In just four months, social media platforms will be forced to ban kids aged 16 and under. How will that work? No-one actually knows.

Crikey associate editor and tech journalist Cam Wilson has been closely following the progress of the teen social media ban – from the push for a ban by commercial radio host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, to the rushed legislation, aggressive lobbying by the tech giants, and, now, a trial of age-verification technology that’s not quite going to plan. 

He joins Cut Through host Crystal Andrews to explain what the hell is going on, and what you can expect when the results from the tech trial are made public.

Read more:

• How Australia’s teen social media ban tech trial was derailed by expert turmoil and secrecy
• ‘No fucking sense’: The secret deal which removed a ‘crucial’ part of the teen social media ban
• See the leaked teen social media ban tech trial report that has experts worried
• For parents, the teen social media ban doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile
• The Wiggles’ teen social media ban lobbying exposes an uncomfortable truth about young kids and tech
• How Crikey will report on the teen social media ban (and how we got here in the first place)

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers held his much-hyped Economic Reform Roundtable this week, with politicians and a selective list of experts, leaders and business executives discussing solutions for the challenges facing the Australian economy. Boring? Yeah. But given this three-day meeting will shape the next three federal budgets, it deserves your scrutiny.

Economist Jason Murphy joins readers’ editor Crystal Andrews to explain what ‘productivity’ means, why the roundtable was so fixated on this concept and to talk through some of the proposals on housing, tax reform and Centrelink.

But patience is the name of this game: Murphy thinks any “success stories” from this roundtable won’t be seen for 10 years or more.

Read more:

• Jim Chalmers wants his economic roundtable to rise above party politics. Good luck!
• How Jim Chalmers’ ‘boardroom blitz’ roundtable kicked off
• Reader reply: Is it time for a Universal Basic Income?
• Some taxes are inefficient at any level. Even modest reforms will help
• How the productivity roundtable became a vast gaslighting exercise — and sums up the fatal rot in Australian politics

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For years the Labor government has insisted Palestinian statehood could only come “at the end” of a peace process with Israel. This week, Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong announced an abrupt change: the time to recognise the state of Palestine is, apparently, now. 

Readers’ editor Crystal Andrews and politics editor Bernard Keane discuss what caused the Labor government to shift its position on Palestine. Will Australia ever go beyond symbolic gestures to impose meaningful penalties on Israel? Sanctions aren’t completely off the table — but there’s a reason we won’t lead the way.

Read more:

• Australia sends F-35 jet parts to Israel. Is it legal under international law?
• NSW Labor MP says he was ‘gagged’ and faced ‘bullying’ after trying to criticise Minns on Gaza
• Could Australia joining the chorus on Palestine tip the balance?
• The challenge of halting an ally-turned-monster looms larger still for Albanese and Wong
• Cash, Joyce, Hastie and co keep pushing Ley’s Coalition (far) right into the margins

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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In the first episode of our new weekly podcast, we’re addressing the biggest criticism of Crikey: that we’re too hard or too soft on Labor… and the Coalition. And the Greens, the independents, One Nation. You get the picture. 

Cut Through host Crystal Andrews speaks to editor-in-chief Sophie Black and politics editor Bernard Keane about how Crikey plans to cover the 48th Parliament, and how journalists and news publishers should be adapting to Australia’s new political landscape. What does it mean to truly scrutinise the people in power, who decides what is “newsworthy”, and why does the media seem to focus on political antics rather than analysis of policy proposals?

Plus is the Coalition now so politically irrelevant that the media should ignore it altogether? 

Read more:

• How our newsroom plans to cover the 48th Parliament (1:21)
• ‘Background use only’: How Labor justifies its silence on Gaza to the media (12:17)
• As Bowen jibes the Coalition on climate, he still lets it dictate his policies. Who’s the real joke? (22:08)
• The grim reaper of Australian politics is back. Finally (18:10)
• Oppositions and accountability — or, trying for the least worst of both worlds (30:20)

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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In the final episode of Electioncast for 2025, Crystal Andrews and political editor Bernard Keane dissect the latest political plot twist: the end of the Coalition. While it’s not the first time the Nats and Libs have been on-again, off-again, the effects will be felt by everyone – even those who have never, and would never, vote for them.

Plus, Bernard reflects on his journalistic process in the aftermath of a result that proved many commentators’ theories wrong.

Make sure you subscribe to this feed for more Crikey podcasts coming soon!

Read more:

• History shows Coalition split a trial separation, not a divorce
• End of the Coalition is a win-win for Sussan Ley and the Nationals
• Albanese solved the Trump problem from the orthodox left. So what do the Liberals do now?
• The departure of the Nats is far from the end of the Liberals’ problems (hint: it’s themselves)

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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Surprise, Electioncast is back! In this bonus episode, Crystal Andrews and associate editor Cam Wilson dissect the campaign antics of right-wing lobby group Advance, who spent millions in advertising against progressive MPs like the Greens’ Max Chandler-Mather and independent Zoe Daniel. 

Advance is celebrating the loss of key Greens seats as proof of its influence, but how much of an impact did it really have? We analyse the group’s strategy and spend against the election result. 

Read all of Cam’s analysis of the Advance campaign:

• How Advance’s anti-Greens campaign backfired and helped elect a progressive Parliament
• Two sexual assault accusers say right-wing group Advance ‘weaponised’ their claims without their consent
• Anti-vaccine ‘freedom movement’ stars actively organising for Liberal-backed Advance group

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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Well, that sure was something! In this post-election episode, Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews discuss why this resounding Labor win by Anthony Albanese is so unique in Australian politics, review what the polls (and Electioncast!) got wrong, and speculate about what’s next for a dazed and confused Coalition. 

Then Anton Nilsson  shares the insights he gleaned from voters in Dickson and the deflated Liberal HQ party in Brisbane after witnessing Peter Dutton’s farewell speech, and Rachel Withers takes stock of how the new crossbench is shaping up.

Read more:

• It wasn’t just Trump: Albanese built this remarkable victory himself
• Liberals followed Dutton into unfamiliar territory. And he led them off a cliff
• The Liberals drowned their sorrows at the wake with a soaring rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Dickson had sealed their fate.
• The crossbench has shifted. Our interactive table shows the state of play
• Forget the lower house, the game-changing shift could be Senate’s tilt to the left

Thank you for listening to the 2025 season of Electioncast! For full access to Crikey’s independent political commentary and analysis, subscribe now.

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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We’re at the pointy end now, and an astonishing poll is predicting a whopping Labor majority. Can that really be right?

Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers’ editor Crystal Andrews discuss the final YouGov poll of the campaign, and what the growing support of Pauline Hanson and One Nation means for the next parliament – and the future of Australian politics. 

Then, media reporter Daanyal Saeed catches us up on some juicy tips from Dutton’s campaign bus.

Read more:

• Will Pauline Hanson be a kingmaker?
• Teals will prevail amid Coalition bloodbath if latest poll bears out
• Jim Chalmers has nuked Labor’s economic credibility — and Wayne Swan’s fiscal legacy
• From ‘hate media’ to ‘lock him up’, Dutton’s Trump tribute act is still reliably playing the hits
• Tips: Dynasties deluxe, Dutton hates his bus people, and we are all TIRED

Got a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.

Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to [email protected]

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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Underneath the noisy narratives of the big election fight between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, there are individual, very tight contests taking place in battleground seats. It’s in these electorates that Australia’s next government could be decided. 

Crikey associate editor Cam Wilson and readers’ editor Crystal Andrews reveal how major parties use your personal data in highly-targeted political ads to sway the election result. 

Then editor Alisha Rouse and politics reporter Anton Nilsson discuss what’s at play in three key seats: Curtin in Perth, a litmus test for teals and Liberals; Gilmore in NSW, Labor’s most marginal; and the unexpected fight for Berowra, proving there is no such thing as a safe seat. 

Read more:

• Parties have a lot of valuable data about you. In fact, they’ve put an actual price on it
• Small-business owners, parents, volunteers: Who are parties micro-targeting this election?
• ‘Predicted Chinese’, ‘predicted Jewish’: Liberals accidentally leave voter-tracking data exposed
• The 2025 election is our most opaque yet because big tech doesn’t want to be held responsible
• Can the 2022 ‘teal’ incumbents ward off their Liberal challengers?
• Could Berowra be in play? Leeser campaign dismisses any turn to teal

Got a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.

Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to [email protected] 

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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Labor and the Coalition agree with voters: this is the housing election. But despite making headline-grabbing housing policy a focus of their official campaign launches, both parties' plans have been criticised by... pretty much everyone.

Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews unpack the policy promises, and ask why politicians refuse to address the problem at the heart of Australia’s housing crisis (no, it’s not immigration).

Then editor-in-chief Sophie Black reveals why Crikey is running for parliament alongside 'Crikey for PM' campaign manager, our own Charlie Lewis. Plus, will women, once again, hold the deciding vote on May 3?

Read more:

• Is this the worst election campaign ever?
• Struggling renters are all but invisible this election
• The eye-watering numbers that paint a picture of a journalism industry propped up by real estate cash
• Russia-Indonesia debacle reveals Australia is racist and incompetent in the face of a new global order
• Is Peter Dutton aware that women… can vote?
• Crikey for PM
• Crikey for PM makes a corflute

Got a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.

Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to [email protected]

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.