Peter Lewis

Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks with Peter Lewis about the latest Guardian Essential poll and the health of Anthony Albanese’s Labor government midway through its second term. The poll indicates that One Nation’s primary vote has plateaued, but Labor remains vulnerable and cannot assume its position is secure. Angus Taylor’s approval rating has also fallen sharply.

Anthony Albanese faces a major political challenge as Australia navigates the economic, social and environmental impacts of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence. While some in government see urgency in embracing AI for productivity and growth, public skepticism and growing evidence of social and economic harms highlight the need for strong guardrails. Datacentres and AI deployment raise risks including inequality, job insecurity, environmental strain and concentrated power among major tech companies. The government is beginning to establish national standards and centralized oversight, but significant decisions remain across defence, copyright, safety, labour and privacy. Advocates from civil society, unions and environmental groups are pushing for countervailing power to ensure the benefits of AI are not privatised while the costs are socialised. Ensuring sovereignty and protecting communities will require sustained pressure to balance technological adoption with public interest safeguards.

Discussion of the first Guardian Essential poll following Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club speech shows her support has stalled, with concerns emerging among One Nation voters about her policy direction. Josh Butler and Peter Lewis examine voter reactions to her attacks on multiculturalism, climate action and national institutions, and consider approaches to addressing the frustrations fuelling interest in her party.

Historical parallels between the industrial revolution and the rise of big tech frame a call for stronger regulation to curb corporate dominance, protect privacy, and rebalance power online. Governments in the US, Europe and Australia are exploring measures ranging from antitrust actions to data protection rules, with the EU’s GDPR offering a leading model. The emergence of data ownership and compensation concepts reflects growing interest in redistributing wealth generated by digital platforms and reinforcing individual control over personal information.

Rising concerns about underreported and under-prosecuted disability hate crime prompt a call for greater vigilance in identifying hostility toward disabled victims. Despite high conviction rates, the number of prosecutions remains low relative to estimated incidents. The Crown Prosecution Service introduces a new action plan, best‑practice model, and assurance regime to improve case handling and ensure courts recognize and address hate‑motivated offences. Increased transparency and proper identification of hostility are presented as essential to strengthening public confidence and delivering justice for disabled victims.