Peter Dutton is a lot of things: a right-wing firebrand, a former Queensland cop and a champion of what he believes are simple Australian values. But he’s also a multi-millionaire who colleagues describe as pleasant, shy, but fiercely ambitious. Lech Blaine spent months studying Peter Dutton’s past and political ascendency to discover who the leader of the opposition really is and what’s underneath his “bad cop” exterior. Today, the author of the latest Quarterly Essay: Bad Cop, Lech Blaine, on ...
Mar 17, 2024•19 min•Ep 1199•Transcript available on Metacast Coles and Woolworths are in the sights of a Senate inquiry, which has been hearing evidence across Australia this week. It’s looking into whether prices are set fairly and what could be done to make them more reasonable. While that was underway, one of parliament's most colourful characters stole the show. Bob Katter has been ratcheting up a campaign of high-profile stunts to force the major parties to crackdown on supermarkets. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on Bob Katt...
Mar 14, 2024•16 min•Ep 1198•Transcript available on Metacast The royal family is no stranger to gossip, innuendo and controversy. But this week, the rumours and speculation over the whereabouts and health of Kate Middleton reached new, conspiratorial depths. So, after an official photo of Kate Middleton and her children was revealed to be digitally altered – leading to more questions than answers about the princess – how broken is the trust between the public and the royal family? Today, royal reporter Ellie Hall on the mistakes made by the Palace, and ho...
Mar 13, 2024•16 min•Ep 1197•Transcript available on Metacast Zachary Rolfe, the former Northern Territory police officer who shot and killed an Indigenous teenager, Kumanjayi Walker, has been back in the witness box. Rolfe was acquitted of Walker’s murder in 2022, but now he’s given new evidence in a coronial inquest into the death. So, what do newly revealed text messages and evidence tell us about the culture inside the Northern Territory police? And where do the problems in that policing system lay? Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper , Anna Krien...
Mar 12, 2024•16 min•Ep 1196•Transcript available on Metacast Stan Grant left the ABC, citing the media had failed — it had failed him and his family, and it had failed the country. Last week, he was struck by a stark reminder when the news of the charging of Sam Kerr in the UK led to an enormous amount of coverage that failed to deal with the story with grace, humanity and a real interrogation of what racism means. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Stan Grant, on his reflections on the media since he left it and where he finds hope. Socials: Stay in...
Mar 11, 2024•18 min•Ep 1195•Transcript available on Metacast It’s in the best interests of politicians to come up with policies that appeal to voters and secure their support at the next election. So it was particularly interesting when last week, Peter Dutton announced his first policy since becoming opposition leader. It’s something experts, including former strategists for the Liberal Party, say will lose Peter Dutton votes from the exact people they should be trying to win over. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, on wh...
Mar 10, 2024•16 min•Ep 1194•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the show, journalist Ange Lavoipierre will be reading her piece from a recent edition of The Monthly . In the suburb of Newtown, in Sydney, two support groups almost diametrically opposed are asking essentially the same question: how much sex is too much for one person? In one group, the Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous meeting welcomes those who are ashamed about the size of their sexual and romantic appetites. For the other, an ethical non-monogamy night allows space and discussion for ...
Mar 09, 2024•17 min•Ep 1193•Transcript available on Metacast Labor won the Dunkley byelection last weekend, but the Liberal Party spent most of the week claiming the result was a win for them as well. But even while the Liberal Party was claiming a groundswell in support, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton disappeared from public view. When Dutton emerged, he announced a reshuffle of his front bench. So, what was going on inside the Liberal Party? What message did voters send them? And is the party learning the right lessons? Today, columnist for The Saturday...
Mar 07, 2024•16 min•Ep 1192•Transcript available on Metacast Despite the government’s commitment to cutting emissions and reaching net zero, Australia’s gas industry is expanding – and we’re making it easier for gas companies to do their business. So, who is behind the gas lobby? Who puts the most pressure on our politicians, and are they the usual suspects? Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, on how the gas lobby is changing and why foreign governments are taking an interest in Australia. Socials: Stay in touch with us on ...
Mar 06, 2024•16 min•Ep 1191•Transcript available on Metacast An alarming number of Australian boys are engaging with, and looking up to, the misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate. Tate’s influence is warping classroom conversation, driving female peers to the fringe of discussion and even causing some teachers to quit. So why are misogynistic influencers reaching so many young men? And how is it forcing teachers to walk away? Today, contributor to The Monthly and the author of Night Games Anna Krien on the “misogynist radicalisation” happening in our school...
Mar 05, 2024•16 min•Ep 1190•Transcript available on Metacast Aunty Donnas Kerr has spent her life fighting for Indigenous rights. A member of the stolen generations, she grew up seeing members of her family die in custody and marching the streets for justice. In 2022, Aunty Donnas received a phone call about her own son, Joshua Kerr, who had died alone in a prison cell after calling out for help. Today, the mother and sister of Joshua Kerr, Donnas and Maggie, on their family’s tragedy and why rates of Aboriginal deaths in custody aren’t getting any better...
Mar 04, 2024•19 min•Ep 1189•Transcript available on Metacast A new bill that redefines Australia’s gas industry has a surprising section smuggled into the fine print. It’s designed to change not just the way we approve gas projects, but reshape the balance of power inside the Labor cabinet and take powers away from Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. So who is behind this major shift, and what does it say about the gas lobby's influence over politics? Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper , Royce Kurmelovs, on the most powerful minister nobody’s hear...
Mar 03, 2024•14 min•Ep 1188•Transcript available on Metacast Ten years ago, Schwartz Media launched its weekly independent newspaper, The Saturday Paper . On page three of its first edition was a story about a woman who had just become a household name: Rosie Batty. Thrust into the spotlight while grieving the murder of her son Luke at the hands of his father, Rosie Batty used the worst moment of her life to put domestic violence on the national agenda. Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper , Martin McKenzie-Murray, on what he learnt about grief a...
Feb 29, 2024•19 min•Ep 1187•Transcript available on Metacast Scott Morrison has left the building. The former prime minister was known for his finely crafted personal image, a dad from the shire who loved rugby league. But Morrison’s career was more notorious than that. From being the minister who forged ahead with robodebt, to proudly displaying a trophy for “stopping the boats” and famously saying he wouldn’t hold a hose during the bushfires. So, who really was he? Today, author of The Game , Sean Kelly on Scott Morrison’s final speech, and whether he r...
Feb 28, 2024•18 min•Ep 1186•Transcript available on Metacast Pork-barrelling isn’t illegal, but it's one of the dark arts of politics: governments spending money in seats they want to win. So, when does the practice cross the line from politicians faithfully serving the public into pork-barrelling and using taxpayer dollars to essentially bribe voters? Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton on the two Labor grants that are beginning to raise questions in Canberra, and the MP who is trying to make public spending more t...
Feb 27, 2024•16 min•Ep 1185•Transcript available on Metacast Opposition Leader Peter Dutton may have found the message he’s taking to the federal election: stop the “armada of boats”. It hasn’t been high on the agenda for years, but a couple of weeks ago a boat arriving in far north Western Australia gave him an opportunity to put the issue back on the front page. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, fact checks Peter Dutton’s media blitz and his claims about asylum seekers. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Inst...
Feb 26, 2024•17 min•Ep 1184•Transcript available on Metacast Australia has spent almost 15 years trying to buy new surface ships for the navy, but they are still yet to arrive. That’s because governments have repeatedly thrown out the old plan to introduce their own. Last week, the Albanese government was the latest to reveal their plans for the future of the navy’s surface fleet. So, will it work? Today, emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University and contributor to The Saturday Paper Hugh White, on Labor’s navy overhaul...
Feb 25, 2024•16 min•Ep 1183•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the show, writer Jane Gleeson-White, with her piece from a recent edition of The Monthly . In inner-city Sydney, the heart of the urban jungle, Jane meets environmental lawyer turned activist, Michael Mobbs. His ambition is to transform the concrete warren of terraces and narrow streets of Chippendale into a sustainable oasis. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author, Jane Gleeson-White See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 24, 2024•16 min•Ep 1182•Transcript available on Metacast Julian Assange has spent years fighting to prevent his extradition to the United States and this week, the battle has come down to just two days in court, when his lawyers made what could be their final stand. The British High Court now holds his fate in its hands, as it considers his request for an appeal. So, while supporters anxiously await the judges’ ruling, what lies ahead for Julian Assange? Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Amy Fallon, on what the court heard and how mounting publ...
Feb 22, 2024•17 min•Ep 1181•Transcript available on Metacast Jon Ronson has spent time with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, uncovered the secret US military program to train psychic soldiers and told the stories of the first people to be publicly shamed in the age of social media. Now, Ronson’s investigating the culture wars. From fears about left-wing activists taking over the streets to paranoia about vaccines – he charts the surprising origins of our most divisive social conflicts. Today, author of The Psychopath Test and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed...
Feb 21, 2024•19 min•Ep 1180•Transcript available on Metacast After asylum seekers arrived by boat in Western Australia last week and were sent to Nauru, old debates about offshore immigration detention have been reanimated. It comes as the government has admitted they aren’t able to account for $80 million paid to Papua New Guinea for the welfare and support of people formerly held in offshore detention. So, how did millions of taxpayer dollars disappear? And what does it mean for the asylum seekers who have nowhere else to go? Today, chief political corr...
Feb 20, 2024•16 min•Ep 1179•Transcript available on Metacast The Bureau of Meteorology determines a lot: from whether we bring an umbrella to work, to how much warning we get of a natural disaster – all the way to what we know about climate change. But now, serious questions are being raised about the bureau’s management – and it’s emerged that senior executives deliberately misled a federal court. So, why did they lie? Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on troubles at the BoM, and how internal struggles are getting in the way of th...
Feb 19, 2024•16 min•Ep 1178•Transcript available on Metacast It was three years ago last week that Brittany Higgins made allegations that rocked Australia. Those allegations resulted in a mistrial, and while Bruce Lehrmann strenuously maintained his innocence, many questions were raised about the handling of Higgins’ claims. So, an inquiry was launched, to see if lessons could be learned to improve the justice system. But last week, we learned more about how the very inquiry meant to fix things turned into a media circus of its own. Today, contributor to ...
Feb 18, 2024•12 min•Ep 1177•Transcript available on Metacast Following its loss at the 2019 federal election, touching negative gearing — tax concessions that benefit property investors — has been unthinkable for the Labor Party. But this week the government was drawn into discussions about ending it by The Greens’ housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, demanding Anthony Albanese address it if he wants to pass a new housing policy. So, could the Greens force Labor to tackle negative gearing? Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on th...
Feb 15, 2024•16 min•Ep 1176•Transcript available on Metacast While Taylor Swift arrives in Australia for the biggest shows of her career, she’s found herself at the centre of conspiratorial fantasies sweeping American right-wing politics. Some view her relationship with American football star Travis Kelce — a love story that sounds like an American fairytale — as evidence for a nefarious scheme to re-elect President Joe Biden. So, how did a baseless theory capture America to the point that the president himself has responded? Today, political reporter for...
Feb 14, 2024•17 min•Ep 1175•Transcript available on Metacast While some private schools in Australia fret over the construction of their new waterpolo centres or drama theatres, public schools face more pressing challenges, like whether there’s a hole in the roof or enough books for every student. School funding arrangements across the country are now the concern of Jason Clare, the federal education minister who went to public schools himself. So, how did inequities between public and private get so bad? And could a review commissioned by Jason Clare fix...
Feb 13, 2024•15 min•Ep 1174•Transcript available on Metacast Since becoming opposition leader, Peter Dutton has clawed back in the polls by relentlessly attacking the Labor government – now that approach is being tested. During the first major political battle of the year, over the stage three tax cuts, Peter Dutton’s instincts to fiercely attack the government didn’t seem to work as planned and resulted in the Coalition facing unwanted scrutiny when they eventually backed the changes. So, what is Peter Dutton’s strategy? Can he marry his instincts for a ...
Feb 12, 2024•18 min•Ep 1173•Transcript available on Metacast The teals of the 2022 election outdid expectations – flipping six historically Liberal seats independent. It’s a result that has energised their backers, Climate 200, who are now looking well beyond wealthy, inner-city electorates for their next wins. So, can they repeat their success in regional seats and shock the major parties again in 2025? Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper , Rick Morton, on how Queensland could be the next battleground for the climate 200-backed independents. So...
Feb 11, 2024•16 min•Ep 1172•Transcript available on Metacast Today, writer Konrad Muller reads his latest piece on the quest to learn whether making organic wine is worth the effort. It's called “Notes from a small vineyard” and in it he tries to discover the true effort and cost of going organic and interrogates what difference it makes. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Writer, Konrad Muller Background reading: Notes from a small vineyard See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 10, 2024•14 min•Ep 1171•Transcript available on Metacast The right to disconnect will become law, after an agreement was reached between the government, the Greens and independents. The law will help change our relationship to work and will perhaps allow us to finally log off. But it’s only one part of a massive new batch of workplace reform that is being passed into law. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on the changes to rights in the workplace and the politicking that brought the deal together. Socials: Stay in touch with us o...
Feb 08, 2024•17 min•Ep 1170•Transcript available on Metacast 
