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Across the country, COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise. Yesterday, NSW recorded more than 24,000 new cases and in Victoria there were more than 12,000. While deaths and hospitalisations have not hit the highs of January, over 2,500 Australians are in hospital and the figure has been rising.  So, what’s driving the spread of COVID-19 right now?  Today, Professor Raina MacIntyre, a member of the...

Fifteen years after winning the safe seat of Cook, the true story of Scott Morrison’s ugly preselection fight can now be revealed. For the first time, statutory declarations show how Morrison allegedly used race and religion to undermine a rival. Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton, who broke the story, on what really happened and what it tells us about Scot...

Ann Marie Smith died from staggering neglect in her Adelaide home. Her carer was sentenced for manslaughter, but many in the Disability community believe that the charge should have been murder. Today, Disability activist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Georgia Cranko on what happened to Ann Marie Smith, and what the case tells us about how society treats Disabled people.  Guest:  Disability...

More than in any other election, next month’s poll will feature a defining number of independent candidates. They represent a new, well-organised reaction against the major parties. For the Liberals, they also represent a threat that may one day see the party split. Today, contributor to The Monthly Margaret Simons on the independents who could go on to hold the balance of power. Guest: Contributo...

Australia's pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions relies in part on the success of the federal government’s carbon market.  But explosive claims from a former head of the government’s integrity body show almost all the money spent on emissions reduction has gone to projects that did not contribute to reductions. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on the man bl...

One of the ways survivors of child sexual abuse or violent crime can seek redress is through compensation.  But, at that point, some discover that the perpetrators have hidden their assets - in their superannuation funds, where it can’t be reached. It’s a common enough problem that four years ago, the government promised to fix it. So far, however, it has failed to act on that promise.  Today, con...

Last night, Josh Frydenberg delivered his last budget before the Morrison government goes to the polls. It was a pitch to voters worried about the cost of living, with new payments and bold claims about an economic turnaround. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on what the government is promising and what it tells us about an election that could be called in the next few days....

As the war in Ukraine enters its second month, it’s clear that a swift and easy victory for Russia was never a possibility.  Russian forces are now fighting Ukraine on three fronts, but have failed to capture any major cities, with battles stalled as Ukrainians resist.  So did Russian President Vladimir Putin underestimate Ukraine’s strength? And if so, what is he likely to do next? Today, histori...

Last year, the federal court found the environment minister has a duty of care to young Australians when making decisions regarding climate change. This month, that decision was overturned. But for the teenagers involved in the case, it is not the end. Today, Anjali Sharma on her fight for action on climate change. Guest: Climate Activist, Anjali Sharma. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instag...

The death of Labor senator Kimberley Kitching has ignited claims of bullying within the party.  Meanwhile, heavy losses for the Liberals in the South Australian election could have dire implications for Scott Morrison. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the unseen forces driving both stories. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Stay in touch with us on Tw...

A few weeks ago, Energy Minister Angus Taylor made changes to the Australian carbon market that crashed the value of government-issued carbon credits. The changes made it cheaper for big companies to pollute. They also cost the government as much as $3.5 billion. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on why Taylor did it and what it means. Guest: National correspondent...

As further details emerge about the federal response to the flood crisis in Northern NSW, it has become clear that the government did not send troops when it could have. Since then, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has gone silent on a recovery package already finalised by the NSW state government. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on Morrison’s blame shifting and the conseque...

For a long time, we’ve known Australia’s mental health system is overwhelmed and under-resourced.  As a result, those who need help can end up trapped in the criminal justice system.  These outcomes aren’t new; they can be traced back to colonisation.  Today, author of a new Quarterly Essay on the mental health system Sarah Krasnostein on how Australia’s history of incarceration and shame informs...

The federal government frames itself as the responsible economic manager. But many of the claims it makes about the economy do not stack up. The government uses economics to say it has no choice on some policies - when the opposite is often true. Guest: Economist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Richard Denniss. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Today, writer Richard Cooke will be reading his story from the latest edition of The Monthly . It’s called ‘Market of the apes: NFTs and digital art’, and in it, he explores how the art market has been transformed by NFTs, and how artificial intelligence might transform art itself. Guest: Contributing editor to The Monthly , Richard Cooke. Background reading: Market of the apes: NFTs and digital a...

As an election inches closer, both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese are seeking to define their public images.  For Albanese, that’s involved an appearance on 60 minutes, and after a near death experience, a so-called glow-up.  For the prime minister, it’s about turning negatives into positives, and attacking his opponent.  Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Pau...

In November 2019, a 19-year-old Walpiri man, Kumanjayi Walker, was killed by Northern Territory police constable Zachary Rolfe.  It happened during an attempted arrest in the remote community of Yuendumu. Rolfe shot Walker three times. Walker died shortly after. Rolfe was charged with murder. His trial has been playing out in the Darwin Supreme Court, and last week a verdict was handed down. Rolfe...

Almost two weeks on from the catastrophic flooding on the east coast of Australia, residents have begun the slow process of rebuilding their lives. But they’ve been left with a lingering question: where was the help? Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the dramatic rescues conducted by ordinary people, and why they were necessary in the first place.  Editorial note: Since...

Over the past year, there’s been pressure on the Morrison government to step up and take significant action on women’s safety, as rates of sexual violence have increased. And in the wake of Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame’s campaigning - the federal government has released a draft plan that seeks to end violence against women and children.  However, survivors and experts are disappointed with the...

When Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie entered politics - via a housing commission, the army and eventually Clive Palmer - her speeches on Sharia law, and her op-shop outfits, marked her out for ridicule.  Since then Jacqui Lambie has had a remarkable turnaround. Wielding her influence in the senate to advocate for veterans, those on low incomes, and to argue against corruption.   She’s become known...

This week, the federal government has faced anger, outrage, and criticism over its response to the catastrophic floods in Queensland and NSW.   And Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing another, related, problem: disquiet within his own ranks about his leadership.  Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on how precarious the Prime Minister’s position might be.  Guest: Columnist f...

All across the country, waitlists for public housing are on the rise. In NSW alone, there are more than 50,000 families in need of affordable housing. Some families will be waiting for five to 10 years to be housed. In the meantime, state governments are selling off public housing estates to developers - doing nothing to reduce these ballooning waitlists. Today, Rick Morton on how governments and...

Right now, much of Ukraine is in the cross hairs of war. Russian troops continue to descend on the country, and shelling is intensifying near the capital Kyiv, and in other cities including Kharkiv and Mariupol. But as the war on the ground in Ukraine escalates, there is another battle playing out: a coordinated series of fake videos and social disinformation - produced by Russia as justification...

Across Australia, energy companies are beginning to realise they need to rely less on fossil fuels, and redirect their strategy to renewables and green energy.  To do that - they’re working with state governments, who have their own climate goals and investment plans.  But there’s one big barrier to this transition: the federal government.  Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike...

For decades, house prices in Australia have been accelerating - surpassing expectations, and defying every prediction of a crash.  The pandemic has done nothing to slow down that trajectory, with prices continuing to go up, despite economic uncertainty and slow population growth.  The result of it all is more people permanently locked out of the housing market, facing steep rent hikes and homeless...