New Politics: Australian Politics, News, Analysis & Commentary

The Albanese government frequently presents Australia as a defender of international law, human rights and the rules-based international order, but does that commitment extend to all nations equally? This week, we examine serious allegations of sexual violence, physical abuse and rape made by Australian citizens detained by Israeli forces following the illegal interception of the Sumud Flotilla, with the acts now referred to the International Criminal Court. As scrutiny grows over Australia's response to Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon, we explore questions of accountability, consistency, international law, human rights, the ICC, Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong and whether Australia's foreign policy principles are being applied equally – or only when politically convenient. #auspolSubscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

AUKUS was sold as a transformational defence agreement that would deliver a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and strengthen Australia's security for decades to come. Nearly five years later, the promised new submarines have become second-hand Virginia-class vessels from the United States, raising fresh questions about a program expected to cost up to $368 billion. As former Labor minister Peter Garrett launches an independent review of AUKUS, we examine the escalating costs, shifting promises, lack of parliamentary scrutiny, growing dependence on the United States and Britain, and whether Australia is sacrificing sovereignty and assuming enormous financial risk for a defence strategy that remains increasingly uncertain.#AUKUS #Auspol #DefencePolicy #NuclearSubmarines #NationalSecurity #NewPoliticsPodcastSubscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au   Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The resignation of NACC commissioner Paul Brereton has reignited debate about whether Australia’s federal anti-corruption watchdog is capable of delivering the accountability it promised. Created by the Albanese government in response to scandals including Robodebt, sports rorts and growing distrust in politics, the NACC was meant to restore integrity to public life. Nearly three years later, it has become a secretive, risk-averse institution that has avoided major political investigations while securing only a handful of lower-level convictions. We examine Brereton’s controversial tenure, the structural limitations built into the NACC, and whether Australia’s anti-corruption framework is too weak to confront political power, influence and government misconduct.Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The teal independents transformed Australian politics by offering moderate urban voters an alternative to the Liberal Party’s culture-war politics under Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton, combining climate action, integrity and economic conservatism outside the traditional party system. But as discussion grows about forming a formal “Teal Party of Australia”, we examine whether the movement could lose the very independent appeal that made it successful. We also explore the collapse of traditional party loyalties, the rise of outsider movements like One Nation, growing voter dissatisfaction with both Labor and Liberal, and how housing affordability, cost-of-living pressures and economic insecurity are reshaping the future of Australian politics.Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au  Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The debate surrounding Australia’s 2026 Budget has rapidly evolved into a broader political battle over housing affordability, negative gearing, wealth inequality and the future direction of the Australian economy. In this episode, we examine how Labor’s housing reforms have triggered an aggressive backlash from the Liberal Party, conservative media and vested property interests, with warnings about attacks on “aspiration”, investment and wealth creation increasingly crashing into the reality facing millennials and Gen Z Australians locked out of home ownership. We explore whether the media-driven outrage over the Albanese government’s reforms reflects genuine public concern or a deeper attempt to protect a decades-old economic model built on property speculation, tax concessions and rising inequality, and ask whether Australia’s political and economic consensus is beginning to unravel. #AUSPOLSubscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au   Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Australia’s Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is becoming a major political flashpoint over free speech, Israel and Palestine, civil liberties and political dissent. We examine how accusations of antisemitism are increasingly being linked to criticism of Israel, Zionism and support for Palestinian rights, the controversy surrounding the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and whether Australia is moving toward tighter limits on political debate and protest. As tensions over Gaza continue to influence public discourse, the debate is raising larger questions about democracy, social cohesion, racism, censorship and who gets heard in Australian politics. #AUSPOL #Antisemitism #Palestine #Israel  Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.auSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The shock result in the Farrer byelection has exposed a deep crisis inside Australian conservatism, with One Nation winning its first ever federal lower-house seat as the Liberal Party’s vote collapsed from 43 per cent to just 12 per cent in barely a year. We examine the growing backlash against the Liberal and National parties across regional Australia, the long-term rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation, and how housing stress, stagnant wages, culture wars and political disillusionment are reshaping Australian politics. As conservative voters abandon the Coalition in growing numbers, we discuss whether the biggest threat to the Liberal Party now comes not from Labor, but from the forces emerging inside its own fractured political base. #AUSPOLSubscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.auLabor’s 2026 federal Budget has sparked fierce backlash from conservative commentators, with critics labelling it everything from a “Whitlam budget” to “Marxism” after modest reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax. We examine Australia’s worsening housing affordability crisis, the political legacy of the 2019 election scare campaign, and why Labor remains caught between addressing inequality and preserving the neoliberal economic system that has dominated Australian politics for decades. Plus, we unpack the contradictions in the Budget itself – including limited cost-of-living relief, NDIS cuts, defence spending, mining profits, corporate tax concessions, and the Liberal Party’s response led by Angus Taylor – as Australia’s political debate shifts in ways the conservative establishment increasingly struggles to contain. #AUSPOL #Budget2026www.newpolitics.com.auSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au In this episode, we examine the interim findings of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion following the Bondi Beach attacks, exploring major questions surrounding ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and intelligence failures in Australia. We discuss allegations that the Bondi attackers had been monitored by ASIO since 2019, the parallels with the 2014 Lindt Café siege, and growing concerns about national security secrecy, surveillance powers, democratic accountability and civil liberties. We also analyse whether the Royal Commission’s focus on antisemitism and social cohesion risks shifting attention away from deeper institutional failures, while examining the broader debate around protest rights, free speech, pro-Palestine activism and the balance between security and democracy in Australian politics. #AUSPOL   www.newpolitics.com.auSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au In this episode, we examine the latest incident involving Donald Trump, framed as an assassination attempt but unfolding in an era of “fake news”, disinformation and collapsing public trust, where conspiracy theories and official narratives blur into one. We explore how Trump’s crisis-driven political strategy weaponises chaos, using events to attack Democrats and justify controversial policies, including a $400 million White House ballroom project raising concerns about surveillance and executive power, while placing this within the broader context of aggressive US foreign policy. We also analyse the global fallout, from rising tensions within NATO to growing uncertainty around AUKUS, highlighted by the high-stakes White House visit of King Charles III. As the United States approaches key midterm elections, we ask whether constant political instability, voter fatigue and the normalisation of chaos will push American democracy toward a breaking point. #AUSPOL  www.newpolitics.com.auSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au   This week, we discuss the growing Anzac Day culture war in Australia, from booing at Dawn Services and Welcome to Country ceremonies to the rising influence of right-wing groups like Advance Australia and Fight for Australia, and ask how a solemn commemoration of the 8,700 Australians who died at Gallipoli has been reshaped into a platform for right-wing political messaging, identity politics and nationalist rhetoric. We examine the role of Gina Rinehart and the impact of media power, political donations and organisations such as the Institute of Public Affairs, the Liberal Party and One Nation in redefining Anzac Day, while contrasting this with the working-class origins of the original Anzacs and the often-overlooked service of more than 1,300 Indigenous Australians in World War I. As Anzac Day becomes increasingly politicised and resistant to criticism, we explore whether it can remain a respectful national day of remembrance or if it has been captured by ideological interests shaping Australia’s political and cultural debate.  #AUSPOL www.newpolitics.com.au  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.‘No More Heroes’, Asgeir (The Stranglers).

Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.auToday on the New Politics podcast, we examine Australia’s stalled debate over a 25% gas export tax and why major tax reform continues to be blocked despite strong economic evidence and growing public support, with many experts warning the nation is getting a poor return on its natural resources. A gas export tax could raise around $20 billion a year to fund health, education, the NDIS, housing and essential public services, yet remains politically sidelined due to the influence of the gas lobby and entrenched vested interests. We explore the ongoing failure to deliver structural reform, including hesitation around negative gearing, and assess whether the Albanese government has the political will to act ahead of the federal Budget, or if Australia will once again miss its chance to secure a fairer tax system and ensure Australians benefit from their own resources. #AUSPOLwww.newpolitics.com.auSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Subscribe to New Politics for weekly briefings and full analysis: www.newpolitics.com.au This week on the New Politics podcast, we examine Australia’s escalating crackdown on protest rights after arrests in Brisbane over the phrase “from the river to the sea,” raising serious concerns about free speech, anti-protest laws, and democratic freedoms. We explore how legislation in Queensland and New South Wales is targeting pro-Palestine activism, the role of political figures like David Crisafulli and Chris Minns, and why unconstitutional laws are being struck down by the courts. We also connect these issues to rising defence spending, the $368 billion AUKUS deal, cuts to the NDIS, and Australia’s deepening alignment with US foreign policy, highlighting growing questions about sovereignty, accountability, and national priorities. www.newpolitics.com.au#AUSPOLSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Populism in Australian politics is usually framed as a right-wing force led by figures like Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce, but this episode explores the potential of left-wing populism and the role of the Australian Greens. We unpack populism as a political strategy used across the spectrum – from Bernie Sanders to Hugo Chávez – and examine the divide between right-wing identity politics and left-wing economic reform focused on inequality, housing affordability, wages and corporate power. As conservative voices dominate mainstream media, we ask why progressive ideas remain marginalised despite broad public support, and whether the Greens’ shift under Max Chandler-Mather signals a more assertive, pro-worker strategy ahead of the next federal election. #AUSPOLwww.newpolitics.com.auSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘A Whisper’, Coldplay.‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Australia’s immigration debate is entering dangerous territory, with the Coalition’s proposed “values-based” migration system – featuring social media surveillance and ideological vetting – highlighting a shift towards right-wing populism, culture wars and the Trumpification of Australian politics.Angus Taylor and the Liberal Party are moving away from economic management and towards nationalism and divisive immigration rhetoric, despite these strategies being rejected at the 2025 federal election, and this mirrors global conservative trends from Donald Trump in the US to Reform UK and Viktor Orbán in Hungary. We explore the risks to civil liberties, freedom of speech and political bias, question who defines “Australian values” in a multicultural society, and look at the targeting of Muslim communities, pro-Palestinian voices and non-European migrants.With analysis of recent election results, including the South Australian election, we assess whether attempts to outflank One Nation will only legitimise fringe politics and split the conservative vote, arguing that voters are increasingly rejecting fear-driven narratives in favour of real economic and social solutions. #AUSPOLwww.newpolitics.com.auSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.‘Yesterday’s Gone’, Beth Orton & William Orbit.

The arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith on five counts of alleged war crimes has reignited a fierce debate in Australian politics over military accountability, the rule of law and the legacy of the Afghanistan war. We look at the political, legal and cultural fallout, as reactions from Pauline Hanson, Gina Rinehart and Kerry Stokes expose deep divisions in how Australia understands war, justice and national identity. With millions spent on his defence and a media narrative shaped by nationalism and the Anzac legend, we examine whether the country is willing to confront allegations of civilian murders, the case of whistleblower David McBride and the broader questions around transparency, accountability and whether exposing wrongdoing is being punished more harshly than the alleged crimes themselves. www.newpolitics.com.au #AUSPOL Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘War’, Frankie Goes To Hollywood.‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

A fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran has paused one of the most dangerous conflicts of 2026, but beneath the headlines lies a deeper question: who profits from war? In this episode, we examine the economics of war, the military-industrial complex and how defence contractors, energy companies and investors benefit from instability across West Asia, with surging share prices revealing conflict as a lucrative business model. We follow the money from military expos in Australia to lobbying in Washington, explore Donald Trump’s political influence, and look at Australia’s energy security crisis, oil supply scramble and delayed transition to renewables – connecting war, markets and political power in a system that increasingly rewards chaos.www.newpolitics.com.au#AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.‘Satellite Anthem Icarus’, Boards Of Canada.

The first cracks in the façade of neoliberalism are emerging in Australian politics, as Andrew Hastie breaks ranks to criticise an economic model driving inequality, stagnant wages, and Australia’s worsening housing crisis. In this episode, we examine why this rare intervention from within the Liberal Party matters, how it reflects growing public frustration with free-market economics, and why Angus Taylor moved quickly to shut down the debate – highlighting the deep entrenchment of neoliberal policy across both major parties, including Labor.We explore the broader implications for economic reform, Australia’s alliance with the United States, and criticism of Donald Trump, alongside shifting global power dynamics from John Curtin to the rise of China and blocs like BRICS. As Australia faces declining manufacturing and structural inequality, this episode asks whether neoliberalism is finally unravelling and what it means for Australia’s economic future, political leadership, and role in a changing global order.   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

As tensions escalate across the Middle East and Western Asia, rising petrol prices, economic uncertainty and growing political pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are hitting Australia, with this episode looking at how the war against Iran, US foreign policy and shifting global alliances are reshaping the geopolitical landscape and Australia’s economic future, energy costs and political independence.We also examine how Albanese’s support for US military action has left him politically exposed as fuel prices surge and cost-of-living pressures intensify, forcing a $2.6 billion fuel excise cut, while deeper questions emerge about Australia’s sovereignty, its alliance with the United States and a renewed “deputy sheriff” mindset.The episode also explores the impact of Israel–Palestine debate restrictions, free speech concerns, censorship, the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and the role of the media, including the National Press Club, asking whether Australia is maintaining an independent path or drifting towards a US-style political identity.   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine whether the political fragmentation that has transformed Australia’s right could eventually spread to the progressive centre-left, and whether the Australian Democrats could play a role in that shift. David Lewis speaks with Australian Democrats President Leonie Green about the party’s push to return to Parliament, its strategy for the Victorian election and the Senate, and the structural barriers facing minor parties in Australian politics. We also explore the dominance of Labor, the decline of the Coalition, the rise of independents and One Nation, and the continuing debate over whether there is room for a pragmatic centrist party focused on accountability, electoral reform, and keeping the bastards honest in a volatile new era of Australian democracy. #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

The South Australian election has reshaped Australian politics – but not in the way the mainstream media suggests. In this episode, we break down Labor’s landslide victory under Premier Peter Malinauskas, the collapse of the Liberal Party, and the widely overstated rise of One Nation, which secured 22% of the primary vote but only one lower house seat.We examine how Australia’s preferential voting system works, why minor parties like One Nation and the Australian Greens struggle to convert votes into seats, and whether electoral reform or proportional representation could deliver a more representative democracy.We also analyse the media’s role in amplifying right-wing populism, the shifting dynamics within the conservative vote, and what these results mean for the future of Australian politics, including Labor’s dominance, the potential for political realignment, and the growing fragmentation of the party system.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Australia is facing a growing crisis of trust as global conflict, economic pressure and political failure collide, with the war in Iran driving inflation, influencing interest rates and exposing how distant decision-making is from everyday Australians. In this episode, we examine the decline of trust in Australian politics, from the failures of the Liberal Party to a cautious and reactive Labor government, alongside concerns about the effectiveness of institutions like the National Anti-Corruption Commission. We also explore rising media distrust, increasing censorship laws, and the secrecy surrounding the Royal Commission into antisemitism, including ASIO’s role and the use of closed-door evidence. As transparency declines and accountability weakens, public cynicism continues to grow, raising urgent questions about democracy, political leadership, media integrity and whether trust in Australia can be rebuilt.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

A global oil shock is shaking the world economy – caused by the US and Israel – and Australia is already feeling the impact, with petrol prices pushing towards $3 per litre, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and growing fears of a recession. In this episode, we examine how US and Israel strikes on Iran have disrupted global supply chains, destabilised energy markets, and exposed Australia’s economic vulnerability.We connect the chaos of military strategy with Donald Trump’s “America First” trade policies, showing how geopolitical instability is driving oil price volatility and economic uncertainty. There’s also the unintended consequences for global technology supply chains, AI development, and Taiwan’s semiconductor production, alongside a shift away from US-led co-ordination as countries secure their own energy deals.Australia is now on the front line of a global crisis it didn’t create, but what does this all mean for our economic future, including energy policy, renewable transition, and structural reform?   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Australian politics is going through a new era of political realignment as the centre-right fragments and the traditional two-party system begins to fall apart. In this episode, we examine the leadership change in the National Party, with Matt Canavan replacing David Littleproud, the escalating rivalry with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, and the possible return of Clive Palmer, all of which could further split the conservative vote across regional and outer-suburban Australia. As the Liberal–National Coalition faces growing competition from multiple right-wing parties, we also look at whether the Australian Greens could benefit from any decline in support for the Albanese government, particularly amid economic pressures, housing affordability issues and foreign policy tensions. If current polling trends shift even slightly, Australia could see several parties clustered around similar levels of support, complicating preference flows and coalition politics. The result could be the most unpredictable period in Australian federal politics in decades, raising fundamental questions about the future of the Coalition, the stability of the party system, and what the next Australian federal election could mean for the country’s political landscape.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

What happens when a global superpower launches a military operation intended to demonstrate dominance but instead reveals the limits of its power? In this episode, we examine the escalating US–Iran conflict, the shifting balance of power in the Middle East, and the growing risk that Australia could be drawn into another US-led war.As tensions rise following US strikes on Iran, the episode explores the weakening of the post-World War II order, the challenge posed by emerging powers such as China, Russia and the BRICS bloc, and the influence of ideology in American foreign policy.We also analyse Australia’s expanding defence integration with the United States through AUKUS, the deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel to the region, and the deeper question confronting Canberra: does Australia truly have strategic independence, or is it permanently tied to Washington’s global conflicts?   #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Israel and the United States have launched another attack on Iran, dramatically escalating tensions across the Middle East and raising serious questions about international law, global stability and the credibility of the so-called rules-based international order. In this episode, we examine the latest developments in the Israel–Iran conflict, including the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel and US military bases across Western Asia.   We also analyse the legal and political implications of the attack, Australia’s response under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and the broader strategic context – from the legacy of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and Donald Trump’s “peace through war” rhetoric to ongoing calls for regime change in Tehran.   We discuss why military analysts consider Iran one of the most difficult countries in the world to invade, and what Australia’s alliance with the United States and Israel means as the Middle East crisis deepens.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” and what it means for Gaza, Palestine, Israel and the future of international law. Promoted as a reconstruction and peacekeeping plan after the devastation of Gaza since October 2023, the initiative raises serious questions about privatised rebuilding, geopolitical power, and the exclusion of Palestinian self-determination. Drawing parallels with the Iraq War and the terrible legacy of Tony Blair, we explore concerns about corruption, global governance, Australia’s foreign policy, and whether this is truly peace in the Middle East – or a new model of war and reconstruction politics.   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.‘Dayvan Cowboy’, Boards Of Canada.

In this episode, we examine the new Shadow Cabinet and ask whether the Liberal Party’s latest leadership change represents genuine renewal or simply a rebranding of the same conservative messaging that led to heavy defeats in the 2022 and 2025 federal elections. Promising lower taxes, smaller government and tougher immigration settings, Taylor’s rhetoric echoes the Dutton and Morrison era, raising questions about whether the Coalition has learned from its electoral collapse. We look at the early stumbles, the return of culture-war politics, and looming battles over immigration, negative gearing, capital gains tax and housing affordability – and consider whether Labor will resist a rightward shift in Australian federal politics or continue playing it safe while the agenda is set by its opponents. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Today on New Politics, we explore the escalating crisis inside the Liberal Party following the leadership elevation of Angus Taylor and ask whether the Coalition can recover from its devastating 2025 federal election defeat. With internal splits over gun control after the Bondi attacks, the breakdown between the Liberals and Nationals, mass shadow ministry resignations under Sussan Ley, and Barnaby Joyce’s defection to One Nation, Australia’s conservative movement is facing its most serious instability in decades. As Pauline Hanson’s One Nation surges in the opinion polls and the Liberals slump to historic lows, we examine whether this is a repeat of the 1990s leadership turmoil or something far more structural. We also analyse the rise of right-wing populism, the influence of Gina Rinehart, and what this fragmentation means for the Albanese Labor government and the future of Australian federal politics. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

This today’s episode of the New Politics podcast, we explore the political firestorm surrounding Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Sydney and why it became a nationwide flashpoint over Gaza, free speech, protest rights and Australia’s foreign policy. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of “social cohesion”, tens of thousands protested in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and more than 30 cities, opposing Australia’s bipartisan support for Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and escalating violence in the West Bank. We examine allegations of war crimes, apartheid and genocide raised by international organisations, the rapid expansion of hate speech laws – including proposed bans on phrases such as “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” – and concerns about political influence, lobbying, defence ties and democratic rights in Australia. Is criticism of Israel and Zionism being conflated with antisemitism? And has Australia compromised its commitment to human rights and free expression in pursuit of alliance politics?   #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine Australia’s newly passed anti-hate speech laws and ask when protecting communities crosses the line into criminalising dissent. Rushed through parliament after the Bondi terror attack, the legislation introduces the vague concept of “psychological harm”, raising serious concerns about free speech, the right to protest and the ability to criticise foreign governments.Will accusing the Israeli government of genocide, war crimes or apartheid against Palestinians now be deemed unlawful if offence is claimed? And what this means for journalists, activists, podcasters and ordinary citizens?We also look at the political pressure behind the laws, including lobbying around the IHRA definition of antisemitism, selective enforcement against pro-Palestine protests, the cancellation of cultural events such as the Adelaide Writers’ Festival, and growing fears that subjective feelings are being elevated over democratic rights as Australia moves toward policing dissent rather than defending it. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this episode, we examine growing global concern over the United States as political instability and erratic leadership under President Donald Trump increasingly undermine the post-1945 international order. From the future of the United Nations, NATO, the IMF and the World Trade Organisation, to flashpoints such as the removal of Venezuela’s president and threats to seize Greenland, we ask whether the world is being forced to imagine a geopolitical future without reliable US leadership. Placing Trump’s second term within a broader pattern of populist strongman politics, and reflecting on Mark Carney’s warning at Davos, the episode argues that the greatest threat to America’s power may now be internal – and the consequences are global. #AUSPOL  Support New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this long-read episode, we revisit Australia’s anti-Semitism report from July 2025 and the growing politics of fear surrounding protest, free speech, and criticisms of Israel. As new federal anti-hate and anti-Semitism laws are rushed through parliament following the Bondi attacks and high-profile incidents in Melbourne, this episode asks whether these measures are genuinely about protecting communities or about silencing dissent. We explore the Segal report, the proposed adoption of the IHRA definition, and the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, drawing on recent Federal Court rulings to challenge media narratives, selective outrage, and the expansion of police powers. With Gaza at the centre of global protest over war crimes and genocide, this episode argues that criminalising political speech, protest, and solidarity with Palestinians undermines democracy itself – because opposing apartheid, state violence, and genocide is not hate, but an act of political conscience. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpolitics Substack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Donald Trump’s second presidency has exposed the United States’ rapid slide into authoritarianism, with chaos, corruption and unchecked executive power now defining American politics. In this long-read episode, we examine how Trump’s return to the White House has accelerated democratic collapse, normalised fascistic policies and reshaped global power – and what this means for Australia. As the US declines under political instability and imperial overreach, and China rises in the Indo–Pacific, we ask whether Australia should remain locked into ANZUS and AUKUS or finally pursue an independent foreign policy aligned with its region and national interests. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

In this holiday episode, we cut through the noise surrounding calls for a Royal Commission into the Bondi attack and ask whether the process is truly about accountability or has become a vehicle for political pressure. With an independent review already underway, led by respected former diplomat Dennis Richardson and examining the actions of ASIO and the Australian Federal Police, we question whether a Royal Commission is necessary or risks becoming a highly politicised inquiry with unclear objectives. We explore how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been placed in an impossible position – where any decision is framed as weakness – particularly given his past support for Palestine and his government’s recognition of the Palestinian state, while noting that past tragedies such as Port Arthur and the Lindt Café siege, along with ongoing crises like domestic violence against women and media ownership in Australia, have never prompted Royal Commissions. The episode also examines the growing influence of pro-Israel and Zionist lobby groups, the use of antisemitism accusations to shut down debate, and the broader implications for free speech, democratic accountability, and Australian politics. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

After its emphatic 2025 election victory, the Albanese Labor government entered the year with overwhelming parliamentary dominance and a clear mandate to govern boldly. On paper, it was a government with every advantage imaginable. Yet despite this strength, Labor has continued to govern cautiously – reluctant to take risks, overly attached to bipartisanship with a fractured Coalition, and hesitant to translate power into decisive reform. In this episode, we examine the growing gap between authority and action, and the political myth that a government’s “second year” automatically delivers bold change. Drawing on recent history and Labor’s own record so far, we ask whether 2026 will finally be the year of decisive reform – or whether Labor is waiting for a big bang that may never come. #AUSPOL The New Politics series of long-read essays, from our new publication, The Monday Essays.Support New Politics:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

This long-read audio essay examines the vilification of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the Bondi Beach memorial, and how national mourning was turned into a partisan spectacle. It explores how antisemitism, public safety and the Israel–Palestine debate have been politicised by the Israel lobby, conservative media and the right, trapping the Labor government in an impossible bind. Challenging the “done nothing” claim, the episode outlines the extensive security, legal and education measures delivered since October 2023, and argues that Albanese’s weakness was not indifference, but caution – appeasement in a moral crisis driven by outrage and absolutism. #AUSPOL  Support New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

2025 was the year the comforting myths finally fell away. In this long-read essay, we trace how democratic institutions – globally and in Australia – proved far more fragile than many assumed, as misinformation, authoritarian politics and media failure reshaped the political landscape. From Trump’s return and Elon Musk’s political interference, to the catastrophic war on Gaza and Australia’s own shallow election campaign, the year exposed a deep crisis of leadership, media courage and moral clarity. Yet amid the disillusionment, there are faint but real signs of renewal: growing scepticism of mainstream media, the rise of independent voices, and a questioning of Australia’s place in a changing world. This long-read episode asks a simple but urgent question: at the crossroads revealed in 2025, will Australia choose to continue to drift, or seek a democratic renewal? #AUSPOLSupport New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Australia enters 2026 facing deep strategic uncertainty: AUKUS costs have blown out to $1.3 billion with little clarity about what Australia is actually buying, while fear-driven national-security politics – from Richard Marles’ exaggerated warnings about a Chinese “flotilla” to unconstitutional anti-protest laws in NSW and creeping police-state powers in Victoria – continue to erode democratic accountability. As governments amplify threats, expand surveillance and silence dissent, the mainstream media has drifted further into PR and censorship, from the National Press Club cancelling Chris Hedges to the Sydney Morning Herald publishing misleading reporting used to attack Anthony Albanese.   And despite its historic 2025 landslide, Labor still governs cautiously, clinging to bipartisanship, avoiding bold reforms on climate, housing and integrity, and remaining wary of collaboration with the Greens even where their agendas align. With Australia bound tightly to US security interests, distracted by culture wars and hollow media coverage, and hesitant to use its political dominance for meaningful change, the question heading into 2026 is whether the country can shift from fear and dependency towards genuine strategic independence and confident, democratic governance. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing:‘Let Me Entertain You’, Robbie Williams.‘Swing For The Crime’, Ed Kuepper.‘Satellite Anthem Icarus’, Boards of Canada.‘Off The Grid’, Beastie Boys.‘Yesterday’s Gone’, Beth Orton & William Orbit.

As the United States slides into institutional decay under Donald Trump’s return to the White House – with sweeping tariffs on global trade, mass deportations, rolled-back civil rights and an increasingly authoritarian style – Australia has failed to confront the strategic danger of relying on an erratic superpower. Instead of using this moment to diversify towards Asia, Europe and the Global South, Canberra is fixated on whether Anthony Albanese could secure a photo-op in the Oval Office, while signing critical-minerals deals and celebrating AUKUS announcements that overwhelmingly benefit the US. With Pine Gap’s secret intelligence role, billions of dollars in rare-earth exports and deep defence integration, Australia’s supposed “sovereign choices” look increasingly constrained. The deeper question – how Australia protects its national interest when US democracy is eroding – was never asked, leaving the country more dependent than ever and no closer to a genuinely independent foreign policy. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

In our continuing review of the 2025 year in Australian federal politics, we discuss the federal election held in May, analysing one of the worst campaigns by a major political party in modern history and the resulting collapse of the Liberal Party, including the loss of Peter Dutton’s seat. We examine how Anthony Albanese’s Labor government ran a cautious but disciplined campaign built on stability and competence, while the Coalition relied on fear, culture-war outrage and an implausible nuclear energy policy that drove its primary vote and seat count to historic lows, leaving the party stranded in political wilderness.We also look at Australia’s weak and deliberate silence on the genocide in Gaza during the campaign, Labor’s continued supply of military components to Israel, its refusal to impose sanctions, and the abandonment of core party principles under lobby pressure – and then go on to expose the growing influence of the Israel lobby across politics, media, universities and cultural institutions, and what this means for free speech, academic freedom, journalism and democratic accountability in Australia. #AUSPOLSupport New Politics, just $5 per month.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

To commence our review of the 2025 year in Australian federal politics, this bonus episode examines the continuing culture wars, the Australia Day and Invasion Day debate, and a federal election that dramatically reshaped the political landscape. We explore how Peter Dutton and conservative commentators attempted to weaponise “wokeness,” cancel culture and identity politics, why these tactics are increasingly ineffective, and how Victoria’s historic Treaty with First Nations people exposed the emptiness of Liberal Party scare campaigns. #AUSPOL Support New Politics, just $5 per month.   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

In the final week of Parliament, New Politics asks a blunt question about Australian federal politics: what is the Albanese Labor government actually for? This episode turns its focus to Labor’s record in office, examining stalled gambling advertising reform, public service and CSIRO job cuts, tensions with the Australian Greens, and the growing gap between election promises and policy delivery. We explore rising inflation, falling productivity, weak investment, mining superprofits, gas export contracts, and the long shadow of Howard-era economic decisions, alongside Labor’s contradictory approach to climate policy, coal and gas expansion, and slow environmental reform. From energy prices and domestic gas reservation to housing policy, HECS, the failed Voice referendum and a weakened National Anti-Corruption Commission, this episode argues that competence without reform is not enough — and asks whether a managerial Labor government risks squandering a historic opportunity for structural change.Support New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

We look at the political theatre of the right, including Pauline Hanson’s latest burqa stunt in the Senate, the rise of One Nation in the polls, and the growing battle for reactionary votes between minor parties and a hollowed-out Liberal Party. In an environment increasingly defined by provocation, stunts and nihilism, we cut through the noise to ask where Australian politics is heading.Support New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

This week, we examine how the Liberal Party has abandoned serious policy for retail politics, scare campaigns and culture-war theatrics – strategies aimed at clawing back voters drifting to One Nation but which are instead eroding the party from within. After rejecting net-zero by 2050, the Liberals have pivoted to anti-immigration rhetoric, blaming migrants for traffic congestion, housing pressures and energy prices, despite net migration returning to pre-COVID norms and mirroring the Howard era. With new Redbridge polling showing One Nation rising to 18 per cent as the LNP slips into the low-20s, the right is becoming an echo chamber of grievance politics, far-right messaging and internal chaos, highlighted by the exits of Brad Battin, Leanne Castley and Mark Speakman during the November killing season.We also unpack the escalating battle over hospital funding, as the Albanese government pushes productivity reforms before lifting the federal share to 42.5 per cent, while states warn of hospitals nearing breaking point. And with housing policy similarly gridlocked, Australia faces more buck-passing, worsening services and federal–state dysfunction unless real structural reform finally occurs.Support New Politics, just $5 per week:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

In this bonus episode, we examine the UN Security Council’s approval of a US-designed International Stabilisation Force for Gaza – effectively handing Washington, and Donald Trump as chair of the new “Board of Peace”, unprecedented power over Gaza’s future. With Palestinians excluded from the planning and conditions stacked in Israel’s favour, this plan risks entrenching occupation rather than delivering justice. With 70,000 Palestinians killed, 2 million displaced, and Gaza’s hospitals, schools and infrastructure destroyed, reconstruction cannot succeed without accountability for Israeli war crimes – yet the plan ignores this entirely.Support New Politics, just $5 per week:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

In this episode of the New Politics podcast, we look at Australia’s broken political structures and rising extremism – from the renewed debate over four-year federal terms and a constitution stuck in the 1890s, to the disturbing double standards in NSW policing after an authorised neo-Nazi rally was allowed to proceed while pro-Palestine protesters were violently suppressed, and finally the Liberal Party’s internal “killing season”, where chaos over net-zero, gender quotas and leadership instability shows a party drifting further from the electorate. We explore why constitutional reform matters, why hate-speech laws aren’t being used against white supremacists, and how the Coalition’s refusal to adapt to modern Australia – on climate, multiculturalism and democratic rights – is pushing it towards long-term electoral irrelevance.Support New Politics, just $5 per week: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

In this bonus episode of the New Politics podcast, we look at the ghost of Gough Whitlam and ask whether a visionary like Whitlam – who delivered universal healthcare, free tertiary education, multiculturalism, women’s rights and First Nations recognition – could even survive in today’s poll-driven, faction-controlled Labor Party. Fifty years after the Dismissal, Australia is still affected by the events from 1975, with Labor, Liberal and National parties offering tiny differences while the public demands real reform on housing, climate, health and education. We explore what a Whitlam government would look like in 2024 – cancelling AUKUS, recognising Palestine, expanding Medicare, rebuilding the ABC and pushing for a republic – and why the lessons learned from the Dismissal turned Labor into a cautious managerial party afraid of bold ideas. Whitlam’s legacy reminds us that government can transform lives, and that Australian politics desperately needs the ambition, imagination and courage that has been forgotten. Support New Politics, just $5 per week:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com

(00:00:00) The War on Dissent and Socialism USA (00:01:12) Beautiful, Menacing, and Obscene: Australia’s Addiction to War (00:18:18) Robodebt Reborn: The Cruelty That Never Dies (00:29:56) Treaty and Truth: A New Beginning in Victoria (00:43:07) Socialism in the City: Zohran Mamdani’s Revolution in New York We expose Australia’s growing contradictions – a nation that talks peace while funding war, promises compassion while reviving cruelty, and talks justice while fearing equality. From Sydney’s taxpayer-funded arms expo where protesters were pepper-sprayed by police, to Labor’s quiet revival of Robodebt through private debt collectors, this episode reveals how state power is being weaponised against dissent and the vulnerable. We also cover Victoria’s historic Treaty with First Nations peoples, a breakthrough in truth-telling and Reconciliation now under threat from conservative backlash, and the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York’s first Muslim and African-born mayor – a victory for conviction politics over corporate control.Support and celebrate New Politics, just $5 per week:   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.com  Song listing:   ‘Stranger In Moscow’, Tame Impala.‘Swing For The Crime’, Ed Kuepper.‘The King Is Dead’, The Herd.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.

(00:00:00) The Great Environmental Backflip and the Joy Division (00:01:09) Green Light, Red Flags: Labor’s Environmental Backdown (00:16:40) Nuclear Déjà Vu: The Coalition’s Broken Record (00:29:26) Between Beijing and Washington: Albanese at ASEAN (00:41:10) Culture Wars on Vinyl: The Joy Division Distraction We examine one of the biggest environmental retreats in years as the Albanese government prepares to hand decision-making powers on coal, gas and water projects back to the states, gutting environmental protection and empowering the fossil-fuel lobby. It’s supposedly about “cutting red tape,” but critics say it’s a green light for mining giants and a betrayal of Labor’s climate promises. We also assess the new “national interest” override, the anger from NT Aboriginal land councils, and the government’s growing resemblance to the Morrison era. Meanwhile, the Coalition revives its nuclear energy obsession as Senator Jane Hume pushes to lift Australia’s nuclear ban, reigniting divisions between Barnaby Joyce and the moderates. Plus, Anthony Albanese’s balancing act at the ASEAN summit – caught between China and the US – and Sussan Ley’s bizarre attack on the Prime Minister for wearing a Joy Division T-shirt. Sharp analysis, politics without spin, and all the week’s contradictions in Australian politics.Support New Politics, just $5 per month:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/newpoliticsSubstack: https://newpolitics.substack.comSong listing: ‘Bonnie And Clyde’, Serge Gainsbourg (French Accent remix).‘Satellite Anthem Icarus, Boards of Canada.‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, Joy Division.‘Sign O’ The Times’, Prince, remix by Michael Saxom.