Politics Now

The Albanese Government is preparing to set Australia's next climate goal: the 2035 emissions reduction target, as required under the Paris agreement.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has demoted prominent Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the backbench, after a turbulent week of factional infighting. But the Senator has made it clear she "won't be silenced" on what she calls mass immigration.

So, as the factional battlelines are drawn what does this mean for Sussan Ley's authority?

Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Anna Henderson, SBS News Chief Political Correspondent to analyse how the saga has snowballed in the last week and where it leaves a deeply divided Liberal partyroom.

And Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been rubbing shoulders with world leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum, but is Labor trying to have it have it both ways when it comes to addressing climate change concerns in the Pacific?

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

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Israel's strike in Qatar as a "violation" of the country's sovereignty, while US President Donald Trump says he's "not thrilled" by the situation. So, does the move jettison the prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza?

And the Prime Minister rubs shoulders with world leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum, how is Australia countering the rising influence of China in the region?

Patricia Karvelas 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]

The Prime Minister has now added his voice to growing calls for Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to apologise for her remarks about Indian migrants.

Shadow Attorney General Julian Leeser has apologised to the Indian Australian community for her remarks, while the Senator has doubled down, urging the Opposition leader to force her colleague Alex Hawke to apologise for the way he raised the matter with her. So, has the issue become a "proxy war" for the future of the party?

It comes as the Prime Minister jets off to the Pacific Island Forum, but in a diplomatic blow a landmark security pact with Vanuatu has been put on ice. So, as Labor tries to counter the rise of China in the region, has diplomacy in the Pacific simply become "transactional"?

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]

Tensions are threatening to boil over in the Liberal party in the wake of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s comments about Indian migration.

The NT Senator has now accused her colleague and factional powerbroker Alex Hawke of  “cowardly and inappropriate” behaviour and threatening remarks over the matter. While Alex Hawke has taken to the media to hit back, calling on the Senator to apologise for her damaging remarks.

So, as the civil war inside the Liberal party continues to rage, what does it mean for Sussan Ley's authority and her leadership?

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

READ PK'S LATEST ARTICLE HERE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/jacinta-napijinpa-price-liberals-immigration-sussan-ley/105729194 READ JACOB'S LATEST ARTICLE HERE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-06/superannuation-freedom-of-information-jim-chalmers-jacinta-price/105720438

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

Dan Andrews had a front row seat to China flexing its military might this week.

The government has quietly signed a $408 million (and then some) deal with Nauru to house members of the so-called NZYQ cohort.

The deal was only made public via an end-of-week departmental upload, and the full cost could reach $2.5 billion. Why the silence, and what does it say about the politics of migration and dissent inside Labor right now?

Meanwhile, immigration has dominated the national conversation this week, with protests on the streets and language from the government and Opposition under scrutiny. Plus, aged care, and some controversial photo ops in China - there’s been plenty more in the background of this sitting week.

Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Phil Coorey, political editor for The Australian Financial Review to unpack a high-stakes week in federal politics on The Party Room.

Got a burning question?

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

The government is under increasing pressure to explain changes to Freedom of information laws, which could make it harder for journalists and members of the public to gain access to documents. 

Labor says the current system is outdated and clogged with trivial requests, but critics warn the changes will come at the cost of transparency. 

And the issue of migration is still dominating discussion in Canberra as fallout from the weekend's protests continue.

Patricia Karvelas and DAVID SPEERS break it all down on Politics Now.

Got a burning question?

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

The government is facing increased criticism over the delays to the introduction of its new aged care reforms. It comes as Department of Health data reveals that 5000 Australians died in the last financial year while waiting for a home care package. 

There are also questions being raised about Labor's plans to change Freedom of Information laws to make it harder to access government data. 

And the fall out from the weekend's anti-immigration protests continue.

Patricia Karvelas and RAFAEL EPSTEIN break it all down on Politics Now.

Anti-immigration rallies took place over the weekend with known neo-Nazis speaking at events in Melbourne and Sydney. The Albanese government issued a statement saying that  “All Australians, no matter their heritage, have the right to feel safe and welcome in our community” and condemned the march as “hateful”. But is this enough?

The government also made a $400 million deal to deport 280 non citizens to Nauru whose visas to Australia were refused on character grounds....and there wasn't a peep out of the Labor backbench. Why is there such a lack of debate within Labor's new ranks?

Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber 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]