From Pillar to Post

In the two months since the federal election, attention has been largely on internal party reshuffling and straining international relationships. So what is on the agenda for the second term Albanese government as it prepares to return to parliament?

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2025 has been dominated by increasing pressure from the United States on international allies to boost defence spending and bear the brunt of widespread tariffs. As the Prime Minister struggles to meet with Donald Trump face-to-face to talk these issues through, some are suggesting Australia ought to look elsewhere for stable support.

But just how does we go about shifting focus to our own backyard? 

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The Prime Minister has voiced his support for universal early childhood education and care for much of his first term in office. Now faced with a second term, just how much can be achieved in the next three years to improve accessibility for low income households and confront increasing 'childcare deserts'.

CEO of The Parenthood, Georgie Dent, talks through some of the challenges facing the sector and families under the current industry settings. 

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Australia's community of people living with disability has been promised a new set of supports to work alongside the NDIS. The Federal Government said it will role out Foundational Supports later in 2025. And seeing as the same Labor Government has been returned to office, it begs the question, what is now in their way?

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Australia's Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt, has used the World Ocean's Conference in France to tell the world, how in his view, Australia is leading the way in maritime protection. But a community media investigation has been hearing a very different perspective from divers, as they  return to the surface with stories of maritime degradation and threat, posed by commercial mussel farming in Jervis Bay. From Pillar to Post hears from such divers and from the journalist seeking answers for her community,  and meets a scientist who challenges the Minister Watt's claims . 

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U.S President Donald Trump is causing global reconsideration. So amongst the threatened tariffs, the changing stance on defence, and the falling out with Elon Musk, where does this leave Australia?

From Pillar to Post goes in search of different experiences and reactions across the country, talking to Australian Tesla owners, community media organises that are close to military bases, others involved in supporting young musicians to make it in America, and hears from an academic who has been watching geo-political ebbs and flows for a very long time.

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As the nation faces the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and stalling productivity, families and parent groups are calling for the government to take action to deliver universal early childhood education and care.

The Prime Minister has committed to universal childcare for years, and as the Labor government returns with a thumping majority, family advocates want to see action. This episode explores the realities of managing a job, raising children, navigating the childcare system, and looking at what lies ahead for the sector.

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Australia's National Party has moved from being potentially part of Government just over a month ago, to undergoing an on, and then off, separation with its coalition partner the Liberal Party, to potentially slipping into third place in politics and not even featuring as the formal opposition. All of this happening at a time when some of the regional electorates where they are in power have been undergoing hardship with extreme flooding. So what is going on in traditional National's heartlands and what are voters feeling ? From Pillar to Post takes you on the journey to find out.

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Australia's community of people living with disability has been promised a new set of supports to work alongside the NDIS. The Federal Government said it will role out Foundational Supports later in 2025. And seeing as the same Labor Government has been returned to office, it begs the question, what is now in their way? A major conference to provide more clarity about what they will consist of and how they will work will take place in Melbourne. Pillar to Post finds out more, collecting the views of those who might benefit from them as well as those at the heart of their design and works closely with Powerd Media the community experts in news for those living with disability.

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In the just concluded federal election, Independent candidates have proven that they were not one term wonders, by not only retaining the seats they won in 2022, but by increasing their margins in many instances.

After largely announcing their arrival three years ago at the federal election, the number of teals has risen this time, especially in metropolitan areas at the expense of Liberal party candidates. This 15 minute podcast explores what has made them popular in such electorates, but also goes to the rural seat of Wannon, where things didn’t go their way and hear from a historian who argues  the Independents are not Australia’s first political party disruptors.

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