In Queensland, the state election has been dominated by one word: abortion. It follows an anti-abortion bill in South Australia that would force women seeking an abortion after 27 weeks and six days – an extremely rare occurrence – to be induced to deliver the child alive, and either to keep it or put it up for adoption. The bill was narrowly defeated by just one vote. As this conversation infiltrates state politics, conservatives have already begun putting it on the national agenda.Bridie Jabou...
Oct 24, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In just under two weeks, Americans will choose their next president. Will it be Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor and the current vice-president, who would become the first woman and woman of colour to be president? Or will it be Donald Trump, a convicted felon and a legally defined sexual predator? Reged Ahmad speaks to Washington DC bureau chief David Smith about the stark choice facing voters and why no one can predict what will happen on 5 November
Oct 23, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Shincheonji church is an international Christian sect which started in South Korea. But the group is being accused of bizarre recruitment strategies at a number of Australian universities and former members have made allegations of ‘coercive control’ tactics that include love bombing and sleep deprivation. Medical editor Melissa Davey speaks to Reged Ahmad about the experiences of families of current members, as well as former members, about life on the inside of this alleged ‘doomsday cult’
Oct 22, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast A spate of more than a dozen separate attacks on gay men across Australia since July has sparked concern among the LGBTQ+ community. In some cases – but not all – police have alleged homophobic comments were made and several of the assaults were filmed. Reporter Josh Taylor speaks to Tamsin Rose about concerns some people online are promoting ‘methods of attack’ and how men are being targeted after agreeing to meetings via apps such as Grindr
Oct 21, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever lived but they were once hunted to the brink of extinction. The international community only agreed to stop hunting them in 1965 when they numbered fewer than 200. Now scientists are using new methods to learn whether the number of blue whales in the wild is increasing – and they are seeing and hearing promising signs. Reporter Luca Ittimani speaks to marine mammal acoustician Brian Miller about the whale’s Antarctic resurgence You can support the...
Oct 20, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Harris campaign, which has been praised for how it has managed to reach out to women, is now having to balance their attention and pitch some policies that would appeal to men. But is it too little too late? Jonathan Freedland speaks to Richard Reeves, the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, and Gloria Oladipo, a breaking news reporter for Guardian US, about why men could decide this year’s election and why both campaigns might be taking them for granted You can support the...
Oct 19, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Since the beginning of its war in Gaza, Israel has been hunting one man in particular – Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. For a year, Israeli soldiers have used drones, radar and ground troops to try to find him, while in Gaza the death toll among Palestinians grew unimaginably in the conflict Sinwar helped to ignite. Then came the news he had been killed. How could his death change the conflict in the Middle East? Julian Borger reports.
Oct 18, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, news broke that Anthony Albanese bought a slice of paradise set on the clifftops of the NSW Central Coast. Forking out $4.3m on a property created some bruising headlines for the prime minister, but did he actually do anything wrong?Bridie Jabour talks to editor-in-chief Lenore Taylor, deputy editor Patrick Keanelly and national news editor Jo Tovey about what the anger around the PM’s beach house says about the state of the housing crisis
Oct 17, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast On Friday, King Charles will touch down in Australia. The six-day tour will take in Sydney and Canberra and is the first visit by a sitting monarch in 13 years. But not everyone is excited. Reporter Kate Lyons tells Matilda Boseley on how the king’s visit has reignited the republic debate – even if the government seems to have given up on the idea
Oct 16, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast One of the Albanese government’s most senior female advisers claims she has been barred from her office and effectively sacked. Richard Marles’ chief of staff, Jo Tarnawsky, alleges that in a 45-minute phone call on 30 April – after she raised a complaint about other staff behaviour – her employer told her to find another job – and further alleges that was not fair. Political editor Karen Middleton speaks to Reged Ahmad about why Tarnawsky decided to share her story and what this all means for p...
Oct 15, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast As early voting kicks off in the sunshine state, Labor is hoping progressive cost-of-living policies such as 50c public transport fares will help them cling on to another term. But every poll is showing the Liberal National opposition is on track to win the state election on 26 October. Queensland correspondent Ben Smee speaks with Tamsin Rose about how voters are being pulled to the right and the left by both major parties You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
Oct 14, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast A year ago on 14 October, as the results of Australia’s 2023 Indigenous voice to parliament referendum rolled in, many people were left devastated. After years of painstaking work and consultation, Australians had resoundingly voted no to enshrining a First Nations permanent advisory body in our constitution. But the campaign is far from over. One year on, Uluru youth dialogue co-chairs Allira Davis and Bridget Cama tell Reged Ahmad why they haven’t given up on constitutional recognition for Fir...
Oct 13, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Whoever gets into the White House – Donald Trump or Kamala Harris – they will need the two chambers of Congress to align with their values to get a lot of what they want to achieve done. And the race for the Senate is really hotting up. This week Jonathan Freedland speaks to Jessica Taylor, Senate and governors editor for the Cook Political Report, about whether Senate Democrats can defend their narrow control over the upper chamber, and what happens if the person who wins the White House doesn’...
Oct 12, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week the Albanese government hosted what has been billed as a “global nature-positive summit” in Sydney. When announced nearly two years ago by the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, it was hoped the event would highlight Labor’s leadership in developing new nature laws. But the criticisms have been rolling in, with environment advocates saying the summit is all talk and no action. Guardian Australia’s climate and environment editor, Adam Morton, tells Reged Ahmad about the protests, po...
Oct 10, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast When ChatGPT entered the world nearly two years ago, universities wondered whether they would survive the threat. But now they have found that artificial intelligence may actually help improve higher education for both students and staff. Higher education reporter Caitlin Cassidy explains to Matilda Boseley how universities are embracing AI and integrating this rapidly evolving technology into modern university life • You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
Oct 09, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week marks the anniversary of the 7 October attacks by Hamas in Israel and the start of Israel’s war in Gaza. One year on, and the conflict is deeply and personally felt here in Australia, by so many who grieve for the lives lost. And it has also redrawn domestic political faultlines. Political editor Karen Middleton tells Reged Ahmad how differing views of the Israel-Gaza war have percolated up into our political debate
Oct 08, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast With 10 waste-to-energy power plants under development across the country, conservationists say the ‘incineration industry’ is trying to gain a foothold in Australia. Climate and environment reporter Petra Stock tells Reged Ahmad about whether the trend will help or harm the environment You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
Oct 07, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast When racist chants rang out and homes, businesses and hotels housing asylum seekers were attacked, for a week in July and August English towns and cities seemed on the brink of chaos. This outbreak followed the deaths of three young children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Josh Halliday reports on what we know so far about the people at the centre of the violence
Oct 06, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joan E Greve and Leah Wright Rigueur discuss JD Vance and Tim Walz’s clash on the debate stage in New York City on Tuesday night. Although Walz gave a solid performance, it was described as underwhelming, while Vance attempted to reset his image and get on the front foot. Will this debate have moved the needle at all? And as the situation in the Middle East escalates, where do Trump and Harris stand on foreign policy?
Oct 04, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast After protests against strikes on Lebanon at the weekend included some people holding the Hezbollah flag, Peter Dutton suggested parliament should be recalled to enact new anti-terrorism laws that would cover such actions if it was not already illegal. Anthony Albanese and the Labor government accused the opposition leader of seeking to ‘raise the temperature’ of public debate over conflict in the Middle East. Then the debate turned to protests planned for 6 and 7 October after police in NSW tri...
Oct 03, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast On Friday 27 September, an Israeli airstrike on Beirut killed the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Lebanon announced three days of mourning. Now Israel has launched a ground attack on southern Lebanon, after trading almost daily fire with Hezbollah for 11 months. The Israeli military claims its ground invasion is a ‘limited, localised and targeted’ operation against Hezbollah infrastructure, but at least 1 million civilians have been forced to leave their homes, and more than 1,000 Lebanese...
Oct 02, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is suing Coles and Woolworths over allegations they misled shoppers by offering ‘illusory’ discounts on hundreds of products. It’s a practice that helps them make huge profits in an already overheated economy. Guardian columnist Greg Jericho tells Matilda Boseley why he thinks corporations, not consumers, should be made to pay for the cost-of-living crisis. • You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
Oct 01, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast For more than a decade Gisèle Pelicot’s husband drugged her and recruited other men to allegedly rape her. When she found out, she made an extraordinary decision. Angelique Chrisafis reports
Sep 30, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast The commonwealth’s offer of a 2.5% funding boost to each state would increase how much it gives to public schools by $16bn over the decade. And, while Tasmania and Western Australia have signed up, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland are holding out for more. But time is ticking for state and federal education ministers to reach a deal, with the deadline fast approaching. Nour Haydar speaks to education reporter Caitlin Cassidy about why everyone agrees public education is ...
Sep 29, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Polling out this week suggests Kamala Harris could be outperforming Donald Trump in the crucial Sun-belt states of Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina. So what happens if these polls are right? Can Donald Trump win the presidency without them? This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to George Chidi, politics and democracy reporter for Guardian US, about how these states could be be make or break for either candidate.
Sep 28, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Negative gearing, the tax incentive that benefits investors, has become one of the most controversial policies in Australian politics and is widely viewed to have lost Labor the 2019 election. But this week it seemed the prime minister was open to considering change, if only for the briefest of moments.Bridie Jabour speaks to chief political correspondent Paul Karp about why Australia could be gearing up for another election battle over housing
Sep 26, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last week we brought you an episode on how the Labor party achieved gender parity through 30 years of affirmative action. But while important gains have been made by women, Australia still lags behind other multicultural countries when it comes to representing its population. In this episode, Nour Haydar speaks to writer and commentator Sisonke Msimang about why parliament is more diverse than ever but still doesn’t reflect Australian society
Sep 25, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Anthony Albanese’s government came to power in 2022 it declared that, after decades of disaster and neglect, the environment was going to be a top priority. But more than two years later and with a federal election looming, has anything changed? Guardian Australia’s climate and environment editor, Adam Morton, speaks with Matilda Boseley about whether Labor has walked their talk on the environment
Sep 24, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Behind closed doors in a courtroom in Reno, Nevada, a high-stakes family business dispute has been unfolding. Rupert Murdoch is trying to change the terms of a longstanding family trust to give his favoured eldest son, Lachlan, full control of his media empire after his death. Associate professor Andrew Dodd tells Nour Haydar how the outcome of the case could determine the future direction of News Corp and Fox News
Sep 23, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The British newsreader has been sentenced for accessing indecent images of children. How did the BBC handle the scandal? Dan Boffey reports
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