Melissa Clarke

Melissa Clarke, a political commentator known for her insights on party dynamics, joins the discussion. They delve into the unexpected shift in Australia’s COP bid, now hosted by Türkiye, and explore the implications of Chris Bowen's presidency. The conversation turns to the Liberal Party's 'killing season,' leadership uncertainties, and internal tensions over net zero policies. They also analyze the Coalition's strategy of emphasizing immigration, reflecting on voter concerns and the impact on the political landscape.

Melissa Clarke, ABC political correspondent and AM presenter, explains One Nation’s surge in South Australia and what it signals for federal politics. She breaks down how polling turned into votes and which seats flipped. She discusses the party’s positioning on the political spectrum and the risks this trend poses to major parties.

Why did the government cave to pressure over its superannuation tax changes for the richest Australians? The Treasurer Jim Chalmers has revealed two major changes in response to critics, introducing indexing on the $3 million threshold and dropping a plan to tax unrealised gains. He says the government’s new plan achieves the same objective in making the system more equitable, but how will it work? Today, political correspondent Melissa Clarke on what the backdown means for the future of tax reform under Labor. Featured: Melissa Clarke, ABC political correspondent