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We don’t know what exactly happened or what ASIO was investigating; those details are secret. What we do know is that early last year the spy agency broke the law while conducting an operation. Karen Middleton on the complex legislation that guides ASIO officers, and the risks it poses for compliance. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: ...

New work from the Productivity Commission shows the federal government spends twice as much on income support for people affected by mental illness as it does on treatment. Rick Morton on the human realities of living in poverty while being mentally unwell. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading:  Mental health cost of welfare in The Saturday Paper .  The Sat...

Recently, Scott Morrison described his plans for a ban on environmental groups lobbying businesses. The speech he gave has been called a defining moment in his prime ministership. Mike Seccombe on why this is important and what it says about Morrison’s “ordinary bloke” mask. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Activism and secondary boycotts in T...

Lech Blaine grew up in country Queensland. After the 2019 federal election, he spent several weeks driving around the state, trying to understand what makes it different. He found people with a strong desire to be treated with respect amid a picture more contradictory than it seems. Guest: Writer for The Monthly Lech Blaine.  Background reading:  “How Good is Queensland?” in The Monthly .  The Sat...

As Labor responds to an internal review of its election defeat, some in the party feel they have already lost the next election. While the party struggles with uncertainty, the Coalition struggles with the task of governing. Paul Bongiorno on the difficulties of winning and losing. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading:  Post-election blues all round in The Sat...

There is a widening gap in Australia between the life expectancy of the rich and the poor. On some figures it is as much as 10 years. Mike Seccombe on the death toll of inequality. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading:  The fatal cost of Australia’s rising inequality in The Saturday Paper .  The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on to...

Ross Garnaut wrote the blueprint for Australia’s response to climate change. As the politics fell apart, he became interested in the economic opportunities of a zero-carbon future. He says Australia has more to gain than any other developed country.  Guest: Economist and author of Superpower Ross Garnaut. Background reading: Superpower by Ross Garnaut, published by Black Inc.  The Saturday Paper T...

Anthony Albanese was shaped by the circumstances of his childhood: a single mother, a council house, a love of the Labor Party. The question now is if his working-class background can help the ALP reconnect to its working-class base. James Button on making sense of the leader of the Opposition. Guest: Journalist and former speechwriter James Button.  Background reading: Picking up the pieces in Th...

The Morrison government is committed to a budget surplus above all else. But as Paul Keating points out, this commitment can be a kind of sickness. Paul Bongiorno on what happens when politics refuses to acknowledge circumstances. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading: The Coalition's surplus focus in The Saturday Paper . The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more...

After the Morrison government announced another inquiry into the family courts, to be co-chaired by Pauline Hanson, advocates in the sector expressed concern it was a distraction. One of them was Rosie Batty. Guest: Anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty. Background reading: Family law needs reform, not inquiry in The Saturday Paper .  The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on...

As the number of police strip-searches rises in New South Wales, a law enforcement commission considers whether many of them are actually legal. Fiona McGregor on police powers and the trauma of being searched. Guest: Author and performance artist Fiona McGregor. Background reading: The strip-search state in The Monthly . The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visi...

How the American anti-climate-science lobby hijacked local councils in Australia, changing sea-level benchmarks as it went. Guest: Writer for The Monthly and The Saturday Paper Bronwyn Adcock. Background reading: Rising tide in The Monthly .  The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information....

A decision to hand planning about sea-level rise to local council has opened up a war around science, property values and influence. Bronwyn Adcock on how the future of the Australian coastline will be shaped by disagreement over climate change. This is part one of a two-part episode. Guest: Writer for The Monthly and The Saturday Paper Bronwyn Adcock. Background reading: Rising tide in The Monthl...

As the Liberal Party celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Nationals are brawling with each other about drought. At the same time, concern grows over press freedom. Paul Bongiorno on the party to which you were never invited. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading:  The shadowy corridors of power in The Saturday Paper . The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more inf...

Australia is almost alone in the world in its willingness to lock up primary-school-age children for criminal offences. But the “tough on crime” rhetoric that pervades politics means there is little will to change this. Mike Seccombe on the push to lift the age of criminal responsibility. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: Children in the crimin...

As Labor waits for a review of its election loss, and another into the operations of its NSW branch, Anthony Albanese is wrestling with divisions inside the party. Karen Middleton on the crisis they face out of office. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading: Albanese juggles Labor frictions in The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthl...

An error at the Department of Human Services caused the original robo-debt algorithm to restart, issuing thousands of unchecked debt notices. Royce Kurmelovs on how the program operates and why the government persists with it - in spite of its flaws.  Guest: Freelance journalist and author Royce Kurmelovs. Background reading: Robo-debt restart affects thousands in The Saturday Paper The Saturday P...

The boom in international education has seen students become commodities. It has also changed the way universities operate - chasing rankings and casualising teaching staffs. Margaret Simons on what would happen if the bubble burst. Guest: Journalist and academic Margaret Simons. Background reading: China dependence by Australian Foreign Affairs The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information...

As Scott Morrison attempts to control the message on how his government is handling the drought, there is bad news for his claims to strong economic management. Paul Bongiorno on slow growth and big dries. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading:  The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au . See acast.com/priva...

New legislation will restrict the way Australians use cash. But there are concerns the laws could jail people for using legal tender. Karen Middleton on the future of money. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton. Background reading:  Crackdown on large cash transactions in  The Saturday Paper The Saturday Paper The Monthly For more information on today’s episo...

From anti-protest legislation to funding cuts, this government has waged war on dissent. In recent weeks, its rhetoric has intensified. Mike Seccombe on the erosion of democratic freedoms under the Coalition. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe. Background reading: The decline of political freedoms in Australia in The Saturday Paper The Monthly The Saturday Paper For...

The NDIS was meant to provide better care to people living with disabilities. But a stalemate over funding responsibilities has forced 500 families to forfeit their children into state care. Rick Morton on the unintended consequences of a flawed system. Guest: Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton. Background reading: Exclusive: 500 children forfeited to state in NDIS standoff in The...

Australia’s relationship with international investment, especially from China, has been remade in the past six years. What was once a question of business has become one of national security. David Uren on how ASIO helped transform the Foreign Investment Review Board. Guest: Journalist and author David Uren. Background reading: Our Sphere of Influence in Australian Foreign Affair The Saturday Pape...

The Liberal Party is sliding further on climate change, claiming it will meet targets but without policy to do so. At the same time, the Labor Party is fighting an internal push to abandon its climate platform. Paul Bongiorno on the politics of doing less. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno. Background reading:  The Saturday Paper   The Monthly For more information on today’s e...

Each year, The Monthly assembles a panel of critics and artists to nominate 10 standout pieces of Australian culture from the past 12 months. These works are named as the winners of The Monthly Awards. We spoke to the magazine’s editor, Nick Feik, and critic Alison Croggon, who was one of the judges. Guest: Editor of The Monthly Nick Feik and critic Alison Croggon. Background reading: The Monthly...