Australia’s Chinese community proved to be a powerful voting bloc in the last election.  And as the time draws near to vote again, a growing number of politicians have realised that appealing to the country’s 1.5 million Chinese Australians is key to electoral success.  But as journalist Wing Kuang has found, the major parties’ attempts to court Chinese voters are proving to be rocky.  The Chinese-owned app, RedNote, is a new frontier in efforts to reach Chinese voters. But with speech on RedNote filtered by an authoritarian regime, it raises questions about how political debate in Australia is being shaped by foreign rules. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper, Wing Kuang, on how the Chinese community might shape the outcome of the election – and what they really think of Albanese and Dutton.   If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Wing Kuang Photo: EPASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s trade war is escalating, as his wide-ranging tariffs take effect.  Australia had hoped to avoid a 25 per cent tariff on our steel and aluminium – but we now know there’ll be no exemptions. As Canada and the EU retaliate with counter-tariffs, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is focused on stemming the damage, by arguing other large industries – that would impact the Australian economy much more – should be immune. But as Trump’s foreign policies become increasingly aggressive, his decisions on trade could spill into every aspect of our alliance. Today, managing editor of The Saturday Paper, Emily Barrett, on what the tariffs mean for the Australian economy and what the government can do about it.   If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Managing editor of The Saturday Paper Emily Barrett Photo: AAP Image / Dean LewinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Launceston nurse and midwife Amanda Duncan appeared at a Tasmanian parliamentary inquiry into ambulance ramping last year, her testimony was macabre and shocking.  Duncan claimed hospital management at Launceston General Hospital had altered death certificates – meaning deaths that should have been investigated were quietly recertified. Those revelations triggered a public inquiry, yet questions have been raised about its scope and accountability as new cases continue to emerge that extend far beyond the initial inquiry. Today, writer and former editor of The Monthly, Nick Feik, on his investigation into falsified death certificates and revelations of a broken health system. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Writer and former editor of The Monthly, Nick Feik Photo: AAP Image/Ethan JamesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Trump’s radical reshaping of the US pulls into focus, so too has the list of those who have gained entry to his inner circle.  That list includes not only Australia’s richest person – but also Australia’s largest private arms supplier.  Robert Nioa isn’t yet a household name, but the weapons mogul is a close confidante to Peter Dutton, married to a Katter, as well as a fishing and hunting pal to Donald Trump Jr.  Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis, on Robert Nioa’s arms empire and the impact he’ll have on Australian defence policy.    If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis  Photo:See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Australians have been targeted by a scam attempt, from spam text messages to intricate love fraud. The scams have cost us billions. But behind these attacks is a highly organised and secretive industry – fuelled by human trafficking.  It’s believed hundreds of thousands of people are being held against their will in so-called “scam factories” across South East Asia, including in Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines. Many of these factories are run by Chinese-linked gangs operating in border regions. Ben Yeo has seen first-hand how these compounds operate. In early 2024, he was kidnapped and trapped in a Cambodian scam factory.  Today, Ben Yeo on how he escaped the scam compounds, and why so many others struggle to get out.    Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Ben Yeo, ambassador for the newly formed Australian International Counter Slavery Alliance (AICSA) Background reading: Scam Factories Photo: Valeria Mongelli/Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie Bishop built her career as a politician representing Australia on the world stage.  Now, she’s taken on a new lobbying role, working for a China-linked resources company who are attempting to mine uranium in Greenland.  Bishop’s gig comes at a time when China and the US are ramping up their fight for domination in the Arctic – and if she’s successful, the benefits will flow to China. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper, Ben Abbatangelo, on the mine that could ruin Greenland – and what it means for Australia’s national interest.   If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Ben Abbatangelo Photo: Richard Milnes / AlamySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Andrea Goldsmith’s ninth and latest novel, The Buried Life, she unpicks the relationships between people and the undercurrents of doubt and faith that define a life. But more than anything else this is a book that is first and foremost concerned with death. It’s a subject that has long fascinated Andrea, something she discusses deeply with host Michael Williams on this episode of Read This.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyclone Alfred hits as we gear up for the federal election, bringing back memories of the floods and bushfires that tore through the country last time we voted. How Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton handle this moment could be crucial, as voters refocus on the increasing impact of climate change and closely scrutinise the plans both parties have to address it.  Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe, on the politics of natural disasters – and why every election is a climate change election.   If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: National correspondent Mike Seccombe Photo: AAP Image/Lukas CochSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is heading into a federal election at a time when trust in politics and our institutions is eroding. Over the past two decades, satisfaction with the political system has collapsed, driven by economic inequality, housing stress and the rapid spread of disinformation across social media. Political parties are already preparing for a campaign that will lean heavily on negative messaging – an approach that has proven effective but intensifies division. With trust in both politicians and the media in decline, the upcoming election will test the resilience of Australia’s democracy. Today, journalist and broadcaster, Patricia Karvelas, on the forces undermining democratic trust and what it will take to rebuild it. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Journalist and broadcaster, Patricia Karvelas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One evening, two weeks ago, Natan Mwanza was stabbed and killed at a bus stop in Melbourne’s south-west. He was 24 years old. Natan’s family had migrated to Australia from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008, and his death sparked an outpouring of grief from African diasporic communities in Australia. Historian and filmmaker Santilla Chingaipe also felt the impact of Natan’s death and sought to understand what had happened. But it soon became a story about how we write and report on crime – and how Black lives are treated in the media. Today, Santilla Chingaipe on the life of Natan Mwanza and how Black grief is rendered invisible.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Historian and filmmaker, Santilla Chingaipe Image credit: InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.