7am What did Albanese achieve this year?
Dec 28, 2025
Amy Remeikis, a political reporter and contributing editor at The New Daily, delves into Anthony Albanese's year in office. She discusses the government's achievements, like tackling Medicare and environmental laws, but highlights significant retreats on gambling and housing reforms. Amy also analyzes how U.S. tariffs helped bolster support for Medicare and the electoral advantages Labor gained from Peter Dutton's culture-war rhetoric. She assesses future challenges that could test Labor's commitment to transformative change.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Government Entered Year In Defensive Mode
- The Albanese government entered 2025 appearing politically weakened after the Voice loss and rising cost-of-living concerns.
- That initial slump framed the year's politics and forced a defensive, incremental approach to reform.
Medicare Card Became A Political Tool
- Labor ran a 'back to basics' campaign centred on defending Medicare and bulk billing rather than sweeping reform.
- The policy worked politically even if its mechanics offered little practical benefit to many GP practices.
Timu Trump Captured Voter Fears
- Amy recalls coining 'Timu Trump' as a way the electorate perceived Peter Dutton's style and its political damage to the Coalition.
- That nickname captured voter anxiety about a Trump-like cultural stance and helped Labor electorally.