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This week, Victoria has had EVERYTHING.  For Ben Carroll it was a No Good, Very Bad week of dire polls and even direr headlines from a corruption royal commission.  One Nation had to tell its candidates that praising Hitler is not OK. What is OK? Conspiracy theories about white people being replaced, apparently.   All of this while Jess Wilson coasts past her opponents with her small target strategy.   Raf Epstein and Benita Kolovos from The Guardian break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning Victorian election question? Send a short voice recording to Raf for a special Victorian Question Time episode at [email protected]

The Prime Minister may be at COP, but the Albanese Government's focus has very intentionally been on domestic issues this week. Anthony Albanese delayed his trip to chair ERC meetings and unveil a series of mandatory AI Safety rules, including an AI regulator. But while the AI safety announcement was light on details, Politico's Ryan Heath tells PK and Mel he sees it as "step-one in a two-step dance" by the Albanese Government, with the next step a copyright deal. And Mel's fallen into a "rabbit hole" about what the announcement means legally and she's got some big thoughts after her deep dive. It comes as more Australian job losses announced this week and PK thinks we are seeing the "AI white collar wave" in full force. So, how wary is the Albanese Government about the anxiety and pessimism that creates? Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Ryan Heath, Launch Editor at Politico Australia on The Party Room. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

New home loans have plummeted, falling across the board. A downturn in investor loans drove the decline, plunging a whopping 30 per cent, but investors weren't the only group to fall. Loans for owner occupiers, including first home buyers, also fell almost 9 per cent, and that's tricky news for the Albanese Government. Meanwhile, the PM made a brief stopover in Singapore on his way to the COP, to honour Australians held at Changi Prisoner of War Camp during WW2. David Speers shares with PK that his great uncle — and namesake — was also held at Changi as a POW. And David also has a thesis about the timing of the Prime Minister's mandatory AI Safety announcement — and what he is trying to signal. Speaking of AI, PK's "obsessed" with the way it's impacting white collar jobs — with Qantas just the latest example. So, is there more the Government needs to do here? Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced an AI safety watchdog will be set up after the Medicare breach. The Albanese Government will introduce mandatory safety and security standards for AI developers, enforced by a new regulator. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that an AI safety watchdog will be set up, in the wake of the Medicare OpenAI breach. The Albanese Government will introduce mandatory safety and security standards for AI developers, enforced by a new regulator. Meanwhile, Environment minister Murray Watt has urged colleagues to stop undermining treasurer Jim Chalmers, as Labor thrashes out key budget savings. And the Digital Duty of Care legislation is back in the spotlight, as a Senate Inquiry into the bill continues. Patricia Karvelas and Claudia Long break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

It's poll Monday — and you know what that means! PK and Jacob dig into new polling showing voter trust in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has plummeted. Only 20 per cent of voters say they trust the PM, according to the Resolve Political Monitor, while the Redbridge AFR poll has Labor support at a record low while the Coalition surges. It's bad news for Anthony Albanese, who has delayed his trip to COP to chair key budget meetings. But as Labor searches for crucial budget savings, they've been forced to abandon the sell-off of some key defence land, as they seek to neutralise political backlash. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Read PK's analysis here - It could be a matter of when, not if, Andrew Hastie becomes opposition leader Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

ANU's James O'Donnell joins David Speers to explain what's behind the Scanlon Index numbers.

"You cannot microwave a field campaign."  Air and ground games, AI lies and microwaves - all part of the invisible push to win votes in Victoria.  Have they lost the keys to the Labor Machine? What's Obama got to do with it? And can Pauline Hanson win if she's not on the ballot? Raf Epstein is joined by former ALP insider Jessie McCrone and former Liberal Party insider Tony Barry to break it all down on Politics Now: Victoria. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

The US Democrats have taken control of both the House and the Senate, in what's been labelled a "blue tsunami" and a "Republican shellacking". It was an election race watched closely across the globe, and with some possible lessons for Australian politicians. Fran Kelly joins PK and Melissa Clarke live from New York to discuss how it all unfolded — and whether US President Donald Trump is a "lame duck" or a "raging bull with a limp". Then PK and Mel turn their focus to domestic politics, and the tensions in Labor as inflation and interest rates continue to bite. But rather than trying to claw their way out, Mel thinks the Albanese Government is "strapping in". Her view is Labor are using MYEFO to buy themselves some time to ride this through politically, with the hope things are better ahead of the 2028 election. Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Fran Kelly on The Party Room. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

As the results of the US midterm elections start to roll in, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned there could be economic consequences for Australia. The Treasurer says Australians are "the cost‑of‑living casualties of decisions taken in D.C. and Tehran". It comes in the wake of the RBA's decision to raise interest rates for the fifth time this year, with the RBA Governor Michelle Bullock warning that Australians will feel poorer. So, will the upcoming MYEFO be more politically consequential for some time? 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 [email protected]

As households brace for possible fifth interest rate rise this year, Labor ministers have been trying to manage expectations. Raf thinks the Albanese Government is struggling to sell its economic narrative, noting people inside Labor as well as punters are asking "where is the vision, where is the hope"? And CHOGM is chugging along - while PK didn't want to deliver a second rendition of the Beach Boys Kokomo on the podcast today, she's got big thoughts on the optics of the Prime Minister near yachts. Meanwhile, Victoria is about to enter caretaker mode and the election campaign is in full swing. Patricia Karvelas and Raf Epstein break it all down on Politics Now.🎧Hear ABC Business Daily's analysis of the rates decision here  Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Tensions have emerged between the Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as cost of living pressures continue to bite. The Treasurer has played down the claims, but stability and unity have been hallmarks of the Albanese Government, so is this a narrative Labor can turn around? Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is overseas for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and he's faced some heat at home over his attendance. Jacob and PK agree that while such trips will always come with some domestic blowback, that's not a reason not to attend. It comes as the McKinnon index finds trust in politicians and satisfaction with democracy have fallen. And PK thinks a new AI ad from Victorian Labor might be a good example of how trust can be eroded. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Read PK's analysis here: Disunity is death, but can the federal government rein in the blame game? Read Jacob's analysis here: Politics is an image game, and the government needs to find better visuals Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Professor Pat McGorry, Executive Director of Orygen, tells David Speers in this week's Insiders: On Background State and Federal governments share responsibility for the failing system.

South of the Murray, ghosts of premiers past loom over the current leaders. What influence are Dan Andrews and Jeff Kennett still having on the way Victorians vote?  And has the media already picked a side to campaign for? Raf Epstein and Herald Sun Associate Editor James Campbell break it all down on Politics Now: Victoria. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected] Editor's note: The Victorian Liberal Party has selected Roshena Campbell as its candidate for the Western Metropolitan Region in the upcoming election. Roshena Campbell is the wife of Herald Sun associate Editor James Campbell.

Is Australia about to enter a period of "long economic pain"?  Stubborn inflation and the prospect of another interest rate rise next week is putting fresh pressure on the Albanese government. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is facing calls to rein in government spending, while the Opposition has unveiled $31 billion in proposed cuts.  But managing the economy in the current international climate is a difficult task - can either side (or anyone else) stick the economic landing? And is telling Australians the government knows they're "doing it tough" enough anymore? Meanwhile, Senate estimates delivered its usual mix of scrutiny and political theatre, with the ABC drawn into a dispute over One Nation's use of Bluey in its political cartoons, and Senator Fatima Payman apologising for controversial comments following the alleged attack on Helen Haines. And as parliament grapples with calls to lower the political temperature, cost-of-living pressures continue to fuel public frustration. So how will it all play out as the country heads towards a potentially difficult summer, and the Prime Minister embarks on a busy schedule of overseas travel? Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong are joined by Ashleigh Raper, Political Editor at Network 10 on The Party Room. Read Clare's analysis here. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Australia's latest inflation figures are in, and it's not good news. Inflation ran hotter than expected in September, raising the prospect of another interest rate rise next week. So can the Albanese government reshape its economic narrative in a way the Australian public will buy? Meanwhile, the Greens have entered the debate with a major new tax plan, promising cost-of-living relief funded by higher taxes on gas and resources. And alongside all that, there's a sewerage problem that just won't go away for the Prime Minister. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]