Why is Australia so pessimistic?

Scientia Professor of AI at the University of New South Wales, Toby Walsh joins David Speers to unpack what the AI transition means for the future workplace. 

This week, Victoria has had EVERYTHING. For Ben Carroll it was a No Good, Very Bad week of dire polls and even direr headlines from a corruption royal commission. One Nation had to tell its candidates that praising Hitler is not OK. What is OK? Conspiracy theories about white people being replaced, apparently.  All of this while Jess Wilson coasts past her opponents with her small target strategy.  Raf Epstein and Benita Kolovos from The Guardian break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning Victorian election question?Send a short voice recording to Raf for a special Victorian Question Time episode at [email protected]

The Prime Minister may be at COP, but the Albanese Government's focus has very intentionally been on domestic issues this week.Anthony Albanese delayed his trip to chair ERC meetings and unveil a series of mandatory AI Safety rules, including an AI regulator.But while the AI safety announcement was light on details, Politico's Ryan Heath tells PK and Mel he sees it as "step-one in a two-step dance" by the Albanese Government, with the next step a copyright deal.And Mel's fallen into a "rabbit hole" about what the announcement means legally and she's got some big thoughts after her deep dive.It comes as more Australian job losses announced this week and PK thinks we are seeing the "AI white collar wave" in full force. So, how wary is the Albanese Government about the anxiety and pessimism that creates?Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Ryan Heath, Launch Editor at Politico Australia on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

New home loans have plummeted, falling across the board.A downturn in investor loans drove the decline, plunging a whopping 30 per cent, but investors weren't the only group to fall.Loans for owner occupiers, including first home buyers, also fell almost 9 per cent, and that's tricky news for the Albanese Government.Meanwhile, the PM made a brief stopover in Singapore on his way to the COP, to honour Australians held at Changi Prisoner of War Camp during WW2.David Speers shares with PK that his great uncle — and namesake — was also held at Changi as a POW.And David also has a thesis about the timing of the Prime Minister's mandatory AI Safety announcement — and what he is trying to signal.Speaking of AI, PK's "obsessed" with the way it's impacting white collar jobs — with Qantas just the latest example. So, is there more the Government needs to do here?Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced an AI safety watchdog will be set up after the Medicare breach.The Albanese Government will introduce mandatory safety and security standards for AI developers, enforced by a new regulator.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that an AI safety watchdog will be set up, in the wake of the Medicare OpenAI breach.The Albanese Government will introduce mandatory safety and security standards for AI developers, enforced by a new regulator.Meanwhile, Environment minister Murray Watt has urged colleagues to stop undermining treasurer Jim Chalmers, as Labor thrashes out key budget savings.And the Digital Duty of Care legislation is back in the spotlight, as a Senate Inquiry into the bill continues.Patricia Karvelas and Claudia Long break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

It's poll Monday — and you know what that means! PK and Jacob dig into new polling showing voter trust in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has plummeted. Only 20 per cent of voters say they trust the PM, according to the Resolve Political Monitor, while the Redbridge AFR poll has Labor support at a record low while the Coalition surges. It's bad news for Anthony Albanese, who has delayed his trip to COP to chair key budget meetings. But as Labor searches for crucial budget savings, they've been forced to abandon the sell-off of some key defence land, as they seek to neutralise political backlash.Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read PK's analysis here - It could be a matter of when, not if, Andrew Hastie becomes opposition leaderGot a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

ANU's James O'Donnell joins David Speers to explain what's behind the Scanlon Index numbers. 

"You cannot microwave a field campaign." Air and ground games, AI lies and microwaves - all part of the invisible push to win votes in Victoria. Have they lost the keys to the Labor Machine? What's Obama got to do with it? And can Pauline Hanson win if she's not on the ballot?Raf Epstein is joined by former ALP insider Jessie McCrone and former Liberal Party insider Tony Barry to break it all down on Politics Now: Victoria.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

The US Democrats have taken control of both the House and the Senate, in what's been labelled a "blue tsunami" and a "Republican shellacking".It was an election race watched closely across the globe, and with some possible lessons for Australian politicians.Fran Kelly joins PK and Melissa Clarke live from New York to discuss how it all unfolded — and whether US President Donald Trump is a "lame duck" or a "raging bull with a limp".Then PK and Mel turn their focus to domestic politics, and the tensions in Labor as inflation and interest rates continue to bite.But rather than trying to claw their way out, Mel thinks the Albanese Government is "strapping in".Her view is Labor are using MYEFO to buy themselves some time to ride this through politically, with the hope things are better ahead of the 2028 election.Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke are joined by Fran Kelly on The Party Room.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]

As the results of the US midterm elections start to roll in, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned there could be economic consequences for Australia.The Treasurer says Australians are "the cost‑of‑living casualties of decisions taken in D.C. and Tehran".It comes in the wake of the RBA's decision to raise interest rates for the fifth time this year, with the RBA Governor Michelle Bullock warning that Australians will feel poorer.So, will the upcoming MYEFO be more politically consequential for some time?Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at [email protected]