What does standing by while bad things happen do to us? That’s the question Father Rod Bower has been asking himself. For almost 10 years, Father Rod, wrote messages in support of refugees, climate action and same-sex marriage on the sign out the front of his Gosford Church. But, according to him, years of political point scoring on these issues has done more than just delay action – it’s injured us all. Today, Archdeacon Rod Bower on Australia’s moral injury and how we can begin to heal. Guest:...
Jun 08, 2022•16 min•Ep. 710
University students don’t read detailed feedback, so what’s the point in paying academics to give it? That’s the position of some of the management at one of Australia’s most prestigious universities. Now, staff are striking and battlelines are being drawn in one of the biggest industrial disputes in the history of the university sector. So is there an end in sight to the crisis in universities? What does it mean for students? And can universities reconcile the tension between pursuing cuts and ...
Jun 07, 2022•18 min•Ep. 709
The new Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, has been keen to say he wants Australians to get to know him better. He’s acknowledged making some mistakes in the past, including walking out of the 2008 apology to the Stolen Generation. But now, an exclusive report by Karen Middleton has revealed that last year, Peter Dutton intervened to cancel an Australian Defence Force plan to give military bases dual English and Indigenous names. Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper , Karen ...
Jun 06, 2022•16 min•Ep. 708
Right now, the UK government is deliberating on whether to sign-off on the extradition of Australian Julian Assange to the US. If that happens, Assange — who was charged with espionage offenses in relation to material published on Wikileaks — faces charges that could result in a 175-year sentence. But the Australian election has given Assange’s family and supporters renewed hope. So, will a change in government change the fate of the wikileaks founder? Today, journalist Amy Fallon, on the extrad...
Jun 05, 2022•16 min•Ep. 707
As the new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attempts to set the agenda and tone of the next parliament, Labor’s challenges are crystallising. Climate policy is shaping up as a key battleground, with Labor confronted by a Greens dominated senate, and an Opposition that won’t back Labor’s targets. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on Albanese’s agenda and why he’s demanding discipline from the Labor party room. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper , Paul Bongiorno. Stay in t...
Jun 02, 2022•15 min•Ep. 706
Barnaby Joyce has been rolled as leader of the National Party and replaced by David Littleproud. Joyce says he’s not sad about it, but unlike Scott Morrison he did try to hang on to his party’s leadership after the election. So what state has Joyce left the Nationals in? Will his successor be any different? And is there a chance that Joyce could make yet another political comeback? Today, contributing editor to The Monthly , Rachel Withers on Barnaby Joyce’s fate and the future of the Nationals....
Jun 01, 2022•15 min•Ep. 705
This week China tried to sign up 10 pacific nations to a new regional security pact. Pacific leaders walked away from the deal – but just for now, and Chinese diplomats are hopeful they’ll get the deal done eventually. If it happens, it would be another huge shift away from Australia by Pacific leaders. So what is China offering? How did Australia lose the trust of our neighbours? And if China’s influence grows in the South Pacific what does it mean for us? Today, world editor for The Saturday P...
May 31, 2022•16 min•Ep. 704
For four years, one Tamil family, with their two small children have been living in community detention. The parents, Priya and Nades, have maintained for years that they just want to return to their home in Queensland, Biloela and now they finally can. How did they learn they would be able to return? And what does the decision say about the future of immigration policy in Australia? Today, journalist Rebekah Holt, who spent election night with the Nadesalingam family, on the moment the family r...
May 30, 2022•17 min•Ep. 703
The stunning victories of six new teal independents, in seats the Liberal Party thought were unloseable, has redrawn the political map in Australia. Throughout the campaign, critics of these Independents suggested they had powerful backers who were co-ordinating things behind the scenes. According to the Liberal Party, chief among them was Simon Holmes à Court, the founder of climate lobby group Climate 200. But the Independents themselves maintained they were not coordinating, and the funding f...
May 29, 2022•20 min•Ep. 702
After Saturday’s election result, the Coalition have begun a post-mortem on what went wrong as incoming Liberal leader Peter Dutton vows the party won’t become ‘Labor-lite’. And, in his first week as Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese has wasted no time in sending signals about the kind of government he intends to lead. But as votes are still being counted in an election that has reshaped the political map. What do the results mean for the future of Australian politics? What will the greatest chal...
May 26, 2022•18 min•Ep. 701
The Hillsong Church was started in Sydney by Brian and Bobbie Houston. It went on to become one of the world’s greatest Pentecostal forces. That was until a series of scandals forced Brian and Bobbie out. Now leaked emails show exactly how the family responded. Guest: Author of Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity Is Taking Over the World Elle Hardy. Background reading: The Hillsong emails in The Saturday Paper . Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener f...
May 25, 2022•15 min•Ep. 700
As the Liberal Party examines its electoral defeat, questions are being asked about the party’s future. The frontrunner for the leadership is Peter Dutton. But what kind of Opposition would he lead? And is the moderate wing of the party, all but wiped out by independents, now dead? Today, former Liberal leader and columnist for The Saturday Paper John Hewson on what went wrong for the Coalition on election night - and what lessons the party should take from the defeat. Guest: Former Liberal lead...
May 24, 2022•14 min•Ep. 699
Right now, one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith, is suing Nine newspapers over a series of articles alleging war crimes. As the case has played out, we have learned extraordinary details about Australia’s most secretive operations during the war in Afghanistan, with evidence being aired in civil court. Some witnesses have told the court they saw Ben Roberts-Smith unlawfully kill people — others say he was acting inside the rules of engagement. Today, senior reporter for ...
May 23, 2022•16 min•Ep. 698
Almost a decade of conservative government in Australia has ended. Votes are still being counted, but it looks like the Liberal and National Party have suffered their worst result in decades. The Greens, independents and minor parties have had historic wins, and will wield significant power in the new parliament. But the government will be led by Anthony Albanese, Australia’s 31st Prime Minister – it’s something even he didn’t think was possible just a few years ago. So how did it all come toget...
May 22, 2022•21 min•Ep. 697
It’s election day, but when will the results start coming through? When will we start to know who’s winning? And what should we all look out for, which seats should we pay attention to? To answer these questions, we decided to speak to election analyst, Ben Raue, about the most important races to pay attention to and how we should be watching results. We hope you enjoy Ben’s guide to watching the election and that it helps make sense of what is shaping up to be a remarkable election night. Guest...
May 20, 2022•13 min
It’s all come down to this. On Saturday night, Australia will decide it’s next government and next Prime Minister. The final week of the campaign saw Scott Morrison, who is trying not to be a bulldozer, bulldoze a child during a media appearance at youth soccer training in Tasmania. And Labor released the costings on its policies, just two days out from the election. The party says it’s policies will only cost 7.4 billion dollars more than the Coalition’s, a figure that pales in comparison to th...
May 19, 2022•17 min•Ep. 696
With just days to go until the election, our politicians are frantically trying to secure every last vote they can. At this stage of the campaign, the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader can travel to three different states in a single day, visiting key seats and making announcements to win over undecided voters. Where are they going, what’s their pitch, and which campaign is more confident heading into election day? Today, chief political correspondent at The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton tak...
May 18, 2022•15 min•Ep. 695
What happens when the cause you’ve dedicated your life to, turns into something you can no longer support? That’s the question Fred Chaney, the former deputy leader of the Liberal Party, has had to confront this election. Now, he’s hoping people like his niece, who is running as an Independent in Western Australia, can teach the major parties a lesson. Today, former federal politician Fred Chaney on why politicians gave up on tackling our greatest challenges. Guest: Former deputy leader of the L...
May 17, 2022•15 min•Ep. 694
On the weekend, the Coalition launched its campaign, just six days before the election. The centrepiece of the launch was a new housing policy, which it promises will help more young people to buy a home, by allowing them to take money out of their superannuation. But will the scheme really help new home buyers or is it too little, too late? Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper , Mike Seccombe on what the Coalition is offering voters at this election. Guest: National corresponden...
May 16, 2022•18 min•Ep. 693
On election night, the Melbourne seat of Kooyong could be one of the most fiercely contested in the country. The Treasurer of Australia, Josh Frydenberg, is facing what he’s described as the fight of his political life. His opponent was virtually unknown to most Australians a few months ago, but now polls show she has a chance at victory. So who is the woman taking on the Treasurer? Today, 7am producer Elle Marsh takes us inside the campaign of Doctor Monique Ryan. Guest: Producer for 7am , Elle...
May 15, 2022•26 min•Ep. 692
With just one week to go until election day the debate over the minimum wage has taken the spotlight. And the polls are showing some Coalition strongholds are at risk of falling. So what can we glean about how Labor and the Coalition are gearing up for the final days of the campaign, and should we trust the polls this time around? Today, to analyse all the latest events, we’re joined by: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper , Karen Middleton, Columnist for The Saturday Paper , Pa...
May 12, 2022•18 min•Ep. 691
As Australia prepares to elect its 31st Prime Minister and next federal government, there’s a proportion of people under represented in that vote. Indigenous enrolment remains lower than the rest of the population, particularly in remote areas, like parts of the Northern Territory. A complaint lodged with the Human Rights Commission alleges that there is a pattern of indirect discrimination and voter suppression. Today, in the second of this two part series, 7am producer Ruby Schwartz on a histo...
May 11, 2022•29 min•Ep. 690
When Australia heads to the polls in a couple of weeks, 1 in 5 Indigenous people who are eligible to vote won’t be enrolled and won’t be able to cast a ballot. 60 years after First Nations people won the right to vote in Australia, why is access to democracy still a challenge? Today, producer for 7am Ruby Schwartz travels to remote Australia to find out why some people are more enrolled than others. Guest: Producer for 7am , Ruby Schwartz. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram See omnys...
May 10, 2022•27 min•Ep. 689
The latest leaders debate has been described as “messy” and a “joke” by observers. There’s one more debate to go before the election — but it won’t be hosted by the public broadcaster, the ABC — despite the organisation’s best efforts. In fact, the ABC has been effectively sidelined, as the rocky relationship between the government and the national broadcaster continues to play out. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on the ABC’s doomed bid to host an election debate and ...
May 09, 2022•18 min•Ep. 688
Sometimes the contest for a single seat can be about more than who wins. Hunter is just that; it’s a seat that spans some of Australia’s oldest coal mines, and the questions in Hunter have huge consequences for us all. How seriously we are taking the climate crisis, how quickly we can transition to renewable energy and whether workers in these industries will be looked after. Today, investigative journalist Marian Wilkinson on the race for Hunter, what the parties are promising people there and ...
May 08, 2022•16 min•Ep. 683
As we close in on election day, housing affordability has become a central issue of this campaign. First, Labor announced its solution, the Help to Buy scheme and then just a few days later, the Reserve Bank increased the cash rate from its historic low of 0.1% to 0.35%. People’s mortgages are going up and it could put upward pressure on rents. So, how are cost of living pressures factoring into the decision voters will make in just two weeks time? Today, to analyse all the latest events, we’re ...
May 05, 2022•18 min•Ep. 686
Adam Bandt sits down for a one-on-one interview with Ruby Jones. This election, issues the Greens have championed for years, like an integrity commission and reducing emissions, are now finding a lot of popular support. But the party finds itself at a crossroads. It’s been unable to increase the number of lower house MPs and senators it has at the federal level for over a decade. Adam Bandt, the party’s leader, has ambitions to change this. So, in his first federal election as leader, how has he...
May 04, 2022•24 min•Ep. 685
The war in Ukraine has led to soul searching about how Russian oligarchs have built cosy relationships with institutions around the world. Lawyers and bankers in London have been warned by the British prime minister not to defend the wealth and reputations of Russian oligarchs who have ties to Vladimir Putin’s government. And one of those oligarchs actually has a connection to Australia as well. Last year Roman Abramovich launched legal action in NSW. Today, journalist for The Saturday Paper Kie...
May 03, 2022•19 min•Ep. 684
The Labor Party officially launched their campaign on Sunday, unveiling new policies and making their most comprehensive pitch to voters so far. But the policy offering remains slimmer than it was three years ago, which is part of what has been described as the party’s small target strategy. So what is Labor actually offering? And who are they targeting with these election promises? Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper , Mike Seccombe on the Labor Party’s policy platform and the ...
May 02, 2022•19 min•Ep. 684
As we enter the final weeks of the election campaign there’s one group of people more stressed, more disillusioned than most. Teenagers, desperate to see change but unable to vote to get their voice heard. Today, 7am producer Kara Jensen-Mackinnon on a day in the life of a teenager trying to make change happen before it’s too late. Guest: Producer for 7am , Kara Jensen-Mackinnon. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 01, 2022•19 min•Ep. 682
