 min
Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public SectorEP# 31: Trust in Government after 2020: Where do we go from here? - With Michelle Grattan AO and Professor Mark EvansTrust in the Australian Commonwealth Government has risen to new heights during the COVID-19 pandemic. With 2020 coming to a close, this podcast explores this year’s increase in political trust, and how trust levels will be shaped in the near future.In this special episode of the Work with Purpose podcast, we are joined by the Director of Democracy 2025 Professor Mark Evans. He is interviewed by one of Australia’s most distinguished political journalists Michelle Grattan AO.The two discuss recent global research into perceptions of political institutions, looking specifically at Australia’s level...2020-12-0750 min
The Looking Forward PodcastThe Looking Forward Podcast Episode 89: Brutal Lockdowns Redux: SA CutNow it’s South Australia's turn for lockdown hell for at least six days, and Daniel Wild joins the panel live from Adelaide to report on the chaotic decision making behind the Government’s draconian measures.
Apparently the coronavirus spread by failure in Hotel Quarantine - who would have expected THAT! Seriously, are our Governments incapable of learning and preparing, and delivering a decent test and trace system?
Meanwhile, the Fatwa issued by Kevin Rudd against Rupert Murdoch gained support from Malcolm Turnbull and the ABC, and now the Senate has launched yet anoth...2020-11-1954 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanPolitics with Michelle Grattan: The Battle for Eden-Monaro – interviews with Kristy McBain and Fiona KotvojsOn July 4, the voters of Eden-Monaro will give their judgment on the performances of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese.
The seat is held by Labor on a margin of just under 1%. Labor is campaigning hard on JobKeeper ending in late September, while the Liberals are hoping the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis will outweigh Scott Morrison’s poor conduct during the bushfires.
In this podcast, Michelle Grattan discusses the byelection campaign with the main candidates, Labor’s Kristy McBain and Liberal Fiona Kotvojs.
McBain: “I think everybody’s sick of old politics …...2020-06-2535 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanDemocracy 2025 - The role of the APS in a post COVID-19 world with Michelle Grattan, Mark Evans, Peter Shergold, and Renée LeonIn the latest Democratic Fundamentals, Renée Leon, former Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Human Services, and Peter Shergold, former Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, discuss the challenges and opportunities for the APS as the world eases restrictions with hosts Mark Evans and Michelle Grattan.
Democratic Fundamentals is produced in partnership with Democracy 2025, The Conversation and contentgroup.
2020-05-1953 minPolitics with Michelle GrattanDemocracy 2025 - How does Australia compare: what makes a leading democracy? With Michelle Grattan, Mark Evans and Ian ChubbIn this special hour long podcast presented by Mark Evans, professor of governance and director of Democracy 2025, the panel discusses Australian democracy with Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb and Michelle Grattan.
The panel dissects the Australian trust in government, compared with other modern democracies around the world. Drawing on the world values survey, the report (available here) notes the sharp focus on the quality of democratic governance, especially in the time of global crisis caused by coronavirus.
2020-04-021h 02
Trust Me, I'm An Expert‘Labor will win this election. I think that’s virtually unquestionable’: political scientist Andy Marks on #AusVotes2019 and the key issues in NSWPolitical scientist Andy Marks says: ‘I’d suggest the momentum is with Labor and it hasn’t substantially shifted’.
AAP Image/NIC ELLISWe are but a few weeks from a federal election, and the way the wind is blowing may depend on what state you’re in.
Trust Me, I’m An Expert – along with Politics with Michelle Grattan – is bringing you state-focused podcast episodes as polling day approaches. To catch up on all the political drama unfolding in NSW, I spoke to political scientist (and self-described political tragic) Andy Marks, who predicted a Labor victory on May 18.
2019-04-3014 minTrust Me, I'm An ExpertPODCAST: Michelle Grattan, Peter Martin and Tim Colebatch on the election-eve budget chock full of sweetenersToday on Trust Me I'm An Expert, we're bringing you a special episode carried across from The Conversation podcast Politics with Michelle Grattan. Mick Tsikas(AAP)/The Conversation/ShutterstockToday’s federal budget, as predicted, was chock full of sweeteners designed to woo voters on the eve of what promises to be a bitterly fought election.
We’ve got loads of analysis and at-a-glance graphics over here but if you’re just looking for the short, sharp version – what was announced, who’s affected, what it all means as polling day approaches – you’re in the right place.
2019-04-0211 minTrust Me, I'm An ExpertIt’s your money they’re spending in this election-eve budget. Here’s how we’re covering the storyIn Tuesday night's budget we can expect a last ditch attempt to woo voters ahead of the election in May. AAP Image/Mick TsikasNext Tuesday night is budget night, and it’s happening on the eve of a federal election where the Coalition is in for the fight of its life to hold onto government.
The Conversation’s team of editors and experts will be in the budget lockup at parliament house next Tuesday, where they’ll have early access to what the government plans to do with our money this year.
Read more:
Expect...2019-03-2602 minTrust Me, I'm An ExpertA refugee law expert on a week of ‘reckless’ rhetoric and a new way to process asylum seeker claimsPrime Minister Scott Morrison and other Coalition MPs described Labor as weak on borders after the opposition and the crossbench voted to pass a bill allowing medical transfers from Manus and Nauru. AAP/Mick TsikasToday, we’re bringing you a special episode of our podcast Trust Me, I’m An Expert for anyone wondering: what the hell happened this week?
A sitting government lost a vote on the floor of parliament (which hasn’t happened in decades) over a bill that aims to facilitate medical transfers from Manus and Nauru.
(You can hear the MP Ker...2019-02-1419 min
Follow The MoneyWhat's Wrong With Politics & How To Fix ItIn this episode, Michelle Grattan joins Ben Oquist to discuss what's wrong with politics and how to fix it. This discussion, ranging from our current 'coup culture' to Julia Banks' resignation, was recorded at our Politics in the Pub event in Canberra. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Contributors: Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation // @michellegrattanBen Oquist, Executive Director at The Australia Institute // @benoquist Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceySupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2018-09-0238 min
MPavilionMTalks—'2017: A year magical thinking in politics' with Michelle Grattan • 12 December 2017With Trump leading a war on reality in the United States, Pauline Hanson staging #BurqaGate closer to home, and Tony Abbott suggesting he could be drafted back into leadership, the volatile and often unthinkable year of 2017 has been one for the history books.
Join esteemed journalist and chief political correspondent for The Conversation, Michelle Grattan, and The Conversation‘s politics editor, Amanda Dunn, as they take centre-stage in the MPavilion amphitheatre to discuss the key political moments of 2017.
Photo courtesy The Conversation2017-12-191h 03
Le Flaneur Politique#6: On Bipartisanship, Reform Fall Guys, Asian Century, and Infrastructure with Michelle GrattanAt the recent Democracy100 forum at Old Parliament House hosted by the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, Bob Hawke and John Howard spoke about the present lack of appetite for reform. Populism appears to be making it more difficult to pursue a reform agenda.
So, in an effort to investigate some of these issues to encourage discussion with my students, I put some of these questions to Michelle Grattan AO, Professorial Fellow of the University of Canberra and Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation.
The recording was made at Parliament House, and you can hear the divisional bells for...2017-09-2000 min
Grattan InstituteWhat are we listening to?A conversation with Australian Perspectives Fellow Brendan Coates and Associate Lucille Danks featuring a number of Grattan staff discussing the rise of podcasts, why they're listening and what they listen to on policy, politics... and just for fun.
Links to some of the podcasts discussed:
Global affairs and emerging themes
The Ezra Klein Show: https://www.vox.com/ezra-klein-show-podcast
The Weeds: https://www.vox.com/the-weeds
FT Alphachat: https://ftalphaville.ft.com/series/Alphachat?mhq5j=e3
Conversations with Tyler: https://www.mercatus.org/commentary/conversations-tyler
Australian politics and current affairs
Politics with Michelle Grattan, The Conversation’s politics podcast: ht...2017-07-1254 min
SubjectACTAustralian Federal Election 2016 with Michelle Grattan and David SpeersCurrent Affairs Coordinator of 2XXFM Becca Posterino speaks to political pundants Michelle Grattan and David Speers in the aftermath of the federal election 2016.
With results still unclear, these political experts examine why Australians voted in this direction and how it will ultimately effect the Australian political landscape.
Originally broadcast on 6th July, 2016.2016-09-2230 min
The Fifth EstateThe Political Pendulum: Michelle GrattanWith the federal election fast approaching, Sally Warhaft is joined by pre-eminent political journalist Michelle Grattan for a special spotlight edition of the Fifth Estate. What are the issues and initiatives that will matter the most? How does this federal poll compare to other recent elections? And what have Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott learned since 2010? Join Michelle Grattan at the Wheeler Centre for a conversation on the complicated state of Australia’s political culture three months out from the election.2013-05-3159 min