7am

The Vote is your essential guide to the 2022 election. We’ll bring you original reporting from around the country, interviews with political candidates and the sharpest analysis from the campaign trail. Building on the reporting of  The Saturday Paper  and  The Monthly , episodes of The Vote will come to you in your regular 7am feed. Hosted by Ruby Jones. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

On the campaign trail, Anthony Albanese struggled to say whether he would change the way people are appointed to the Australian Human Rights Commission. In fact, he didn’t know who the most recently appointed commissioner was. The reason he was being asked about it though, was because the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions recently threatened to downgrade Australia’s Human Right...

Hillsong Church’s growth and success has faltered in recent years. Founded by Brian Houston in New South Wales, the global megachurch has outposts in 30 countries, including the United States. But mounting scandals at home have led Brian Houston to step aside and now, sensational allegations of misconduct in its US operations have been made public. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper , R...

Two years ago, the High Court made a landmark decision that prevented the deportation of non-citizen Aboriginal Australians.  Now, the federal government is seeking to overturn that decision after a man, Shayne Paul Montgomery, used the case to successfully challenge his deportation.   Today, lawyer and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Kieran Pender, on the case of Shayne Montgomery, and concern...

In 2020 we brought you the story of the last family left on Nauru.  Just over a week ago - that family was released. They were among the 26 refugees freed from onshore detention.  So, today we’re re-releasing that 2020 episode, featuring journalist Hannah Ryan on the story of Mustafa and Salah.  Their story is a reminder of what hundreds of refugees have endured within the Australian detention sys...

Today, we are spotlighting an episode of 7am from the archive: A major study found that the therapeutic use of the illicit drug MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, could cure people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At the time, an Australian psychologist was finally embarking on Australia’s first ever clinical trial using the drug.  James Bradley on the healing power of MDMA - and...

As Russian forces have withdrawn from around Kyiv, Ukrainians have found shocking scenes of civilians executed and evidence of alleged war crimes. But Russia isn’t leaving these towns to give up on its war in Ukraine. Today, world editor for The Saturday Paper Jonathan Pearlman, on the race to gather evidence of war crimes and Vladimir Putin’s new plan to win the war in Ukraine. Guest: World edito...

In the final days of a Government, before an election is called, last-minute appointments are often made. Last week, the Morrison government made 19 of those, to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Half of the people appointed have ties to the Liberal Party or to conservative politics. Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper , Rick Morton on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the case of one...

With an election called, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has six weeks to convince Australia he would make a better prime minister than Scott Morrison. The challenge is to avoid the mistakes of the last Labor election campaign, but as a small target, can he still be inspiring enough to win over voters – and secure a majority? Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper and biographer...

After years in public life, Scott Morrison can still seem hollow and one-dimensional. According to his biographer, this is deliberate. But with the election now running, Morrison faces one of the strange truisms of politics: that what helped him win last time could be what costs him victory this time. Sean Kelly, author of The Game: A portrait of Scott Morrison , on what we know about the prime mi...

With the countdown to the federal election on, both sides of politics are attempting to shore up internal support and reassure voters.  Labor is still firmly ahead in the polls, but the race is getting tighter, at least according to newspoll.  In an unprecedented development, however, members of the Liberal Party have begun turning on Scott Morrison. Today columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bon...

From The Monthly and LiSTNR comes The Politics Podcast , a new daily podcast that cuts through the noise and delivers you the in-depth analysis of the moments that defined the day in politics. Hosted by Rachel Withers from The Monthly , The Politics Podcast drops at 5.30pm each weekday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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...