The Liberal leadership tensions continue to grow, with Sussan Ley’s role as Opposition leader seen as untenable in the wake of the Coalition split.

But while conservatives Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor are shaping up as the key contenders, Liberals want to sort out which of them will run for the position before triggering a spill, to avoid further messiness.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has announced Defence Department boss Greg Moriarty as the new US Ambassador, after Kevin Rudd announced his early departure from the role. It comes as Anthony Albanese labels US President Donald Trump’s remarks that allied troops “stayed a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan as "not acceptable".

Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.

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The dust has settled on the Nationals' explosive decision to quit the Coalition, but questions are continuing to swirl about Sussan Ley and David Littleproud's future.

So, where to next for the Liberals and the Nationals? Could the Nationals and One Nation form a new Coalition? Could the Liberal party regain votes in the centre?

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly answer your questions on this special edition of The Party Room. 

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In a stunning turn of events, the Nationals have officially split with Liberal party, blowing up the Coalition. Nationals leader David Littleproud accused Opposition leader Sussan Ley forcing his party into an "untenable" position and said they could not sit in Coalition under her leadership. 

It comes on the National Day of Mourning for Bondi, which was intended to be a day of unity and healing for the country. So, is this the end of the Coalition for good? And while questions are swirling about Sussan Ley's leadership, there are also questions about David Littleproud's hold on his position.

On a week where it looked like the Prime Minister would be in the hot seat, how did the Opposition again become the story?

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent for The Conversation on The Party Room.Read PK's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-22/optics-diabolical-liberals-nationals-split-chaos-reigns/106256942

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The Albanese Government has passed its gun reforms and watered down hate laws after a late night sitting of the Senate.

But three Nationals frontbenchers crossed floor to vote against the hate laws, which the Liberal party supported, defying conventions. So, will Opposition leader Sussan Ley force them to quit their portfolios — and is this a test of her authority?

Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.

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The Albanese Government is set to pass its hate speech and gun reform bills through the parliament. It comes after Labor split the omnibus legislation, negotiating with the Coalition and the Greens separately to get the two bills through.

But while all signs are pointing to the Liberals supporting the changed hate speech laws, it's less clear if the Nationals are on board and the Senate could be in for a long night ahead.

Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now.Production Note: Following the recording of today's episode the  Albanese Government's hate laws passed through the House of Representatives, with Nationals MPs Llew O'Brien and Colin Boyce crossing the floor to vote against it, and the rest of the Nationals MPs abstaining.

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For the first time since the Bondi terror attack, MPs from across the country have returned to Canberra.

The first morning saw sombre speeches from a range of voices - but with debate on hate speech and gun laws to continue, is there any sense of bipartisanship in the air?

Also casting a shadow over some in the chamber - polling showing One Nation’s primary vote has pulled ahead of the Coalition for the first time.

Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong break it all down on Politics Now.

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Why are there more women in the Senate than in the House of Representatives? Is it just convention stopping Senators from being major party leaders? 

With a weakened Opposition, are the usual mechanisms to hold government to account working? And is the Albanese Government still "gun shy" when it comes to considering negative gearing or capital gains reform?

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly get stuck into all of your curly questions for this special summer episode of The Party Room.Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.

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It's been a big week in Australian politics, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalling parliament early to deal with hate speech and gun buyback legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack and the surprise announcement that US Ambassador Kevin Rudd is stepping down from the role a year earlier than expected.

But while the Opposition has been calling for the parliament to be recalled since the horrific events on the 14th of December, they've now claimed the legislation has been rushed, with Opposition leader Sussan Ley signalling the Liberals won't back 'unsalvageable' hate crime and gun control reforms. So, does that put the Greens in the frame?

And a month after the social media ban for under 16s began, there's new data from the social media companies about how many under 16s have been removed from their platforms.Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong are joined by Charles Croucher on The Party Room.

• Guest: Charles Croucher, 9News Political Editor

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Kerrynne Liddle represents a lot of firsts.

The Arrernte woman is the first indigenous Senator for South Australia, the first indigenous woman to win a parliamentary seat in the state, and may be one of the first (or certainly one of only a few) federal parliamentarians to have previously worked as a jillaroo.

It’s been a turbulent year for the Liberal party following its punishing election loss in May 2025 - so how does someone like the Senator for South Australia navigate through that noise? And with experience in journalism, tourism, leadership roles with Housing Trusts and universities, why did she end up choosing a political life?

In this special Politics Now: The Interview summer series, recorded in the final parliamentary sitting week of 2025, Patricia Karvelas sits down with movers and shakers across the Australian political sphere to unpack the person behind the politics.

In this episode Patricia Karvelas is joined by Kerrynne Liddle to discuss her unusual pathway into politics, the wide-reaching influence of her family, and why she stands by her No vote on the Voice.

Production note: This episode was recorded before the Bondi attack on December 14th.

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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

In a surprise move,  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the US Ambassador Kevin Rudd will step down from the role at the end of March - a year earlier than expected.

Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Ambassador Rudd's work helping further the AUKUS pact, securing Julian Assange's release in 2024 and building relationships across both sides of politics in the US.

It comes as the government announces a national day of mourning for the Bondi victims on January 22nd - and just a day after the prime minister recalled parliament early, with MPs to return to Canberra next week to work through legislation on hate speech and gun buy backs in the wake of the terrorist attack.

Patricia Karvelas breaks it all down on this Politics Now emergency episode.

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