This week independent MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender announced they would form a new political party, Community Strong Australia.

Steggall was successful as the first teal candidate, winning the prize seat of Warringah on Sydney’s north shore from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019.

Spender took Sydney’s blue-ribbon electorate of Wentworth from Liberal David Sharma in 2022.
But the leaderless Community Strong is a high-risk strategy, as all other teal MPs have declined to join.

Today, Steggall is a special guest on Inside Politics with Jacqueline Maley to talk about, amid the fracturing of the Coalition and the rise of One Nation, why now is the right time for Community Strong Australia.

This week independent MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender announced they would form a new political party, Community Strong Australia.
Steggall was successful as the first teal candidate, winning the prize seat of Warringah on Sydney&rsquo;s north shore from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019.
Spender took Sydney&rsquo;s blue-ribbon electorate of Wentworth from Liberal David Sharma in 2022. But the leaderless Community Strong is a high-risk strategy, as all other teal MPs have declined to join.
Today, Steggall is a special guest on Inside Politics with Jacqueline Maley to talk about, amid the fracturing of the Coalition and the rise of One Nation, why now is the right time for Community Strong Australia.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series. 

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series.&nbsp;

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The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

High risk or the right time? Zali Steggall on the new teal party

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/66202aa1-e63e-4d61-ac7d-b474005e620d/transcript

More Australians feel unsafe in the world than ever before, according to new research from the Lowy Institute.

And it is this environment of fear – fear of a bad economy, of terrorism, of immigration – that makes for an environment ripe for a political party like One Nation to prosper.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on how Australia is experiencing a moment he has never witnessed before, and where the solutions lie.

 

Background reading
This is the Australia that Pauline Hanson has been waiting for – a frightened country

More Australians feel unsafe in the world than ever before, according to new research from the Lowy Institute.
And it is this environment of fear &ndash; fear of a bad economy, of terrorism, of immigration &ndash; that makes for an environment ripe for a political party like One Nation to prosper. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on how Australia is experiencing a moment he has never witnessed before, and where the solutions lie.
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Background reading
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/this-is-the-australia-that-pauline-hanson-has-been-waiting-for-a-frightened-country-20260622-p6092n.html">This is the Australia that Pauline Hanson has been waiting for &ndash; a frightened country</a></li>
</ul>

Peter Hartcher on Australian nihilism, fear and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/a4d4931c-641e-413c-8b6b-b4730054ab9b/transcript

After months of criticism, and two significant scandals, Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as British prime minister.

So, why is the country on the cusp of having is seventh prime minister in only 10 years?

Today, Europe correspondent David Crowe on Starmer’s drastic fall, and on Andy Burnham, the unconventional politician who’s expected to take his place.

After months of criticism, and two significant scandals, Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as British prime minister. So, why is the country on the cusp of having is seventh prime minister in only 10 years? Today, Europe correspondent David Crowe on Starmer&rsquo;s drastic fall, and on Andy Burnham, the unconventional politician who&rsquo;s expected to take his place.

Starmer ousted: Why the British government is in turmoil

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/b4253ba9-9e16-41c9-a43a-b47200559e89/transcript

With heritage-listed sandstone turrets and iron gates, the Redeemer Baptist School promises Sydney parents the private school dream: a prestigious, disciplined education for a fraction of the cost. 

But its academic awards, state-of-the-art facilities and charitable works conceal a darker reality.

Today education reporter Emily Kowal talks to The Morning Edition host Samantha Selinger-Morris on allegations from former students who say the school ordered them to share bedrooms with teachers, and subjected them to authoritarian control. Or, as the school’s student diary put it, “Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

With heritage-listed sandstone turrets and iron gates, the Redeemer Baptist School promises Sydney parents the private school dream: a prestigious, disciplined education for a fraction of the cost.&nbsp;
But its academic awards, state-of-the-art facilities and charitable works conceal a darker reality. Today education reporter Emily Kowal talks to The Morning Edition host Samantha Selinger-Morris on allegations from former students who say the school ordered them to share bedrooms with teachers, and subjected them to authoritarian control. Or, as the school&rsquo;s student diary put it, &ldquo;Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.&rdquo;

'Be sensible and keep your mouth shut': The private school facing allegations of control

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/85f69738-61c9-420d-b25a-b47100acc453/transcript

High risk or the right time? Zali Steggall on the new teal party

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