Pressure is mounting on Liberal leadership hopeful Angus Taylor to declare his hand and mount a challenge against Sussan Ley for the Liberal leadership.

The Shadow Defence Minister is expected to quit the Shadow frontbench, with other Liberals expected to follow, paving the way for a leadership spill. But some moderates are calling on Angus Taylor to launch a petition and prove he has the numbers first.

Melissa Clarke and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.

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Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Around 6000 people gathered at Town Hall to rally against the Israeli President's visit overnight, 27 people were arrested during clashes with officers, with some footage appearing to show police throwing punches at demonstrators. NSW Police have defended their response, while Premier Chris Minns says their actions were "proportionate."

Meanwhile, Liberal leader Sussan Ley has survived today's party room meeting, but Fran and PK say there's now an "unstoppable push" for change — so when will leadership aspirant Angus Taylor strike and will he land a mortal blow?

So, would Sussan Ley quit her seat of Farrer if she's overthrown as leader? Can we trust polling? And with One Nation gaining traction, have Labor done enough on immigration?

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly answer your questions on The Party Room.

Got a burning question?

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Coalition members say they are united ahead of the Parliamentary sitting week...but are they? It’s only been three weeks since David Littleproud said a Coalition was “untenable” under Sussan Ley. So is it going to be different this time?

Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has arrived in Sydney for a four day visit following the Bondi Beach terror attack. Anthony Albanese says he hopes the visit will foster “a greater sense of unity” but tensions are growing.

Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber, 7.30's political editor, break it all down on Politics Now.

Got a burning question?

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Insiders On Background is back for 2026! This week we are diving into the federal government's model for its Thriving Kids program. The program is aimed at setting up services and supports run by states and territories outside the NDIS. 

It's been a week of high drama in parliament, from Shakespeare novels to soap opera references, but while the Liberal-Nationals chaos continued to take centre stage the RBA interest rate hike put the spotlight back on the Albanese Government. 

It comes as the May budget draws nearer and it seems the Treasurer Jim Chalmers is unwilling to rule out changes to the capital gains tax. So, could big bold reform be on the agenda? Meanwhile, the deadline Sussan Ley imposed the Liberal and Nationals to negotiate a path back to Coalition is looming, so are either side willing to make concessions?

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly break it all down with David Speers, ABC Political lead and host of Insiders on The Party Room

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

The Albanese Government is selling off an estimated $3-billion-dollars’ worth of defence sites, so what does the "significant" overhaul of Australia’s defence property portfolio mean for housing supply?And as the Treasurer Jim Chalmers continues to defend the Government's fiscal management in the wake of the RBA's latest interest rate hike, what does this all mean for the May budget? In the second year of a second term Labor government, can we expect "big bold ideas"?

Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now.

Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now.

Got a burning question?

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

The RBA board has held its first monetary policy meeting for 2026 - and a cash rate lift is the result.

After the Coalition split dominated the start of the year, will this bring the focus back onto the government — and whether the Treasurer is doing enough to ease the cost of living pressures facing Australians?

Meanwhile, parliament is back, but things look different — with the Liberals now sitting alone and the Nationals on the crossbench. How long will this new arrangement last?

Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics Now.

Got a burning question?

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

The Albanese Government should have been starting the week on the backfoot, but the infighting of the Liberal and Nationals' has kept the focus squarely on them.

And amid the Opposition chaos, the Prime Minister appears to have his mojo back, labelling the infighting "bizarre" and comparing it to "Married At First Sight". But with last week's hotter than expected inflation data and a possible rate hike tomorrow, is the PM in for tricky economic times ahead?

Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read PK's column here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/parliament-sitting-week-opposition-leadership-albanese/106292656

Read Jacob's column here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-31/andrew-hastie-sussan-ley-angus-taylor-leadership/106288160

Got a burning question?

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

In 2022, the Albanese Government joined its state and territory counterparts to commit to ending violence against women and children in a generation.

But while Labor says they've made ending violence a key priority, with more than $4 billion for women's safety initiatives, where are things four years on?

And with a wraparound approach needed to counter the issue, is a national watchdog urgently needed to ensure recommendations are actually implemented?

Claudia Long joins Patricia Karvelas for this special edition of Politics Now.

Got a burning question?

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Family and domestic violence support:

• 1800 Respect national helpline:1800 737 732
• Women's Crisis Line:1800 811 811
• Men's Referral Service:1300 766 491
• Lifeline (24 hour crisis line):131 114
• Relationships Australia:1300 364 277
• NSW Domestic Violence Line:1800 656 463
• Qld DV Connect Womensline:1800 811 811
• Vic Safe Steps crisis response line:1800 015 188
• ACT 24/7 Crisis Line:(02) 6280 0900
• Tas Family Violence Counselling and Support Service:1800 608 122
• SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line:1800 800 098
• WA Women's Domestic Violence 24h Helpline:1800 007 339
• NT Domestic violence helpline:1800 737 732

With parliament set to return next week, Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor have met and while the discussions have been described as "constructive" they've failed to agree on who should run for the leadership. So, where to next — and what are the optics of a meeting room full of 'blokes' when the Liberal party has a woman problem?

And why do some voters connect with Pauline Hanson? And what the deadline for choosing candidates for the election if the Coalition remains split? (ABC Chief Elections Analyst Casey Briggs makes a guest appearance to help us answer that one.)

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly  answer your question on The Party Room.

Got a burning question?

Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]LISTEN TO THE ANTONY GREEN EP HERE: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/politics-now/antony-green-on-one-nation-s-rise/105947830 READ ABC ANALYSIS HERE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-29/coalition-pauline-hanson-liberals-nationals-one-nation/106278234