The Long-Read Essay: How Labor governs

The Long-Read Essay: How Labor governs

After its emphatic 2025 election victory, the Albanese Labor government entered the year with overwhelming parliamentary dominance and a clear mandate to govern boldly. On paper, it was a government with every advantage imaginable. Yet despite this strength, Labor has continued to govern cautiously – reluctant to take risks, overly attached to bipartisanship with a fractured Coalition, and hesitant to translate power into decisive reform. In this episode, we examine the growing gap between authority and action, and the political myth that a government’s “second year” automatically delivers bold change. Drawing on recent history and Labor’s own record so far, we ask whether 2026 will finally be the year of decisive reform – or whether Labor is waiting for a big bang that may never come. #AUSPOL

The New Politics series of long-read essays, from our new publication, The Monday Essays.


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Episoder(305)

Liberal Party reboot: Same message, same mistakes?

Liberal Party reboot: Same message, same mistakes?

In this episode, we examine the new Shadow Cabinet and ask whether the Liberal Party’s latest leadership change represents genuine renewal or simply a rebranding of the same conservative messaging tha...

19 Feb 39min

Dire straits: Can Taylor stop the Liberal Party collapse?

Dire straits: Can Taylor stop the Liberal Party collapse?

Today on New Politics, we explore the escalating crisis inside the Liberal Party following the leadership elevation of Angus Taylor and ask whether the Coalition can recover from its devastating 2025 ...

13 Feb 31min

When a war criminal comes to town

When a war criminal comes to town

This today’s episode of the New Politics podcast, we explore the political firestorm surrounding Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Sydney and why it became a nationwide flashpoint over Gaza, f...

11 Feb 19min

Thought Crimes and Punishment

Thought Crimes and Punishment

In this episode, we examine Australia’s newly passed anti-hate speech laws and ask when protecting communities crosses the line into criminalising dissent. Rushed through parliament after the Bondi te...

5 Feb 28min

America’s greatest threat: The United States

America’s greatest threat: The United States

In this episode, we examine growing global concern over the United States as political instability and erratic leadership under President Donald Trump increasingly undermine the post-1945 internationa...

29 Jan 32min

The Long-Read Essay: When dissent becomes a crime

The Long-Read Essay: When dissent becomes a crime

In this long-read episode, we revisit Australia’s anti-Semitism report from July 2025 and the growing politics of fear surrounding protest, free speech, and criticisms of Israel. As new federal anti-h...

22 Jan 25min

The Long-Read Essay: American Fascism and Trump Unmasked

The Long-Read Essay: American Fascism and Trump Unmasked

Donald Trump’s second presidency has exposed the United States’ rapid slide into authoritarianism, with chaos, corruption and unchecked executive power now defining American politics. In this long-rea...

15 Jan 19min

A Royal Commission too far? Power, pressure and the politics of Bondi

A Royal Commission too far? Power, pressure and the politics of Bondi

In this holiday episode, we cut through the noise surrounding calls for a Royal Commission into the Bondi attack and ask whether the process is truly about accountability or has become a vehicle for p...

8 Jan 12min

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