Politics with Michelle Grattan

Michelle spent two days this week in Canning, where campaigning is building up for the by-election on the 19th of September. 

The seat is held by the Liberal Party by about 12%. Its former member was Don Randall, who died suddenly in July.

In a break from our usual longform format, we conducted short interviews with Labor candidate Matt Keogh, Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, Greens Leader Richard di Natale and Greens candidate Vanessa Rauland. 

The secretary of the department of foreign affairs and trade Peter Varghese sat down with Michelle to talk about aid, the integration of AUSAID, Islamic State, the Asian century and much, much more. 

Michael McCormack is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and the Nationals member for Riverina. He joins Michelle to talk about the future of the Nationals leadership, the difference in the Nationals political style, tax reform and much more. 

Clare O'Neil is the Labor member for Hotham and with her colleague Tim Watts has written a book, Two Futures. In the book the discuss Australia in 2040 and what can be done in the short term to improve our future. Clare sits down with Michelle to talk about the book, the ideas in it, and the future of progressive politics in Australia. 

Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and Michelle step away from day to day politics to talk about Bowen's new book The Money Men, in which he writes about twelve of Australia's most notable treasurers. They talk about the legacies of notable Treasurers such as Keating, Costello, Cairns and Swan, Bowen talks about his research process, writing on the job he hopes to hold and much, much more.  

In a special episode recorded live at the ALP federal conference Michelle sits down with infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese to discuss the conference itself and then with immigration spokesman Richard Marles to talk about the ALP controversially adopting asylum seeker boat turnbacks.

Ben Oquist is Executive Director of the Australia Institute and former chief of staff to former Greens leader Bob Brown. Ben sat down with Michelle to talk about the current direction of the Greens, the Senate crossbench, climate change, and the future of progressive politics in Australia. 

The French Ambassador to Australia Christophe Lecourtier sits down with Michelle to talk about the 2015 Paris climate conference, Australia’s role in tackling climate change, France’s hopes for the meeting, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s attendance and much more.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane sits down with Michelle to talk about Dawn Fraser's comments, "team Australia", the government's approach to terrorism and asylum seekers, racism in Australia and more. 

Labor environment spokesman and new ALP federal president Mark Butler joins Michelle to talk about climate change, an ETS, the possibility of an early election, the ALP national conference and much more.