7am

After lobbying from the Murdoch press and Nine newspapers, the government is trying to force Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. The tech giants have responded by threatening to stop sharing news from Australian outlets. Today, Mike Seccombe on the battle that will shape the future of media in this country.   Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background rea...

A federal court has been re-examining controversial psychiatric treatments used in a Sydney hospital in the 1960s. The treatments drew the attention of the Church of Scientology, and led to a Royal Commission. Today, Lane Sainty on what happened at Chelmsford, and the journalist caught in the middle 30 years on.   Guest: Contributor for The Monthly Lane Sainty. Background reading: Chelmsford revis...

To celebrate 300 episodes, we produced a special, behind-the-scenes feature on how we make 7am . We followed host Ruby Jones and senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton as they put together an episode on the crisis in aged care.   Guest: Host Ruby Jones and senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. To support 7am you can make a one-off or monthly contribution here . See acast....

The Treasurer Josh Frydenberg started this week by launching an extraordinary attack on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, and ended it by presiding over the biggest fall in economic activity in decades. Today, Paul Bongiorno on Australia’s economic predicament and who’s really to blame.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informat...

Serious allegations of branch stacking and factional warfare have engulfed both major parties in recent months, and the latest example even implicates senior federal ministers. Today, Mike Seccombe on why branch stacking has become more common, and how it’s influencing key policies. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: How branch stacking drags po...

As Australia grapples with an unemployment crisis corporate job agencies are benefiting from a boom in government payments. Some agencies are also being accused of pressuring those looking for work into face-to-face appointments during a pandemic. Today, Rick Morton on who is profiting from Australia’s unemployment industry.    Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton. Background...

For months the prime minister has been projecting a return to normality. But it’s become increasingly clear the world around us has fundamentally changed. What kind of Australia is waiting for us on the other side of the pandemic? Today, Sean Kelly on the type of society Scott Morrison envisions, and what might lie ahead.    Guest: Contributor to The Monthly Sean Kelly. Background reading: Snapbac...

Last week the Christchurch terrorist was sentenced to life without parole, the first time the sentence has ever been handed down. But even though he’s behind bars, his atrocities continue to inspire far-right extremists around the world. Today, Osman Faruqi on the increased threat of violent white nationalism and what happens after Christchurch. Note: This episode contains use of the attacker’s fu...

The creators and stars of Rosehaven – Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor – attempt to answer the questions from The Saturday Paper’s quiz. Unfortunately, there are no questions in Celia’s expert categories, “Stephen King novels” and “Which animals are the cutest?” But Luke knows what a bodhran is… or does he? Guests: Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor In the paper: ABC TV’s ‘Rosehaven’ See acast.com/p...

In a week where the minister for aged care was unable to answer questions about the crisis in his portfolio, and details emerged about a branch stacking scandal in his own party, the Prime Minister is finding himself under increasing pressure. Today, Paul Bongiorno on whether we should be expecting more from our politicians.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See acast.com/p...

The ongoing crisis in aged care has become one of the defining elements of Australia’s second wave. There are currently over 1500 active cases linked to aged care in Victoria, nearly half of the state’s total number of active cases, and hundreds have died. Today, Rick Morton on the new details that explain what went so wrong, and what the government could have done to save lives.   Guest: Senior r...

As the federal government tries to hand power over environmental regulations to state governments, parallels have been drawn to the battles fought between activists and big business during the Howard years. Today, former Greens leader Bob Brown on how the legacy of John Howard’s environmental policies is shaping the current fight.   Guest: Former Senator and contributor for The Saturday Paper Bob...

As our hospitals face pressure from coronavirus outbreaks, we’re relying on nurses more than ever. But at the same time, the pandemic means many nursing students may not be able to graduate. Today, Santilla Chingaipe on the looming shortfall in our health workforce.   Guest: Journalist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Santilla Chingaipe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informati...

The coronavirus is ushering in a new era of international relations of a kind we haven’t seen since 9/11 and the War on Terror. National intelligence agencies and the way they conduct spycraft are a key part of that change. Today, former intelligence officer Andrew Davies on the world of spies during and after the pandemic.   Guest: Contributor to Australian Foreign Affairs Andrew Davies. Backgrou...

Multi-hyphenates – actors, writers, musicians – Briggs and Tim Minchin take on The Saturday Paper’s quiz. It’s a battle of brains rather than brawn, but have they been keeping up their fitness in lockdown? Guests: Briggs and Tim Minchin See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a number of inquiries interrogate how prepared state and federal government’s were for the coronavirus pandemic the Prime Minister has evaded criticism by changing the conversation. The announcement of a coronavirus vaccine made headlines, but how realistic is it? Today, Paul Bongiorno on Scott Morrison’s attempt at distraction.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. See acas...

The Australian government is currently holding over fifteen hundred people in immigration detention centres across the country. Some are convicted criminals with a foreign nationality, some are visa overstayers and at least 500 are asylum seekers. Today, Karen Middleton on the fate of one those detainees, and the secrecy surrounding our immigration detention system.   Guest: Chief political corres...

An inquiry examining the Ruby Princess saga has delivered its findings, six months after the ship docked. The cruise ship remains Australia’s largest coronavirus cluster. Today, Malcolm Knox, on who was responsible and what the inquiry found.   Guest: Writer for The Monthly Malcolm Knox. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal government has announced that Australia is in “advanced discussions” with a number of companies over acquiring a potential coronavirus vaccine. But how close are scientists to actually making one, and does it matter who gets there first? Today, Rick Morton on the global race for a vaccine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

This is a story about Australia’s psyche and the way our connection to policing makes us unique. During this pandemic, police have been handed unprecedented new powers, in stark contrast to the response elsewhere in the word. Today, Osman Faruqi on the nexus between police, politicians and the media.   Guest: Editor of 7am , Osman Faruqi. Background reading: Policing as part of the national psyche...

Comedian Zoë Coombs Marr and programmer for the Melbourne International Film Festival Kate Jinx work their way through The Saturday Quiz. Bonus points for an ice-cream-based Lenny Bruce story. Guests: Comedian Zoë Coombs Marr and MIFF programmer Kate Jinx In the paper: Zoë Coombs Marr and her stand-in stand-up Dave See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. See omnystudio.com/liste...

At the beginning of the pandemic Prime Minister Scott Morrison was keen to project himself as a unifying leader, coordinating the nation’s response. But as the crisis has stretched on he’s adopted a much more reserved approach – on internal border disputes and aged care. Today, Paul Bongiorno on Morrison’s strategy of inaction and if it will work. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongi...

One of the federal government’s most controversial decisions during the coronavirus pandemic has been allowing workers to access their superannuation accounts. The policy risks dramatically increasing Australia’s generational wealth gap, as young workers drain their retirement savings. Today, Mike Seccombe on how the government is reshaping the fundamental purpose of superannuation.    Guest: Nati...

Ten days ago, Melbourne entered the strictest shutdown the country has seen so far, and one of the harshest lockdowns currently taking place in the world. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the extraordinary powers a state of disaster bestows on the government, and how we got here.   Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: What led t...

Two Australians have launched court cases in an attempt to radically overhaul the way our government and big corporations are responding to climate change. Today, lawyer Kieran Pender on the story of climate litigation in Australia and what’s at stake.   Guest: Lawyer and writer for The Saturday Paper Kieran Pender. Background reading: Suing for climate change in The Saturday Paper See acast.com/p...