7am

The Royal Commission report into the Christchurch terrorist attacks led to an apology from the New Zealand government. But in Australia, there’s been an unwillingness to grapple with how the shooter was steeped in a culture of far-right extremism. Today, Shakira Hussein on Australia’s responsibility for the Christchurch massacre.   Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Shakira Hussein. Backgrou...

  The Liberal party has historically been handbrake on serious climate action, but in NSW one minister is pushing through ambitious environmental policy. Today, Mike Seccombe talks to Matt Kean, the Liberal minister forcing action on climate change and uniting the Nationals and the Greens.   Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: The Liberal ministe...

Scandal after scandal has battered the authority of the government and diminished the trust the public has in our democratic institutions. Today, former leader of the federal Liberal Party John Hewson on how rorts, mates and marketing took over politics, and how we can take it back.   Guest: Former Liberal Party leader and contributor to The Saturday Paper John Hewson. Background reading: How rort...

The two guests joining John on this season’s penultimate episode are show business royalty. Mitchell Butel is an actor, singer and the artistic director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia, and Nancye Hayes AM is currently starring in Mitchell’s production of the play Ripcord to socially-distanced packed houses. Nancye was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for signif...

Just as parliament was wrapping up for the year, the government introduced radical and controversial proposed changes to worker’s rights. The new legislation looks set to dominate the political agenda in the new year. Today, Paul Bongiorno on how the political battlelines are being drawn.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out inform...

The passage of the medevac legislation last year allowed sick refugees in offshore detention to travel to Australia. The legislation was bitterly opposed by the federal government. Now those refugees say they’re being punished as a result. Today, Karen Middleton on what happens when a government is forced to implement a law it opposed. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Ka...

After years of careful manoeuvring, the Coalition government is laying the groundwork to make radical changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The revised system could make it harder for people to get the support they need. Today, Rick Morton on the Coalition’s bid to reshape the NDIS.   Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Exclusive: The seven...

This year we’ve seen relations between Australia and China plummet. But the story of Australia’s increasing friction with China goes back much further than the recent storm over a tweet. Today, Jonathan Pearlman on how serious the current situation is, and whether there’s a solution to the tension.   Guest: World editor for The Saturday Paper Jonathan Pearlman. Background reading: China–Australia...

New Zealand’s rapid response to Covid-19 and the political success of Jacinda Ardern has seen the world start to pay more attention to our neighbour’s political culture. Today, Laura Tingle on what Australia can learn from New Zealand.   Guest: Contributor to the Quarterly Essay Laura Tingle. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Artists Amrita Hepi and Jason Phu do extremely well at the quiz, even though the one question in Arita’s expert category nearly trips her up. We never find out what Jason’s expert category might be, but he does know what colour Mickey Mouse’s shoes are and which part of the body tinnitus affects. He also thinks Nicholas Nickelby sounds like the name of an annoying person. Guests: Artist and dancer...

The growing diplomatic dispute between China and Australia took an ugly turn this week, after a Chinese government official posted an incendiary tweet. Today, Paul Bongiorno on the harsh realities of an increasingly dominant China, and whether Scott Morrison can navigate Australia through a period of growing tension.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See acast.com/privacy f...

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are caught between a global shift towards more serious climate action and pro-coal members of their respective parties. Today, Karen Middleton on how Australia’s political leaders are grappling with climate policy. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: How Australia’s leaders are preparing for climate ch...

In 2018 Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert was arrested and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in an Iranian jail. Last week, she was released in a diplomatically fraught prisoner swap involving four different countries. Today, Jonathan Pearlman on what her freedom means for the other foreign citizens still jailed in Iran.   Guest: World editor for The Saturday Paper Jonathan Pearlman. Backg...

The pandemic has exposed big cracks in the way Australia’s economy and social services operate, particularly when it comes to insecure work and aged care. Today, Rick Morton on how the Victorian state government is trying to lead the national conversation on what needs to change.   Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Andrews budget wedges Morrison on aged...

From boycotting celebrities to calling out poor behaviour, cancel culture has become a controversial phenomenon in the age of social media. But the ideas behind it have been around for a long time. Today, Waleed Aly on the origins of cancel culture and what’s really driving it. Guest: Contributor to The Monthly Waleed Aly. Background reading: Woke politics and power in The Monthly See acast.com/pr...

Try as they might, old friends Agatha Gothe-Snape and Alison Bell just can’t seem to find the answers to the questions in this week’s quiz. But there’s plenty of laughter along the way as the artist and actor struggle to name Australia’s deputy opposition leader, the solar system’s hottest planet, and the No.1-ranked golfer in the world. Guests: Artist Agatha Gothe-Snape and actor Alison Bell See...

Australia’s relationship with China is at its lowest point in decades. Trade boycotts are impacting local businesses, and now the Chinese government has issued a fourteen point list of grievances it has with Australia. Today, Paul Bongiorno on the challenges Scott Morrison faces trying to navigate a tense moment in global politics.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See acas...

Rio Tinto’s destruction of the Juukan Gorge caves sparked a global backlash, and now a parliamentary inquiry is exploring what needs to change. Today, Mike Seccombe on how the system locks out traditional owners, and the cross-party alliance of federal politicians pushing for reform.   Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: The failures behind the d...

A landmark report has quantified the economic and social cost of Australia’s mental health crisis. It’s also pointed to poverty and unemployment as key factors behind why so many people are struggling with mental health. Today, Rick Morton how the government’s social policies are causing harm to our most vulnerable communities. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background...

West Papuan separatists have been fighting for independence from Indonesia for decades. Now independence activists have been targeted by the Indonesian government for posting on social media. Today on 7am, Zach Szumer on the woman who fought back, and became an enemy of the state.    Guest: Writer for The Monthly Zach Szumer. Background reading: Enemy of the state in The Monthly See acast.com/priv...

Detailed accusations that Australian soldiers in Afghanistan committed war crimes have drawn widespread condemnation from around the world. But who is ultimately responsible for the actions of Australian armed forces? Today, Karen Middleton on the disturbing and shocking allegations involving Australia’s most elite military unit, and our collective shame.  Guest: Chief political correspondent for...

The outgoing artistic directors of Sydney Festival and the Australian Ballet, Wesley Enoch and David McAllister, combine forces to battle against their impending irrelevance, by doing extremely well at the quiz. Whether it’s questions about WWII tanks or Greek mythology, these two pass with flying colours. They even ace the sports question. But like everyone else, they come undone with geography....

The federal government has settled the largest class action in Australian history, over the unlawful robodebt program. Today, Paul Bongiorno on who was responsible and whether anyone in the government will be held accountable for this policy.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Mojtaba is 29 years old. He’s lived in Australia for nearly a decade, but last year he was placed into immigration detention. Since then he hasn’t been able to see his wife and young son and may never again. Today, journalist Abdul Hekmat on how Mojtaba’s life has been shaped by Australia’s immigration policies, and the way our system continues to punish the most vulnerable.    Guest: Journalist a...

A huge, global effort to try and find a vaccine for coronavirus is showing growing signs of success. A number of possible candidates are moving into the final stages of testing, and some are even hitting production lines. Today, Rick Morton on when Australians might see a coronavirus vaccine. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Progress on Covid-19 vaccin...