Will Labor do what is right for them or the nation? – Back to Back Barries podcast
Guardian AU
•Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:00:22 GMT
📰 What Happened
This video episode of the Back to Back Barries podcast sees Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine whether Labor has become 'spooked' by the immigration issue amid One Nation's rise, and how Victorian Labor is handling a leadership transition. The discussion frames a central question about whether Labor will act in its own political interests or in the broader national interest on migration policy.
🔍 The Backstory
The episode is part of the ongoing Back to Back Barries series that tracks Australian federal politics week to week. It comes as immigration has become a charged political issue, with One Nation and the Coalition making gains according to recent polling, and internal divisions in Labor over how hard to push back. Victorian Labor is simultaneously navigating a leadership transition that has drawn attention.
🎯 Why It Matters
The podcast's central question captures a genuine tension in Australian politics: whether major parties calibrate policy to win elections or to serve the national interest. With immigration shaping up as a decisive issue, how Labor handles the politics of it will help determine the outcome of the next federal election and the character of Australia's debate on migration.
This video episode of the Back to Back Barries podcast sees Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine whether Labor has become 'spooked' by the immigration issue amid One Nation's rise, and how Victorian Labor is handling a leadership transition. The discussion frames a central question about whether Labor will act in its own political interests or in the broader national interest on migration policy.
The episode is part of the ongoing Back to Back Barries series that tracks Australian federal politics week to week. It comes as immigration has become a charged political issue, with One Nation and the Coalition making gains according to recent polling, and internal divisions in Labor over how hard to push back. Victorian Labor is simultaneously navigating a leadership transition that has drawn attention.
The podcast's central question captures a genuine tension in Australian politics: whether major parties calibrate policy to win elections or to serve the national interest. With immigration shaping up as a decisive issue, how Labor handles the politics of it will help determine the outcome of the next federal election and the character of Australia's debate on migration.