Welcome to the lastest episode of New Politics, one of the best Australian politics podcast, providing in-depth analysis and updates on the ever-evolving landscape of Australian and international politics. In this episode, we explore some of the most pressing political issues and trends shaping our world today.
Truth in political advertising and AI
The spotlight is on truth in political advertising and the use of artificial intelligence in politics – the Premier of Queensland Steven Miles raised concerns about an AI-generated video of him dancing and he announced that Labor would refrain from using AI in the state election campaign. However, it was soon revealed that federal Labor had previously produced a similar AI-generated video featuring Peter Dutton. While these videos are clearly marked as AI-generated and obviously not real, they highlight a fine line between parody and deep-fakes. Traditional political advertising has always involved editing real footage, often misrepresenting political leaders' statements. However, deep-fakes introduce a new challenge by creating entirely fictitious scenarios and statements, raising serious ethical concerns.
Cabinet reshuffle
We discuss the imminent cabinet reshuffle, a common occurrence when underperforming ministers and unresolved portfolio issues surface. With the next election just months away, the immigration and home affairs portfolio, led by Andrew Giles, and the media reform efforts under Michelle Rowland, are under scrutiny, and the recent retirements of Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney have accelerated the reshuffle process. Prime ministers strategically implement Cabinet changes to boost election chances, making now a crucial time for these adjustments.
ICJ ruling on Israel's occupation of Palestine
The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal, identifying multiple breaches of international law and demanding an end to the occupation with full reparations. Despite the tendency of major powers to ignore unfavourable international rulings, this decision marks the strongest legal condemnation of Israel to date. In response, there have been increased calls for the Australian government to impose sanctions and sever trade relations with Israel. While Foreign Minister Penny Wong has issued a statement urging Israel to cease settlement expansions and violence, the government's response has been criticised as weak and designed to avoid offending conservative Israeli lobby groups. This issue remains critical despite being overshadowed by extensive coverage of American political events.
Australia's media obsession with American politics
Recent weeks have seen significant developments in American politics, including an assassination attempt on Donald Trump and Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, with Kamala Harris emerging as the likely Democratic candidate. While these events undeniably impact global politics, the Australian media's overwhelming coverage has been excessive. For instance, the ABC website featured 10 out of 12 top stories about US politics, most of which were negative towards Kamala Harris. This blanket coverage, while reflecting the influence of American politics, has led to an overload, causing important local stories to be overlooked.
Deep-fakes, a Cabinet reshuffle, the ICJ ruling and Australia’s media obsession with US politics