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At the last federal election, mining billionaire Clive Palmer spent more than $80 million trying to influence the makeup of Australia’s parliament. Now his United Australia Party is back with a new leader - Craig Kelly. Kelly, a former Liberal MP known for his controversial views, says that under his leadership the United Australia Party is stronger and bigger than ever. Today, national correspond...

Today, Helen Garner, one of Australia’s most acclaimed authors, will be reading her piece from the latest issue of The Monthly .  It features entries from her diaries, covering her experience during this year’s lockdown in Melbourne. Guest: Helen Garner, acclaimed Australian novelist and nonfiction writer. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

When the Real Housewives first aired 16 years ago it was written off as “trashy”. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem even called it "a minstrel show for women". But the show has shrugged off those labels, and become bigger and bigger, exploring themes of consumerism, class, and race, all while being highly entertaining. Now the franchise is at the centre of serious legal drama, providing both high stake...

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has finally confirmed that he will be attending the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow in November. Morrison is under pressure, both from voters and Australia’s international allies, to publicly support a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.  But his coalition partners, the Nationals, are yet to support the policy - and some in the minor party are pushi...

Over the past week, Victoria’s anti-corruption commission has heard damning evidence about the political culture at the heart of the state’s Labor party.  The allegations aired so far include claims of branch stacking and misuse of taxpayer funds, and the investigation has already forced the resignation of a number of state government ministers. Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturda...

From the moment the pandemic began, uncovering the origins of Covid-19 has been a fraught pursuit. Many different theories - some more viable than others - have flourished, including the hypothesis that Covid-19 was deliberately leaked from a lab in Wuhan.  The Wuhan lab leak theory has been given new prominence thanks to a controversial book written by Australian journalist and Sky News commentat...

As vaccination rates across Australia continue to surge, the country is preparing for life after lockdown. But focusing on the headline, national vaccination rate masks the fact that many vulnerable groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, have been left behind in the race to get vaccinated. For the first time leaked government documents have revealed the disproportiona...

When Afghanistan fell back under Taliban control earlier this year, the Australian government announced it would evacuate more than 4000 people.  Most of them arrived in cities in the middle of Covid-19 outbreaks and lockdowns, unsure about what happens next and how to navigate their lives in a new and unfamiliar country. But despite being promised safety here, some are concerned they could be sen...

After a two year break HBO’s ‘Succession’ is finally back for season three. The first two seasons of ‘Succession’ were critically acclaimed, but failed to attract big audiences.  But the hype has been steadily building as more and more people streamed the show during the pandemic. To help preview the new season, and talk about how the show became such a phenomenon, writer and critic for The Saturd...

Four years ago Prime Minister Scott Morrison wielded a lump of coal in the Australian Parliament, demonstrating his commitment to fossil fuels. Now he’s trying to pivot, shifting his government towards a position of supporting net-zero emissions by 2050. But Morrison is facing stiff opposition from his Coalition partners in the National party, who have historically been opposed to taking more seri...

This week, after more than 100 days in lockdown, NSW residents were officially allowed back into restaurants, bars, shops and gyms.  But for many, the end of lockdown wasn’t about being able to drink beer in a pub again but the chance to see family after months of isolation. Today, 7am producer Kara Jensen-Mackinnon speaks to two sisters finally reunited after lockdown about what opening up means...

Since coming to power the federal Coalition has chipped away at the public service, increasingly outsourcing key functions of government to private companies. In the past 18 months everything from the vaccine rollout strategy, to advice on manufacturing the vaccine has been contracted out to management consultants. The trend has raised important questions about transparency, and the long-term sust...

The resignation of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, following the announcement of an investigation by the state’s ICAC, has renewed calls for a federal anti-corruption watchdog. In the lead up to the last federal election Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised to implement such a body, but the model he’s put forward has been criticised for being too weak. Today, contributing editor to The Monthly R...

Since the beginning of the pandemic, healthcare workers have faced wave after wave of outbreaks, working around the clock in tough conditions. Eighteen months in, Australia has more case numbers than ever, and our doctors, nurses and other health professionals are reporting alarmingly high rates of exhaustion, burnout and mental health issues. Today, Doctor Natasha Smallwood on the stress that hea...

Can you believe it’s been almost three years since Lil Nas X dropped ‘Old Town Road’? With that one track, produced for less than $100, the rapper made history. ‘Old Town Road’ became the longest running single to sit at number one on the charts, and kicked off a debate about the definition of country music. Lil Nas X himself became the first openly queer Black artist to win a Country Music Associ...

This year Rupert Murdoch turned 90, and that milestone has focused discussion on who will take over the world’s largest media empire. Now, Murdoch’s son Lachlan is making major strategic moves in his role as News Corp’s co-chair. He’s also changing the way the company is structured - signalling that power is finally shifting in the media dynasty.  Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Paddy Man...

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison has so far refused growing international pressure to commit to net zero emissions by 2050. Now he’s facing a concerted push from MPs in his own party to embrace the policy. But on the other side of the Coalition, right-wing Nationals are refusing to budge - including senior figures in the government. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccom...

On Tuesday, Dominic Perrottet won the support of his Liberal Party colleagues to become the party’s leader, and the 46th Premier of NSW.  He’s taking over the Premiership at a crucial time for the state, as it prepares to end a long lockdown and enter a new phase of living with Covid-19. But he’s already facing criticism for his socially conservative views on issues ranging from abortion to volunt...

Australia’s two largest states are getting ready to end their long lockdowns and reopen when 80 percent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.   But what does reopening with that target mean for the 20 percent who are yet to receive their vaccines?  Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on how some of our most at risk communities fell through the cracks of the national vac...

On Friday, after serving for a decade on the front line of New South Wales politics, nearly half of that as Premier, Gladys Berejiklian suddenly resigned. Her shocking departure from the top job has left the state in political turmoil in the midst of a pandemic. It's also raised important questions about political accountability and transparency.  Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Pap...

Today, Hugh White, emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, reads his cover essay from the latest issue of The Monthly . It’s called ‘War of Error’. It explores the failures of the United States in Afghanistan, and the folly of Australia’s unquestioning support. Guest: Hugh White, emeritus professor of strategic studies at...

When NITRAM, a newly released film about the perpetrator of the Port Arthur massacre, was announced there was swift backlash from politicians and film critics who argued that the story was too painful and traumatic to tell.  On today’s episode of The Culture we dissect the film, and explore the bigger questions it raises about how to tell stories about trauma and violence. Plus, we speak to the di...

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison has returned from his trip to Washington, and is spending the next couple of weeks in quarantine at The Lodge in Canberra. But he’s already facing pressure over another international summit - the UN climate change conference in Glasgow next month. Scott Morrison is under criticism from the UK government, the hosts of the summit, over his unwillingness to confirm h...

The Catholic Church has historically been one of the most powerful institutions in Australia, influencing both sides of politics. But now the Church is in steep decline with dwindling congregations and fewer and fewer donations.  In response to its current crisis, a once-in-a-century meeting is being organised to discuss the future of Catholicism in Australia. This plenary is pitting church reform...

The country's two largest states, NSW and Victoria, now have clear roadmaps out of the pandemic and towards a future where we live with COVID-19. Those pathways, as well as the national plan, are heavily influenced by modelling conducted by the Doherty Institute, which estimates case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths as the country reopens. But the Doherty Institute isn’t the only organisation...