It’s been a very long road – but Australia’s first treaty with Aboriginal people in Victoria has now been signed and formalised as law.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has been on a media blitz, defending her party's position of ditching net zero targets. So, how effective has her sales job been? Will her message about affordability before emissions reduction cut through to 'middle Australia'? And is this debate about policy or just about power? Patricia Karvelas and Mel Clarke get stuck into all of your curly questions on this The Party Room bonus episode. FILL OUT OUR SURVEY HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has announced the Liberal party will ditch net zero and repeal Labor's 2030 emissions reduction target - all in a bid for the Opposition to "put affordable energy first".  Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan says the policy is about affordability, growing our economy and doing our 'fair share' — and while there are no targets reaching net zero would be "welcome". But does the policy behind the politics stack up? And is this an "overwhelming victory" for Liberal conservatives - and for the Nationals? Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent for The Conversation joins Patricia Karvelas and Mel Clarke on The Party Room to unpack it all. Fill out our survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32  TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/  Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

After months of division and public front-running — and even some added excitement of diverted planes — it's D-Day for the Liberals to decide the party's future direction on net zero. So, what direction is the party moving in — and can Sussan Ley keep them united? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. FILL OUT OUR AUDIENCE SURVEY HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

With an impartial and beloved electoral body, preferential and compulsory voting — and of course election day sausage sizzles — Australia's democratic system is the envy of much of the world. Today, Annabel Crabb joins PK to explore what exactly makes our democratic processes so unique (and the democracy sausage is just one part). And it's the 50th anniversary of the Whitlam dismissal, all these years later how does the moment continue to shape politics and the way politicians — like the Prime Minister and Opposition leader — operate? Patricia Karvelas and Annabel Crabb break it all down on Politics Now. Watch Civic Duty here - https://iview.abc.net.au/show/annabel-crabb-s-civic-duty   Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

After months of division, the Liberal party room is finally set to meet and thrash out their future direction on net zero this week. But it's also shaping up as a challenge for Sussan Ley and her hold on leadership. So, does Sussan Ley look like she's been lacking political conviction on the issue, and is that what voters look for in a leader? And Sussan Ley isn't the only Liberal leader in trouble, with Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley stepping down, and murmurs NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakerman is under threat. So as the Liberal brand comes under strain, who is holding the government to account? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. FILL OUT OUR SURVEY HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

It's been 50 years since arguably the most dramatic moment in Australia’s political history – the dismissal of the Whitlam Government. It came at a time of enormous political upheaval and debate still rages about how it all happened.  David Speers sat down with journalist Niki Savva, who was there on the day, and Troy Bramston, the author of Gough Whitlam: the vista of the new.

It's been another turbulent week for the Coalition, with the Nationals ditching net zero — and leaving the Liberal party divided on whether to do the same. And while the moderate and conservatives pull in different directions, the fallout has only further destabilised Sussan Ley's hold on the leadership. But as Jason Koutsoukis tells PK and Mel the events have also highlighted the "lack of respect" Coalition MPs are paying to the Opposition leader. Meanwhile, recent comments from Liberal leadership hopeful Andrew Hastie have raised eyebrows. The WA MP has called for clarification that Baby Priya's Bill, which will force employers to not cancel parental leave after stillbirth or neonatal death, won't apply to late term abortions. So, does the move damage his future leadership chances? Guest: Jason Koutsoukis, Saturday Paper special correspondent  Fill out our survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

As the turmoil continues over net zero, Opposition leader Sussan Ley has defended her approach — and her hold on the leadership — in a series of media interviews. And while she says she's "completely confident" she'll retain her position until the end of the year, is the internal pressure mounting? Meanwhile, Labor's renewable energy roll-out is experiencing it's own challenges. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Fill out our survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

In a widely expected decision, RBA Governor Michele Bullock has confirmed interest rates will be held at 3.6 per cent. So, is this just a "bump in the road" for the Albanese Government, or a sign of further economic turbulence ahead? It comes as first homebuyers struggle to enter the market, with new data from Cotality showing house prices rose at their fastest rate in two years in October, following the expansion of Labor's 5 per cent deposit scheme. Meanwhile, it's been another wobbly start to the week for Opposition leader Sussan Ley — so is she safe for the summer, while other Coalition leadership hopefuls take a break? Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics Now. Fill out our survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32 Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Nationals have officially ditched net zero by 2050, issuing a test for Sussan Ley and the Liberal party.  So, can the Coalition find a path through this? It comes as Optus executives have faced a grilling at a Senate inquiry into the fatal triple-zero outage.  Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Fill out our survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/rGwzw6Xu32  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

How is it possible to both save the environment, while also speeding up decisions on mining, housing and energy projects? Environment Minister Murray Watt thinks he's found the answer, and is confident he will pass new laws with support from either the Coalition or the Greens. Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry says reforming the laws would provide a big boost to productivity in Australia, and he sat down for a chat with host David Speers.

Environment Minister Murray Watt has introduced environment reform laws into parliament — but it's still not clear if the Greens or the Coalition will support the bill. So, beyond the politics — what's the policy itself? And where has Labor left themselves wriggle room? And Sussan Ley used parliament to call into question the prime minister's fashion choices this week, suggesting the Joy Division T-shirt Anthony Albanese wore had antisemetic connotations. So, was this "shirtgate" another example of overreach by the Opposition leader — and should she have been fully focused on inflation figures and cost of living instead? It comes as conversations on net zero and energy policy positions ramp up in both the Nationals and Liberal party rooms. But there are no signs either side is willing to budge. And are the changes to the BOM website becoming a political issue? Clare Armstrong, ABC Chief Digital Political Reporter joins Patricia Karvelas and Mel Clarke on The Party Room. TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Support for One Nation has surged in recent polls and now Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce is eyeing off a tilt to Pauline Hanson's party. But it's not the first time the minor party has caused issues for the Coalition. Today, ABC election icon Antony Green joins PK for a special look at the history of One Nation. What can the party's enduring battles with the Coalition teach us about today? Patricia Karvelas and Antony Green break it all down on Politics Now. TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ 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 Albanese Government came to power promising to increase transparency and integrity in politics, but a new report card shows Labor is failing on six out of seven fronts. So, will they do anything to "correct course", as the report calls for? And as debate on the Triple Zero custodian legislation continues, the Greens and Coalition are pushing for a Senate inquiry into the Optus network outage. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

The Albanese Government is muscling up for a fight on its key environmental reform bill, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Labor says it will work with the Greens or the Coalition to pass the legislation, but both sides have raised concerns. It comes after EPBC report lead author Graeme Samuel accused the Opposition of standing in the way of the reforms. So, is this shaping up to be the biggest parliamentary test the second term Albanese government has faced? Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/  READ PK'S ARTICLE HERE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-27/environment-laws-coalition-division-joyce/105935474  Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Mel for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au  

Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Donald Trump this week was widely hailed as a triumph. There was an awkward exchange with Kevin Rudd but also comments from the US President dismissing the prospect of China invading Taiwan. And as the alliance with the U.S. is deepening, what does this mean for Australia’s defence spending and military planning? Justin Bassi is the Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute; he sat down for a chat with host David Speers.

Anthony Albanese has received high marks across the board for his White House meeting with Donald Trump. The US President even parroted many of Labor's own talking points, so does this meeting knock the wind out of the Opposition's attacks on AUKUS, defence spending and even tariffs? And Opposition leader Sussan Ley hasn't reiterated her call for Kevin Rudd to step down as US Ambassador, after Liberal Senator Jane Hume described them as "churlish", so were the remarks overreach? Meanwhile, maverick MP Barnaby Joyce is still yet to confirm if he'll resign from The Nationals and join One Nation — saying he doesn't want to be "salami sliced in or out". So, how will this all play out next week in parliament? Katina Curtis, Canberra Bureau Chief at The West Australian joins PK and Mel Clarke on The Party Room.

Anthony Albanese says Donald Trump's comments about US Ambassador Kevin Rudd were "just banter", while Liberal Senator Jane Hume says calls for the Ambassador to stand down — which came from the Opposition leader — were "churlish". But it was the US President's comments downplaying the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan that raised broader strategic questions. So, what is Donald Trump signalling here and what does it mean for Australia? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW HERE: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/politics-now-live/ 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

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have finally met. The two world leaders inked a landmark deal on critical minerals, while Donald Trump gave reassurances on the AUKUS deal and heaped praise on Anthony Albanese for "doing a fantastic job". But while the meeting was a resounding success for the PM, it was US Ambassador and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who found himself in the hot seat. 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 thepartyroom@abc.net.au