Political stitch up or compromise? The tale of two political deals – Back to Back Barries podcast
Guardian AU
•Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:00:38 GMT
📰 What Happened
In the Back to Back Barries podcast, Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine two deals struck this week between the Coalition and Labor on gambling advertising and the NDIS. The hosts also look ahead to the upcoming byelection in the WA electorate of Secret Harbour, which falls within federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie's electorate, and consider whether One Nation could emerge victorious and the threat that would pose. They also take a listener question about when Anthony Albanese could go and who might take the Labor leadership.
🔍 The Backstory
This week the Albanese government passed major reforms to online gambling advertising and deep NDIS spending cuts, both with Coalition support. The crossbench and independents, including senator David Pocock, have criticised these deals as failing to stand up to vested interests.
🎯 Why It Matters
The episode dissects two of the most consequential political deals of the parliamentary term, shaping the narrative around opposition strategy and One Nation's rise. Such analysis helps voters understand the compromises driving current federal policy on gambling and the NDIS.
In the Back to Back Barries podcast, Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine two deals struck this week between the Coalition and Labor on gambling advertising and the NDIS. The hosts also look ahead to the upcoming byelection in the WA electorate of Secret Harbour, which falls within federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie's electorate, and consider whether One Nation could emerge victorious and the threat that would pose. They also take a listener question about when Anthony Albanese could go and who might take the Labor leadership.
This week the Albanese government passed major reforms to online gambling advertising and deep NDIS spending cuts, both with Coalition support. The crossbench and independents, including senator David Pocock, have criticised these deals as failing to stand up to vested interests.
The episode dissects two of the most consequential political deals of the parliamentary term, shaping the narrative around opposition strategy and One Nation's rise. Such analysis helps voters understand the compromises driving current federal policy on gambling and the NDIS.