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A speaking tour of Europe has revealed the strategy behind Peter Ridd’s rejection of reef science: he believes that if people doubt the reef is dying, they will doubt climate change more broadly. Max Opray on the Australian physicist whose sacking became a cause célèbre.  Guest: Morning editor at Schwartz Media Max Opray. Background reading: Peter Ridd and the climate sceptics in The Saturday Pape...

Xi Jinping’s ambitions for China are paranoid and expansionist. His mindset mirrors that of the guerrilla fighters in the Chinese Civil War. Peter Hartcher on how understanding this history helps in understanding Australia’s relationship with China now.  Guest: Author of Quarterly Essay 76: Red Flag Peter Hartcher. Background reading: Quarterly Essay: Red Flag The Saturday Paper The Monthly For mo...

The Morrison government has halted its robo-debt program, finally confronting issues with the troubled scheme. Separately, the government has affirmed its reliance on Chinese trade – irrespective of human rights concerns. Paul Bongiorno on the week in politics. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: Dogged by dollar dilemmas in The Saturday Paper The Saturday P...

As Scott Morrison’s co-design process gets underway, ruling out the key aspirations of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, there are signs that a new political fight is about to begin. Rick Morton on what’s next for the Voice to Parliament. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au. Background reading: Co-designing t...

Since becoming prime minister, Scott Morrison has stamped himself on the cabinet process. There will be more PowerPoints, and less debate about issues he sees as being routine. Karen Middleton on the new processes and how they work. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: Scott Morrison imposes discipline in The Saturday Paper The Saturday P...

A review of consent laws in New South Wales is recommending changes to how juries interpret sexual assaults and the onus that is placed on defendants. Bri Lee on the response from frontline organisations and the woman whose case triggered the inquiry. Guest: Author, advocate for consent reform and writer for The Saturday Paper Bri Lee. Background reading: Proposed reforms to NSW consent in The Sat...

Last week, a million hectares of eastern Australia was burnt in catastrophic bushfires. In the main, politicians refused to acknowledge the science that links these fires to climate change. Mike Seccombe on the political strategy behind these denials – and where it comes from. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Actually, it is climate change in ...

As fires burn through NSW and Queensland, a fundamental shift can be detected in Canberra: the politics of climate change have altered. It is no longer viable to do nothing. Paul Bongiorno on how the Coalition is dealing with this new reality.  Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading:  The Saturday Paper   The Monthly   For more information on today’s episode, vi...

We don’t know what exactly happened or what ASIO was investigating; those details are secret. What we do know is that early last year the spy agency broke the law while conducting an operation. Karen Middleton on the complex legislation that guides ASIO officers, and the risks it poses for compliance. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: ...

New work from the Productivity Commission shows the federal government spends twice as much on income support for people affected by mental illness as it does on treatment. Rick Morton on the human realities of living in poverty while being mentally unwell. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading:  Mental health cost of welfare in The Saturday Paper .  The Sat...

Recently, Scott Morrison described his plans for a ban on environmental groups lobbying businesses. The speech he gave has been called a defining moment in his prime ministership. Mike Seccombe on why this is important and what it says about Morrison’s “ordinary bloke” mask. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Activism and secondary boycotts in T...

Lech Blaine grew up in country Queensland. After the 2019 federal election, he spent several weeks driving around the state, trying to understand what makes it different. He found people with a strong desire to be treated with respect amid a picture more contradictory than it seems. Guest: Writer for The Monthly Lech Blaine.  Background reading:  “How Good is Queensland?” in The Monthly .  The Sat...

As Labor responds to an internal review of its election defeat, some in the party feel they have already lost the next election. While the party struggles with uncertainty, the Coalition struggles with the task of governing. Paul Bongiorno on the difficulties of winning and losing. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading:  Post-election blues all round in The Sat...

There is a widening gap in Australia between the life expectancy of the rich and the poor. On some figures it is as much as 10 years. Mike Seccombe on the death toll of inequality. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading:  The fatal cost of Australia’s rising inequality in The Saturday Paper .  The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on to...

Ross Garnaut wrote the blueprint for Australia’s response to climate change. As the politics fell apart, he became interested in the economic opportunities of a zero-carbon future. He says Australia has more to gain than any other developed country.  Guest: Economist and author of Superpower Ross Garnaut. Background reading: Superpower by Ross Garnaut, published by Black Inc.  The Saturday Paper T...

Anthony Albanese was shaped by the circumstances of his childhood: a single mother, a council house, a love of the Labor Party. The question now is if his working-class background can help the ALP reconnect to its working-class base. James Button on making sense of the leader of the Opposition. Guest: Journalist and former speechwriter James Button.  Background reading: Picking up the pieces in Th...

The Morrison government is committed to a budget surplus above all else. But as Paul Keating points out, this commitment can be a kind of sickness. Paul Bongiorno on what happens when politics refuses to acknowledge circumstances. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: The Coalition's surplus focus in The Saturday Paper . The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more...

After the Morrison government announced another inquiry into the family courts, to be co-chaired by Pauline Hanson, advocates in the sector expressed concern it was a distraction. One of them was Rosie Batty. Guest: Anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty. Background reading: Family law needs reform, not inquiry in The Saturday Paper .  The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on...

As the number of police strip-searches rises in New South Wales, a law enforcement commission considers whether many of them are actually legal. Fiona McGregor on police powers and the trauma of being searched. Guest: Author and performance artist Fiona McGregor. Background reading: The strip-search state in The Monthly . The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visi...

How the American anti-climate-science lobby hijacked local councils in Australia, changing sea-level benchmarks as it went. Guest: Writer for The Monthly and The Saturday Paper Bronwyn Adcock. Background reading: Rising tide in The Monthly .  The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information....

A decision to hand planning about sea-level rise to local council has opened up a war around science, property values and influence. Bronwyn Adcock on how the future of the Australian coastline will be shaped by disagreement over climate change. This is part one of a two-part episode. Guest: Writer for The Monthly and The Saturday Paper Bronwyn Adcock. Background reading: Rising tide in The Monthl...

As the Liberal Party celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Nationals are brawling with each other about drought. At the same time, concern grows over press freedom. Paul Bongiorno on the party to which you were never invited. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading:  The shadowy corridors of power in The Saturday Paper . The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more inf...

Australia is almost alone in the world in its willingness to lock up primary-school-age children for criminal offences. But the “tough on crime” rhetoric that pervades politics means there is little will to change this. Mike Seccombe on the push to lift the age of criminal responsibility. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Children in the crimin...

As Labor waits for a review of its election loss, and another into the operations of its NSW branch, Anthony Albanese is wrestling with divisions inside the party. Karen Middleton on the crisis they face out of office. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: Albanese juggles Labor frictions in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthl...

An error at the Department of Human Services caused the original robo-debt algorithm to restart, issuing thousands of unchecked debt notices. Royce Kurmelovs on how the program operates and why the government persists with it - in spite of its flaws.  Guest: Freelance journalist and author Royce Kurmelovs. Background reading: Robo-debt restart affects thousands in The Saturday Paper The Saturday P...