Insiders
- Episodes
- 245
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 11, 2026
About the podcast
Every Sunday morning, the ABC's national political lead David Speers unpacks the major stories shaping Australia's future. Each episode includes a major interview with an Australian politician and an extensive discussion with a panel of the country's best journalists. This show will help you understand the major factors behind the decisions and debates driving a national conversation.
Episodes 245
Analysis: Anthony Albanese wants to show strength on AI
The government has announced new AI safety rules, but the question of who gets held responsible when something goes wrong is still very much unsettled.At the same time, concern about AI is growing, with job …
Show notes
The government has announced new AI safety rules, but the question of who gets held responsible when something goes wrong is still very much unsettled.
At the same time, concern about AI is growing, with job cuts, artists' rights and the threat of data centres all fuelling public unease.
Albanese heads into a week of international summits promising to make AI safety a priority, even as the world's biggest player shows little interest in slowing down.
Liberal push to protect superannuation and pressure on government over spending
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Liberal MP Garth Hamilton join David Speers.
Garth Hamilton pushes for party to rule out superannuation changes
Liberal MP Garth Hamilton sat down with David Speers to talk about his push for party to rule out any superannuation changes.
'Direct correlation' between political speech and abuse, says AFP Commissioner
'Direct correlation' between political speech and abuse, says AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett
Assistant Treasurer doubles down on government response to ATO credit card ban
Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino joins David Speers.
Analysis: Chalmers and Frydenberg have more in common than they like to admit
Delivering reform is proving more difficult by the day. Labor has to go back to the drawing board on its plan to remove the more generous private health insurance rebate for over-65s. That's a $3 billion …
Show notes
Delivering reform is proving more difficult by the day. Labor has to go back to the drawing board on its plan to remove the more generous private health insurance rebate for over-65s. That's a $3 billion savings measure up in the air.
Angus Taylor defends Coalition's migration plan
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor joins David Speers, with Katina Curtis, Peter Hartcher and Raf Epstein on the couch.
Treasurer flags billions in additional savings, as pressure builds over inflation
Jim Chalmers has told David Speers the government will deliver billions in savings in the upcoming mid-year budget update.
Is Australia prepared for the AI race?
Anthony Albanese is calling for new measures to safeguard AI, but Donald Trump isn't interested.
PM won't rule out changes to copyright law for AI giants
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins David Speers from Silicon Valley, with Patricia Karvelas, Laura Tingle, Charles Croucher and James Massola on the couch.
Anika Wells open to changes to powers in digital duty of care bill
The debate on online harm and what government can do to better protect Australian's has dominated this sitting week in Parliament, but division remains on what is the best way to do so.
Government takes aim at the algorithm
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam joins David Speers with Niki Savva, James Campbell and Karen Middleton on the couch.
Analysis: Pauline Hanson risks accusations she's using a security issue for political points
By speaking publicly about the threats she's facing, the One Nation leader has shone a light on a growing problem facing our democracy but pinning them on routine political rhetoric risks accusations of …
Show notes
By speaking publicly about the threats she's facing, the One Nation leader has shone a light on a growing problem facing our democracy but pinning them on routine political rhetoric risks accusations of political point-scoring.
Govt considers social media changes as sexual violence rises
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek joins David Speers with Anna Henderson, Waleed Aly and Ashleigh Raper on the couch.
Analysis: Behind the energy brawl leaders want the data centre boom
As is so often the case in Australia, the politics came down to a fight over energy. Should the data centre boom be powered by renewables or fossil fuels?
Bipartisan breakthroughs, as the migration debate simmers
One Nation MP David Farley joins David Speers with Phil Coorey, Andrew Probyn and Clare Armstrong on the couch.
Analysis: Labor has made the most of its cooperation with the Coalition
Fights over immigration, superannuation, housing, tobacco excise and data centre rules will continue and intensify. But this was a week for cooperation.
Parliament returns, as PM's podcast saga continues
NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister joins David Speers with Lenore Taylor, Mark Kenny and Jane Norman on the couch.
Analysis: Taylor marks six months in the job with a detour
Behind the scenes, Angus Taylor and Anthony Albanese have been engaged in a rare level of cooperation this week but in public the opposition leader is using the melon saga to mount an all-out assault on the …
Show notes
Behind the scenes, Angus Taylor and Anthony Albanese have been engaged in a rare level of cooperation this week but in public the opposition leader is using the melon saga to mount an all-out assault on the prime minister's character.
How has politics changed in the last 25 years?
25 years of Insiders - it's been quite a journey!We look back at the 25 years of the show with some special guests, including founding host Barrie Cassidy.
Analysis: Labor has one big political test on migration
If stopping asylum seeker boats was the great immigration challenge in decades past, achieving a lower Net Overseas Migration (NOM) figure has become the new political test.
Party power plays, as integrity questions simmer
Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume joins David Speers with James Campbell, Jacqueline Maley and Tom Crowley on the couch.
Analysis: Why Jim Chalmers is cautious but upbeat
After delivering a pre-election prediction that "the worst of the inflation challenge is behind us", only to see inflation then steadily rise, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is now more cautious.
Labor's show of unity, US tariffs, and Barnaby Joyce's barking dog
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins David Speers with Ashleigh Raper, Rafael Epstein and Greg Brown on the couch.
PM tries to map out Aussie AI future, as Pauline Hanson goes global
Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg joins Patricia Karvelas, with Annabel Crabb, Paul Sakkal and Katina Curtis on the couch.
Australia strengthens regional ties, as China pushes the boundaries
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy joins Patricia Karvelas with Jacob Greber, Sarah Martin and Andrew Probyn on the couch.
Political deadlock, as the mid winter break begins
Parliament has reached its winter break - so where does everyone stand?
Analysis: Albanese and Chalmers see reform as an antidote to populism
The slight recovery in Labor's polling shifts assumptions about what's in store for the remainder of this parliamentary term.
Government's ongoing budget pains, as Taylor muddles up multiculturalism
Will Labor's broken budget promise haunt them all the way to the next election? And how does Opposition Leader, Angus Taylor recover from the mess he's made on multiculturalism?
These are the latest 40 of 245 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
Similar podcasts
More News podcasts
Is this your podcast?
Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.