Latest Episodes
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Pat Turner on COVID – and god botherers – stalking Indigenous communities
COVID has been spreading quickly in western NSW Indigenous communities where low vaccination rates and poor conditions make for a toxic mix. The first Indigenous death occurred in Dubbo this week. As efforts intensify to deal with the NSW outbreak Pat Turner, CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHO) joins the podcast. As well as discussing the NSW situation…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Doherty's Sharon Lewin on pivoting from chasing COVID zero
The Doherty modelling is the government's underpinning for a proposed easing of COVID restrictions once we reach targets of 70% and 80% of the adult population vaccinated. But the exit path has put Scott Morrison at odds with Western Australia and Queensland, states which would inevitably have to give up their present status of having little or no COVID. The model's priority is pivoting from reaching…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: The battle to exit COVID
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. In this episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle discuss the frictions as vaccination rates rise and the debate turns to lifting lockdowns and border restrictions. They also canvass the…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: Was the Afghanistan War worth it?
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. In this episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle discuss the lost war in Afghanistan, as Australia tries to secure the evacuation of its citizens and Afghans who assisted the Australian…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Anthony Albanese says Afghans in Australia should be given permanent residency
Graphic pictures of mayhem confront the world as desperate Afghans attempt to flee their country, after the Taliban's seizure of Kabul. Australia's moral responsibly to evacuate people who assisted the Australian Defence Force, and may now face Taliban retribution, has become an important part of our exit from this lost war. The government is mounting a rescue mission for some of these people, as well…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Frydenberg on uncertain economic times
When Treasurer Josh Frydenberg joined the podcast in December, the outlook was positive. While the forecast deficit was massive at nearly $200 billion, it had been revised down and the prospects for growth and employment revised up. Frydenberg said then: "Australians go into Christmas with real cause for optimism and hope". Read more: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on promising…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: A reprimand for Christensen and Morrison on climate
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. In this episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle discuss the House of Representatives' slapdown of controversial Nationals MP George Christensen after his attack on COVID-19 lockdowns…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers on promoting vaccine uptake and a 'modest spending program'
In the lead up to the 2019 election, the Shorten opposition attacked the government's planned 2024 tax cuts, and promised to curb negative gearing and halve the capital gains tax discount. Last week, the Albanese opposition said it wouldn't try to unwind the tax cuts and would leave negative gearing intact - a pragmatic decision designed to make the party a small target at next year's election. Speaking…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: a four-stage plan and a $300 payment to get vaccinated
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversations’s politics team. In this episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle talk about the outcome of last Friday's National Cabinet meeting - an updated four-point plan for exiting COVID restrictions via vaccination…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bob Brown on his latest environmental battle, and a critique of Labor
Since his retirement from parliament in 2012, Bob Brown has remained an activist on environmental causes - from campaigning against the Adani coal mine to fighting the threat to Tasmania's Tarkine forest. Brown was leader when after the 2010 election the Greens helped Julia Gillard retain government by entering an agreement with her. A key part of that deal was the requirement that a price on carbon…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: three states in lockdown
As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes "Word from The Hill", where she discusses the news with members of The Conversations’s politics team. In this episode, politics + society editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle talk about where we never expected to be in mid 2021 – 13 million people locked down in three states. They also canvass the "car park…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Barnaby Joyce on net zero 2050, a coal-fired power station – and how resources is (sort of) in cabinet
Barnaby Joyce's sudden elevation to deputy prime minister has put a significant obstacle in the way of Scott Morrison's creep this year to a commitment to a net zero 2050 target. More generally, it has made internal Coalition relations more unpredictable. In this podcast Joyce reiterates his opposition to embracing the target, while leaving some wriggle room. "With the information that I've got at…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: Julia Banks and international travel caps
As well as her 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 deputy editor Judith Ireland and Michelle discuss the allegation by former Liberal MP Julia Banks that she was inappropriately…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jacinta Price's parliamentary agenda
Following her pre-selection victory, Alice Springs deputy mayor Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will now be the Country Liberal party's Senate candidate at the election. This essentially assures her of victory. The Northern Territory returns one Senate seat to each side of politics. Price has made a name for herself already as a conservative Indigenous voice, critical of what she labels a paternalistic approach…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: the return to lockdown
As well as her 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 discuss Scott Morrison's Monday night announcement encouraging younger people to discuss…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sussan Ley and Terri Butler on the Great Barrier Reef being 'in danger'
The government's response to the UNESCO recommendation that the Great Barrier Reef be listed as "in danger" was one of surprise and shock. The recommendation will be considered at UNESCO's World Heritage Committee meeting next month. While the proposal calls attention to the need to address the effect of climate change and other factors which are degrading the reef, the government alleges it's part…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Podcast with Michelle Grattan: Australia's new Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, climate policy and UNESCO
As 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…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Acting PM Michael McCormack on net zero 2050 and prospects for a new coal-fired power station
With Scott Morrison overseas, Nationals leader Michael McCormack has been Acting Prime Minister this week. In this podcast, he speaks about the free trade agreement with the UK, climate change, coal, the Nationals, and China. With speculation about whether Morrison will embrace a 2050 net zero target before the Glasgow climate conference, the attitude of the Nationals is critical and McCormack is under…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Word from The Hill: the Biloela Tamil family, G7 and the upcoming parliamentary fortnight
As 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…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Rex Patrick on Freedom of Information and Australia's submarines
Senator Rex Patrick is currently challenging the secrecy around Scott Morrison's national cabinet. He's brought legal action – the outcome is pending – to attempt to have the minutes of this body, which includes federal, state and territory leaders, made public. The government claims the documents are protected by an exemption for cabinet documents in the freedom of information act, while Patrick claims…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Word from The Hill
As 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…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Mark Butler on the vaccine rollout and democracy in the Labor Party
Despite this week's strong economic figures, the pandemic is not as distant in the rearview mirror as many had hoped it would be by now. In Victoria, cluster outbreaks have forced the state into a new lockdown. With cases amongst aged care workers and residents, the state waits nervously as health authorities battle to contain the situation. As Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler is…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Katy Gallagher on the battle to hold the government to account
When Katy Gallagher joined the podcast this week, she was running between sessions of Senate estimates. Among other issues, she and other Labor senators pressed (with mixed results) for answers about the handling of the Brittany Higgins matter. Gallagher has another role in the pursuit of accountability. As Chair of the Senate's Select Committee on COVID-19, she's spearheading the quest for detail…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Richard Colbeck on aged care and the Olympics
In last week's budget, $17.7 billion was allocated to the aged care sector, in response to the damning findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality & Safety. The commission's final report painted a grim picture of a sector in need of sweeping overhaul - with people in residential care requiring a more supportive – and in some cases safer - environment, and people at home desperately…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Simon Birmingham and Jim Chalmers on a big spending budget
This year's budget, handed down on Tuesday, boasts plenty of winners and minimal direct losers. Spending is lavish, with the government doing its utmost to avoid offending voters. The big spending commitments include: $17.7 billion for aged care over five years $2.3 billion for mental health $1.7 billion in changes to childcare $1.1 billion for women's safety $1.9 billion for the rollout of the COVID…
1 Host: Michelle Grattan