We’re bringing you the best episodes of 2024, before we return in early February for the election year.

One of the big issues of the federal election will be energy policy, with the opposition backing nuclear power over wind and solar as its path to a greener, cleaner world.

This episode aired just after Coalition leader Peter Dutton first unveiled his nuclear plans, all dissected by chief political correspondent David Crowe and national climate and environment editor Nick O’Malley.

National affairs correspondent Matthew Knot also makes an appearance to talk about a visit from Chinese premier Li Qiang.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.

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If things are supposed to be slowing down for Christmas, well, nobody told our federal politicians. This week we had a mid-year economic update and a contentious debate about the Coalition’s nuclear energy plans.

Today, chief political correspondent David Crowe joins Jacqueline Maley to look back at the political year and explore some of its themes.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.

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This week was dominated by the appalling anti-Semitic attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea in Melbourne’s south-east. There followed more attacks in Sydney - A car was torched in the Eastern suburbs, where there is a strong Jewish community, and houses there were graffitied with anti-Israel slogans.

The violence was followed by political conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was accused of not doing enough to quell anti-Semitism and make Jewish Australians safe. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was accused of politicising the whole issue.

So could the PM have handled the week better? And what did his handling of the firebombing tell us about his powers of leadership? Will Dutton get any blowback for his lack of bipartisanship over the issue?

Plus, Peter Dutton’s rejection of the Aboriginal flag, and Labor’s childcare policy.

Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss is chief political correspondent David Crowe and political correspondent Paul Sakkal.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.