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.

Got a burning question?

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