This Week: Recent Episodes
ABC
As interest rates are kept on hold, the latest economic data points towards the presence of a per-capita recession. What comes next, and did the RBA go too hard in the fight against inflation?Meanwhile, Alan Joyce was forced to make an early exit from Qantas amid rising controversies, leaving Vanessa Hudson to rebuild the airline's relationship with employees and customers. Is this an example of the glass ceiling, where female leaders are set up to fail? And international attention continues to surround the internal fight in Spain's Women's World Cup football team, with a criminal complaint now launched in the wake of an unwanted kiss seen around the world.
Australians will vote on whether to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament into the Constitution next month. So where will the referendum be won or lost?And why are some First Nations Australians and advocates for Aboriginal rights planning to vote No in the Voice referendum.
More details have emerged about a mysterious poisoning case in regional Victoria, involving death cap mushrooms and a family lunch.
Federal, state and territory ministers have agreed to boost the number of homes built over the next five years to 1.2 million, but how much will it help Australia's chronic housing shortage?
The Matildas are gearing up for the World Cup quarter final against France, riding a wave of support from fans and breaking TV broadcast records.
As the Voice to Parliament referendum draws closer, how are First Nations communities feeling about the vote?
The Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold for the second month in a row. But with inflation still high, what can borrowers expect in the months ahead?
Donald Trump has been charged over his role in trying to overturn the 2020 US election, which could interfere with his campaign to run for the presidency again in 2024.
Thousands of holiday-makers were evacuated from Rhodes this week, as wildfires tore across the Greek island. Scientists say this has been the hottest July ever recorded.
Australia and New Zealand are hosting the biggest yet Women’s World Cup, but many of its teams are still fighting for fair pay.
And Israel plunges deeper into crisis after its conservative government passed a law to curb its Supreme Court.
Victoria has cancelled the 2026 Commonwealth Games, blaming a massive cost blowout. So is the Commonwealth Games just too expensive to justify?
The Yes and No campaigns for the Voice to Parliament referendum have published their official pamphlets, with each side hoping their message cuts through.
Philip Lowe has copped plenty of criticism in the media as the nation struggles through a cost of living crisis. But will his departure make a material difference to everyday Australians?
After five years of negotiations, Australia and the EU still have no free trade agreement. So can a deal be done without Australians losing the right to use terms like feta or prosecco?
With the handing down of the final report from the Robodebt Royal Commission, have we learned enough to prevent a public service failure of this magnitude happening again?
Consultancy firm PwC is trying to restore its image in the wake of the tax leaks scandal, so what does the fallout mean for the other big professional service firms?
As Australians brace for a big jump in their power bills, what is behind the price hike and how should consumers navigate it?
The NSW corruption watchdog has made a finding of serious corrupt conduct against former Premier Gladys Berejiklian over her secret relationship.
The search for a missing deep-sea submersible ends in tragedy after the discovery of debris indicates a 'catastrophic implosion'.
Legislation for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum passes the Senate, paving the way for Australians to have their vote later this year.
During a torrid week in federal politics, a Liberal Senator has been dumped from the party room after accusations of sexual harassment.
As the debate over how to solve the housing crisis continues, the Greens say rent control policies are the answer.
Kathleen Folbigg pardoned and released after 20 years, but were there signs from the very beginning she had been wrongly convicted over the deaths of her children?
The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the cash rate again, in a further hit to borrowers, as inflation remains high.
We speak to Nick McKenzie the journalist who broke the Ben Robert-Smith war crimes story about what this week's blockbuster defamation ruling means for our soldiers and our journalists.
Also, how far do the tentacles of the PWC scandal stretch globally.
An elderly dementia patient died after she was allegedly tasered by police, raising questions about the use of force and police oversight. And Australia gave Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a rockstar welcome this week, signalling closer ties between the two nations.
US President Joe Biden is no longer coming to Australia, so is this just blip in the long game of strategic competition against China or something more serious for the regional alliances?We also look at the scandal engulfing consulting firm PwC.
Families are in and high-vis is out: we take a look at the Federal Budget with political commentator Annabel Crabb.The budget includes billions for bulk billing, so will it make it easier to see a doctor?
Millions of people around the world will watch the Coronation of King Charles, but will he be our last King?The Federal government has announced a crackdown on vaping, so will it be enough to stop the black market?
The government says Australia’s migration system is broken. So how will they fix it and can it work?We'll also look at the changes to the Defence Force at its being readied for a new era of potential conflict close to home.
US officials have arrested a 21-year-old air national guardsman in connection with one of its biggest leaks of classified documents since WikiLeaks. It has caused havoc for the US and its allies, and a risk to Ukraine's spring offensive.Also on the podcast: are aged care reforms backfiring? And party politics and the Voice to Parliament: the Liberal Party's shadow Indigenous Affairs spokesperson quit the frontbench this week, so that he can campaign for a ‘Yes' vote.
Rates are on hold, after 10 consecutive increases so what happens next and what does it tell us about the global economy? Also warnings the housing shortage could last for years, but the Federal Government’s housing plan is being blocked in Parliament
Donald Trump has been indicted but will the charges laid against the former President play right into his hands as he bids for a second term in the White House?Also we've seen a major moment for climate policy in Australia as the Greens reluctantly wave the Government’s signature policy through parliament. Will it actually work though?
A number of states are moving to ban the Nazi salute after violent protests, but can a ban tackle far-right extremism?And the Federal Government has announced the proposed wording for the Voice Referendum, so what happens next?
It's the biggest defence spend in our history, so will the AUKUS submarines protect us? And can they really be delivered on time and within budget? Also the US Government stepped in to assist the struggling Silicon Valley Bank but why did it fail and what does it mean for the global banking sector?
The Reserve Bank delivered its tenth straight interest rate rise this week, causing plenty of pain for mortgage holders. So when will the interest rate hikes end? Also the Coalition's Robodebt scheme affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians. So as public hearings into the scheme come to an end, what have we learnt?
The Reserve Bank delivered its tenth straight interest rate rise this week, causing plenty of pain for mortgage holders. So when will the interest rate hikes end? Also the Coalition's Robodebt scheme affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians. So as public hearings into the scheme come to an end, what have we learnt?
The Federal Government has announced super changes that will take effect after the next election. It’s a small change but with big political risks, so what will Labor do next?Also, the Federal Government has announced a review of how Australia Post operates but can it ever compete with delivery giants like Amazon?
The Government has flagged some potential small changes to the super system, so what will it do to your savings? Also, its a year since Russian forces invaded Ukraine. We hear an incredible story of survival and resilience from a former resident of Mariupol.
The unemployment rate is rising, but the Reserve Bank boss has made it clear that interest rates will keep going up too. So what will it mean for the economy?. Also, the US President says the latest objects shot down by the military weren't linked to Chinese surveillance. We look at what the balloon saga tells us about the state of international espionage.
The Government says the Health system is in the worst shape its been in 40 years…so can it be fixed?Also advocates of the Voice met in Canberra this week… but the No campaign is firming up too in what looks like an increasingly messy battle.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew to Alice Springs this week as the crime rate there soars. We'll look at whether alcohol restrictions are likely to help.Also, Ukraine gets new tanks from the US and Germany as it attempts to fight a Russian offensive in the Spring.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she is quitting politics. Her leadership style demanded attention at home and abroad, so has she changed the face of politics?Also, we take a look at the Wagner group, the secretive mercenaries fighting with Russia in Ukraine.
There are more questions than answers after the horrific shootings in Queensland, but we look at the role extremist conspiracy theories may have played. Also, the Government’s energy bill passes the Parliament but gas suppliers warn it’ll actually force prices up. So who’s telling the truth?
The Federal Government promised to bring down electricity bills and this week they struck a deal to try and do just that. So will it work and how quickly? Also, it is taking longer to see a doctor and often it’s costing us more. For years we’ve heard the answer is more GPs, but is there another way to fix Medicare?
The Brittany Higgins case won’t go to re-trial after a decision was made that the trauma of a new trial was considered too much. So what can be done to ease the burden on alleged victims facing court?Also debate over an Indigenous Voice to Parliament exploded this week. If you’re confused about what it all means, you’re not alone. We’ll run you through the basics and why it matters.
The first week of the World Cup in Qatar has been clouded by controversy. We look into the phenomena of “sportswashing” and whether it’s sullied the beautiful game. Also, the Albanese government is attempting to overhaul industrial relations laws. We ask what will success or failure mean for the economy and your pay packet?
The flood crisis is continuing in central Western NSW with hundreds of houses inundated, but are there ways to stop insurance premiums rising? Also, fears about an escalation of Russia’s war in Europe rose this week after a missile fell in Polish territory. We look at what we know so far.
The red wave that wasn’t…Republicans disappointed by an underwhelming mid-term result in the US - and Donald Trump emerges as the biggest loser.
Also soft plastic recycling schemes suspended.. We look into whether the system can be salvaged.
Inflation is once again outstripping government forecasts, despite seven interest rate rises. We ask what more can be done to drive down inflation?
And China has warned Australia could trigger an arms race this week, as the US plans to deploy long-range bombers to the Northern Territory. Is it making us safer?
It feels like we’re under siege by cyber criminals, but is it coordinated or random? And what’s the Government doing about it?
And there are new concerns about the sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with Treasury forecasting its cost will almost triple in a decade.
Liz Truss has resigned as the leader of the Conservative Party in the UK after just six weeks in the top job. So what comes next and could Boris make a comeback?
And the flood crisis sparks calls for a complete rethink on how to handle and plan for disaster. We look overseas to see what’s working.
It’s been a horrific week in Ukraine as Putin retaliates, targeting civilians in the wake of the Crimea Bridge explosion. So is this a new phase of the war? And electricity prices are set to soar in Australia but the Government is still promising to cut power bills. So can it do it?
The federal government is deliberating whether to break an election promise to continue with "stage-three" tax cuts, which will benefit mostly wealthy Australians. It is looking to the UK for lessons on what goes wrong when you give tax cuts to the rich during a cost of living crisis.
The telecoms giant says cyber criminals mounted a sophisticated attack against it. The government claims the company "effectively left the window open" for it to be taken. Are others doing the same? And have national security laws forced businesses to harvest too much data?
The war in Ukraine became very real for everyday Russians this week, with tens of thousands of young men drafted to join the so-called “special operation”. More than a thousand protesters were arrested in anti-war rallies, so is the Russian leader now losing the war at home?
And what more can the AFL do to tackle allegations of racism?
The tide turns in Ukraine, as the nation reclaims territory previously occupied by Russia. SO what will Vladimir Putin do next? And amid the pomp and pageantry of mourning for the Queen, Australia’s republican movement is buzzing back to life, but do we need a head of state?
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III has become Britain's new monarch, so how will he rule the monarchy?
And what does a new monarch mean for the future of the Commonwealth?
Australia is struggling with low wage growth and a lack of workers, so will industrial relations reform fix the problems facing the workplace? Also a win for podcast justice as Sydney school teacher Chris Dawson is found guilty of murdering his wife 40 years ago. But true crime blockbusters are still causing big problems for the courts.
The Federal Government is preparing to hold its job summit and there’s a lot on the agenda. Traditionally we’ve relied on migration to fill some of our skills gaps, so how can we ramp up that work force.
And Ukraine marked its Independence Day, six months after the start of the Russian invasion. The two warring sides are sink deeper into stalemate, so is there a way to end the conflict?
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dominated headlines this week with news he was secretly sworn into several portfolios during the pandemic. So why is it such a danger to democracy and what needs to change?
Also the NSW government releases its report into the Lismore floods. Does it go far enough to prepare communities for the natural disasters of the future?
Donald Trump’s home was raided by the FBI, with explosive legal and political implications. We ask what it means for the future of the Republican party and US politics.
And we remember two singers who brought Australian pop to the world: Judith Durham and Olivia Newton John.
China launched its most provocative military drills in decades, firing ballistic missiles into the water around Taiwan. This week’s tensions were ignited when US Speaker Nancy Pelosi flew to Taiwan, so what does it mean for the future of the self-ruled island? And an integrity scandal has gone from bad to worse in NSW, so how do we restore our faith in political appointments?
Want the fascinating backstory to the ongoing debates about climate and energy policy in Australia? From the first scientific breakthroughs to the decades lost to climate war, Australia, If You're Listening comprehensively examines why this country has found it so hard to move forward on this issue. All eight episodes are available now on the listen app.
The Prime Minister says he’ll end the climate wars but as Federal Parliament resumes, can he get support for his new climate change legislation?
And Europe is preparing for Vladimir Putin to cut off Russian gas supplies. It could lead to a cold, dark winter in the northern Hemisphere but is it also part of Russia’s broader plan for a war with Europe?
The Federal Government announced a review into the Reserve Bank this week. It’s the first review in 30 years, so what needs to change?
And can we keep the deadly livestock disease, foot and mouth out of the country?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made his play to counter Beijing's influence in the Pacific. So can Australia improve relations with China, while also pushing back on its influence in the region?
And should travellers prepare for more trouble at Australia’s airports?
More rain fell on Sydney in four days than London gets in a year, inundating some western suburbs for the fourth time in 18 months. As the waters subside, we ask if there’s any way to make those communities safer.
And the party’s over for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but the mess that’s been left behind is substantial. So how will he be remembered and who will be responsible for trying to unify the party once more?
NATO has committed to its biggest overhaul since the Cold War, beefing up its membership and its military might. How Russia’s war in Ukraine reinvigorated the alliance.
With 420 thousand jobs currently unfilled in Australia, where are all the workers? Beyond long border closures, Australia can be expensive for immigrants, so how can we get the right skills mix?
And tragedy strikes one of Afghanistan’s poorest regions, with a massive earthquake killing and injuring thousands. Can the dysfunctional and repressive Taliban government rise to the need, even as it presides over poverty, starvation and a brain drain nationally.
Skyrocketing fossil fuel prices have caused a crisis in Australia's national power grid, with the market suspended and the operator taking charge.
Experts say the eastern states need more certainty on their coal exit timeline, to speed the transition to cheaper renewables.
And a pay rise is granted to Australia's lowest paid, with warnings it will fuel already rising inflation and send some businesses to the wall.
But what is the evidence on the impact of such a pay rise and how can companies adapt?
A US Congressional investigation into the January 6 capitol riots begins prime time tv hearings, presenting evidence pointing to former President Donald Trump’s culpability for organising and inciting the rioters and attempting to overthrow Joe Biden’s election. The nation’s energy ministers have met, admitting there is no quick fix to the current energy price crisis. But they agree to have a national plan to bolster renewables, which experts have welcomed, saying the grid, storage, and efficiency in our homes are crucial.
Australia's east coast has descended into its most serious energy crisis in decades and the government is under pressure to do more to help consumers cope. So should fossil fuel exporters face a supertax on their largely untaxed super profits?
And after 100 days of war, the US has finally agreed to send multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine to assist the country in the fight against Russia.
Labor takes office, with Australians demanding more action on climate change. Its policy is a start, but what must it do next? And what role will the climate-focused cross bench play? The new government is also forced to leap onto China’s latest challenge in the Pacific so how does Beijing’s sweeping new economic and security plan rank against Australia’s offerings to the Pacific?
Political veterans, Liberal Kerry Chikarovski and Labor’s Bruce Hawker, look back at the campaign, the role of the “teal independents” and plead for a “big act of faith” from both major parties on climate policy in the next Parliament. And while Australia celebrates unemployment under four percent, many institutions and enterprises are struggling with staff shortages because of COVID. Will it cut into the participation rate and become a handbrake on the economy?
The focus of the Federal Election shifted to wages this week with Labor arguing for an increase in the minimum wage. The Prime Minister says it isn't that simple, but he also says he will have to change his leadership style to win another term. So where are we in the campaign with one week to go? And why is no-one talking about how closing the gender wage gap would fix Australia’s skills shortage?
The RBA has announced the first rate rise in more than a decade, in an attempt to deal with inflation. Still the economy is in strong shape, so why are so many economists whispering concerns about “stagflation”? And amid the inflation concerns, spiralling health costs are rarely mentioned. How bad are they and can they be fixed?
Official figures confirm Australians’ complaints about soaring prices and analysts say the worst news is the increasing cost of essentials. They say there’s a risk the economy could stagnate even as prices keep rising. The election campaign pivots on the news, with the Coalition blaming global pressures, and Labor criticising government inaction on wages.
And long before he set about menacing Ukraine, Vladimir Putin was becoming more menacing to his own people. How the Russian leader has ramped up repression at home, transitioning from soft autocrat to full-fledged fear-dictator.
A security deal between China and the Solomon Islands has paved the way for Chinese armed forces to be deployed less than 2,000 kilometres from Australia’s east coast. What does it mean for Australian security?
Australia is approaching a federal election on May 21 more divided than ever. As the campaign gets underway, both sides are trying to bridge fault lines between regional and urban Australia.
As Russian troops retreat from towns and suburbs around Kyiv, they have left a host of atrocities behind them. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, calls it a genocide. We ask whether he is right.
The Government has released its pre-election Federal Budget, but is it a plan for a complex economic future or just a vote-buying exercise on election eve? And as floods return to northern NSW, we look at the existential threat facing towns like Lismore.
NATO is providing more support to Ukraine, but after a month of fighting and devastating casualties, neither side has made clear gains. So is the conflict headed for a stalemate? And Chinese influence in the Pacific has been growing for years but now could Chinese warships soon be stationed in the Solomon Islands?
Fuel prices smashed all time records this week and motorists and consumers are being warned that there won’t be any hip-pocket relief any time soon. So what’s driving inflation and what can and should be done to ease the cost of living? And with violence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict still spiralling, China is under pressure to pick a side, but will the high stakes crisis just bring Moscow and Beijing closer?
As Australians struggle to recover from the dramatic floods that hit the east coast, there are questions about how and where communities should rebuild. There is a desperate need for more support and housing but there are also calls for more spending to prevent and reduce the damage from future disasters. And as hospitals in Ukraine are bombed and the death toll rises, should Vladimir Putin face the international criminal court?
Thousands of Australians were rescued this week as homes were again flooded. We hear about one dramatic rescue, as the UN’s climate panel warns irreversible climate damage is baked into the system. Also a million Ukrainians have fled Russia’s onslaught, now in its second week, while thousands have died. The fighting spirit persists, but Russia’s intensified attacks, including an alarming incident at a nuclear power plant.
Ukrainians woke in the early hours of Thursday morning to the sound of shelling across major cities, after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion on the country of 44 million.
We hear about how Ukrainians are facing the threat in Kyiv, examine how far Russia is prepared to go to subdue its neighbour, and ask whether the West is doing enough to stop it.
The federal government has launched a scare campaign about Chinese influence, after it was revealed that ASIO foiled an attempt by Beijing to install Labor candidates in New South Wales. The domestic spy agency says the problem should not be politicised, but the coalition is gearing up for an election fought over national security.
A sense of frustration dominated speeches by Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins this week, rebuking the Prime Minister and critiquing Parliament’s apology for abuse in politics. But can deep cultural change come any quicker?
As political pressure mounts over COVID deaths in aged care, a worker tells us: “I can’t walk away from people calling for help”. And geriatrician, Professor Joseph Ibrahim, challenges key government claims that the system is not in crisis.
As Russian troops surround Ukraine, peace talks are faltering, and the West is mobilising forces. We explore Vladimir Putin's motives and options.
As Omicron tears across the country, more than 1.5 million Australians have contracted COVID-19. Only eight other countries are recording more cases relative to their population size. What went wrong?
COVID numbers have raced past previous records in some Australian states, as governments ease pandemic restrictions and tell Australians to live with the new Omicron variant. Meanwhile, Britain is struggling with its biggest wave yet of the virus, as Omicron cases double every two to three days. We ask what lies in store for health systems as the new wave hits.
Australia has joined countries like the US, Canada and the UK in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. But will it make any difference to the Games and is China worried? And Scott Morrison claims government policies are getting more first time buyers into homes. But the evidence shows governments have only entrenched an intergenerational wealth divide and it risks undermining the superannuation system.
Countries were quick to close off their borders after South Africa announced that it had discovered a new strain of Covid-19. But the Omicron variant has already seeded around the world. What have we learnt about it in the week since it was uncovered? And how will it shape the third year of the pandemic?
Australian troops and police have raced to the Solomon Islands after its government requested help to quell days of violence. The strife follows continuing tension over the Prime Minister’s 2019 decision to drop recognition of Taiwan in favour of China. But frustrations over lagging development are at work too.
The dark side of Melbourne’s anti-pandemic law protests, as police lay charges for incitement over calls for the execution of Victorian Premier Dan Andrews. Other politicians though are accused of legitimising extremists in the crowd. How dangerous is the situation?
As the Glasgow Summit wraps up, Australian farmers are facing more extreme weather events thanks to climate change. So what do the rising temperatures mean for the nation’s food bowl? And with lockdowns over, why aren’t we seeing a spike in COVID cases here??
Scott Morrison doesn’t deny leaking private text messages with the French President. An unprecedented new low, says France, already fuming over Australia’s cancellation of a massive submarine deal. What does it mean for global trust in the Australian leader? And how can the relationship be fixed?
After a troubled gestation, Australia has a plan for net zero emissions by 2050, in time for Scott Morrison to take to the Glasgow climate summit. But criticism has been quick and sharp, and other leaders want more from Australia. What is the plan, and why has it failed to impress?
Australia’s climate policy is still not settled and observers say the obsession over a 2050 climate target is “other worldly” and a fraud, if it allows fossil fuels to flourish. But with the UN Climate conference imminent, what are other nations bringing to the table?
Lockdowns start lifting in Australia's southeast. But thousands of cases are still circulating. Victorians are warned everyone will eventually get the virus, though vaccines are making it a mild disease. But what next for states that have had little and are still behind closed borders?
The Prime Minister, his deputy and other senior Coalition figures criticised NSW ICAC this week, over the Berejiklian resignation, claiming the state’s anti-corruption model is broken. It seemed to deal a new blow to the prospects of a long promised federal integrity body. So is there a credible plan all sides of politics can agree on?
In a political shock, Gladys Berejiklian resigns as Premier of NSW and from Parliament, after a corruption body announces she faces a conflict of interest investigation. Asserting her integrity, she has slammed the timing of the inquiry, coming as her state’s strategy to emerge from a gruelling COVID outbreak is at a critical point.
There have been protests on Melbourne’s streets this week, but who is organising them? And are there really links with far right groups? And Scott Morrison has been in the US this week, selling the benefits of the new submarine deal. But can he end the diplomatic stoush over the AUKUS defence deal?
The Morrison government has deepened Australia's dependence on the US for its defence, signing up for an increased US military presence in Australia and a fleet of nuclear powered submarines using US technology. How could they be used to defend Australia? Also, a call to give no COVID boosters this year in Australia, and for a strategic approach to future booster allocation.
20 years after 9/11, we look at how the attacks fuelled American xenophobia and blinded the US to grave issues beyond terrorism. A view from a Pulitzer Prize winning foreign policy writer, Fred Kaplan, a witness to the Twin Towers catastrophe. Also why national debate about “opening up” must include wider use of rapid testing.
Australia is borrowing Pfizer jabs, while it waits for purchases to arrive. But when might mRNA vaccines be made onshore? And Indigenous communities are being targeted with anti-vaccination propaganda. We look at what went wrong with the rollout in Indigenous communities.
As NSW charts a path to schools opening, experts say measuring and filtering classroom air is essential, alongside masks and vaccines, as we “learn to live with COVID". And from a mythically resistant valley, Afghanistan’s Taliban resistance assembles, who are they and what is the plan?
NSW case numbers skyrocketed this week, with the Premier extending the lockdown and admitting the state was no longer chasing “covid zero”. What does it mean for NSW and Australia’s plans to open up? And the Taliban is back in control in Afghanistan, we look at the history of the group and what it means for the future of the country.