What training do new MPs get? The standing orders of the chambers can be a complex set of rules to follow, and getting your head around the technical details of a bill may seem intimidating to those who've never had to do it - so what kind of job support and training is there for a Member of Parliament so they can do their job? I sat down with Stephen Bates, Member for Brisbane and Greens MP, to ask him what it's like going from being a retail worker to a Member of Parliament and what resources there are for new MPs to learn from.

Does AI understand Australian politics? Is ChatGPT a reliable source of information? Well, I asked it to explain elections, the Senate, and the House of Representatives and I was initially impressed by what it got right - followed by mortified by just how incredibly blatantly wrong it could be.

January 1st, 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was created - but who was going to be the first Prime Minister? The choice seemed obvious to everyone except the person actually making it. This is the story of the Hopetoun Blunder, a political controversy where the first Governor-General of Australia wasn't sure what he was doing and caused the nation a load of confusion and one unlucky politician the impossible task of forming a caretaker government with only two weeks before the deadline of federation.

Hon Wilson Tucker made history in 2021 by winning a seat in the WA state election with only 98 primary votes for the Daylight Savings Party. 1) How does that work? 2) How does it feel being an unexpected entry to the historic composition of a parliament? 3) Why make a single issue political party? Let's find out!

To vote in a referendum you clearly mark your ballot with YES or NO. But why not something else like a tick or a cross? Well, it isn't actually as clear as you think and so an incorrectly filled out ballot can't legally be counted if that intention is ambiguous or unclear. For official information about how voting works in referendums and to make sure your details are up to date please visit the AEC website: https://aec.gov.au/

The official Yes and No pamphlet for a referendum is there to let the public know the arguments for and against a proposed change to the constitution - but where did it come from? And is the referendum pamphlet useful? Well, let's explore its history and why it is the way it is. This episode is of course about the general concept of the referendum pamphlet that has over a century of history and not about any specific arguments or ideas in any particular referendum pamphlet itself.