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An aged care facility in NSW is the site of one of Australia’s biggest clusters of Covid-19. Now, with 16 dead, the centre’s owners have been threatened with sanctions and the loss of their licence. Today, Rick Morton on what went wrong at Newmarch House.    Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: The Newmarch House Covid-19 cluster in The Saturday Paper For...

Infighting within the Coalition has been exposed as candidates emerge and then quit in the race for the seat of Eden-Monaro. The by-election is reopening divisions across the Liberal and National Parties. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the first real test for Scott Morrison’s popularity.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: The Sa...

The Prime Minister has made reopening schools a priority of his response to coronavirus, and part of his argument is that school closures are leaving the most disadvantaged students behind. Today, Jane Caro on how the political debate over coronavirus is reframing the inequality in education funding.   Guest: Author and writer for The Saturday Paper Jane Caro. Background reading: How schools have...

Thousands of Australians had their homes and lives destroyed by last summer’s bushfires, and now the pandemic is shattering their plans to rebuild. As the royal commission examining our Black Summer begins, experts say the climate crisis will leave even more people vulnerable. Today, Rick Morton on what happens when a pandemic follows a natural disaster. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Pap...

The government’s economic relief package was broken into three phases, but serious questions are being asked about whether the timing and order of each announcement may have actually led to job losses. Today, Mike Seccombe on the flaws in our rescue package.     Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: JobKeeper: The inner workings of the bailout in T...

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed many Australians to shortages of food and essential items for the first time. Empty shelves across the country have revealed deep vulnerabilities in our food supply system. Today, Margaret Simons on why our supermarkets weren’t prepared for this crisis.   Guest: Academic and journalist for The Saturday Paper Margaret Simons. Background reading: The real reason...

Fifteen years ago Schwartz Media launched The Monthly , a magazine dedicated to current affairs, politics, arts and culture. Today, to celebrate the magazine’s birthday, we hear from its publisher, Morry Schwartz, and its current editor, Nick Feik, on The Monthly’s journey and what it contributes to Australia’s media landscape. Guest: Publisher of The Monthly , Morry Schwartz, and editor of The Mo...

Australia’s relationship with China has become more strained than ever, as Scott Morrison pushes for an international inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese government has expressed concern that such an inquiry would be political and has threatened retaliation. Today, Paul Bongiorno on a new low in Chinese–Australian relations.  Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. F...

Scott Morrison’s relationship to the founder of the Hillsong church has focused attention on the evangelical Christian movement in Australia. But what does being a pentecostal look like in an age of climate change and coronavirus? Today, Lech Blaine on the appeal of evangelical Christianity and how it influences the most powerful politician in the country. Guest: Freelance journalist Lech Blaine....

As we learn more details about the economic fallout from the pandemic, it’s clear young people will bear the brunt of the downturn. Already younger workers are bearing a disproportionate burden of job losses. Today, Mike Seccombe on how the pandemic is fuelling generational inequality.  Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: The generation Covid-19...

Remote Aboriginal communities across Australia reacted swiftly and effectively to the Covid-19 outbreak. Their response reflects the disproportionate burden these communities often carry when it comes to infectious disease. Today, Amy McQuire on the pandemic and self-determination. Guest: Darumbal/South Sea Islander journalist Amy McQuire. Background reading: Aboriginal community health’s success...

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is attempting to pull off a delicate balancing act: between appearing constructive, and holding the government to account. But what does the public actually want from their opposition during this crisis? Today, The Saturday Paper’s chief political correspondent Karen Middleton on the Opposition’s tactics in a pandemic. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Satu...

The country may be in the midst of a health and economic crisis, but that didn’t stop former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull going on a media blitz this week to promote his new book. In the memoir Turnbull is brutally honest about what he thinks of the current prime minister and senior cabinet ministers. Today, Paul Bongiorno on Malcolm Turnbull’s return to centre stage. Guest: Columnist for The S...

With two hospitals shut down and thousands of residents quarantined, the Tasmanian Covid-19 supercluster has brought the state’s health system to its knees. New evidence has emerged of a severe shortage of protective equipment and the encouragement of dubious practices. Today, Rick Morton on the failures that lead to Tasmania’s deadly outbreak.  Guest: Senior Reporter at The Saturday Paper, Rick M...

Thousands of Australians have been fined by police under Covid-19 public health orders. New analysis shows that a disproportionate number of them have been issued in areas largely populated by Indigenous Australians and those from migrant backgrounds. Today, Osman Faruqi on policing and racial bias in a pandemic. Guest: 7am editor Osman Faruqi. Background reading: Compliance fines under the micros...

As the number of coronavirus infections in Australia stabilises, talk has turned to how and when this crisis might end. With some countries gunning for a full elimination of the virus, and others allowing a controlled spread, what solution makes the most sense for Australia? Today, Mike Seccombe on the coronavirus end game. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Backgr...

There are over 1 million migrant workers in Australia who aren’t eligible for any financial support from the government as they try to navigate their way through this crisis. Some have been here for years, and they’re now stranded in a country that won’t help them and unable to get home as borders remain shut. Today, we speak to one migrant worker negotiating this new reality.  Guest: 7am producer...

With the global economy facing its biggest downturn since the Great Depression, the Treasury and the IMF are at odds on the extent of the damage in Australia. Today, Paul Bongiorno on the competing economic forecasts for the country, and the way forward.  Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: IMF forecasts dire economic outcomes in The Saturday Paper The Satur...

Federal and state governments have quietly been winding back environmental regulations while most of the world is focused on the coronavirus pandemic. Today, Mike Seccombe on Energy Minister Angus Taylor’s plan to prop up coal-fired power generators, and the push to undermine environmental protections during this crisis.  Guest: The Saturday Paper’s National Correspondent Mike Seccombe. Background...

The global economic downturn is straining our financial system, and it’s hitting our superannuation funds. But is the way we’ve structured our $2 trillion super industry making things worse? Today, Richard Dennis on the secrets of our superannuation and how we could take back control. Guest: Chief economist at the Australia Institute Richard Denniss. Background reading: Super heroes or super villa...

Australia’s strict quarantine measures have dramatically slowed the spread of Covid-19, but confusion between different levels of government has exposed the system’s flaws. Today, Karen Middleton on the other holes in Australia’s quarantine.  Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: The other holes in Australia’s quarantine in The Saturday Pa...

Months before the latest mass protests began in Hong Kong, the Chinese government shut down an art exhibition in the city. The work was by Badiucao, a Chinese-Australian artist living in Melbourne. He has since been harassed and intimidated in Australia, and his work has become a key part of the pro-democracy protests.  Guest: Chinese-Australia visual artist and political cartoonist Badiucao. Back...

In the 1960s, Anne Hamilton-Byrne set up Australia’s most notorious cult, The Family. Last month, she died. Martin McKenzie-Murray spoke to one of the survivors, Ben Shenton, about living outside the cult and reckoning with her death. Guest: Former chief correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Martin McKenzie-Murray. Background reading: She’s with Lucifer now – her master  in  The Saturday Paper The...

A year on from the Christchurch massacre, survivors face isolation and economic hardship. We speak to the men and women living through the aftermath of one of the worst white supremacist attacks in history. This is part one of a three-part special on the far right. Guest: Features and field producer Elle Marsh. Background reading: Life after the Christchurch shootings in The Saturday Paper The Sat...

As coronavirus shuts borders and creates global panic, there is a risk it will reach a point where it cannot be contained. Rick Morton explains where the virus originated and looks at the scientific breakthroughs behind the attempt to combat it. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Anatomy of an epidemic in  The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthl...