Australian Politics

The South Australian premier, Jay Weatherill, joins Katharine Murphy to discuss his plans to tackle the energy market and his arguments with the federal government. Weatherill believes Malcolm Turnbull ‘knows what the right thing to do is’ on supporting renewable energy, but says he is hobbled by Coalition rightwingers. ‘You can’t do business with these people … They’re insatiable. There is no benefit in the prime minister in trying to placate his right wing because they are incapable of being placated’. Weatherill also says that next year’s SA election will be ‘seen as a referendum on renewable energy’ and offers that prominent senator Nick Xenophon, while still an ‘extraordinary influence’ in the state, has ‘come off the boil a bit’ • Weatherill: Labor states could go it alone on energy policy

The South Australian premier, Jay Weatherill, joins Katharine Murphy to discuss his plans to tackle the energy market and his arguments with the federal government. Weatherill believes Malcolm Turnbull ‘knows what the right thing to do is’ on supporting renewable energy, but says he is hobbled by Coalition rightwingers. ‘You can’t do business with these people … They’re insatiable. There is no benefit in the prime minister in trying to placate his right wing because they are incapable of being placated’. Weatherill also says that next year’s SA election will be ‘seen as a referendum on renewable energy’ and offers that prominent senator Nick Xenophon, while still an ‘extraordinary influence’ in the state, has ‘come off the boil a bit’ • Weatherill: Labor states could go it alone on energy policy

‘I think it’s dead but I don’t think everyone has quite worked that out yet,’ Ed Balls, the former UK chancellor, says. He joins former Australian treasurer Wayne Swan to talk about the future of the global economy: if neoliberal ideals are not the solution to our problems, what is? How do we find a balance between the free market economy and the government taking a stronger role in regulating business?

‘I think it’s dead but I don’t think everyone has quite worked that out yet,’ Ed Balls, the former UK chancellor, says. He joins former Australian treasurer Wayne Swan to talk about the future of the global economy: if neoliberal ideals are not the solution to our problems, what is? How do we find a balance between the free market economy and the government taking a stronger role in regulating business?

‘If it comes up we’re going to have to try and win it,’ says Ivan Hinton-Teoh from lobby group just.equal. In an interview with Katharine Murphy and Gabrielle Chan, Hinton-Teoh says the Coalition’s plan for a postal vote on marriage equality has signalled to the LGBTI community: ‘We will only legislate for people other than you.’ With some people calling for a boycott of the vote, he says people should ‘look into their hearts’ and decide whether to take part – but that if it goes ahead he will campaign to win. Hinton-Teoh describes the postal vote plan as ‘an atrocious mechanism’ and that if it happens ‘the Liberal party will own this monstrosity for the rest of the lives’

‘If it comes up we’re going to have to try and win it,’ says Ivan Hinton-Teoh from lobby group just.equal. In an interview with Katharine Murphy and Gabrielle Chan, Hinton-Teoh says the Coalition’s plan for a postal vote on marriage equality has signalled to the LGBTI community: ‘We will only legislate for people other than you.’ With some people calling for a boycott of the vote, he says people should ‘look into their hearts’ and decide whether to take part – but that if it goes ahead he will campaign to win. Hinton-Teoh describes the postal vote plan as ‘an atrocious mechanism’ and that if it happens ‘the Liberal party will own this monstrosity for the rest of the lives’

With parliament resuming next week, Katharine Murphy and Gabrielle Chan discuss the difficulties the Coalition found itself in during the midwinter break, what it means for the rest of the year, how Bill Shorten’s media strategy has changed and why Scott Morrison tries to convince Australians that inequality isn’t a problem

With parliament resuming next week, Katharine Murphy and Gabrielle Chan discuss the difficulties the Coalition found itself in during the midwinter break, what it means for the rest of the year, how Bill Shorten’s media strategy has changed and why Scott Morrison tries to convince Australians that inequality isn’t a problem

Katharine Murphy is joined by Caroline Fisher, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Canberra, to talk about the implications of a recent study on social media habits. Are politicians successfully bypassing the mainstream media? Which demographics are engaging, and what are they looking for? And how deep are we all stuck in our ideological bubble?

Katharine Murphy is joined by Caroline Fisher, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Canberra, to talk about the implications of a recent study on social media habits. Are politicians successfully bypassing the mainstream media? Which demographics are engaging, and what are they looking for? And how deep are we all stuck in our ideological bubble?