Ben Smee

Ben Smee, Guardian Australia's Queensland correspondent, and Sarah Basford Canales, political reporter for Guardian Australia, delve into the political landscape as Peter Dutton prepares for the federal election. They discuss how Dutton's tough-on-crime messaging seeks to exploit culture wars for voter support. The duo analyzes the implications of rising crime rates for both the Coalition and Labor's campaign strategies. They also explore how public perception shapes electoral outcomes amid pressing concerns about safety and the economy.

Ben Smee and Andrew Messinger from The Guardian dive into the controversial Queensland ban on puberty blockers for transgender youth. They discuss the rapid reimplementation of the ban following a court ruling, questioning whether it is ideologically driven. The podcast reveals the distress experienced by families whose children could be affected, including alarming mental health implications. With critiques of the government's rationale and a lack of robust evidence, they explore the broader impact of political intervention in medical decisions.