Ask me anything: ‘melon-gate’, One Nation’s media ban and the PM’s ambition - podcast

Federal parliament has returned from winter break with a frenetic start to the second half of the political year.

There were days of commentary and squirming over ‘melon-gate’ and, with Labor planning to make a deal with the Coalition to pass gambling reforms, there are still doubts about the government’s ambition in its second term.

In an ‘ask me anything’ edition of the Australian Politics podcast, Tom McIlroy, Krishani Dhanji, Josh Butler and Sarah Basford Canales from Guardian Australia’s Canberra bureau answer questions from listeners and readers

Read more:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/14/the-weekly-beast-anthony-albanese-melons-japan-podcast-ntwnfb">The melons rolled quite gently out of the gate – then suddenly became an avalanche for Albanese | Weekly Beast

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/12/albanese-melons-comment-japan-pm-media-created-crisis">Melon-gate was a non-issue in Japan.

How did it get elevated to a crisis in Australia? | Malcolm Farr

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/10/as-gambling-reforms-face-pressure-from-all-sides-will-labor-hold-em-fold-em-or-walk-away">As gambling reforms face pressure from all sides, will Labor hold ’em, fold ’em or walk away? | Josh Butler