A riot caused by the intense summer heat in Alice Springs shows how vulnerable our justice system is to the impacts of extreme weather. Prison reform advocates are calling for change to improve the living conditions inside jails. Stella Maynard on how climate change is impacting the incarcerated. Guest: Writer for The Saturday Paper Stella Maynard. For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au. Background reading: Exclusive: Detainees denied cold water, cooling before NT priso...
Feb 24, 2020•12 min
In the past year, the government has directed nearly $5 billion to various schemes using a process lawyers say is likely unconstitutional. Karen Middleton on a system that avoids parliamentary scrutiny, and why one Liberal senator has become a leading critic of it. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: Government spends ‘unlawful’ billions in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit...
Feb 23, 2020•11 min
Sandwiched between the climate deniers in his government and growing public pressure for real action on climate change, Scott Morrison has edged closer to unveiling a new climate policy. Could the technology investment target solve Morrison’s political problems, or will it leave both sides underwhelmed? Paul Bongiorno on the climate dilemma faced by the PM. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: Scott Morrison's slow burn in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Pa...
Feb 20, 2020•12 min
Keith Pitt is a climate sceptic and coal evangelist. He is also the minister for Water and Resources. Mike Seccombe on how the parliament’s most strident nuclear advocate ended up with a portfolio that will help decide Australia’s stance on uranium. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Canavan’s successor apt to fuel energy wars in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au ...
Feb 19, 2020•15 min
More than 60 former asylum seekers are seeking compensation for the psychological trauma they endured in Australia’s notorious Baxter detention centre. Now the lead case has stalled in the court system, delaying a decision. Rick Morton on the legacy of John Howard’s desert camps. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Government stalling on Howard refugee compo in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, vi...
Feb 18, 2020•15 min
A humanitarian crisis is unfolding among thousands of asylum seekers living in Australia without work rights and in some cases without housing. The impact on mental health is enormous. One program in Melbourne is supporting asylum seekers by giving them the opportunity to grow their own community garden. Zoë Morrison on addressing trauma in unexpected ways. Guest: Author and writer for The Monthly Zoë Morrison. Background reading: Planting hope in The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Monthly For m...
Feb 17, 2020•13 min
There is a successful model to de-politicise climate change. It works in Britain, and a private member’s bill says it could work here. Paddy Manning on independent MP Zali Steggall’s proposal to end the climate wars. Guest: Paddy Manning, contributing editor (politics) at The Monthly . Background reading: Warringah warrior at The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See...
Feb 16, 2020•13 min
The upcoming Queensland state election is shaping Canberra politics and tearing the Nationals apart. Paul Bongiorno on what the elevation of Llew O’Brien to deputy speaker really means - and how it’s set the clock on nine months of dysfunction for the Coalition. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See ...
Feb 13, 2020•15 min
The Morrison government has bought part of a farm in Kimba, South Australia, where it intends to build a nuclear waste dump. Millions have been spent trying to secure community support – but some see this as a bribe and say the risks to health and land are too great. Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Royce Kurmelovs. Background reading: Nuclear waste site selected in South Australia in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodc...
Feb 12, 2020•14 min
Description: Scott Morrison’s re-election campaign received a huge boost from one of Sydney’s most reclusive families. So what prompted a 92-year-old man to donate $4.1 million to the Liberal Party? Rick Morton on the Wakil family and the biggest individual political donation in Australian history. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: The biggest party donor you’ve never heard of in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information o...
Feb 11, 2020•14 min
Clive Palmer spent $84 million of his own money on the last federal election – and didn’t win a single seat. But his campaign still played a key role in helping elect Scott Morrison. In this episode, Mike Seccombe speaks to Palmer’s candidates and explains why our donations system needs reform. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Inside Palmer’s campaign to thwart Labor in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information o...
Feb 10, 2020•13 min
Australian author Heather Morris has made millions selling books about the Holocaust. But the people she writes about are in many ways unrecognisable, to their families and the historical record. Investigative journalist Christine Kenneally on the dangers of falsifying history. Guest: Author and investigative journalist Christine Kenneally. Background reading: The fabulist of Auschwitz in The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au ...
Feb 09, 2020•18 min
Barnaby Joyce lost his leadership tilt but has reopened a schism in the Coalition on climate policy. Paul Bongiorno on what Joyce promised - and the challenges he has created for Scott Morrison. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 06, 2020•13 min
The federal government is refusing to adopt stronger climate-change policies, but it turns out that might not matter. In this episode, Mike Seccombe reveals the de facto target set by all states and territories – to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: States defy Commonwealth on emissions in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See ...
Feb 05, 2020•14 min
As coronavirus shuts borders and creates global panic, there is a risk it will reach a point where it cannot be contained. Rick Morton explains where the virus originated and looks at the scientific breakthroughs behind the attempt to combat it. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Anatomy of an epidemic in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privac...
Feb 04, 2020•14 min
Bettina Arndt has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, in recognition of her work for “gender equity”. Feminist academic Eva Cox considered giving back her AO in protest – and says it’s more evidence the system needs to change. Guest: Author and academic Eva Cox. Background reading: Bettina Arndt and the Australia Day honours in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and ...
Feb 03, 2020•12 min
Don Watson on why Scott Morrison is not really a politician, and how the collapse in difference between the major parties has created a vacuum of meaning. Guest: Author and speechwriter Don Watson. Background reading: Leaders and dung beetles in The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 02, 2020•14 min
As Scott Morrison pivots to the coronavirus evacuation and deploys the military to the fire zone, questions are being asked about the management of both responses. In this episode, Paul Bongiorno assesses the prime minister’s attempt to reset his agenda. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudi...
Jan 30, 2020•13 min
The Red Cross has collected more than $115 million since Australia’s bushfire crisis began. But where is that money going? The organisation has been criticised for not getting money to victims quickly enough. In this episode, Rick Morton explains why current and former Red Cross staff are speaking out. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper , Rick Morton. Background reading: Red Cross employees speak out in The Saturday Paper The Monthly The Saturday Paper For more information on today’s ...
Jan 29, 2020•14 min
As the government deals with the Bridget McKenzie scandal, questions are being asked about other larger grant programs. In this episode, Karen Middleton explains the flaws in the system and explores other programs that haven’t gained real attention. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: Sports grants story exposes broken system in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast....
Jan 28, 2020•15 min
As minister for defence, Brendan Nelson controversially spent $6.6 billion on Boeing fighter jets. Now he is running the company’s Australian division. In this episode, Mike Seccombe looks at the links between our government and the global weapons trade. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Close ties between government and military industries in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7am...
Jan 27, 2020•15 min
In a terrible summer, the bushfire season still has months to run. The volunteers fighting the fires are exhausted and under-resourced. Rick Morton on whether we can meet the next bushfire crisis without radical changes. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: The long, hot summer in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. ...
Jan 26, 2020•13 min
As fires continue on both sides of the continent, and the government succeeds in putting off commitments at the UN climate talks, Scott Morrison has gone on holidays. Paul Bongiorno on what the year looks like from this end of the calendar. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: PM travels as country burns in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy a...
Dec 19, 2019•16 min
Anthony Albanese says ending Australian coal exports won’t halt climate change. He says we need to cut emissions, but Adani should get on with it and start digging in the Galilee Basin. Karen Middleton on how Labor is resetting its coal rhetoric. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Pape r Karen Middleton. Background reading: Labor changes message on coal in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See a...
Dec 18, 2019•13 min
Helen Garner has been keeping a diary for as long as she has been a writer. She published extracts from last year’s in the latest issue of The Monthly magazine. This is a selection from them. Guest: Author Helen Garner. Background reading: Diaries (2018-19) in The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 17, 2019•12 min
As the Hillsong Church booms internationally, its local arm is still dealing with the fallout from the royal commission into child sexual abuse. Rick Morton on the man who fought the church – and its senior pastor’s father. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Sexual abuse survivor rebukes Hillsong head in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy...
Dec 16, 2019•17 min
Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, former members of the Stasi are still working to control the conversation about the regime they once served. Anna Funder on how understanding what happened in East Germany can help us comprehend the age of surveillance in which we now live. Guest: Author Anna Funder. Background reading: Stasiland now in The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and...
Dec 15, 2019•16 min
As fires burn across the east coast and Sydney suffers catastrophic air pollution, the Coalition government is arguing to do less on climate change. Scott Morrison all but avoids mentioning it. Paul Bongiorno on the reality that’s filling people’s lungs and making their eyes sting. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: PM's clouded judgement on climate in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodc...
Dec 12, 2019•15 min
Seven years ago, David Savage was injured while working for the Australian government in Afghanistan. He has fought since to have his compensation settled and to have what actually happened to him acknowledged. Karen Middleton on one man’s long fight for the truth. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: AusAID bomb victim’s treatment ‘a disgrace’ in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode,...
Dec 11, 2019•17 min
Following an inquiry into digital platforms, the government finds itself wedged between News Corp and the tech giants. Both sides are lobbying heavily. Rick Morton on the battle to regulate the internet — or not. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Australia and digital data in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Se...
Dec 10, 2019•13 min
