The Swanston Explainer

Like 2008’s GFC, the Covid pandemic has been a major economic challenge for the Morrison Government. They say it’s one they’ve overcome, hailing Australia’s incredibly low unemployment as a sign of a successful economic recovery. But Labor says that’s not the full story, with incredibly high inflation creating cost of living challenges for many. So how did we get here, what’s the real story, and w...

With the unemployment rate at the lowest it's been in 50 years, it seems as though jobs are a topic that's been somewhat pushed aside. However, an increasing number of Australians now find themselves underemployed in their work. It sounds confusing; how can someone be working, but not enough to get by? And isn’t being underemployed better than being unemployed? Tune into this episode to hear what...

The Federal Government's humanitarian response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine included offering Ukrainian refugees safety in Australia, with special priority given to victims of the conflict. However, critics suggest that Afghan refugees were not given similar priority after the Taliban regained power last August. Does Australia's treatment of Ukrainian refugees amount to a PR exercise in the lea...

There are more than two parties to keep an eye on in the 2022 Federal Election. Many Australians are feeling disenfrachised with the two major parties, and minor parties are generating support through the promotion of specific policy agendas. In this episode, we talk to leader of the United Australia Party, Craig Kelly and leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt. We also speak to voters on why they chose...

National security has become a forefront topic in Australia due to the immense year of global security concerns that have appeared post-Covid. With mounting aggression toward Ukraine, tensions rising in the South China sea, and a slew of humanitarian issues both at home and abroad, National Security is an important topic leading toward the next election. Listen in to navigate National Security pol...

The 2022 Federal Election is predicted by many to be a hung parliament and a growing number of independents are major disrupstors of this once two-party system in Australia. Many of these underdogs are backed by the Climate 200, a group with the hopes of shaking up the status quo through a focus on integrity and climate change policies. We chat to the Independent candidate for Goldstein, Zoe Danie...

Labor Party Leader Anthony Albenese first began his career as a politician 25 years ago but Albo admits that only in recent years, did he decide he wanted to be the next PM. With multiple election setbacks including getting COVID-19, a real threat from the independents and past failures from the Labor Party looming, is Albo’s personality and policy enough to get him over the line? With the electio...

As this year's Federal Election draws closer, many Aussies are deciding where to place their vote and looking to the campaign trail to help them make this decision. In this podcast, we take a deep dive in to the election strategies Morrison is using to win those votes, unpacking the ways the coalition seeks to continue its term as Australia's Government. We expore the benefits of Morrison's charis...

As this year’s election closes in, we take a deep dive into the understandings of the voting system with a direct focus on marginal seats and how effective they are in deciding elections. We discuss the tricks used by parties to help win these ‘Swing seats’ and are given insight by our experts on all the ins and outs of them. Make sure you tune in so you are up to date with all the lingo and hot t...

Since Melbourne has left harsh COVID-19 lock downs, live music venues have struggled to recover from the pandemic. Strict capacity restrictions have live music venues on the ropes struggling to make a profit as most venues cannot operate above 30% capacity due to density limits. Venues are calling to relax density restrictions to ensure their survival.

Worsening bushfires and habitat loss have further highlighted the importance of protecting our forests. In this podcast, we will explore two perspectives on forest management. We interview Patrick Baker, professor of silviculture at the University of Melbourne, on engaging with the land by changing the forest structure and Hailey from WOTCH, a citizen science group who survey the forests for endan...

This year, important conversations surrounding mistreatment and abuse of women in Australian parliament and broader society have been the the forefront of media coverage and citizens minds. Various media commentators have attempted to find and pin point the exact causes of this behaviour. Today, Journalist Georgie Carroll speaks to Brigita Hare about the culture in the single sex education sector...

Since the beginning of lockdown in 2020, Tinder’s swipe activity peaked and members’ matches rocketed. Dating apps’ users are willing to spend extra time and money to seek relationships. Is this the new normal for dating in Australia? What are the benefits and harms of this online dating culture? Dive in with journalist Keira Wright and Esther Cheah as they discuss the changing nature of dating in...

The ending of the Coronavirus Supplement on March 31 is predicted to significantly affect the lives of over a million Australians who currently receive the JobSeeker payment. The federal government has introduced a permanent fifty dollar per fortnight increase to the JobSeeker rate, but this has been criticised as being grossly inadequate and will still leave these people living well below the pov...

Paywalls. Online resources. Print. Radio. Video. The news has evolved and will continue to evolve as long as technology evolves, meaning the journalism and media industry will adapt in order to stay viable. One way this can be seen is paywalls online media outlets have in place, in order to make consumers pay for what they are about to read/see. In this podcast episode we discuss these paywalls an...

Fashion has always played a vital role in indigenous and First Nations culture and heritage, they are however sorely underrepresented in Australia’s fashion industry. In this podcast we discuss the current Australian fashion industry, and have a chat with Indigenous designer Colleen Tighe Johnson and the work she is doing promoting indigenous fashion.

Sex education in schools has become recognized as a very important and relevant topic to students' lives as it helps develop a positive and consensual mindset to sex and relationships in that age. However, current education programs rarely or do not accommodate for people living with a disability. Join Akira Bhagawanta and Sara Lilley as they dive deeply into this topic.

In a study conducted by Chris Tisdell, an education researcher for the university of Sydney, results found that 1 in 3 students decided to discontinue their university studies in 2020. Tisdell had many interesting thoughts on the subject, and in a conversation between host Blake Gaffiero and Reporter John Thompson, we explore the various reasons why students chose not to study during the pandemic,...

RMIT students have faced massive disruptions to their studies over the course of the past year due to Melbourne’s recurrent lockdowns. It’s no secret that the ongoing restrictions can have a detrimental impact on mental health, so exactly what resources are being made available to students seeking mental health support? Join Emma Fitzgerald and Carly Douglas as they look at the supply and demand p...

Agriculture is humankind’s oldest business; we’ve been ploughing fields and producing crops for thousands of years. But as the times change, so do the standards of our work. How will farming become sustainable and who has to make the change? ‘Farming for the Future’ takes a deep dive into one of the many alternatives to traditional agriculture. Join Maya and Zak as they discover farming’s next ste...

Last month there were 4 indigenous deaths in custody within a three week period. Despite the royal commission's report, little has been done to improve the issue. Join in with journalist Mia Gardiner and Kendra Jewell’s discussion as they talk to Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood about the affect on the indigenous community.

Right now in Australia a national conversation is taking place surrounding sexual harassment and assault. In this episode, Ethan Dean investigates the realities of sexual harassment of teachers at elite private schools. He spoke to Monash's Dr George Variyan, an expert in educational leadership, to explore the processes in place and root causes of harassment by students. Produced by Lauren Formica...

Cultured or 'synthetic' meats are a cutting edge field of agriculture, with lab-grown meat already starting to enter some markets in other parts of the world. In Australia the technology is still new, and in this podcast we discuss the environmental, technological and societal impacts of this burgeoning industry. Join journalists Ada Hall and Veli Donmez as they take a deep dive in to the Cellular...

Late last year, a new form of hacking was predicted to become the most popular form of cyber warfare in 2021. Less than five months into the year, RMIT, Channel 9 and Eastern Health became some of the many organisations to be targeted by cyber criminals who are after one thing: your personal data.  Take a deep-dive into the world of cyber crime with journalists Amelia Hirst and Carla Jaeger,...

A story about the resurgence of microcomputers in recent years and the implications this shift might have on the broader personal computing landscape. Exploring potential applications, areas of adoption and technology as a catalyst for change with expert opinion from industry veteran with over 10 years experience in computer engineering roles.