The campaigning around the Voice to Parliament has been heated, but this week figures in the “No” camp threatened to turn that negativity on each other. Leading “No” campaigner Warren Mundine claimed that defeating the referendum would make treaties between governments and First Nations people more likely. Fellow campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price declared “you can’t have a treaty with your own citizens”. And there’s division over Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s proposal to hold a second refer...
Sep 21, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1060
Earlier this year, climate activist Joana Partyka illegally spray-painted Woodside Energy’s logo on a painting in the Art Gallery of Western Australia, to call for an end to the company’s controversial Burrup Hub project. Behind plexiglass, the artwork wasn’t harmed, but the action drew plenty of criticism. Joana was charged and found guilty of criminal damage. But her interaction with the police didn’t end there – Western Australia’s counter-terrorism unit soon came knocking. Today, protestor a...
Sep 20, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1059
Transgender people in Australia are facing rising levels of hate and discrimination – and according to advocates, irresponsible media reporting is partly to blame. Some outlets have focused on stories of transgender people transitioning back to the sex they were assigned at birth, despite this being an extremely rare and complex experience among the trans community. Today, chief executive of Transcend Australia, Jeremy Wiggins, on the attacks on transgender people in Australia, and the role of t...
Sep 19, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1058
A month out from the Voice referendum, according to the polls, the ‘Yes’ campaign is struggling. Across the board, they show a big lead for ‘No’ advocates and already many in the media are all but calling the outcome of the vote. But beneath the headline numbers there’s a glimmer of hope for ‘Yes’. The number of undecided voters, those not fully locked in to either side, is sitting in the millions - and both campaigns are doing all they can to win them over. Today, national correspondent for The...
Sep 18, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1057
When companies take advantage of consumers by misleading them, selling faulty products, or breaking promises, there’s a body that steps in – the ACCC. Its chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, has launched cases against some of Australia’s biggest corporations. The latest, targeting Qantas, is seeking a record-breaking penalty from the airline. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the woman now known as the “Alan Joyce slayer”, and how she aims to stop Australian consumers from bein...
Sep 17, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1056
It felt like only a matter of time before we’d begin to hear allegations of dirty tricks in the lead up to the referendum. This week, leaked documents and warped headlines have exposed the tactics that are being used to push the “No” vote. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on how the strategies to reject the Voice are reverberating through the halls of power. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See ...
Sep 14, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1055
A secretive journey aboard an armoured luxury train has transported North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un into Russia for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. It’s a trip with a high-stakes agenda, as North Korea has something that Russia wants: weapons and ammunition to help in its fight against Ukraine. So, what could this deal lead to in Ukraine, and could it threaten security in Australia’s region? Today, world editor for The Saturday Paper , Jonathan Pearlman, on Putin’s desperate wartime quest and th...
Sep 13, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1054
As the founder of one of the world’s biggest mining companies, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has done more to advance global heating than some small countries. But Twiggy has more recently become an advocate for climate action, and is betting the future of his empire on a green transition. His approach has rattled investors and his own executives, with a string of resignations and turmoil in the company’s ranks. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper , Marc Moncrief, on the chaos at Fortescue, and w...
Sep 12, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1053
The government says its key policy on affordable and social housing will pass the senate this week – after securing the support of the Greens yesterday. The Greens had hoped to force the government to impose a cap on rents, but after months of tense debate, the bill will pass without a rent freeze. So how did rent caps become such a sticking point? Are they even possible in Australia? And do they actually work? Today, honorary research fellow in urban geography and planning, and contributor to T...
Sep 11, 2023•15 min•Ep. 1052
Speaking up when you see something wrong is too hard in Australia. People who’ve spoken up about corporate fraud and dodgy government deals, and even those who’ve exposed war crimes, have faced life-altering consequences. Now, for the first time, there’s a service dedicated to whistleblowers, to offer them support as they bring the truth to light for the rest of us. Today, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre of Australia and contributor to The Saturday Paper Kieran Pender on how we can ...
Sep 10, 2023•15 min•Ep. 1051
Today on the show, Mark Mordue reads his piece from The Saturday Paper . MRI scans are infamously claustrophobic and anxiety-inducing procedures. During his own MRI, the author was surprised to find solace and inspiration in the barrage of sounds he was subjected to lying within the machine. The cacophony of the equipment presented an opportunity to expound on the musical genres that are its antecedents, and those that are, perhaps, its legacy. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Insta...
Sep 09, 2023•20 min•Ep. 1050
The first week of the referendum campaign started with an unmistakable voice: John Farnham. His iconic hit is now the anthem for “Yes” voters, who say their vote is about being on the right side of history. For “No” voters, the ad is superficial – pandering to emotions rather than giving concrete reasons to support the Voice. Meanwhile, tactics from the opposition have included pitching a second referendum and undermining the “Yes” campaign’s ad by pointing to a key lyric. Today, contributor to ...
Sep 07, 2023•19 min•Ep. 1049
The royal commission into veteran suicides is probing the ugliest parts of the Australian defence force. Putting the spotlight on accountability and leadership, the commission has cast doubt on defence’s ability to protect the wellbeing and safety of its people. One former military chaplain shared the story of the abuse she experienced, and says when she sought help, she was told to deal with it herself. Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton on lies, cowardi...
Sep 06, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1048
Australia is already off-track with its emissions targets, just one year after setting them. It’s alarming news, and it’s partly because emissions on our roads are going up. So, why is that happening? And just how harmful are our cars for the environment compared to those elsewhere? Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on Australia’s love affair with big, dirty cars. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: National correspondent for The Saturd...
Sep 05, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1047
Deep inside Australia’s foreign policy and defence establishment, there are whispers that we should be considering an unsettling thought – we could soon be dealing with a second Donald Trump presidency. He’s facing dozens of indictments and the charges carry the potential for hundreds of years in jail, but none of it is denting his popularity with Republican voters. Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray, on Trump, Australia’s dependence on America and the future of...
Sep 04, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1046
Qantas’s luck has gone from bad to worse. The airline has had to ditch expiry dates for Covid credits, and faced questions over its prices and tickets allegedly sold for flights that had already been cancelled. Meanwhile, the government is accused of unfairly propping up Qantas and putting its profits ahead of consumers’ interests. So will Qantas be pressured into paying back their government support – and can outgoing chief executive Alan Joyce keep dodging the company’s disasters? Today, senio...
Sep 03, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1045
Australian workplaces are set to change again – with the Albanese government introducing its second round of industrial relations reform since it was elected. It could change conditions for casuals and gig economy workers like food delivery riders – but not everyone is happy. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on what the government has unveiled – and why it’s pushing ahead with the reform in the middle of a historic referendum campaign. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twi...
Aug 31, 2023•14 min•Ep. 1044
Yesterday in front of cheering “Yes” campaigners in Adelaide, Anthony Albanese announced the date when Australians will vote on the Voice to Parliament. This is the first referendum to happen in the age of social media and misinformation – making truth in reporting more important than ever. How information reaches voters will be the responsibility of the media. So will it rise to the challenge? And what does fair reporting look like in a debate that is already so charged? Today, co-chair of the ...
Aug 30, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1043
China’s economy is in deep trouble and continues to get worse. As the world’s second biggest economy and our largest trading partner, the looming crisis could have massive consequences for Australia. So how did a country known for lifting millions of people out of poverty go so wrong? Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on China’s financial woes – and the impact it will have on our own economy. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: National...
Aug 29, 2023•14 min•Ep. 1042
“Like a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, a Beef Wellington is a tenderloin or fillet wrapped in a layer of mushrooms, inside puff pastry.” That’s how writer Chloe Hooper begins to describe the events that have put a 48-year-old woman at the centre of international attention. The mysterious case of the suspected death cap mushroom poisoning has left three people in regional Victoria dead – and an international audience wondering how it happened. Today, contributor to The Saturday Pap...
Aug 28, 2023•15 min•Ep. 1041
A Voice to Parliament would be a first for Australia, but it’s not the first of its kind in the world. Norway has had an indigenous-led Parliament for more than three decades, with local representatives advising on issues that impact their people. Closer to home, New Zealand has a Maori Voice in Parliament, with specially established seats for indigenous MPs. So, what impact have these bodies had? And could they offer a glimpse of life in Australia if we vote “Yes”? Today, author and contributor...
Aug 27, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1041
A clinic inside Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital is quietly changing lives through the power of tattoos. The Combined Breast Service offers breast reconstruction, including making nipples anew with tattoo ink. It’s an offering that empowers post-mastectomy patients and breast cancer survivors, who often grapple with accepting their new chests. Today, author Katherine Wilson will be reading her piece from the May issue of The Monthly . Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Gue...
Aug 26, 2023•19 min•Ep. 1040
Australia is ageing rapidly, and our country will look very different by the turn of this century. That’s the prediction laid out in the government’s latest intergenerational report, which forecasts the state of the nation. So, what vision does Labor have in guiding Australia into the future? And how urgently are they addressing these issues? Today, contributing editor for The Monthly Rachel Withers on what she learned at Labor’s conference about their plans for the future. Socials: Stay in touc...
Aug 24, 2023•15 min•Ep. 1039
Australia is home to some of the hottest towns in the world. In the Northern Territory, remote communities with large Indigenous populations know how to live in extreme heat. But even they say they’re seeing the climate change before their eyes, making their homes less and less liveable. So what lessons can First Nations peoples impart about surviving the heat? And can their knowledge offer a way to adapt rather than relying on energy-intensive airconditioning? Today, contributor to The Saturday...
Aug 23, 2023•14 min•Ep. 1038
A channel to the right of Sky News has launched in Australia, with powerful and cashed-up backers. ADH TV has all the hallmarks of far right American platforms, but with a very well known Australian at its centre: Alan Jones. It marks something of a comeback for the 82-year-old shock jock, who was dropped by mainstream media outlets. Today, associate editor for The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray on who’s behind ADH TV and whether Australians have an appetite for far right news. Socials : ...
Aug 22, 2023•14 min•Ep. 1037
If someone in an aged care facility is hurt or mistreated, there’s a system in place that’s supposed to make sure incidents are flagged and followed up. But instead of reviewing all these cases, the regulator has been “bulk closing” them in the thousands, sometimes without even the most basic assessment. Staff say this is leading to further neglect, abuse and even preventable death, as major risks go unnoticed. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on why the aged care regula...
Aug 21, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1036
Asylum seekers in the UK may face a new fate once they arrive: being loaded onto an enormous 10,000-ton barge, floating in a port on the south coast of England. It’s part of a new hardline-migration policy being rolled out by the British government, and it’s being sold to the public with a slogan that will sound familiar to Australians: ‘Stop the boats’. Today, lawyer Madeline Gleeson from the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW, on how ideas from Australia led to Britain’s float...
Aug 20, 2023•19 min•Ep. 1035
To this day, a war is still being waged against Indigenous Australians by a colonial state. That is the vision sketched out by Senator Lidia Thorpe this week in a landmark speech. She says a Voice to Parliament would simply be “window dressing” and an “insult” to the intelligence of Indigenous Australians still living under violent colonisation. So is a Voice to Parliament really an extension of Australia’s shameful past? Or could it help overcome that trauma? Today, contributor to The Saturday ...
Aug 17, 2023•18 min•Ep. 1034
After the axing of the illegal robo-debt scheme, there were promises of reform in the welfare system to make it lawful, fair and transparent. It’s since been revealed that the same type of bad maths that underpinned robo-debt has been used elsewhere at Centrelink. More than 100,000 welfare recipients have been affected, with some even facing prosecution for inaccurate debts. The revelations point to deep structural problems in the administration of our welfare system, years before robo-debt was ...
Aug 16, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1033
For the first time ever, Australia has reached the final four of a World Cup. Tonight, the Matildas face some familiar foes when they go up against England in Sydney. Many in the Matildas squad play club football in England, and in some cases they’ll be going toe-to-toe with their club teammates. So, will close knowledge and home advantage give Australia the edge to defeat the European champions? Today, Fox Sports News presenter and women's sports advocate Sam Squiers, on the battle ahead for th...
Aug 15, 2023•18 min•Ep. 1032
