Politics Now

The Reform Roundtable is getting underway from Tuesday, meaning we're about to find out exactly what the government plans to do with its super-sized majority. 

Productivity is the word of the week, dominating the lead-up to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Economic Reform Roundtable. 

Even the RBA’s rate cut - which had the Treasurer metaphorically dancing in the aisles - was quickly overshadowed by a warning from the RBA Governor: Australia’s productivity is falling faster than forecast. It’s shaping up as a summit with big stakes - and behind the scenes, there’s been a quiet tug of war over who owns it. Is this Anthony Albanese's policy agenda, or Jim Chalmers’ political stage?

All of that comes off the back of an historic announcement from the Prime Minister to begin the week - Australia will formally recognise Palestinian statehood, triggering diplomatic ripples at home and abroad.

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Melissa Clarke, Radio National Breakfast political correspondent on The Party Room.

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

Are you keen for a four-day work week to become the new normal?

That’s the pitch from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, who want it firmly on the table at next week’s National Economic Reform Roundtable.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the Treasurer are at pains to stress they’re perfectly aligned on the summit’s goals - but are they really seeing eye to eye?

Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein 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]

What a difference a month makes.

Those with mortgages around the country got the change they were hoping for this afternoon, with the RBA board "unanimously" voting to cut the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 3.60 per cent. It’s an independent decision - but will Labor be counting it as a political win?

Meanwhile, reaction continues to roll in from across the globe and here at home after Australia’s historic move to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Patricia Karvelas and Brett Worthington 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 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is “delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza". 

Australia will join allies the United Kingdom, Canada and France in recognising the state of Palestine. The announcement comes following mounting public pressure for the government to take action on the conflict in the region. 

But in answering a question of recognition, new ones are formed. What tangible impact will recognising statehood have - and what more can, and should, Australia do?

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]

They’re some of the biggest, best-resourced, and tech savvy companies in the world. But apparently Google and Apple can’t say how many complaints they receive about child sexual abuse on their platforms. 

A massive crowd braved Sydney’s pouring rain to cross the Harbour Bridge on Sunday. The message was clear, loud, and politically unmissable. By Monday morning, MPs from both major parties were forced to respond - but will increased public pressure lead to action?

Meanwhile, the jostling has begun ahead of Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Economic Reform Roundtable, now less than two weeks away. What started as a narrow productivity summit has grown… or has it narrowed into something else entirely?

Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Paul Sakkal, Chief Political Correspondent, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald 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]

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has a message for working Australians: “treat AI as an enabler, not an enemy”.His comments come following a Productivity Commission report cautioning against heavy-handedness on regulating AI in the workplace - but will lay-off fears from unions win public sentiment on the right way forward?It all comes as submissions continue to roll in for what the focus should be for the Treasurer's National Economic Reform Roundtable, now just a fortnight away. 

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 Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the government understands the "urgency" behind the global push to recognise a Palestinian state, with there being "a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise" due to the conflict in the region.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says he's “in the business of stopping hatred from being imported to Australia," blocking dozens of visas from entering the country to "protect social cohesion". Are we watching an organised effort from Labor to gain permission to put Australia's foot on the accelerator in responding to the conflict?And Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the Australian navy’s new $10 billion fleet of warships. More money for defence - but is it a good deal?

Patricia Karvelas and Brett Worthington 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]

Productivity is shaping up to be the word of the month for the federal government. With the big economic reform roundtable fast approaching, is it time for Labor to show some progress and make a move on changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax reform?

And two years after the failure of the Voice referendum, the Prime Minister has a new plan for First Nations Australians. But what was left off the agenda at Garma?

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]