With the federal election fast approaching, and two weeks prior to the leadership spill that would see Gillard relinquish the prime ministership, Sally Warhaft speaks with pre-eminent political journalist Michelle Grattan for a special spotlight edition of the Fifth Estate.

What are the issues and initiatives that will matter the most to a voting Australia? How does this federal poll compare to other recent elections? And what have the major parties' leaders learned since 2010? A snapshot conversation on the complicated state of Australia’s political culture, taken on the eve of another big shift.