Hitting our limits: the climate and COP29
The United Nations climate change negotiations are skirting around the critical issue of phasing out fossil fuels and are in desperate need of reform, says Sandrine Dixson-Declève.
Toxic Trump ambitions could easily take hold in Australia
Strap yourselves in. Convicted felon Donald Trump has been re-elected president of the United States.
The AUKward truth about the US relationship
With its democracy under assault, America needs a friend, not a flunkey.
October 2024
We can, in fact, have nice things
He lost the Queensland election, but former Premier Steven Miles may have saved the furniture by putting forward popular, progressive policies that voters responded to.
The US election will change the world. Will we let it change Australia?
How has it come to this? The United States presidential election is a fight between a prosecutor and a convicted felon and the felon might win.
Secrecy is not security
Excessive secrecy in government decision-making makes Australia less safe, not more.
The way we disagree
Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno joins us to discuss how conflict in the Middle East is reverberating through Australia and reconciliation one year after the Voice referendum.
Government is ‘nature positive’ in the same way asbestos is lung positive
It’s like an episode of Utopia or Yes Minister – just a week out from the government’s Global Nature Positive Summit, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved three whopping coal mine extensions in NSW.
Are the Big Two too big? Reining in the supermarket giants
Senator Nick McKim joins us to discuss the ACCC legal action against Coles and Woolworths and why the government should have the power to break up the Big Two.
September 2024
Tanya believe this government’s environmental hypocrisy?
Shortly after the Minerals Council warned the government to undermine mining “at your peril”, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved three new coal mine extensions. This nature-destroying decision has come just a few weeks before the government is set to host the Global Nature Positive Summit. The government is clearly pursuing a small target strategy but,
Offsetting into oblivion with George Monbiot
By relying on uncertain and unethical carbon offsets to combat the climate crisis, society is setting itself on a path to destruction, George Monbiot says.
Mining’s big temper tantrum
The mining industry had a pre-election sook last week about government policy, but its claims about being the ‘backbone’ of the economy are more spin than substance.
The mining industry is the biggest whinger in the country
The mining industry is now surely the biggest whinger in the Australian economy. This week it launched an all-out assault on the federal government at Minerals Week in Canberra, with chief executive of the mining industry’s chief lobby group the Minerals Council, Tania Constable, warning the government: “Undermine it at your peril.” Relative to its
Nothing in reserve: households “smashed” by rate hikes
The Reserve Bank is home to the experts on monetary policy – but what happens when they get it wrong?
Jumping at shadows with Mark Kenny
Mark Kenny joins us to discuss the government’s census own goal and Australia’s flagging economy.
Why Dutton’s playing a very dangerous political game
Peter Dutton and Donald Trump have a knack for political division. There’s no doubt that stoking fear and the politics of division can be brutally effective, but the last thing Australia needs is to import the damaging culture wars of the American far right, dominated by bonkers conspiracy theories adhered to by militant acolytes untroubled
August 2024
Can quality journalism survive in Australia?
On this episode, we discuss regulating the digital giants, the challenge of artificial intelligence and restoring trust in the media.
The road to freedom with Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz joins us to discuss how to create a fairer, freer society and the “fertile field” neoliberalism has created for demagogues.
How superannuation tax concessions help the rich get richer
Super tax concessions make inequality worse and are at risk of becoming more expensive than the aged pension.
July 2024
Biden is out, Harris is in – what happens now?
On this special crossover episode of After America and Follow the Money, we discuss Biden’s decision to drop out of the campaign and why Democrats have rallied around Kamala Harris as the presumptive nominee.
Why no seat is ‘safe’ anymore
The rise of independents and minor parties means that Labor and the Coalition can no longer take any race for granted.
The fight to free Jimmy Lai
Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai faces life in prison in Hong Kong, but his son Sebastien and renowned human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson are leading the fight to set him free.
Why Queensland is Miles ahead of the game
Canberra doesn’t really have a fossil fuel industry, which perhaps explains why we lead the country in decarbonising our economy.
Democracy (handle with care)
Careless political finance reforms could shift the balance in Australian democracy in favour of special interests.
June 2024
Don’t listen to this podcast
The Coalition’s nuclear ‘plan’ is a cynical, Trump-like distraction – so why does the media (and this podcast) fall for the trap?
Australia’s great gas giveaway
Gas is a finite resource – so why is Australia essentially giving it away?
Is America heading towards disaster?
With just five months until the presidential election, American democracy is under serious threat.
How Australia created a housing crisis (and what we can do to fix it)
Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis, fuelled by poor government policy.
May 2024
The Fight to Free Assange
It’s been 12 years since Julian Assange has been free – but is the fight to keep him from a life in an American prison finally coming to an end? United States President Joe Biden told reporters he’s considering Australia’s request to drop charges against Assange for publishing thousands of sensitive military and government documents,
Jess Hill on the Domestic Violence Crisis
A series of recent high-profile incidents has thrust the national crisis of domestic violence into the spotlight. Clearly the current approach to violence against women isn’t working, so what can be done? 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video
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