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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...

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 Austr...

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 Gues...

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...

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 mos...

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?...

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 Satu...

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 h...

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...

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...

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...

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 e...

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 , Ric...

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 sm...

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 i...

For decades the Reserve Bank has done things the same old way: announcing their decision on interest rates the first Tuesday of every month, with just a short statement. But the RBA’s first decision of the year marked a new era of transparency. After announcing an interest rate pause this week, governor Michele Bullock hosted a candid press conference where the board’s decision was finally allowed...

Nick Feik spent eight months looking into one of the worst institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse this country has ever seen… It took him to the Tasmanian town of Deloraine and to Ashley Youth Detention Centre – where he found a culture of violence, child sexual abuse, cover-ups, blame-shifting and a system incapable of rooting out abusers.  Today, contributor to The Monthly...

Videos of emotional protesters outside a private all-boys school in Sydney have gone viral, with some former students of Newington College opposing the school welcoming female enrolment. The topic of single-sex schooling is familiar to Chanel Contos – a consent advocate who has for years accused private boys schools of fostering a dangerous and toxic culture.  Today, founder of Teach Us Consent an...

For someone who’s been accused of breaking an election promise, Anthony Albanese isn’t hiding. The prime minister and his front bench have been out selling their new tax cuts, giving interviews and addressing the National Press Club. So what makes the government confident they’ve made the right call? And how does it set up the political chessboard for the first week of parliament? Today, chief pol...

2024 will be democracy’s biggest year.  Over four billion people will head to the polls, with major battles in the United States, India, South Africa and Indonesia. One person watching this closely is Anne Applebaum. She was calling out authoritarianism spreading around the world while western leaders were still shaking hands with Vladimir Putin.  So, where could the world’s politics be heading? ...

The ABC has started the year fighting off accusations of racism, unlawful dismissal and a failure to protect journalists from outside attacks.  The case of Antoniette Lattouf’s sacking, a description which the ABC denies, has ignited a debate about the broadcaster’s editorial policies, its coverage of the war in the Middle East and its vulnerability to external lobbying and pressure.  So, are the...

Last weekend’s decision by the International Court of Justice was heralded as a victory by many. South Africa and the Palestinian Authority saw it as a vindication, as orders have been made to prevent any genocidal acts in Gaza and the ICJ will move towards a full trial. Others heralded it as a win for Israel, with the court refusing to make an order for the end of military action against Hamas. T...

The Labor government promised it would return transparency to government once elected at the 2022 election. More than anyone else that mission was given to the new first law officer of Australia: Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. So how has he measured up to Labor’s promise? Today, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, on his essay in the new edition of The Monthly and his vision of a more honest Australian...

The stage three tax cuts the Labor government said they’d deliver will be altered and now be of greater benefit to lower and middle-income earners. What does the change mean for all of us? Is there such a thing as a good promise to break? And does this decision signal that Anthony Albanese is taking a new approach to being prime minister? Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on...

Surrounded by what we know as the Kakadu National Park, the Northern Territory’s Ranger Uranium Mine finally ceased processing in 2021, after nearly 50 years of operation.  With the mine now closed, Kakadu’s traditional owners are seeking that the government make good on the original promise of a national park in their care. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Writer and...