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It started with PwC, but now accusations are being levelled at the other big consultancy firms in Australia. Over the last 10 years, more and more government decision-making has been outsourced to multi-billion dollar firms in lucrative contracts.  Now, the firms’ relationships with government and their level of influence are under close scrutiny in Canberra.  Today, chief political correspondent...

Anthony Albanese concedes support for the Voice to Parliament has slipped. Polls taken around this time last year showed more than 60 per cent of respondents in favour of the Voice. Now, it’s as low as 41 per cent.  Each side of the debate has just published their official argument for voting ‘yes’ or ‘no’, which will be posted to every Australian household ahead of the referendum.  Today, columni...

The FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off tonight, with the Matildas playing Ireland in Sydney. The 83,500-capacity Stadium Australia is completely sold out, making it one of the biggest crowds in the history of women’s football. But, as the game’s popularity explodes and the players cement themselves as household names, the Matildas are still fighting for basic rights – like equal pay. Today, writer a...

The international criminal court in the Hague looks at some of the gravest war crimes and crimes against humanity. Now, Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has asked it to investigate senior Australian Defence Force commanders for alleged war crimes. She says the Brereton report, which found credible information about 39 alleged murders in Afghanistan involving members of the Australian special forc...

The Reserve Bank of Australia is getting a new governor: Michele Bullock. It’s an historic appointment. Michele Bullock is the first ever woman to hold the position. She was, until now, second in charge. It comes after the controversial term of Philip Lowe, who provoked public anger for suggesting interest rates wouldn’t rise until 2024, and then hiking them 12 times in just over a year. So will a...

The 2022 federal election saw a historic loss for the Coalition and a historic shift towards independent candidates like Allegra Spender in Sydney, Zoe Daniel in Melbourne and Kate Chaney in Perth.  Elected on promises to fight climate change, make progress on gender issues and advocate for more integrity in politics, the Teals flipped some of the wealthiest and safest Liberal seats.  But now, as...

Today on the show, writer and filmmaker John Safran, with his piece from the latest edition of The Monthly .  Father Bob Maguire was an icon in his own right, but for many, they knew him through his years of conversation with John Safran on TV and their Sunday Night radio show. Father Bob passed away earlier this year and received a state funeral in Melbourne and today we feature John’s writing ab...

There is one story that had radiated through the witness list at the robo-debt royal commission, which profoundly altered the shape of that inquiry: the story of Rhys Cauzzo. There were many cases like his, but Rhys Cauzzo’s experience under robo-debt sparked a fight for justice that still continues. Rhys Cauzzo killed himself in January 2017. The public servants and ministers responsible for this...

Robo-debt should never have made it into the real world, but once it did, its gatekeepers became greedy and turned the scheme on full throttle. In late 2016, without warning, more than 100,000 people across Australia were swamped by life-altering debts stretching back years. That became a political problem. A scheme politicians thought was a neat and tidy solution to their own ambitions quickly sp...

How did robo-debt ever make it out of the lab? We may never get a perfect answer to that question. But there is one person who can help piece together how this astounding period of public service fakery was uncovered. You see, the flaws in robo-debt were not discovered by any government department or oversight body, like the ombudsman's office. They were revealed by a group of people on Twitter: l...

Those who imagined, designed and delivered robo-debt put their personal ambition above the wellbeing of the people they were meant to serve. But there were some on the frontline who knew from the very beginning that this government shakedown was wrong. One, Colleen Taylor, came forward at the royal commission. While senior leaders failed to recall, or refused to say how robo-debt happened, she tol...

Australia was gaslit by its own government. From ministers to public servants – they backed something that was illegal, just to shake down innocent people for money, then lied about it for years. There will likely be criminal prosecutions, civil action and more accountability to meat out. But Robo-debt was also born out of a cultural rot inside politics and our public service – it’s a culture that...

This week we're bringing you something special. The first episode of our new podcast: Read This. In the first episode of the show, host Michael Williams sits down with author Helen Garner. She invites us over for cake and conversation about what she’s writing about, how she problem solves and the inspiration she gets from watching her grandson’s footy training. Socials: Stay in touch with Read Thi...

Some of the biggest stories and characters in Australian politics could soon be under the scrutiny of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. It’s already had hundreds of referrals, with more to come.  But not everyone is warmly welcoming the new corruption watchdog to federal politics. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on how our politicians have greeted the new NACC. Social...

El Niño is coming again and Australia is vulnerable.  The UN’s World Meteorological Organization declared this week that the extreme weather event has begun, and the impacts will be felt across our health, ecosystems and economy. Today, climate scientist, contributor to The Saturday Paper and a lead author for the IPCC Joëlle Gergis – on what’s headed our way and what we have to do to avert crisis...

It’s the dawn of a new era in federal politics, with a brand new anti-corruption watchdog now operating and promising to help combat corruption in Canberra. In its first 48 hours since opening on Saturday, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) had already received 44 referrals for investigation. But there are concerns the way the NACC has been designed could mean it will struggle to meet...

The ‘Yes’ campaign has intensified its efforts this week, with thousands of people turning out for rallies nationwide on Sunday to back the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. It’s the kind of visible community campaigning that ‘Yes’ organisers have long been promising would ramp up as the referendum approaches. But it came at the end of a difficult week for the campaign, with some major opinion polls...

Once there was public outcry from some quarters that ICAC would even investigate Gladys Berejiklian – one of the most popular premiers in NSW history. Flowers were left at her electoral office after she stepped down, and talkback radio callers were furious with ICAC for precipitating her resignation. But now we know that Berejiklian was seriously corrupt when she was treasurer and later the premie...

Today on the show, author Carrie Tiffany, with her piece from the Monthly.  After the death of her mother, Carrie reflects on the hold of sugar upon her family’s health and history. Carrie will read her piece, ‘Sweet Regret’ after a short conversation with the Editor of the 7am podcast, Scott Mitchell.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author, Carrie Tiffany See omnys...

Stuart Robert may have resigned from parliament – but this parliament might not be done with him yet. New allegations, which he strongly denies, paint a picture of a lobbying firm setting up arrangements to profit Robert if he helped them win government work. And we’ll soon see how voters react, with a by-election in Roberts’ seat looming. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on...

Since the Voice to Parliament referendum was announced, it has enjoyed majority support, according to the biggest opinion polls – that is, until this week. As legislation for the referendum made its way through parliament, the debate on the chamber floor and in the media only became more acrimonious. Now, the polls seem to suggest the resounding majority hoped for by advocates of the Voice might b...

Parliament is struggling with how to handle the case of Senator David Van, who continues to strenuously deny allegations of sexual harassment and assault levelled by Senator Lidia Thorpe and others. The case shows how, more than a year after the Jenkins review into the culture at parliament house, it remains uniquely incapable of handling complaints, finding the truth and providing a safe workplac...

Russian president Vladimir Putin may have averted an armed mutiny, but the wounds could prove fatal for his leadership. Wagner group, a private military force that has flourished with Putin’s blessing, and just halted its march from the Ukrainian front towards Moscow, has exposed cracks in the Russian government. Russia’s ruling elites will now exchange deep recriminations over how the attempted i...

A string of recent incidents involving the use of force has raised questions about the way in which Australian police wield power, and how these incidents are investigated. The officer who allegedly Tasered a 95-year old woman, Clare Nowland, is in court next month and is expected to fight the charges. Meanwhile, a Queensland police officer was caught on video punching and Tasering a man who’d bee...

We learned this week that United States president Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, will accept a plea deal on federal tax crimes. With the 2024 presidential race already underway, Republicans are calling the deal evidence of nepotism and corruption – none more loudly than Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Trump, of course, is facing a much more lengthy federal indictment, with 37 charges against him. T...