The Roundtable: Recent Episodes
ABC Radio
The Roundtable is RN's weekly forum, exploring the big issues and ideas in national and international affairs.
Burnout - it’s the word many of us have used to describe the last few years, but how do we know if we’re really burnt out, or just in need of a break, and how can we help ourselves recover?
The eyes of the world have been on Qatar during the Football World Cup, and with all the attention has come a fair deal of criticism, especially about Qatar's human rights record.
Has home schooling has become more popular since COVID-19?
Who chooses the curriculum and what types of students and parents can this type of education work for?
Globally there's been a rise in shark attacks, but shark nets are a problem for marine life. Are there other ways to manage the risk?
An extended panel discussion that gets behind the headlines, bringing thoughtful analysis, fresh perspectives and new insights. This week: is it possible for companies to remake their image and recover from a PR disaster like the Optus data breach?
An estimated 45,000 children are in out-of-home care in Australia but of those, only 171 were adopted over the last year. Is open adoption the answer?
The death of Queen Elizabeth II is being mourned across the world after Her Majesty died at her Balmoral estate in the Scottish HIghlands.
How do we ensure the future of the Great Barrier Reef and the communities along the Reef under climate change.
We already have Generations X, Y and Z, but will we eventually see a ‘generation COVID’?
As adolescents struggle with the fallout of social isolation and interrupted learning, the latest research shows that children from primary school and younger have suffered more than any other age group from the pandemic.
So what are the setbacks our youngest children face? And can we claw back what they have lost?
Federal education minister Jason Clare met with his state and territory counterparts on Friday to address chronic teacher shortages and overwhelming workloads. Will reforming the education system work this time?
There's been furious debate about the future and safety of hundreds of remote communities in the Northern Territory after alcohol restrictions imposed in the intervention era were lifted. A proposal for similar bans in Western Australia's Pilbara and Kimberly region is also having mixed reaction. Do alcohol bans work?
The expansion of authoritarian and populist governments has increased the threats to press freedom around the world.
Many General Practitioners say they're at breaking point and ready to leave practice, citing unmanageable pressures amid a new wave of COVID infections.
With very low vacancy rates and limited housing supply in some Australian regions, workers and people on low incomes are finding it tough to get affordable long-term accommodation. Some shire mayors have taken to writing to home owners to plead with them to rent out their properties, other shires are putting caps on short-term rentals. Just how bad is it and what are the range of solutions being proposed?
Public broadcasting was once the dominant form of broadcasting in many countries, so how is it adapting to the media landscape of the 21st century?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has solidified the resolve of NATO member states after the destabilising period of the Trump presidency.
Health advocates are calling on the new Albanese Government to appoint a Minister of Loneliness.
The Roundtable this week looks at three different scenarios regarding refugees. Why have asylum seeker boats restarted to Australia? Where are the world’s most neglected displacement crises? And why Tik Tok has become a source of reliable information for people fleeing their countries.
The Albanese government has committed to having new legislation for a national anti-corruption body tabled in parliament by the end of this year. What will it look like and what powers should it have?
Australians spend $26 billion a year gambling. What does the gambling industry spend on the community to make up for its monumental profits?
This week marks the 5th anniversary of the Uluru Statement From The Heart which calls for an Indigenous voice to Parliament, a Makarrata Commission overseeing treaty agreements, and a national process for truth-telling.
The new Federal Government has promised to implement the Uluru Statement with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committing to a referendum in the government’s first term.
But before any referendum can occur, the government needs to introduce a bill outlining its proposed changes to the Constitution and that bill needs to be passed by both Houses of Parliament
Anthony Albanese has led the Labor Party to defeat the LNP after the coalitions' near decade in office.
And while it remains unclear whether Labor will form a majority government, the Liberal Party has suffered major losses to "teal" independents in 'safe' Liberal seats.
Spending, restrictions and oversight – just how is this election’s political advertising shaping up?
In this election, all eyes are on the so-called ‘teal’ independents running in urban, inner-city seats, and threatening to unseat at least one senior Cabinet minister.
With inflation at its highest level in more than two decades, and a rise in the cost of living, it seems a good time to ask how equality is faring in Australia. Is inequality growing?
Personality vs policies, gaffes and gotcha moments – just how is this campaign shaping up, and could political journalists do better?
As we head towards an election, we ask where Australia’s foreign aid priorities sit within a region facing development challenges, climate change upheaval and security instability.
Ahead of this election, we ask some big picture thinkers what ideas aren’t being talked about - but should be.
As the tragic loss of life continues in Ukraine there is also the loss of cultural heritage, destroyed or damaged by Russia’s bombing campaign
In the wake of Ash Barty stepping away from the world of tennis, two former athletes tell us how they found success after their sporting careers.
From pages filled with diverse stories of life in the bush, to unique imagery that transports you to the heart of inland Australia, three women's magazines are redefining the face of regional media.
The economic sanctions on Russia are unprecedented but has the intention of the sanctions, and the circumstances in which they’d be lifted, been made clear?
As the devastation from unprecedented floods grows in NSW and Queensland, communities are facing a long road to mental and physical recovery.
In recent weeks protests against vaccine mandates have brought parts of Canada to a standstill and sparked similar uprisings across the globe but the ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests go to the heart of something bigger than vaccine mandates, with experts concerned about the rise of far-right extremism and right-wing populism.
As the world continues to face the ongoing challenge of climate change and the pandemic, the involvement of women in STEM has never been more crucial.
As Aotearoa/New Zealand celebrates Waitangi Day, 182 years since the signing of the Waitangi Treaty on 6 February 1840, what are the prospects for treaties with Indigenous Australians?
Is India today true to constitution that framed the newly Independent nation 75 years ago?
It's been another year of surprises, from Scott Morrison's election victory to the elevation on young climate protestors onto the world stage.
We hear three Chinese Australians' experiences and reflections on living in Australia and navigating political tensions.
Will 'woke' consumers put a dent in the Christmas retail figures as we move toward a more conscious consumerism?
Disney + has entered the Australian market, set to challenge established platforms Netflix and Stan.
Planning laws and firefighting techniques will need to change to fight more intense bushfires in the future.
Scott Morrison has signalled possible changes to competition law that would seek to prevent activists carrying out secondary boycotts.
The Interim report describes the aged care system as "unkind and uncaring", often neglecting the needs of the elderly.
A review by the New South Wales Law Reform Commission recommends a string of proposals designed to clarify the communication of sexual consent.
Could the ‘right to repair’ and ‘micro-recycling’ help fix the world’s e-waste problem?
There's a growing range of so-called ‘fake meat’ products available as more people choose to avoid eating beef and other meats for health, ethical and environmental reasons. So how many meat eaters will change their ways - and should they?
Beijing is preparing to mark the foundation of the PRC with a massive military parade, but its facing increasing challenges from within the country with protests in Hong Kong and Taiwan and ongoing criticisms about persecution of Uighurs.
Space is becoming a critical to the warfront with satellites providing intelligence to launch precision attacks.
The latest 5-year Outlook for the Great Barrier Reef has been downgraded from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’. With further warming and bleaching events predicted, how much of the reef can recover naturally and how much could we save?
Would a change to pharmacy ownership laws and location laws result in cheaper medications?
It’s now more than forty years since Australia amended its constitution - the longest period without change since Federation.
China has amassed a show of force on the border with Hong Kong while civil protests against the territory's Beijing-backed government continue.
Thousands of hospital staff have walked off the job in Sydney, protesting the alarming rise of assaults in hospitals. Is giving security personnel the power to 'restrain and detain' the answer?
As the region becomes increasingly militarised, should Australia consider developing nuclear weapons?
Do Australia's defamation laws need an overhaul to aid the pursuit of public interest journalism?
Were Australian Federal Police raids on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation designed to intimidate?
When does appreciation of a culture — it's food, clothing, music — cross over into cultural appropriation?
Next year, 10,000 prospective Australian parents will be able to submit to genetic screening and it will show their likelihood of passing on any one of 500 genetic disorders, including Cystic Fibrosis and Fragile.
The 'Ruddock review' of religious freedom protections is yet to be released by Prime Minister Scott Morrison but he has flagged changes to the law, saying, ‘there’s nothing wrong with a bit of preventative regulation and legislation’ to ensure religious freedom in Australia.
The extreme shame and guilt felt by many overweight and obese people is preventing them from seeking treatment — particularly early on in their journey.
A new survey by the Royal college of GPs has revealed Australians talk to their GP about mental health more than any other health issue - that’s more than the flu, heart problems, diabetes and cancer.
Trade wars, bitcoin bubbles and political instability are potential risks to the economy
Is Australia's strong influence on our nearest neighbours being tested by increasing aid from China?
Three federal Parliamentarians, who in their own way represent sub-sections of our society, talk about those Australians they believe are not being respected, understood or listened to.
We're witnessing extreme weather events around the world - heatwaves, drought, wildfire and flood. Is climate change to blame?
A case of an immigration worker, who was sacked for anonymously tweeting criticisms of her department, is headed to the High Court
While Donald Trump is facing a backlash after the Helsinki summit, Vladimir Putin is being credited with 'controlling the narrative' and restoring Russia's place on the world stage.
Young, digitally savvy, farmers are providing innovative ideas on the future of farming
Are Australian bio-techs really destined to either sell out to a large overseas pharmaceutical, or go under?
It’s a question that’s been vexing politicians, parents and teachers for the past five years – and concern in Australia is mirrored in other countries.
Are young people disengaging from the ABC and other traditional mainstream media, and if so, which organisations have the answers for future media consumers?
Trump is calling for "the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula. What's the likelihood of this taking place? We talk to the experts.
A senate inquiry will investigate claims some ADF personnel have suffered long term neurological damage - including hallucinations, anxiety and depression - from trials of anti-malarial medication
We examine how to get the most out of your superannuation and what structural changes are needed to provide a secure retirement for working Australians.
An extended panel discussion that gets behind the headlines, bringing thoughtful analysis, fresh perspectives and new insights. This week: Will migrants save country towns?
New digital health records will give patients a memory of their health, but will it help doctors provide better health care?
It's been called the "Baby Boomer Budget" aimed squarely at Australia's ageing population, but will it be enough to stave off the looming aged care crisis?
An extended panel discussion that gets behind the headlines, bringing thoughtful analysis, fresh perspectives and new insights. This week: Surviving The Holocaust: who'll remember when they're gone?
An extended panel discussion that gets behind the headlines, bringing thoughtful analysis, fresh perspectives and new insights. This week: Teacher attrition
A parliamentary inquiry has described cyberbullying as a growing social and public health issue, especially for children, and urged governments to beef up legal sanctions and early intervention programs.
Modafinil may improve problem solving skills, planning strategies and significantly improve a person's memory.
Thousands of people may be left without disability care when state governments pull out of providing disability services on July 1.
Women working in isolated regions in Australia often find themselves in a ‘hyper-masculine’ society where sexual harassment is rife
Financial abuse of the elderly is a growing problem for police, bank workers, and lawyers.
Is the federal government's proposed regulation of complementary medicines good enough?
Is Australia's strong influence on our nearest neighbours being tested by increasing aid from China?
Can you imagine plugging your new car into a super-fast electric charger, on the street, wired-up to the nearest street light for power? Or how about plugging it in at car park while doing your grocery shopping or going out dinner?
The facilities and opportunities can be vastly different between public and private schools but are the educational outcomes for the students really very different?