Crikey's Electioncast - a daily Australian federal election podcast

The government has unveiled its National AI Plan, laying out a roadmap to scale up AI infrastructure and adoption that Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres claims will help “create a fairer, stronger Australia where every person benefits from this technological change”.But the plan did not include the mandatory guardrails that many expected would serve as proactive regulations for tech companies.Professor Kimberlee Weatherall, co-director of the Centre for AI, Trust and Governance at Sydney University, joins the podcast to explain the government’s AI strategy, what’s missing from the plan and how Australia measures up against other countries when it comes to AI policymaking.Weatherall’s book recommendations:The Shortest History of AI by Toby Walsh and any from this list by London School of Economics and Political ScienceRead more:Australia’s national AI plan has just been released. Who exactly will benefit?Labor goes hands-off in productivity-focused national AI planCan wise heads fix the hard problem of AI policy?How Australia’s national security chief used AI to write speeches and ‘personnel communications’How data centres are killing Australia’s climate progress How AI is reshaping religion and mental health

A big year in politics and policy ended with a bang — Labor and the Greens worked out a deal to pass the long overdue reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. What have we learned about how the 48th Parliament does the work of legislating?Politics editor Bernard and political columnist Rachel Withers join the podcast to conduct a “Parliamentary Year in Review”. We scrutinise the policy proposals that made the biggest impact for better or for worse and examine the senate dynamics between Labor, the Greens and the independents. Plus, who gave the standout performances in parliament this year? The answers are not what you’d expect…Nominations for Arsehat of the Year: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/25/arsehat-of-the-year-nominations-crikey-2025/ Nominations for Shitstirrer of the Year: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/27/crikey-shitstirrer-of-the-year-nominations-2025/ Read more:The Greens, Labor, and the environment all scored a win today — it’s a lesson in how politics *should* workBehind Labor’s Big Lie about FOI

A new poll has found Australians support the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, despite critics’ warnings of the huge price tag and concerns about US stability. The consistent message from politicians and sections of the media is that China’s “threat” to national security makes the deal essential. But is that threat real?Wanning Sun, Crikey columnist and deputy director of the UTS Australia-China Relations Institute, joins the podcast to explain the impact AUKUS has on Australia’s relationship with China and our reputation in the Asia-Pacific region. While she says Labor is doing a good job of managing competing Chinese and American interests, Sun fears with AUKUS that Australia has given up its power — and become a target.Read more:AUKUS is finding public support despite its many problems. Why?Compromise, not a zero-sum game, has delivered results for Trump and Xi — for nowAustralia’s strategy of denial in engaging with its ‘Pacific family’America wants to sell China as a threat. Should Australia buy it?$800 million AUKUS handout to the US broke internal rules — as bureaucrats rushed to pay Trump

So the Coalition has (again) decided to ditch net zero. How much should you care? Very little, according to Crikey climate contributor Ketan Joshi. Far more pressing is the state of climate, environment and energy policy-making by the Labor government — which could pass world-leading legislations with the help of a supportive Senate, but is instead pursuing its own form of climate denialism. Joshi joins the podcast to explain which policies and amendments could change the game for Australia, spill some gossip about the bid to host COP31, and shares how he remains committed to optimism even as the fossil fuel disinformation machine tries to kill hope.Read more:Forget the Coalition, Labor has already abandoned net zero in all but name (and its excuses are absurd)Net zero opponents: Sneering elites who want higher taxes, higher prices and bigger government ‘Pragmatism’ and positivity — two bad ideas helping Queensland’s deadly coal plan How I was targeted and intimidated by information arsonists What Donald Trump taught me about renewable energy The media has given up on climate change. Here’s why the rest of us can’t

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, just became the mayor of New York City. He energised the working class over material issues including cost of living, housing and wealth inequalities, and overcame opposition from the ‘old school’ Democratic elite to show the party how to really scare Donald Trump.Will Mamadani’s win inspire (or force) the Democrats to pick up the pace in the fight against Trump? And how is the Australian left planning to apply Mamdani’s campaign tactics in the next 12 months?Crikey reader’s editor Crystal Andrews and reporter-at-large Charlie Lewis unpack what this singular mayoral campaign changes about the politics of the left, and who remains unmoved.(00:00) Zohran Mamdani is the mayor of New York City(02:11) What Mamdani's win means for the Democratic Party(25:24) What Mamdani's win means for the Australian leftRead more:Live from New York: Mayor Mamdani gives a lesson to the left in How to Win 101The Democrats are failing miserably‘Tax the rich!’: On the ground at Zohran Mamdani’s final rallySwinging from MAGA to Mamdani: Chatting to NYC voters a day before ‘the ultimate clash’On the subway with NYC’s Republican wild card, Curtis SliwaAll the evidence Donald Trump is not planning to leave office at the end of his second term

On November 11, 1975, Governor General John Kerr dismissed Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam — creating the biggest scandal in modern Australian history.The dismissal offered plenty of lessons for the nation about political secrecy, the manipulation of democratic rules, how power hungry figureheads can override public will, and Australia’s ultimate deference to the British monarchy. How many have been learned?Professor Jenny Hocking joins the podcast to explain why the political weaknesses exposed by the Dismissal still exist, 50 years later. Plus, does she think the CIA had anything to do with it?Read more:Whitlam dismissal secrets unearthed from the archives of the Canadian governor-generalThe Palace Letters: How one woman’s tenacity exposed an elite boys’ clubThe Palace Letters remind us of the real issue: our democracy is flawedIt's been 50 years since Whitlam, yet the constitution remains unrectified

We are currently witnessing the death throes of the Liberal Party. To a good chunk of the electorate that voted for the current government, that doesn’t matter,except that it leaves Labor in full power with no meaningful opposition. Ten years ago former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser predicted this moment would come, and he spent his final years working on the answer: a new political party, built on traditional liberal values but without the now-toxic name.Bernard Keane joins the podcast to revisit Fraser’s plan to replace the Liberal party. The detailed ‘Renew Australia’ manifesto remains remarkably relevant, and takes a surprisingly progressive stance on issues like immigration, our relationship with the US, intergenerational equity and a post-carbon economy.In 2025, could Fraser’s new party accelerate what the community independents movement already started? Read more:Read the full Fraser manifestoMalcolm Fraser’s vision for a new centrist political party could be just what voters (and the Liberals) need‘Fit for purpose’: How a Labor veteran helped create Fraser’s vision of a new political partyChasing One Nation is a dead end for the Liberals — and would guarantee a splitThe Liberals are dead and the rot will kill its moderates. What next?

What counts as ‘lobbying’? That’s the central question at the core of the Australian Parliament Sports Club saga, the company organising social sport at Parliament House — paid for by sponsors, who in turn get to play alongside politicians and political staffers, building vital relationships during sitting weeks. According to the government’s definition, the Club is not a lobbying organisation and has been removed from the lobbyists register. CEO of the Club Andy Turnbull provided Crikey with a lengthy statement defending his operation… after kicking out former Wallabies captain and Senator David Pocock for questioning the legitimacy of the Club at senate estimates. So does it pass the pub test? Crikey’s media reporter Daanyal Saeed joins the podcast to unpack the Parliament Sports Club lobbying saga, from beginning to end.Read more:Australian Parliament Sports Club de-registered as lobby group amid MP outrage (including Andy Turnbull’s full statement to Crikey)The gambling lobby has infiltrated social sports at Parliament HouseGambling not as serious as cigarettes, PM’s adviser tells reform advocatesOn gambling, Australia is a collection of banana republics — while our cowering government watches on