Patricia Karvelas
Verified
Host #afternoonbriefing 📺 AND #ThePartyRoom and #PoliticsNow podcasts. Previously @rnbreakfast & and QandA TV Posts don’t represent the ABC
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Articles by Patricia Karvelas
Program: Victoria: Messiahs and naughty boys
Victoria's political leaders are fessing up to drug taking and not paying for petrol. The major parties aren't banning abortion, but instead competing to make abortion free. Politics has changed. The tectonic plates of politics are shifting beneath our feet. Within weeks, Victorians will start voting in the November state election. So, what does all of this tell us about the future of politics in Australia? Raf Epstein and Patricia Karvelas break it all down on Politics Now: Victoria.
Program: A kinder, gentler politics
The devastating alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines has sent shock waves through Australian politics across the week. Urgent questions about the safety of our elected representatives, and the state of political debate, are being asked. As Haines remains critically ill in hospital, politicians across the political spectrum are sharing their own experiences of threats, harassment and abuse, particularly against women.
Program: How do we change the political tone?
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How do you keep politicians safe without shutting the public out? Following the alleged attack on Helen Haines, calls for greater protection are growing, as MPs grapple with the threats that come with public life - while the motive behind the attack remains unknown. And as political leaders urge everyone to turn down the temperature, Pauline Hanson has gone from telling Jacqui Lambie to “get over it”, to apologising over a One Nation cartoon. Is this a rare backdown? Or simply damage control?
By Patricia Karvelas Verified, Clare Armstrong Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Program: Has politics changed forever?
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"This wasn't an accident. This was a deliberate act.” Stark words have been shared by the Prime Minister following a devastating alleged attack on Independent MP Helen Haines yesterday afternoon, who remains in a critical condition. As Australia learns more about what unfolded outside her Wangaratta office, shock now turns to questions about the safety of our elected representatives. Calls to “turn down the political temperature” are growing louder - but is that the right message?
By Patricia Karvelas Verified, Rafael Epstein
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Alleged attack on Helen Haines brings spectre of political violence to our shores
The fragility of Australia's democracy was in plain sight yesterday when one of parliament's most well-respected politicians was critically injured in what the prime minister described as an attack outside her electorate office. Helen Haines had returned from Mansfield to her electorate office in Wangaratta to speak to my program Afternoon Briefing about the appointment of a new National Anti-Corruption Commissioner (NACC) after a turbulent first four years for the federal integrity body.
Program: An ugly internal Greens war
Tensions inside the Greens are boiling over. WA Senator Jordon Steele-John says rumours about his conduct are being weaponised for political purpose - allegations he strongly denies. Now he’s taken to social media to insist he’s “not on leave" - and accused his own party leader, David Shoebridge, of pressuring him to step aside. So with a new leader trying to find his feet, just how damaging is this very public dispute for the Greens?
Without a careful plan, winning the next election could be Labor's undoing
What if the worst thing that can happen to a political party is to win an election? History is littered with unexpected wins — sweet victories — but are they really that sweet if they let a party overstay its welcome and trash its political capital and brand? Scott Morrison's unexpected win in 2019 is an example. The Coalition cycled through three prime ministers and went to the election with a thin agenda. Morrison declared the result a miracle.
Program: Victoria! One Nation! A state election question bonanza
It’s Question Time - and not just any Question Time - a Victorian state election special! With one of the most consequential state elections of 2026 fast approaching, Victoria has been on your minds. So PK and Fran enlist friend of the podcast and Victorian political expert Raf Epstein to tackle your questions. What role will the Victorian Greens play in the election? Are party preferences genuinely hard to find - or being hidden? And what’s with all the weird minor party names popping up?
Program: A sitting week with spooks and ghosts
It’s been a strange sitting week in Canberra, with the Albanese government trying to push through a packed legislative agenda - only to find itself repeatedly dragged onto political ground it hadn’t planned for. Labor was slow out of the blocks in responding to the Trump administration’s proposed livestream of a US execution. Is the government becoming too reluctant to criticise the president?
Program: Got a problem? Just text the PM
Are the Prime Minister and his treasurer working together, or are they being played off against one other? Midway through a sitting week, the government has managed to put itself back in the firing line with small business over the ATO’s on-again, off-again credit card ban. That’s led to some performative text messaging, as well as a nasty moment in parliament that’s now taken on a life of its own. If that wasn’t enough, Labor is also staring down another fight over trusts.
Program: 'Spicy' late night letters about an AI world
The political fight is moving more and more online. AI companies want to build, train and expand in Australia, but the welcome mat now comes with conditions - including from a bipartisan committee sending letters pushing for tougher rules and stronger protections for creators, and a warning from Labor that a handful of AI giants could become the economy’s new “toll collectors”.
AI boom could widen income inequality, with only a handful of 'toll collectors' benefiting
Labor MP Andrew Leigh says artificial intelligence (AI) could see wage gaps shrink but he is concerned overall income inequality could rise. He warns that a handful of AI companies could end up being the main economic beneficiaries. This week a Senate committee looking into AI guardrails will table their interim findings to the government.
Program: Is Josh Frydenberg back?
Parliament is back for another sitting week and Jacob Greber is back on the podcast! But as Jacob tells PK, it's already looking like a "tricky" week for the Albanese government, with no clear passage for their legislative agenda. And PK thinks new Greens leader David Shoebridge will also be looking to make his mark. So, will he play "hardball" with Labor? Meanwhile, questions are swirling about whether former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's will return to federal politics.
One Nation threatens major parties as voters turn to AI for information
Will former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who lost his seat in the teal wave, use Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson's campaign as a soft launch of his own tilt to return to Canberra? Jess and Josh on the hustings might offer moderate Liberals the image they have been yearning for.
Program: The 'raw politics' of immigration
While the government faces criticism from all sides over its economic management after the latest RBA cash rate hike, the Coalition is pitching dramatic cuts to immigration as a way to ease voters' economic pain. But can either major party meet the expectations of a frustrated electorate? Plus, Anthony Albanese navigates the tricky optics of another international diplomacy event at the pre-COP in Fiji, as the government fights suggestions the summit was a flop.
Program: Labor doesn't want a fight on immigration
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has undertaken a media blitz, as he tries to sell the Coalition's immigration policy. But he's already facing significant backlash from the business sector, who are warning of the implications for economic growth. Labor on the other hand have been giving the Coalition some "clear air" to sell the policy, which David Speers thinks is because the government doesn't want a fight on immigration.
Program: Angus Taylor tries to 'outbid' Pauline Hanson
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has unveiled the Coalition's immigration policy, promising the "biggest cut to immigration in the history of this country". PK tells Raf she sees this as the Coalition attempting to "outbid" One Nation on immigration — but she's not convinced the Opposition (or anyone else for that matter) can. Raf sees the pitch as a response to the "existential threat" facing the Coalition and an attempt to "neutralise" immigration as an issue.
Program: Is the 'sensible centre' dead?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen are in Fiji for pre-COP talks. But back home the Opposition has labelled the high-level climate talks a "farce" and criticised Labor's investment during a cost of living crisis. So, could this critique backfire for the Coalition in the future? Meanwhile, Queensland's crackdown on the tobacco black market is showing some early promise, with legal cigarette purchases increasing by 55 per cent.
The mood's changed. The Greens and Liberals aren't chasing the sensible centre
After the 2025 federal election, when both the Liberals and the Greens had been smashed in the lower house, their new leaders declared they would listen to voters and pivot to the centre. In her first public comments as Liberal leader, Sussan Ley spoke of a Liberal Party that respected, reflected and represented modern Australia. "We have to meet the people where they are, and that's what I am committed to doing, and what I am determined to do," she said.
Program: Albanese's selfie diplomacy
It's Question Time! But first, Fran does a West Wing welfare check on PK (she's in the slump part of the series). And then it's over to your brilliant questions, including: Is it bad for brand for Anthony Albanese to snap selfies with Donald Trump? Are Community Strong a new threat on Labor's right? Why isn't the Coalition's policy return bracket creep cutting through — and what does that say about the party leader Angus Taylor?
Program: Inflation is up. Labor's mojo is down
The economy has been the key story of the political week, with an interest rate rise and some less than rosy inflation figures compounding Labor's economic woes. A war over words emerged over a discrepancy in the "emphasis" RBA Governor and Treasurer Jim Chalmers placed on the war in the Middle East. Labor struggled to land a message that connected with voters and they also lost some of their political mojo along the way. So, is this just a run of the mill midterm slump?
Greens leader David Shoebridge wants to woo the same angry voters as One Nation — but from the left
The elevation of NSW Senator David Shoebridge to the Greens top job is the clearest indication the party is prepared to swing further to the populist left and fight harder to demolish Labor, especially in its inner-city heartland. He wasn't the only contender to lead the party — Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi also put their hands up for the top job.
Program: Are the Greens shifting further left?
NSW David Shoebridge has emerged as the new Greens leader, using his first pitch to hammer economic messages and vow to "replace Labor". And while he signalled the Greens would fill the policy vacuum left by Labor, are the minor party united around his leadership? Meanwhile, the economic blows keep rolling in for Labor, with the latest CPI figures handed down today painting another bleak picture for inflation.
Program: Who will lead the Greens?
The Greens are looking for a new leader, after Larissa Waters stepped down from the top job for health reasons. It comes as the Greens languish in the polls, while One Nation capitalises on the anti-establishment vote.So, as populism surges, will the minor party's next leader be able to seize the momentum? And the RBA is widely expected to raise rates today, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers seemingly resigned to the fact and trying to manage expectations. But is this washing with voters?
Program: Does Labor have the ‘midterm blues’?
PK is back from her break! And she's returned armed with some big thoughts about how political "argy bargy" around the OpenAI Medicare data breach. The Coalition is pushing back on consequences for OpenAI over the breach, while the Greens have called for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to appear before a Senate inquiry over the matter. It comes as Finance Minister Katy Gallagher flags legislation on AI guardrails could be introduced to parliament before the end of the year.
The economy needs migration and data centres. Voters hate both
The two things holding up the economy are fast becoming the two most potent and dangerous political issues confronting the federal government. Data centres and migration are the twin issues the government needs to keep pumping to keep the country in positive economic territory, but they are also the two issues voters have the most complex and hostile relationship with. It presents a dilemma for the government: can't live with it but also can't live without it.
Program: Howard bingo and pollies on pods
It's Question Time! But first, Fran and PK catch-up on what's been an "intense and wild" week. PK is still mad she didn't get to choose George Michael as her expert subject on Mastermind, but host and friend of the quiz show Marc Fennell dials in to commiserate and offer some advice. And as Fran reveals her special subject, she learns about the 'John Howard bingo' the team has been playing behind the scenes.
Program: Labor's immigration crackdown
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has unveiled Labor's long awaited migration plan, including a crackdown on overstayers and a ballot for backpackers. It comes after One Nation kicked off the week with details on their immigration policy and as the Coalition finalises the details of it's own plan. So, while all three-parties are on a unity ticket about reducing temporary immigration, there's key political distinctions in who they are each targeting, and how.
Program: Labor's 'narrow path' and 'stinky sausage'
The AI fight keeps getting messier. As all sides weigh in on copyright, creators, investment and whether Australia can afford to miss the next tech wave, Anthony Albanese is trying to walk a very narrow path. Can he have “all of the desserts but none of the calories” - welcoming AI investment while defending creatives from being sold down the river? Meanwhile, the government is back in the spotlight over a sports grant in Health Minister Mark Butler’s seat.
Program: Are Australians 'surrender monkeys' on AI?
The AI debate has moved from science fiction to superpower contest, with tech leaders warning of the risks while Donald Trump insists the US must beat China. So where does that leave Australia? Can it lead the way in any meaningful sense - on safety, copyright, data centres and investment - or is the Albanese government stuck trying to manage the risks while chasing the productivity upside?
Program: Should Albanese’s dead mum be off-limits?
One Nation has unveiled a plan to slash migration by 750,000 over three years, sparking swift backlash from industry and both Labor and Coalition. But as Clare and PK discuss, One Nation's political strategy has been effective. The minor party has once again managed to set the agenda and essentially "run the week". But, beyond the clever political management do the figures stack-up?
The one piece of advice about Pauline Hanson that unites Labor and Liberal
In both Liberal and Labor research on how to meet the growing electoral threat from One Nation, one piece of advice does not change. Do not go after Pauline Hanson personally. Not because these parties don’t want to. They do. But after hours of focus groups, one finding is remarkably consistent: a significant group of voters see Hanson as the victim of a political pile-on.
Program: Is Pauline Hanson losing this culture war?
It was a big week of both policy and politicking in parliament. All sides laid out their pitches to win over voters; Labor's Digital Duty of Care, One Nation's pitch for early super access and the Coalition's proposal to ban burning the flag.
Program: The PM's swing at the ABC
The Prime Minister has dismissed concerns about censorship in Labor's digital duty of care bill as "disengenous", as divisions emerge in the Coalition over the policy. It comes as Anthony Albanese faces questions about an undeclared honorary membership at the Marrickville Golf Club, after the club was awarded $6 million via an "invite only" grant scheme. The PM is adamant he wasn't aware of his honorary membership and has taken a swing at the ABC in the process.
Program: Are Labor's new laws censorship?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled Labor's draft Digital Duty of Care legislation, vowing to give people "choice and control" over their social media feeds. The Government's policy framing comes as some in the Coalition — including Opposition leader Angus Taylor — have raised concerns over censorship. Meanwhile, One Nation has continued to sell its super policy, with One Nation Treasury spokesperson Barnaby Joyce engaging in series of heated exchanges over modelling.
Program: One Nation goes for super
Parliament is back for another sitting fortnight and "rival ideas" are already dominating the agenda. The Albanese Government is set to unveil draft Digital Duty of Care legislation by the end of the week, while One Nation has unveiled its plan to allow Australians who rent or pay a mortgage to divert a portion of their super payments as salary for up to three years. As PK tells Jacob, the Coalition is again starting the week on the backfoot — "who is in the field?
Program: Sharks, climate change and George Michael
It's Question Time! But first, Fran tells PK about how it felt to spot herself swimming in footage of the Coogee shark attack and why she's not letting the experience keep her out of the water. And then it's onto your brilliant questions! Will the floods in Nepal renew the focus on climate change? Why are politicians so focused on NOM immigration? And aside from Australian politics, what expert subject would Fran and PK choose?
Program: Voters sent Labor a message. Are they listening?
Labor has now come face-to-face with the threat from One Nation. One Nation's decisive victory at the WA state by-election of Secret Harbour came with a message for Anthony Albanese and Federal Labor — so are they listening? And how are they positioning? And a war over words broke out this week, after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson accused the PM of inciting violence by labelling far-right populist parties "divisive, dangerous and downright dishonest".
Program: Will Albanese fix our feeds?
It's Wednesday, so you know what that means — it's another data day with David and PK! New GDP figures have just landed, rising 0.4 per cent in the June quarter. It's a little stronger than markets were expecting. so what will it mean for interest rates? Meanwhile, Teach Us Consent Founder has taken to the stage at the National Press Club to push for an "opt-in" model for social media algorithms.
Program: Will online safety be Albanese's legacy policy?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed off questions about tensions between China and Taiwan at the Pacific Islands Forum, saying he's focused on "outcomes and unity". As PK tells Clare, Australia hopes not being viewed as on overbearing bully in the Pacific works in our favour — rather Labor's approach to diplomacy is "carrots not sticks". Back home, the Albanese Government has unveiled a raft of proposed changes to privacy laws, but ruled out an import ban on smart glasses.
Program: One Nation comes for Labor seats
One Nation's resounding win at the WA Secret Harbour by-election was watched closely by political insiders in Canberra. The historic state by-election win came with a warning from One Nation that there are "no safe seats". So, is Federal Labor concerned — and what lessons are they taking? It comes as two new polls show Labor and One Nation remain neck-and-neck. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.
Why One Nation victory in Western Australian state by-election is a big deal
If you have ever played with dominoes, you will know that once you get the angle right and the first one falls, the subsequent dominoes come down with a speed and ferocity that rips through in a flash. The so-called "orange tsunami" — the One Nation blitzkrieg raging across the country — feels like it is doing just that. Once seen as mainly a threat to the Coalition, this weekend One Nation proved it could take seats off the Labor Party.
Program: Did Albanese get 'rolled' by the states?
National Cabinet loomed large over the political week, but while it promised to deliver a showdown between Anthony Albanese and the states, was it a bit of a fizzer instead? Fran, PK and Ash Raper certainly think so. As Ash tells PK and Fran, it was a bit like a big family gathering you brace for but that ends up being highly uneventful.
Program: Fractious federation.. and farewell Dolly
It's National Cabinet time and the stoushes between Anthony Albanese and the states are set to be spicy. So, is this a fractured moment in our federation? Meanwhile, NT Labor MP Luke Gosling has stepped aside from his role as special envoy, as he faces charges of assault and breach of bail — allegations he has denied. But was the Albanese Government slow to move here? And PK and David couldn't help but remember the incomparable Dolly Parton.
Program: Is Albanese WA's 'daddy'?
Anthony Albanese has confirmed there will be no changes to the WA GST deal, in a move warmly welcomed in Western Australia. WA Premier Roger Cook says he's "pleased the PM backed WA" while the local paper has dubbed Anthony Albanese "WA's Daddy". But the move has been received far less warmly across other states and territories, and it's not the only issue where tensions are likely to flare at National Cabinet tomorrow.
Program: One Nation's migration mop-up
One Nation has been in clean-up mode, after Farrer MP David Farley suggested the minor party's immigration plan wasn't "too different" from Labor's on Insiders. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson tried to mop-up, stating the party's target was "less than half Labor's current level", while Deputy leader Barnaby Joyce claimed the minor party's immigration policy has been consistent all along. And as the Victorian election gets closer, Labor and the Coalition are unveiling core promises.
The AI sleeper issue that could sway Australian elections
At the last federal election, Tim Wilson won back the seat of Goldstein by 175 votes. The LNP held Longman by 269 votes and in Bradfield, 26 votes determined who went to Canberra. Those numbers gave the competing candidates an extraordinary white-knuckle ride.
Program: Could deepfakes threaten elections
It's time for our Question Time! But first, Fran checks in on where PK is up to on the West Wing and gives a TV show recommendation of her own. Then they get stuck into your brilliant questions, including: Will AI deepfakes be a big risk at the next election?
Program: A big week of dealmaking
It's been a very successful legislative week for the Albanese Government, with Labor and the Coalition teaming up to pass a suite of bills. But it seems the big battles are only just beginning, with the implementation of the changes presenting a key challenge for Labor.
Program: Albanese's art of the deal
It's Labor-Coalition "deal week", with the two major parties passing a series of bills. David notes that the move allows Angus Taylor and the Opposition to show they aren't just a party that says "no" and can compromise in the national interest. Meanwhile, for Anthony Albanese the successful passage of key legislation shows his "mastering of the parliamentary arts" and ability to maximise Labor's pathways through parliament.
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