They’re worn by the hundreds of lobbyists who are granted access to the building and the politicians who work inside it.It’s a lucrative business - lobbyists charge handsomely to help big firms get access to large federal deals.

And with billions of dollars of government contracts up for grabs - including $22.7 billion for Labor’s made in Australia plan - a new class of Labor-allied lobbyists has emerged.

This has heightened concerns about the power of top lobbyists and renewed calls for more transparency about the access they get to the country’s decision makers.

Today, Chief political correspondent David Crowe talks to Paul Sakkal to discuss this lobbyland and the rise of Labor insiders becoming guns for hire, as well as the emergence of a new group called The Muslim Vote that is also trying to influence politics.

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After a tumultuous couple of weeks in Canberra, senator Fatima Payman has quit the Labor party. On Thursday, Payman emotionally announced her decision to leave the party that helped her gain a senate seat in the 2022 election, saying she had exhausted every option to raise her concerns about the government’s position on Palestinian recognition. Today, political correspondents Paul Sakkal and Angus Thompson talk to Jacqueline Maley about the split between Payman and the Labor party and its ramifications.

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"My name is Julian Paul Assange."

These were the first words spoken by the Wikileaks founder and high-profile long-time former prisoner as he finally faced court to answer charges this week. Assange accepted a deal to plead guilty of violating US espionage law and appeared on Wednesday in a court in the obscure US Pacific island territory of Saipan.

He was sentenced to time already served and boarded a flight home to Canberra, Australia. He arrived home on Wednesday evening to a cold Canberra evening, a triumphant fist raised.

So how big a political coup is Assange’s release? Who has been working on it and for how long? Why has Albanese made it a project of his government?

And, the temporary defection of Labor Senator Fatima Payman to the Greens.

Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss is chief political correspondent David Crowe, national security correspondent Matthew Knott, and live from Saipan, North Asia correspondent Lisa Visentin.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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This week Opposition leader Peter Dutton unveiled the Coalition’s plans for its nuclear energy policy. In doing so, he drew the battle lines for the next election, with the Albanese government firmly backing in its own plan to lower emissions using renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar.

Plus, this week Australia hosted a visit from the Chinese Premier Li Qiang. So did the visit improve relations with our largest trading partner, or set them back?

Today, chief political correspondent David Crowe, and national climate and environment editor Nick O’Malley and national affairs correspondent Matthew Knott, join Jacqueline Maley.

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This week, opposition leader Peter Dutton indicated he would not commit to a climate change target for 2030 until after the election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hit back, saying the Coalition policy would mean energy shortfalls and higher bills. This development sets up the next election as a battle between the major parties on global warming.

Also, there has been discontent among Liberal party members - particularly senator Hollie Hughes, who was recently kicked off a winnable spot on the senate ticket.

Today, national affairs editor James Massola and chief political correspondent David Crowe join Jacqueline Maley to discuss what these climate battle lines mean.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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Amid the national debate about immigration levels, it was reported this week that yoga instructors, martial artists and dog handlers have been put above some construction trades on the nation’s draft priority skills list for migrants.

This is despite a desperate need for tradies to build more homes to address the nation’s housing crisis.

Plus, a look at another important skills shortage - in our armed forces.

Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss all this is chief political correspondent David Crowe and national affairs editor Matthew Knott.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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The Albanese government faced relentless pressure this week as it scrambled to replace a ministerial direction linked to tribunal decisions that has allowed serious criminals to stay in Australia.

The Prime Minister has also been forced to defend embattled Immigration Minister Andrew Giles in parliament - as public servants revealed some criminals including murderers and sex offenders were not required to wear ankle monitors under immigration detention laws.

The Coalition has stepped up its calls for Giles to go, detailing cases where the Administrative Appeals Tribunal allowed non-citizens to stay in Australia, despite their history of often violent offending.

Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss these developments is chief political correspondent David Crowe and migration reporter Angus Thompson.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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This week we look at two stories about our public servants. The first story is about the faceless kind of public servant who toil in government departments, and the second story is about the political public servants at the heart of the Albanese government, as we discuss the different public and private roles of ministers.

Joining Jacqueline Maley is national affairs editor James Massola and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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