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Is It On?

Is It On?

By BuzzFeed Australia

Alice Workman and Lane Sainty from BuzzFeed News take you into the corridors of power at Australian Parliament House to dissect the latest goings on in federal politics.
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Episode 17: The Postal Survey We Had To Have

Is It On?Aug 11, 2017

00:00
55:23
Episode 45: Don’t Cry For Me I’m Georgina

Episode 45: Don’t Cry For Me I’m Georgina

WTF Super Saturday?!?!!? This is the audio of our live Twitter show ‘Super Sunday Brunch’ wrapping up everything that happened across the five by-elections and how the polls/pundits got it so wrong! Featuring an IV with Labor senator Doug Cameron and a political panel of Guardian Australia’s Amy Remeikis, IPA’s Evan Mulholland, electoral analyst from tallyroom.com Ben Raue and former Labor senator Sam Dastyari. CHECK OUT the videos on our socials including the amazing Talking Memes!
& BIG UPS TO @jjjove for the amazing title Don’t Cry For Me I’m Georgina. 
Jul 30, 201801:26:16
Episode 44: No Then Yes Then No Again

Episode 44: No Then Yes Then No Again

Bill Shorten makes a captain’s call. Anthony Albanese makes a speech. IS IT ON in the Labor Party? Probably not tbh but it’s always fun to speculate!<br /><br />Alice chats to workplace minister Craig Laundy and Labor frontbencher Ed Husic on the live show about tax cuts, higher education changes, PaTH internships and The Bachelor! Such fun!
Jun 27, 201850:06
Episode 43: Malcolm Turnbull Loves Sport

Episode 43: Malcolm Turnbull Loves Sport

Got a problem streaming the World Cup (that has nothing to do with the NBN because that is totally working just fine ok thanks for asking)? Malcolm Turnbull will fix it! Or make a phone call complaining about it to the Optus CEO. Good luck to Mike and the boys!<br /><br />Victorian Liberal senator Jane Hume and Labor MP Terri Butler join #BFOzPol to talk about what needs to happen to stop the violence against women in Australia, and how the government’s #metoo inquiry into workplace sexual harassment will work.
Jun 20, 201848:32
Episode 42: Cash Wednesday

Episode 42: Cash Wednesday

Michaelia Cash has been reissued with a subpoena for the AWU’s court challenge against the raids on their offices last October. What does it mean (nothing really, we don’t have a court date). ALSO we finally get to the truth of the infamous WHITEBOARD incident. Revenue and financial services minister Kelly O’Dwyer joins us to talk Barnaby Joyce, super, and whether Australia should follow Ireland and decriminalise abortion. Also, political reporters Amy Remeikis from the Guardian Australia, Myles Morgan from SBS and Rachel Baxendale from The Australian drop in for a chat.
May 30, 201850:10
Episode 41: $7 Bunnings Suits

Episode 41: $7 Bunnings Suits

Here’s one we (partially) recorded earlier! Nick’s filling in for Lane while she’s on holidays.<br /><br />It’s episode two of our Twitter show #BFOzPol LIVE from the BuzzFeed bunker in Parliament House, on a sitting week Wednesday at 11am. Labor senator Kimberley Kitching takes the $7 Bunnings suits worn by Parliament House security officers for a road test. Tom McIllroy from the Financial Review gives us the lowdown on Senate #estimates … including the tale of punter “Bluey”, who was fined $250 for flipping off Malcolm Turnbull after he claimed the PM cut in line at the pub. Also, Kylar Loussikian from the Daily Telegraph and Phoebe Wearne from The West Australian join our journo panel!
May 23, 201847:11
Episode 40: Malcolm's Marine Biologists

Episode 40: Malcolm's Marine Biologists

A quick update from Alice about a super exciting project happening on 09 May, the morning after Scott Morrison’s not-Christmas-in-May Budget. #BFOzPol
May 01, 201805:12
Episode 39: 29 Not Out

Episode 39: 29 Not Out

Privyet! Malcolm Turnbull has lost his 29th Newspoll in a row, but somehow the Australian cricket team's had a worse week. Also, foreign minister Julie Bishop booted two Russians, who may or may not be spies, out of the country. We’ll let the Russian ambassador to Australia explain. And Pauline Hanson has a HALAL warning for anyone buying chocolate this holiday season. Happy Easter!
Mar 29, 201835:58
Episode 38: Dead To Me

Episode 38: Dead To Me

Alice faces off against minister Michaelia Cash at a press conference in Parliament House. It only lasted a minute, but was pretty lit. Also, Peter Dutton says the “crazy lefties” at the ABC are dead to him over their reporting about farmers in South Africa. Oh, and Lane doesn’t know who Steve Martin (famous actor and comedian) is. Outrageous.
Mar 23, 201830:34
Episode 37: Blinded By The White(board)

Episode 37: Blinded By The White(board)

Michaelia Cash literally hid behind a whiteboard after threatening to publicly name all the young women in Bill Shorten’s office that she’s heard ~rumours~ about. Yes, that really happened. We’ll explain why. Also we have the latest update on the AFP raids on the AWU offices which saw an adviser from Cash’s office resign last year. Alice spoke to a journalist who claims they received a tip-off about the raids from then justice minister Michael Keenan’s office. Oh yeah and we have a new deputy prime minister. A week in politics is a LONG time!
Mar 02, 201832:50
Episode 36: BARNA-BYE

Episode 36: BARNA-BYE

Former Kiwi Barnaby Joyce has finally resigned as deputy prime minister and leader of the Nationals… but who will succeed him? Can you even name another Nat? And does Joyce know how to use a tea towel? We also discuss Mathias Cormann’s time in the top job, and ask the big questions: will Lane try some Belgian beer this weekend? Tune in to find out…<br /><br /><br />
Feb 24, 201831:51
Episode 35: It’s Keneally Over

Episode 35: It’s Keneally Over

In the final podcast for 2017, Alice and Lane take a look back on the highs and lows of the year in Australian politics. We rope in two #auspol experts – Rob Harris (Herald Sun) and Michael Koziol (Sydney Morning Herald) – to name their 2017 political winners and losers, and give their predictions of what’s going to happen in 2018. Also, the ~whispers~ are back. NB: Lane has a cold hence the sexy jazz voice.
Dec 15, 201757:01
Episode 34: Let’s Get Married ❤️💛💚💙💜

Episode 34: Let’s Get Married ❤️💛💚💙💜

Australian parliament made history this week by legalising same-sex marriage. Join Alice and Lane as they rudely interrupt people literally toasting with champagne at the official after party in Canberra. We chat to Liberal MP Tim Wilson about his marriage proposal on the floor of parliament; Labor senator Louise Pratt; Greens Richard Di Natale and Janet Rice; and Kath & Kim star Magda Szubanski. 
Dec 08, 201747:19
Episode 33: Malcolm’s Bankflip

Episode 33: Malcolm’s Bankflip

What a week in Canberra! Malcolm Turnbull backflips and announces a banking royal commission, but is happy to let everybody else take the credit. What does this U-turn, and Labor’s likely Queensland election victory, mean for his leadership? Also, the same-sex marriage bill passes the Senate, and Labor senator Sam Dastyari resigns as opposition deputy whip in the Senate after an ~ explosive ~ recording emerges. Plus, Alice chats to Labor front bencher Linda Burney about the government rejecting the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Dec 01, 201756:45
Episode 32: It’s My Parli And I’ll Sit If I Want To

Episode 32: It’s My Parli And I’ll Sit If I Want To

Parliament is CANCELLED!!! Well, kind of. Malcolm Turnbull called a stop work for the House of Representatives – while the Senate debates same-sex marriage. The race is tightening in Bennelong, after BuzzFeed News uncovered an old video of John Alexander making a rape joke. And another senator bites the dust! NXT’s Skye Kakoschke-Moore became the ninth politician to quit parliament after discovering she was a British dual citizen by descent from her mother. Also, Lane chats to Amy Remeikis from Guardian Australia about the QLD election and Alice eats a banana.
Nov 24, 201756:21
Episode 31: YES 🌈

Episode 31: YES 🌈

Alice and Lane take you inside the celebrations and negotiations of an historic week in Australia, where 61.6% of the country voted YES to legalising same-sex marriage. We’re joined by three of the politicians who have been at the forefront of the debate both politically and personally: Liberal senator Dean Smith popped in to talk about what is was like to introduce the bill that's set to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia, Labor senator Penny Wong talks about THAT PHOTO of her crying when she heard the news, and Greens senator Janet Rice tells Lane how much this result means for her. Lane also spoke to Christine Forster at the YES party in Sydney… just after she had gotten off the phone with her big brother, Tony Abbott.<br /><br />
Nov 17, 201701:15:11
Episode 30: It's Bennelong Time

Episode 30: It's Bennelong Time

Will it be game, set and match for potential Brit John Alexander? The PM’s jumped the Sharkie as the list of possible dual citizens grows … can we officially call this a crisis? We chat to Greens leader Richard Di Natale who reckons the Turnbull government is so cooked that Bill Shorten will soon be PM. Oh, and Pauline Hanson’s christened her Qld election “Battler bus” with $7 sparkling wine. The Battler bus is coming and everybody’s jumping!
Nov 10, 201753:32
Episode 29: Yer a Briton, Parry!

Episode 29: Yer a Briton, Parry!

Alice and Lane have all the receipts on the latest politician to fall foul of Section 44, dual British-Australian Liberal senator from Tasmania, Stephen Parry, plus the details on the others in the Citizenship 7: Where are they now? Who is replacing them? Who cares? Also, we take a deep dive into BuzzFeed News’ harrowing investigation into Australia’s offshore detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island. And Alice speaks to comedian Shaun Micallef about the second season of The Ex-PM. Is it based on Kevin Rudd?
Nov 03, 201701:03:54
Episode 28: Cash Didn’t Check

Episode 28: Cash Didn’t Check

This week Alice was a serious thorn in the government’s side with a wild story about Michaelia Cash and the AFP raids being leaked to the media. She also spoke to former prime minister Kevin Rudd about his new book, which is 100% absolutely not written for revenge. Meanwhile, Lane delivers the most cynical postal survey update yet. Also, #estimates~ nonsense and the government’s rejection of the Referendum Council’s recommended Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Oct 27, 201701:01:55
Episode 27: Jacinda And Winston And NZ Oh My!

Episode 27: Jacinda And Winston And NZ Oh My!

This week Lane and Alice are bowled over by news from New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern of “Jacindamania” fame will be the next prime minister! Lane talks to “yes” campaign leader Tiernan Brady about what he thinks the REAL slippery slope is and double standards in the postal survey, Alice asks David Leyonhjelm what he reckons about the government’s welfare drug testing, and there are several jokes about people negging the NEG.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
Oct 20, 201701:17:48
Episode 26: Low Road To The High Court

Episode 26: Low Road To The High Court

<br />Lane and Alice have the full wrap on what’s happened with the High Court citizenship mess, and whether Jacinda Ardern’s ginger cake will help win her the NZ election (yes we are still waiting). We also meet the first female Victorian Greens leader, who is running the party but doesn't yet have a seat in parliament — Samantha Ratnam. And heeeeeeee’s back!!!! Mark Di Stefano returns, as our new UK spill correspondent, giving us the ~House of Commons whispers~ on what’s happening with prime minister Theresa May… is it on?<strong><br /></strong><br /><br /><br />
Oct 13, 201755:35
Episode 25: Shorten Raps, Xenophon Wraps

Episode 25: Shorten Raps, Xenophon Wraps

Alice and Lane are shook by Nick Xenophon’s announcement that he’s quitting federal politics. US academic David Smith joins us to explain why Americans continue to love guns in the wake of another mass shooting in Las Vegas. Also Bill Shorten rapped to 50 Cent and honesty… it wasn’t that bad.
Oct 06, 201758:05
Episode 24: Exit Through The Thrift Shop

Episode 24: Exit Through The Thrift Shop

Alice is horrified to discover Lane is going to the NRL football grand final to investigate who this Macklemore character is, and why he is getting involved in the postal survey. Also, we find out if life as we know it will be over if Australia legalises same-sex marriage, with a history lesson from a real life New Zealander: gay Labour politician Louisa Wall.
Sep 29, 201757:52
Episode 23: Jacindamania

Episode 23: Jacindamania

Kia ora! Alice and Lane chat to the woman behind the ‘Jacindamania youthquake’ — the new leader of New Zealand’s Labour party, 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern — ahead of NZ’s national election. We get some frank advice from National education minister Nikki Kaye on how Australia should get on with marriage equality. And DJ Max Key, son of former NZ PM John Key, drops by to throw down a DJ challenge (and decorate some pavlova). Choice, bro!
Sep 21, 201759:56
Episode 22: Stay On Message

Episode 22: Stay On Message

Lane goes head-to-head with Australian Christian Lobby boss and spokesperson for the “no” camp Lyle Shelton. Is Australia really homophobic? And should people be able to refuse service to gay couples? Oh! And Olivia Newton John came to parliament this week to talk about medicinal cannabis. Plus ~ gallery whispers ~ is back.
Sep 15, 201758:30
Episode 21: Less Tweets More Meets

Episode 21: Less Tweets More Meets

Alice and Lane are triple-parked with guests this week! Greens senator Janet Rice reacts to the High Court decision against her legal challenge to the same-sex marriage postal survey, and Labor senator Murray Watt thinks the government is ignoring expert evidence on the harms of the welfare drug-testing trial. Meanwhile, Liberal senator Linda Reynolds spoke to the podcast about WAXIT - WA’s move to become financially independent from Australia. Yup.
Sep 08, 201755:01
Episode 20: It’s Legal To Call Tony Abbott The C-Word

Episode 20: It’s Legal To Call Tony Abbott The C-Word

Alice and new co-host Lane (!!!) phone a friend to find out exactly WTF is going on with all these High Court challenges — the dean of law at the UNSW and constitutional law expert George Williams! He talks through Section 44 (Derryn Hinch…hello), the same-sex marriage postal survey, and just how out-of-date the Australian Constitution is. Also, you can legally call Tony Abbott the c-word because it’s so damn Australian; and producer Nick Wray goes to a Trump rally and stands next to The Mooch.
Sep 01, 201752:51
Episode 19: Chris Bowen Just Winked At Me

Episode 19: Chris Bowen Just Winked At Me

Alice and Mark learn all the secrets and fun facts about Parliament House with politico and host of the new ABC documentary The House, Annabel Crabb — including the time Tony Abbott got so drunk he slept through a night of voting. The Labor frat house is back for an unhinged edition of ~gallery whispers~. Chris Bowen, Jason Clare and Ed Husic dish the dirt on each other and it gets…pretty loose. And it's Mark’s last episode. Sad!
Aug 25, 201701:02:33
Episode 18: Ewe Have Got To Be Kidding Me Barnaby!

Episode 18: Ewe Have Got To Be Kidding Me Barnaby!

Alice and Mark replace the flag above Parliament House with a circus big top, because that’s the only way to portray how cooked this week was. Pauline Hanson in a burqa. The deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce is/was a Kiwi. The deputy Nationals leader Fiona Nash is a Scot. Oh, and Eric Abetz told us same-sex marriage could lead to people marrying the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Go home #auspol, you’re drunk.
Aug 18, 201756:30
Episode 17:  The Postal Survey We Had To Have

Episode 17: The Postal Survey We Had To Have

This week Alice and Mark get the lowdown on what’s happening with the same-sex marriage postal survey (plebiscite) from the minister in charge, Mathias Cormann. Lane chats to Liberal MP Andrew Laming, who holds a postal vote in his electorate each year. Also - Australian Financial Review journo Phil Coorey serves a warning from the 1999 Republic referendum on what not to do.<br />P.S. YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 24 TO ENROL/UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS WITH THE AEC SO YOU CAN VOTE. DO IT ONLINE NOW!<br /><br /><br /><br />
Aug 11, 201755:23
Mini Episode #3: The Rebels

Mini Episode #3: The Rebels

Mark, Lane and a special guest all the way from Europe (it’s just Alice) are back for one final pop-up podcast before we launch into Season Two. It’s got everything you might have missed in Australian politics in the past month: rogue MPs, shock resignations, and leadership rumblings! Plus, a bonus discussion about bunga bunga parties.
Aug 04, 201722:10
Mini Episode #2: Peter Dutton And The Gas Masks

Mini Episode #2: Peter Dutton And The Gas Masks

It’s another bonus mini episode, brought to you by the irrepressible Mark Di Stefano and the less good version of Alice Workman, Lane Sainty. A week is a long time in politics, and in the past seven days we’ve seen not one, but TWO Greens senators resign after the shock discovery that they’re actually dual citizens. In other news, Malcolm Turnbull handed Peter Dutton a huge promotion and also stood in front of soldiers wearing gas masks. Creepy! Finally, is the plebiscite back from the dead… in postal form? Who can say.
Jul 20, 201712:10
Mini Episode: Frankenstein’s Monster

Mini Episode: Frankenstein’s Monster

Desperately missing Alice, Mark coerces his colleague Lane Sainty into joining him for a short rundown of the latest political news. In this bonus elevator podcast (like an elevator pitch, but more podcast-y), Mark and Lane talk same-sex marriage, the latest round of Turnbull vs. Abbott, and why criminal gangs might be buying our Medicare details online.
Jul 13, 201710:15
Episode 16: Old Abbotts Die Hard

Episode 16: Old Abbotts Die Hard

In our last episode for season one (sad!) Alice and Mark take a look at the biggest leadership battle in Australian politics, and it’s happening inside…the Greens! Also, Tony Abbott’s election manifesto Make Australia Work Again. And former Liberal MP Wyatt Roy tells us what it was like to fight ISIS during his gap year after federal politics.
Jun 30, 201759:43
Episode 15: The Full Gonski

Episode 15: The Full Gonski

This week Mark and Alice chat to Liberal senator Dean Smith about the future of the same-sex marriage plebiscite as well as a mystery politician for ~ Gallery Whispers ~ who has a surprise link to the film The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. Also... do shoving tampons up your nose solve a nose bleed? Hit us up on the DMs.
Jun 23, 201747:45
Episode 14: I Have This Russian Guy

Episode 14: I Have This Russian Guy

This week Alice and Mark prepare for war with the US after audio of Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull impersonating president Trump was leaked. We also chat to Labor senator Lisa Singh, the Tasmanian politician touted as Australia’s Bernie Sanders.
Jun 16, 201755:04
Episode 13: The One Direction of Anti-Islam

Episode 13: The One Direction of Anti-Islam

This week Alice and Mark discover what it’s like to do tequila shots with Neo-Nazis. Their guest is John Safran, a documentary-maker and author who spent the year hanging out with extremist groups, white nationalists and socialists for his book Depends What You Mean By Extremists.
Jun 08, 201745:26
Episode 12: Lesbian Tennis Party

Episode 12: Lesbian Tennis Party

This week Alice resurrects Healthy Harold and Mark relives his wog boy childhood. We also chat with TV and radio broadcaster turned senator Derryn Hinch about rouging nipples. Seriously.
Jun 02, 201748:20
Episode 11: Centrelink Will Kill You

Episode 11: Centrelink Will Kill You

Pauline Hanson learns animals are alive before you kill them, the PM rejects a request for Outkast’s 'Hey Ya!' to replace the national anthem, plus Mark and Alice speak to the man behind the government’s controversial plan to drug test young people on welfare: human services minister Alan Tudge!
May 26, 201747:56
Episode 10: Pliberscendance

Episode 10: Pliberscendance

Mark and Alice chat with NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi about the failed attempt to decriminalise abortion (yes, it’s 2017 and abortion is still a crime in New South Wales). Gallery Whispers is back, the banks are mad as hell, and what da heck is happening in the Labor party - Is It On?
May 19, 201741:33
Episode 9: Toilet Water

Episode 9: Toilet Water

In this Budget special, Mark and Alice sit down with Australian treasurer Scott Morrison to find out if the government is using toilet water to figure out where to run their drug testing trials.Former Labor treasurer Wayne Swan gives his take on ScoMo’s Budget and Greens leader Richard Di Natale accuses the government of waging a war on young people. #LetsGoSharks
May 12, 201756:23
Episode 8: Too Many Spivs

Episode 8: Too Many Spivs

In this week’s episode, Mark and Alice dive head first into the super sexy topic of the federal budget! What’s in? What’s out? We’ll let you know. Labor’s shadow treasurer Chris Bowen roasts Mark Latham and gives his thoughts on ScoMo’s good and bad debt. Oh, and ~gallery whispers~ is back!
May 04, 201751:16
Episode 7: The Raven

Episode 7: The Raven

In this week’s episode Mark and Alice meet “The Raven” aka Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. We also hit the streets of Sydney with a giant picture of Scott Morrison (we literally did this) and find out if anyone in Australia knows who he is. Spoiler - they don’t.
Apr 13, 201745:53
Episode 6: Labor's frathouse

Episode 6: Labor's frathouse

This week Alice and Mark head into Canberra’s most notorious frat house to chat to Labor MP Ed Husic for a very special extended version of ~ Gallery Whispers ~. The gossip is juicy, spicy and, let’s face it, pretty loose. Get it before it’s pulled from iTunes.
Apr 07, 201731:12
Episode 5: The Old Man & 18C

Episode 5: The Old Man & 18C

This week Alice and Mark chat with the first female Muslim politician Labor’s Anne Aly about whether or not Islam is a race and her ideas for changing the Racial Discrimination Act. We also talk to <em>The Daily Telegraph’s</em> political editor Sharri Markson about why she thinks the ABC has a left wing bias, and debut a new segment - That Escalated Quickly!
Mar 31, 201756:41
Episode 4: Bottom Of The Crap Pile

Episode 4: Bottom Of The Crap Pile

This week Alice and Mark find out what decisions in parliament house make independent senator Jacqui Lambie “want to get a bucket and vomit”. We also dissect what the hec is happening with dat 18C. Plus: make sure to turn your sound up for another round of spicy gossip in ~ gallery whispers ~.
Mar 24, 201743:31
Episode 3: Paleo Pear

Episode 3: Paleo Pear

This week Alice and Mark chuck on an Akubra and find out what deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce really thinks about Johnny Depp (hint: it’s not good). We also find out wtf paleo pear and banana bread is, predict Australia’s new prime minister with Sky News’ Samantha Maiden and debut our new gossip section ~gallery whispers~.
Mar 03, 201746:06
Episode 2: Gay Nazi Mind Control

Episode 2: Gay Nazi Mind Control

This week Alice and Mark go under the tin foil hat and ask Penny Wong if gay people are using Nazi mind control to convince people to support same-sex marriage (as suggested by a One Nation candidate). We'll also find out why Laurie Oakes thinks Malcolm Turnbull is a sad figure and discover the truth about Tony Abbott’s rise to the top job.
Feb 18, 201738:28
Episode 1: Thinking Man Emoji

Episode 1: Thinking Man Emoji

This week we talk Russia, Trump and emojis with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop; ponder whether Cory Bernardi's defection from the Liberal Party was a good or bad idea; dissect Malcolm Turnbull’s sycophantic speech and ask the question IS IT ON?"<br /><br />
Feb 11, 201747:06