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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Nearly two years on from the Voice referendum the latest Closing the Gap update has again revealed disappointing results.

It's the second sitting week of the 48th parliament. While Labor's massive majority grows more comfortable in the chamber, it proved to be a difficult week for political leaders on either side of the aisle thanks to the looming momentum to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN general assembly in September. How will mounting international pressure influence Australia's position, and is our own announcement on the horizon? On home soil, political attention has been dominated by the upcoming productivity roundtable in August, with unions focusing their aim on the impact of AI on worker rights; and despite a lobby effort from "Big Wiggle", YouTube has been added to the social media ban mix. Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Phil Coorey, Political Editor with the Australian Financial Review 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has drawn a line in the sand on Gaza. Unless Israel takes “substantive” steps to end the “appalling situation” in the region, the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September. As international momentum builds, how will the Albanese government respond? At home, the data drop Reserve Bank board members have been waiting for is out. The Bureau of Statistics quarterly consumer price index (CPI) shows consumer prices rose 0.7 per cent over the June quarter and 2.1 over the past year. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the latest inflation figures are “very encouraging news”, but won’t predict whether it’ll mean a rate cut. 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The government has woken to another surprise Trump tariff.  Most trading partners, including Australia, could see an almost doubling on the tariffs already expected from the United States. If it proves to be true, can we do anything to weather the economic storm that might come from them? And health and cost of living pressure is back on the agenda - but which framing of the current state of Medicare and bulk billing will win? Patricia Karvelas and Brett Worthingon 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens and images of starving children emerge,  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strongly criticised the Israeli government’s actions. Meanwhile, Barnaby Joyce is talking about abandoning Net Zero again… 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

It was one of the first bills introduced in the new parliament – a move to improve standards in childcare.

The 48th parliament is now officially underway, and while it's full of fresh faces — particularity on the Albanese Government's side — is it still politics as usual, or has the tone changed? And speaking of fresh faces, the first speech from "giant killer" and Dickson MP Ali France nearly brought the whole parliament to tears, but her story also had Sarah Ferguson welling up on live TV. And Sussan Ley's first Question Time as Opposition leader was her moment in the spotlight, but she was undermined by former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, who are calling for the Nationals to ditch net zero. Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Sarah Ferguson, ABC 730 Host 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au Watch Ali France's 730 interview here - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-22/ali-france-reflects-on-the-triumph-and-tragedy/105561104 

Sussan Ley has faced off with Anthony Albanese in her first Question Time as Opposition leader. And while she played it safe, attacking Labor on its housing and superannuation tax policies, how did she perform? Tinder and swiping right got a mention, while in the other chamber, Senate leader Penny Wong moved a censure motion against Greens Deputy leader Mehreen Faruqui for holding a poster about Gaza in the Senate during Governor-General's speech, a move which the Greens leader labelled "a disgrace." 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The 48th Parliament has officially begun, but amid the pomp and ceremony, the Albanese Government has signed a joint statement calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. It's the strongest language yet from the Government, but the Opposition has been quick to condemn the move — with frontbenchers labelling it "alarming" and "disappointing" — while the Greens have suggested the statement doesn't go far enough. So, is this a sign of some of the friction to come in this 48th parliament? Patricia Karvelas and Claudia Long break it all down on Politics Now. Patricia Karvelas and Claudia Long 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

As parliamentarians descend on Canberra for the first sitting week of the 48th parliament, Anthony Albanese is warning Labor to avoid complacency.  And while  Opposition leader Sussan Ley makes history as the first woman in the role, the "stark" gender split between the Coalition and Labor ranks will be on display across both chambers.  So, what can we expect from Australia’s 48th parliament? 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

There has been plenty of discussion about what Anthony Albanese got out of his six-day visit to China this week. But what did China get out of the trip?

The Prime Minister is wrapping up his six-day visit to China, following what he says was a "constructive" meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But Donald Trump made his presence felt from afar — so did this intervention hang over the trip?  Laura Tingle joined The Party Room from a panda research base in Chengdu for some analysis (and panda chat). And back home, the Albanese Government is signalling legislation to strip funding from childcare centres will be a top priority when parliament returns. So, how different will the parliament look when it returns next week? Brett Worthington and Jade Macmillan are joined by Laura Tingle, ABC Global Affairs Editor 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have officially sat down together in China. It's the crown in the jewel of this week’s diplomatic exercise, with friends (and enemies) across the world eager to hear what’s been said, and what the results might be. Has the PM successfully walked the diplomatic tightrope? And on Australian soil former Treasury head Ken Henry has addressed the National Press Club, in the same week as FOI revelations from a Treasury report to the government on housing and tax threw up questions over whether lofty goals are reachable without major changes. 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

A spotlight is once again on the government’s ambitious signature housing targets, following unexpected revelations from an ABC Freedom of Information request. Could the government use this as a test of our appetite for housing reform? And Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke says we need to believe Anti-Semitism Envoy Jillian Segal AO when she says she didn’t know of her husband's trust donations to a right-wing political lobby group. Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

China has rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. While our biggest trading partner is lobbing love bombs, our most powerful ally, the United States, is demanding truth bombs. With more meetings to go will this diplomatic exercise help, or hurt, the government’s standing on the world stage and at home? And an ABC Freedom of Information request has revealed a little more than Treasury, or the government, bargained for. 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au

As the Prime Minister prepares for his first visit to China since his re-election, trade talks with Beijing – and with Washington -  are on his mind. While Donald Trump was announcing another round of tariffs, China was calling for a closer trading relationship with Australia.

On Monday Coroner Elisabeth Armitage delivered her long-awaited findings into the fatal shooting of Kumanjayi Walker. So, as Warlpiri Elders call for a "ceasefire" with NT police, what political action will the NT and Federal Government take in wake of the findings? With this year's NAIDOC Week theme being The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, does the community want to see a new generation of First Nations leaders? And has the Minister for Indigenous Australians put truth telling back on the agenda? Globally, Trump's newest tariff turmoil might cast a shadow over the Prime Minister's visit to China - and if the US government comes for the PBS, how will Australia respond to its most powerful ally? And back at home, there's a new report, and plan, to combat anti-Semitism. Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Carly Williams, a Quandamooka woman and ABC’s National Indigenous correspondent 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au