Latest Episodes
Politics podcast: Ken Coates on the future of higher education
With university graduates finding it harder to find jobs, questions have been raised about the merits of a typical tertiary qualification. Dr Ken Coates, Canada research chair in regional innovation at University Saskatchewan Campus, says by 2050 we're going to have hundreds of more specialised, boutique institutions. "We'll have a smaller number of what we call these 'multiversities' - the large scale…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Hugh Saddler on Australia's energy crisis
As politicians debate the causes of South Australia's power failures, separating fact from rhetoric has become difficult. In this episode of The Conversation's politics podcast, Michelle Grattan interviews energy expert Hugh Saddler. Saddler explains the complex mix of factors behind the power failures in South Australia and the stresses on the electricity systems elsewhere, and canvases what can be…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and Hugh Saddler
Politics podcast: Anthony Albanese on Labor's approach to infrastructure
Labor's edge over the government in the polls has seen the party stay united. But it has not stopped speculation about whether frontbencher Anthony Albanese would be a better fit as leader of the party. Albanese dismisses Coalition jibes about him being the alternative leader. He tells Michelle Grattan it's the government who has internal issues. "The government are I think more divided than I've seen…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Barnaby Joyce on a year at the top
Celebrating his one-year anniversary of becoming National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce is well aware of the challenge posed by One Nation. Joyce tells Michelle Grattan he knows "there's a battle on", as the Queensland election looms. He agrees regional seats in that state are particularly vulnerable to falling to Pauline Hanson's party. "I take every political vote seriously…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Cory Bernardi on why he spurned the Liberals
A day after moving to the crossbench, Cory Bernardi is feeling the heat. The media, former Liberal colleagues and South Australian voters all have a view on his defection, especially coming only months after he was re-elected under his then party's banner. "People will say what they're going to say. And I've tried to be consistent. I've been accused of many things in my time in politics but I've looked…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Arthur Sinodinos on the government's headwinds
At the beginning of the parliamentary year, the government is beleaguered on several fronts. But Arthur Sinodinos, one of the Coalition's most experienced operators and the newly appointed minister for industry, innovation and science, is determined to be optimistic. "You can't rule any possibilities out, including the possibility that the government actually goes from strength to strength as we go…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Chris Richardson on the state of the Australian economy
Ahead of next week's mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, the government has been hit with the sobering news that real GDP shrank in the September quarter. Deloitte Access Economics' Chris Richardson offers some context to the gloomy figures. "Perhaps a better way to describe it is the numbers have been artificially good for a while and now they're looking artificially bad. The bottom line is that…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Nick Xenophon on working the new parliament
As the curtain falls on the year, one of the most powerful players in the new parliament looks back on his successes. Nick Xenophon nominates whistleblower protections and procurement law changes negotiated alongside the government's industrial relations legislation as major achievements. "The government has agreed to sweeping changes to whistleblower protections in this country. Compensation for whistleblowers…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Josh Frydenberg on climate change and the 2017 review
After ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, the government is looking ahead to its 2017 review of climate change policy. Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg tells Michelle Grattan the government will have more to say about the review before Christmas. "The key is to ensure we're on track to meet our 2030 targets, which is a 26-28% reduction in our emissions by 2030 on 2005 levels…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Jenny Macklin on Labor's approach to welfare
In times of budgetary constraint, the cost of Australia's welfare system has been regarded by many in the Coalition as a burden and a drag on economic growth. The shadow minister for social services and families, Jenny Macklin, has a different take. "Sadly I think the Liberal-National Coalition have an ideological view that the welfare system is too generous – even though the international evidence…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Barnaby Joyce on the state of the National Party
Earlier this week, footage aired of Attorney-General George Brandis speculating that Queensland's Liberal National Party might demerge. But Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says this won't happen. "It's not going to happen. You know why? Because the people who make that decision is not George, or myself or anybody else, it's the membership and the membership would have to decide…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Rory Medcalf on the security implications of Donald Trump's presidency
For allies of the United States, the reality of a Donald Trump presidency has just begun to sink in. Former Australian diplomat and intelligence analyst, Professor Rory Medcalf, who heads the National Security College at ANU, tells Michelle Grattan that for Australia, the shock of the Trump presidency will mean that we have to think much more seriously about what our foreign policy and national security…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Julian Leeser on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act
Many in the government have clamoured for changes to be made to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Liberal backbencher Julian Leeser, however is not one of them. The member for the northern Sydney seat of Berowra tells Michelle Grattan there are definitely people within the Liberal Party who share his view that Section 18C "achieves a good balance between allowing people the freedom of speech…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Kim Beazley on the US election
Kim Beazley's time as Australia's ambassador to the United States came to an end earlier this year, but he is riveted by next week's presidential election. "When I was the ambassador to Washington I just missed politics every day. In this year, I am missing the United States every day," he says. Beazley tells Michelle Grattan that "slightly, on balance" Hillary Clinton is more likely to win. "But the…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and Kim Beazley
Politics podcast: John Blaxland on The Secret Cold War - The Official History of ASIO
In the third volume of The Official History of ASIO series, historians Dr John Blaxland and Dr Rhys Crawley examine the organisation's role in the years leading to the end of the Cold War. Blaxland tells Michelle Grattan that this is a story about looking at Australia in the '70s and '80s "through the glasses of an ASIO officer or an ASIO agent". During the period covered in the book, Blaxland says…
2 Hosts: Michelle Grattan and John Blaxland
Politics podcast: Stirling Griff and Skye Kakoschke-Moore on life in the Senate
Nick Xenophon's two new Senate colleagues, Stirling Griff and Skye Kakoschke-Moore, are no strangers to the political process, having both worked with Xenophon behind the scenes. In a joint interview, they tell Michelle Grattan about their contrasting experiences in becoming politicians. Kakoschke-Moore says she has had the benefit of being around Xenophon for nearly six years. "So I understand the…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Tanya Plibersek on marriage equality and education funding
In the wake of Labor's rejection of the proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite, speculation has fallen on whether it will maintain its planned policy of enforcing a binding vote on marriage equality after the next election. Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek tells Michelle Grattan she doesn't think the issue will come up at the party's next national conference. "I know that the Liberals are trying…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Mark Dreyfus on George Brandis' solicitor-general controversy
A contentious move by Attorney-General George Brandis to restrict access to legal advice from the solicitor-general is continuing to raise controversy and questions about its legal validity. Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus tells Michelle Grattan that he sees this as "the most extraordinary power grab by the Attorney-General in the history of the office". "We already know that he's held up requests…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Simon Birmingham on the new VET student loan scheme
A new vocational education and training student loan scheme will aim at putting a stop to rorting by dodgy private colleges. Education Minister Simon Birmingham tells Michelle Grattan the new scheme is being built from the ground up. "First and foremost, [there will be] strong barriers to entry for the types of vocational education providers who can offer loans as part of it," he says. The reforms…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Scott Ryan on the same-sex marriage plebiscite and political donations
Monday's government-Labor meeting over the proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite ended in a stalemate. But Special Minister of State Scott Ryan tells Michelle Grattan the government has made it very clear it will consider in "good faith" any proposal Bill Shorten and Labor bring forward. "The meeting was an opportunity for them – even if they didn't have the power to make formal suggestions – to actually…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Peter Jennings on Turnbull's trip to the US
At the UN next week Malcolm Turnbull will be among many leaders responding to the large movements of refugees and migrants across the world. Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, tells Michelle Grattan that the purpose of US President Barack Obama's meeting is to get other countries to accept more refugees through legal channels. "I don't think he's going…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Don Watson on the rise of Trump
Earlier this year, Australian writer Don Watson visited the United States, observing the race for president. Rather than examine the "rust belt" or "down-at-heel" cities, Watson chose America's heartland. "I found in Wisconsin many of the underlying themes of this election. And that sort of Gothic quality of the United States where everything has a very deep and often dark story behind it." Watson…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Eric Abetz on the conservatives in the Liberal Party
In the first sitting of the new parliament, conservatives within the government have muscled a proposed amendment to the Racial Discrimination Act onto the agenda. Senator Eric Abetz, a strong advocate for change, tells Michelle Grattan that he doubts it will be dealt with this year. "It will be introduced and then I think it would make sense for it to go through the normal processes. It may well go…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Fred Smith on The Dust of Uruzgan
Fred Smith is no ordinary Australian diplomat. In postings served in the Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan, he built relationships with tribal leaders while continuing his side-career as a folk musician. Smith, who has written about his experiences in a book, The Dust of Uruzgan, tells Michelle Grattan for the first three or four months he stashed his guitar under the bed. "You know, I wanted to be taken…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics podcast: Bob Brown on Malcolm Turnbull and the same-sex marriage plebiscite
Since retiring from politics in 2012, former Greens leader Bob Brown has continued to offer sharp perspectives on issues of national debate. After giving the closing address at the Canberra Writers' Festival at the weekend, Brown tells Michelle Grattan that Malcolm Turnbull should have "stood up to the right wing" of his party at the end of 2015. "We now have a reactionary and conservative government…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan