7am

The Queensland town of Acland has been all but swallowed by a coal mine. After decades of legal battle, there is only one resident left. Tomorrow the High Court will decide if he’ll be swallowed, too.    Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: How one mine ate a town in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode,...

From the beginning of the lockdown, domestic violence workers warned of the heightened risk of abuse – especially for women on temporary visas. Last month, a woman was killed in exactly that situation. Gina Rushton on how the sector has responded. Guest: Freelance journalist Gina Rushton. Background reading: Temporary visa holders at risk in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For mo...

Instead of making us forget the bushfires, evidence suggests coronavirus will make us more conscious of the need for change. The urgent response to the pandemic makes political arguments against climate action less credible.   Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Bushfire hearings spotlight climate change in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper T...

Big Tech has become an integral part of education. But there are questions over how much private companies are influencing curricula and what data they are collecting. Even the government doesn’t know the answers.   Guest: Writer and author Anna Krien. Background reading: The screens that ate school in The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampod...

The prime minister is adamant that the government will not commit to further stimulus of the economy. But as a $60 billion hole shows up in the JobKeeper program, questions are being asked about whether enough is being spent.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out inf...

Scott Morrison’s appeal for a new compact between workers and business has reminded some of Bob Hawke’s 1980s Accord. But there are big differences - especially over what can be bargained for. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Finding agreement on economic fix in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s...

A multimillion-dollar contract for an app that places aged-care workers in nursing homes has triggered concerns about quality and access. The government money favours one private company, which says it has “no duty of care” for the work it provides. Rick Morton on the limited tender that won big for an app called Mable.   Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background readin...

Almost overnight, Australian universities have lost the international student fees on which they depend. Some in the sector say universities were reckless to rely so heavily on this source of funds. Margaret Simons on what the future looks like for higher education.   Guest: Writer for The Saturday Paper Margaret Simons. Background reading: The end of the university boom in The Saturday Paper The...

After five years on Manus Island, Imran Mohammad was resettled in Chicago. He says arriving in America was one of the happiest days in his life. But the coronavirus shutdown has brought back memories of detention and isolation.   Guest: Writer and Rohingya refugee Imran Mohammad. Background reading: Resettled refugees in Covid-19 lockdown in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For mo...

The Morrison government is working hard to disguise the trade war opening up with China. But its excitement over an inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak cannot cover over the fact our largest trading partner is turning away goods. Paul Bongiorno on the prime minister’s unhappy predicament.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: The Saturday Paper The Monthly...

The Prime Minister has appointed a panel of business leaders to develop a blueprint for the country’s economic recovery, but there are serious questions over how this influential group was picked, and how it operates. Today, Mike Seccombe on the vested interests leading this panel and what they’re pushing for. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper , Mike Seccombe. Background reading...

Pubs, restaurants and other businesses across the country are reopening and the government is predicting an economic comeback. But will life, and the economy, really return to normal? Today, what one territory’s reopening can tell us about Australia’s potential recovery.    Guest: Features and field producer for 7am , Elle Marsh. For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . S...

Conspiracy theorists have been energised by Covid-19, with misinformation on everything from 5G to vaccinations spreading online and featuring in real-world protests. Today, Rick Morton on where these theories really begin and the groups actively encouraging them.   Guest: Senior Reporter at The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading How Covid-19 energised conspiracy theorists in The Satur...

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has recently introduced legislation that would expand the surveillance powers available to Australia’s domestic spy agency. Lawyers and civil-rights groups are arguing the proposed laws are too broad, and could contravene a range of human rights. Today, Karen Middleton on the attempt to expand ASIO’s powers in the midst of a pandemic. Guest: Chief political corre...

As the federal government struggles to rebuild Australia’s battered economy, the threat of a trade war with China risks hampering our recovery. Today, Paul Bongiorno on the twin challenges of rebuilding the economy, and managing our relationship with our largest trading partner.   Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: Chokehold on the economy in The Saturday P...

ABC staff are revealing the pressure they are under as the public broadcaster absorbs budget cuts amounting to more than 100 million dollars a year. Today, Mike Seccombe on the role the ABC plays during a national crisis and the future of the national broadcaster. Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Hundreds facing the sack with ABC cuts in The S...

The Ruby Princess is responsible for more than 10 per cent of Australia’s cases of Covid-19. The decision to allow the ship’s passengers to disembark is now being investigated by a number of state and federal inquiries. Today, Karen Middleton on what happened in the lead-up to Australia’s biggest coronavirus cluster.   Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Ba...

Three months since becoming leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt has begun articulating a plan for the party that embraces “green” capitalism, and sees their future in partnership with Labor. Today, Margaret Simons on what we need to know about Adam Bandt.   Guest: Author and journalist Margaret Simons. Background reading: Adam Bandt, the personable hardliner in The Monthly The Saturday Paper The Mont...

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...