Anthony Albanese’s government faces significant challenges – looming climate disaster, a widening wealth gap and international security concerns. But a year after the election, it’s hard to judge how it will respond to these circumstances. Albanese promises a bold reformist agenda, but the government often appears cautious and slow in its delivery. Anthony Albanese himself comes from the left of the party, but opponents like the Greens have called his government ‘centre-right’. Today, contributo...
May 31, 2023•15 min•Ep. 971
When Australia’s most high-profile Indigenous journalist was forced to step away from his role because of racist abuse – it made headlines around the world. But here in Australia, most of the media and our political leaders have struggled to comprehend the meaning of the moment – and appear to be trapped in a cycle of well-wishes, apologies and outright denial instead of taking action. Today, Yorta Yorta writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Daniel James, on whether Australia is mature en...
May 30, 2023•18 min•Ep. 970
The police officer who allegedly Tasered 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland reportedly said three words before firing: “No, bugger it”. He will now face court, where we will learn more about what led up to the incident and what contributed to Nowland’s death. But the biggest question is how the police ended up confronting an elderly person in aged care, who was distressed and in need of help. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on the systemic failures that surrou...
May 29, 2023•21 min•Ep. 969
Everyone knows we have a housing crisis – rents are spiralling, homelessness is growing and more and more of our income is going towards keeping a roof over our heads. But did you know that on any given night more than a million homes in Australia sit empty? That’s more than 10 per cent of Australia’s housing stock. The shortage is not in homes, but in affordable homes. Today, National correspondent at The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, on how Australia lost its way on housing – and why the curre...
May 28, 2023•15 min•Ep. 968
This week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stood to address parliament on the bill that will allow a referendum on the Voice to parliament. What he said in that speech has alarmed many, and at least one spokesperson for the Voice said Dutton’s words have been echoed in the abuse he’s received from racist opponents online. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on what Dutton’s rhetoric will do to the debate on the Voice. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Gues...
May 25, 2023•17 min•Ep. 967
The very people who were meant to be closing loopholes in the Australian tax system have been using that information to advise their big corporate clients. The scandal engulfing PwC is one of the biggest to ever hit the cosy relationship between the government and private consultancy firms. And it goes beyond a few bad actors – pointing to a broken system, and a demoralised public service. Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray, on what happened when the Australian ...
May 24, 2023•19 min•Ep. 966
There’s been a delay in the release of what could be the most explosive findings from a royal commission in decades. The commissioner of the robo-debt investigation quietly wrote to the attorney general to request a delay in the publication of its final report. But this is no mere bureaucratic hold-up, there are other reasons behind it. And one of them has to do with when Australia’s new National Anti-Corruption Commission will be ready to receive referrals. Today, senior reporter for The Saturd...
May 23, 2023•19 min•Ep. 965
After more than half of voters at the 2022 federal election said climate change was a top concern, helping Labor take power, it became known as the ‘climate election’. But a year on, how much has really changed? A 43 per cent carbon emission reduction target has been legislated, and the government promises we’ll reach net zero – but fossil fuel projects are still being approved. Today, director of the Australia Institute’s climate and energy program Polly Hemming on what a year of Labor governme...
May 22, 2023•16 min•Ep. 964
The global cocaine business is controlled by cartels worth tens of billions of dollars – and in that world, Australia is drawing more and more attention as a particularly lucrative market. That’s because a gram of cocaine sells in Australia for as much as $400. But the public rarely gets an insight into this enormous sector of criminal enterprise. How cocaine gets into the country, where the money goes and the violence involved is often veiled in secrecy. Until now. Today, Four Corners reporter ...
May 21, 2023•17 min•Ep. 963
Today on the show, Sasha Gattermayr, with her piece on the fascination with carnivorous plants from The Monthly magazine. Sasha takes us inside a band of collectors whose obsession with plants such as the venus fly trap turned into a lifelong devotion to plants that devour their prey. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Writer Sasha Gattermayr Background reading: Little club of horrors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 20, 2023•14 min•Ep. 962
It’s almost a year since Anthony Albanese did what no Labor leader had done in 15 years: win an election from opposition. It was a momentous time for him personally, and one that shifted the political landscape after a decade of conservative government. Just how much has he accomplished? Is Albanese living up to the promises he made on election night? And is he willing to go beyond them? Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno spoke to the prime minister about his year on the job, and wh...
May 18, 2023•16 min•Ep. 961
What happens when a state begins to rely on a private company to fight wars? We’ve seen it before, but not like this – the power that Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted private military company the Wagner group is unprecedented. And Putin may be discovering its drawbacks the hard way – as the public face of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin feuds with his generals and embarrassing stories have emerged in the Western press. Today, expert in Russian foreign policy and fellow at the ANU Strategic...
May 17, 2023•20 min•Ep. 960
Australia can claim a significant world first: a special government adviser on Women’s Affairs. Fifty years ago, Elizabeth Reid stepped into the newly created role in Gough Whitlam’s government. Abortion access, workplace rights, contraception and education – it was a time of huge change in gender parity and access. But the reaction to Reid and the new position was vicious in some circles. She resigned just two and a half years into the job. What motivated her? How did the job change her? And wh...
May 16, 2023•24 min•Ep. 959
The trial of Bruce Lehrmann for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins never reached a verdict – and Lehrmann still strenuously maintains his innocence. When the most high profile sexual assault trial in Australia was called off, and any hope of a retrial abandoned, there was one question: how did it come to this? The actions of one juror might have led to the mistrial, but there was more to the story: concerns about how the media covered the trial were followed by explosive allegations against th...
May 15, 2023•21 min•Ep. 958
There comes a time when politicians say ‘enough is enough’ and they leave parliament. Often they depart the stage without anyone really noticing, other times it’s worth pausing and marking their storied parliamentary careers. That’s the case for Stuart Robert, who has called time on politics after 16 years – during which time he presided over the robo debt scandal, a bag of Rolexes, and made his name as Scott Morrison’s ‘brother Stewie’. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton ...
May 14, 2023•18 min•Ep. 957
Since the budget dropped on Tuesday night, the Coalition and some parts of the media have begun to pick a very strange fight. It’s over whether some of the most vulnerable in the community should really get more help than middle-class Australian households with two incomes. It pits the two against each other and ignores a much bigger cost coming down the pipeline: tax cuts that will benefit the wealthiest Australians the most. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper , Paul Bongiorno on the stran...
May 11, 2023•17 min•Ep. 956
There’s one relationship the Liberal Party has always prized: its relationship with business. Other support bases for the party have ebbed and flowed, but the party has always drawn from the ranks of corporate Australia, and advocated for their interests. Now, strangely as the party finds itself in electoral crisis, its federal leader, Peter Dutton, is speaking out against heads of business on a surprising topic: the Voice to Parliament. Today, former Liberal MP and contributor to The Saturday P...
May 10, 2023•15 min•Ep. 955
Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised a responsible budget, and one that helped Australians as costs soar. There was some relief, but it wasn’t as generous as some advocates hoped. So, has this Labor government threaded the needle, or did it avoid the most difficult challenges we face? Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton, on Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ first full May budget. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Chief political correspondent...
May 09, 2023•15 min•Ep. 954
Tonight’s budget promises relief for Australia’s single parents, who will receive extra income support until their youngest child turns 14. It’s a reversal of a controversial decision made by the Gillard government. So does this signal a broader attempt to address the standard of living for the most vulnerable Australians? Or, is it a rare bit of relief in an otherwise tough budget? Today, Finance Minister and Minister for Women Katy Gallagher on how her own time on the single parent payment sha...
May 08, 2023•19 min•Ep. 953
If, over the weekend, you watched the coronation of King Charles, stood up in your living room and read out a pledge of allegiance – you were probably in the minority of Australians. But that was the invitation from the palace in the lead-up to Saturday evening’s coronation ceremony. So, how relevant is King Charles III? Is a republic now possible? And how quickly could another referendum be upon us? Today, co-chair of the Australian Republican Movement and human rights activist Craig Foster on ...
May 07, 2023•20 min•Ep. 952
Today, writer Quentin Sprague, with his piece from The Monthly . He examines the recent revelations of “white hands on black art” – reports of White gallery figures instructing and even working on the canvases of Indigenous artists – and examines how white Australia applies the idea of ‘authenticity’ onto the work of Indigenous artists. Quentin will read his story, ‘White privilege and black disadvantage in the Aboriginal art industry’ after a short conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
May 06, 2023•26 min•Ep. 951
The economic news got worse this week, with the RBA unexpectedly raising interest rates and some dire economic forecasts. So far, it looks like the economic assistance the government will offer in the upcoming budget will be targeted. It probably won’t raise JobSeeker — except for over 55s — and it’s unlikely to pause rising HECS debt. So, after a decade or more of young people falling behind economically, will we see any help at all on budget night? And what are the political risks if the gover...
May 04, 2023•17 min•Ep. 950
Missiles that can precisely target enemy forces 500 kilometres away are the future of the Australian defence forces, according to the recent defence strategic review. What we are defending ourselves with today is woefully inadequate for our strategic circumstances, the review found. But other big questions are emerging: how will we pay for the changes it’s proposing? Can we save money on purchases we’ve already agreed to? And how will our neighbours react to a more capable Australian military? T...
May 03, 2023•19 min•Ep. 949
If you went to university, there’s an increasing likelihood you could be carrying HECS debt for several decades. There are now more than 300,000 people carrying HECS into their 50s — six times more people than just over 15 years ago. And, this June, HECS debts are set to rise again at a historic pace. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on how HECS went from a promise of opportunity to threatening a generation with a debt spiral. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter an...
May 02, 2023•19 min•Ep. 948
Imagine being arrested, put into custody – and in desperate need of medical care. Who is responsible for helping you? Who are you meant to turn to for healthcare? For Veronica Nelson, who died in custody in 2020, a private company was responsible – Correct Care. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Denham Sadler takes us inside how a contract to look after the health of prisoners was taken away then put into some very similar hands. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Gue...
May 01, 2023•17 min•Ep. 947
‘We don’t have enough money.’ That’s what governments always say this time of year. But the case is being made for the poorest and most disadvantaged among us to get more support in the upcoming budget. But is it true? And if it is, are there ways to repair the budget that would leave enough money to help raise people out of poverty? Today, economist and CEO of the Grattan Institute, Danielle Wood, on how we can afford to raise the rate, and more ways to fix the budget. Socials: Stay in touch wi...
Apr 30, 2023•17 min•Ep. 946
This week, the way the government chooses to spend its money was put into sharp focus. On Monday, it announced a bold new plan for military spending, but soon after, it found itself besieged by calls to raise the rate of JobSeeker – for Australians struggling with poverty. So, why can we afford to spend money on one, but not the other? And is it a question that voters will start asking? Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Chris Wallace on the question that is turning up the heat on Anthony A...
Apr 27, 2023•19 min•Ep. 945
Criticism of the Voice to Parliament from the conservative side of politics has ratcheted up ever since Peter Dutton’s decision to oppose it. The main accusations are: the proposal for the Voice is coming from elites and not ‘regular’ Indigenous Australians, and it won’t achieve practical change. Today, union organiser and member of the referendum working group, Thomas Mayo, on the loudest voices against the Voice. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The...
Apr 26, 2023•18 min•Ep. 944
From settling the biggest payout in US libel history, to the abandoned defamation claim against Australian website Crikey – It’s been a tumultuous week in the courts for the Murdochs. By avoiding open court, they have tried to draw a line under the furore around Fox News presenters’ claims the 2020 US election was stolen. But will the Murdoch empire be able to move on? Will the Murdochs be forced to testify before a jury? And what does the Dominion settlement say about the strategy Fox News is t...
Apr 25, 2023•20 min•Ep. 943
Something going on far above us, in orbit, might be doing more to shape the future of humanity than any events here on earth. Up there is one of the most powerful tools humans have ever had to hunt for the origins of our universe – and for alien life. The James Webb Space Telescope has the ability to look so far and with such clarity that we can get an insight into a period of time that our best scientists have only ever speculated about: the cosmic dark ages. Today we revisit our conversation w...
Apr 24, 2023•16 min•Ep. 942
