David Speers

It’s something of a spring election season; Canberra voters go to the polls this weekend, while Queenslanders will cast their votes in a little over a week. Federal politicians are watching closely for any indicators of the electoral mood.Queensland will be a key state in next year’s federal election and the state poll will be telling. Labor has been in power for nearly a decade and the relatively new Premier Steven Miles is seeking the ALP's fourth term in office. But all signs point to a defeat for Labor and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli leading the LNP back into government.Melissa Clarke, filling in for David Speers, speaks to Kos Samaras and Tony Barry from Redbridge Group about the mood in the electorate.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek speaks to David Speers about her attempts to pass legislation to create a new environmental protection agency.

From his days as a member of Monty Python to his award-winning musical Spamalot, Eric Idle has long been a favourite for Australian comedy fans.

Elections don’t come much closer than this. Nor do they tend to be as consequential. American voters are about to decide on the future direction of this country – indeed millions have already cast early ballots. And there are enormous ramifications for the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, relations with China, global trade and of course climate change.David Speers visits the state of Michigan – one of three states along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – that will largely determine the outcome, to speak to voters and community figures.

It was the opening line, and by far the most potent line, of each Donald Trump rally. And it's a line we're likely to hear far more often in Australia ahead of next year's election.

We've only got two US election questions this week, so hopefully you were paying attention to what else has been happening. Score:

ABC News: Several news stories across NewsRadio and triple j on 2 November reported that US presidential candidate Donald Trump had suggested former

The concern over big money having an outsized influence on Australia’s politics prompted the Government to promise electoral reform. This is expected to include caps on individual donations and campaign spending, as well as real-time disclosures of donations. Now - with limited time left in parliament before the next election - the pressure to reveal the plan is on.

Anthony Albanese looks increasingly unlikely to detail his government's new emissions target ahead of the next federal election, resisting calls to follow other world leaders in setting a 2035 target.

Albanese's consistency on trade and calls to stick with the Paris climate agreement suggest he's not scared of taking a different policy path to Donald Trump. That doesn't mean navigating the path ahead will be easy.