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 terror attack, the legislation introduces the vague concept of “psychological harm”, raising serious concerns about free speech, the right to protest and the ability to criticise foreign governments.

Will accusing the Israeli government of genocide, war crimes or apartheid against Palestinians now be deemed unlawful if offence is claimed? And what this means for journalists, activists, podcasters and ordinary citizens?

We also look at the political pressure behind the laws, including lobbying around the IHRA definition of antisemitism, selective enforcement against pro-Palestine protests, the cancellation of cultural events such as the Adelaide Writers’ Festival, and growing fears that subjective feelings are being elevated over democratic rights as Australia moves toward policing dissent rather than defending it. #AUSPOL

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Episoder(311)

The Long-Read Essay: Democracy, Power and Australia at the Crossroads

The Long-Read Essay: Democracy, Power and Australia at the Crossroads

2025 was the year the comforting myths finally fell away. In this long-read essay, we trace how democratic institutions – globally and in Australia – proved far more fragile than many assumed, as misi...

19 Des 202510min

The Review of 2025 Part 4: AUKUS, cancel culture and how Labor governs

The Review of 2025 Part 4: AUKUS, cancel culture and how Labor governs

Australia enters 2026 facing deep strategic uncertainty: AUKUS costs have blown out to $1.3 billion with little clarity about what Australia is actually buying, while fear-driven national-security pol...

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The Review of 2025 Part 3: All the way with the US forever

The Review of 2025 Part 3: All the way with the US forever

As the United States slides into institutional decay under Donald Trump’s return to the White House – with sweeping tariffs on global trade, mass deportations, rolled-back civil rights and an increasi...

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The Review of 2025 Part 2: A big Labor win, Liberal collapse and silencing Palestine

The Review of 2025 Part 2: A big Labor win, Liberal collapse and silencing Palestine

In our continuing review of the 2025 year in Australian federal politics, we discuss the federal election held in May, analysing one of the worst campaigns by a major political party in modern history...

5 Des 202545min

The Review of 2025 Part 1:  Culture wars, Treaty and the collapse of the politics of fear

The Review of 2025 Part 1: Culture wars, Treaty and the collapse of the politics of fear

To commence our review of the 2025 year in Australian federal politics, this bonus episode examines the continuing culture wars, the Australia Day and Invasion Day debate, and a federal election that ...

4 Des 202514min

The Seat Warmers: What Is The Purpose Behind Labor?

The Seat Warmers: What Is The Purpose Behind Labor?

In the final week of Parliament, New Politics asks a blunt question about Australian federal politics: what is the Albanese Labor government actually for? This episode turns its focus to Labor’s recor...

28 Nov 202553min

Hanson’s Burqa Stunt and the Political Nihilism of the Right

Hanson’s Burqa Stunt and the Political Nihilism of the Right

We look at the political theatre of the right, including Pauline Hanson’s latest burqa stunt in the Senate, the rise of One Nation in the polls, and the growing battle for reactionary votes between mi...

27 Nov 202511min

Retail Politics is Killing the Liberal Party

Retail Politics is Killing the Liberal Party

This week, we examine how the Liberal Party has abandoned serious policy for retail politics, scare campaigns and culture-war theatrics – strategies aimed at clawing back voters drifting to One Nation...

21 Nov 202550min

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