Politics with Michelle Grattan
News:Politics
Kate Chaney was one of half a dozen new “teal” MPs elected to parliament last year, winning the previously solid Liberal seat of Curtin in Western Australia.
“It’s been a fascinating and steep learning curve over the last eight months,” Chaney tells the podcast. “As a crossbencher, you really have to think very carefully about how you vote on every piece of legislation and try as much as possible to connect with community and ensure that those votes are informed by community.”
Against the background of the stoush between fellow teal Monique Ryan and a staffer over long hours, Chaney says the workload is massive. “It’s definitely challenging trying to get across all of the legislation with only one personal staff member [working on legislation]. I do think that challenge is quite different to the work of a backbencher in a party. I have been very lucky to find [staff] who are passionately engaged and have experience that has made them very well-suited for the job while still bringing a freshness to it.”
Minister David Littleproud on bushfires, drought, and the Nationals
Ross Gittins on the government’s ‘surplus obsession’
On the trust divide in politics
Deputy PM Michael McCormack on the drought and restive Nationals
Tim Watts on Australia's changing identity
Daughters of Robert Menzies and Arthur Calwell say parliament wasn’t always a “fort”
Arthur Sinodinos with some reflections and advice
Jim Chalmers on the need to change economic course
Independent MP Helen Haines on using 'soft power'
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on a slowing economy
PM’s advisor Christine Morgan on tackling Australia’s rising suicide rates
On the ‘creeping crisis’ in the public service
Anthony Albanese on Labor's hard times
Paul Oosting responds to GetUp's critics
Centre Alliance’s Stirling Griff on Newstart
Megan Davis on a First Nations Voice in the Constitution
Minister Ken Wyatt on constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians
Frank Brennan on Israel Folau and religious freedom
ACTU president Michele O'Neil on John Setka and the government’s anti-union legislation
Corrected version: Richard Eccleston on the electoral mood in Tasmania
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