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Solstice Media
An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.
Episodes
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May 23, 2022 • 16min
The witnesses for Ben Roberts-Smith
Right now, one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith, is suing Nine newspapers over a series of articles alleging war crimes. As the case has played out, we have learned extraordinary details about Australia’s most secretive operations during the war in Afghanistan, with evidence being aired in civil court. Some witnesses have told the court they saw Ben Roberts-Smith unlawfully kill people — others say he was acting inside the rules of engagement.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton on the latest evidence in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Background reading: Ben Roberts-Smith trial calls next witness in The Saturday Paper.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 22, 2022 • 21min
The Vote: Inside Anthony Albanese’s election night
Almost a decade of conservative government in Australia has ended.Votes are still being counted, but it looks like the Liberal and National Party have suffered their worst result in decades.The Greens, independents and minor parties have had historic wins, and will wield significant power in the new parliament.But the government will be led by Anthony Albanese, Australia’s 31st Prime Minister – it’s something even he didn’t think was possible just a few years ago.So how did it all come together? How did Labor react on the night? And while they have won government, are there big lessons in this result that the party will have to take onboard?Today — we go inside the Labor party at the moment it won victory. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20, 2022 • 13min
The Vote: How to watch the election
It’s election day, but when will the results start coming through? When will we start to know who’s winning? And what should we all look out for, which seats should we pay attention to?To answer these questions, we decided to speak to election analyst, Ben Raue, about the most important races to pay attention to and how we should be watching results.We hope you enjoy Ben’s guide to watching the election and that it helps make sense of what is shaping up to be a remarkable election night.Guest: Election analyst for The Tally Room, Ben Raue.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 19, 2022 • 17min
The Vote Panel: Could Scott Morrison win again?
It’s all come down to this. On Saturday night, Australia will decide it’s next government and next Prime Minister.The final week of the campaign saw Scott Morrison, who is trying not to be a bulldozer, bulldoze a child during a media appearance at youth soccer training in Tasmania.And Labor released the costings on its policies, just two days out from the election.The party says it’s policies will only cost 7.4 billion dollars more than the Coalition’s, a figure that pales in comparison to the overall 220 billion dollar deficit.Today, to analyse all the latest events, we’re joined by:Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton,Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno, andElection analyst from The Tally Room, Ben Raue.Guest: Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton, columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno, and election analyst from The Tally Room, Ben Raue.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 18, 2022 • 15min
The Vote: Inside the campaign bus on the final days
With just days to go until the election, our politicians are frantically trying to secure every last vote they can. At this stage of the campaign, the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader can travel to three different states in a single day, visiting key seats and making announcements to win over undecided voters.Where are they going, what’s their pitch, and which campaign is more confident heading into election day? Today, chief political correspondent at The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton takes us inside the whirlwind final days of the campaign trail. Guest: Chief political correspondent at The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 17, 2022 • 15min
The Vote: Confessions of a former Liberal politician
What happens when the cause you’ve dedicated your life to, turns into something you can no longer support?That’s the question Fred Chaney, the former deputy leader of the Liberal Party, has had to confront this election.Now, he’s hoping people like his niece, who is running as an Independent in Western Australia, can teach the major parties a lesson.Today, former federal politician Fred Chaney on why politicians gave up on tackling our greatest challenges.Guest: Former deputy leader of the Liberal Party, Fred Chaney.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 16, 2022 • 18min
The Vote: What are the Coalition actually offering?
On the weekend, the Coalition launched its campaign, just six days before the election.The centrepiece of the launch was a new housing policy, which it promises will help more young people to buy a home, by allowing them to take money out of their superannuation.But will the scheme really help new home buyers or is it too little, too late?Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe on what the Coalition is offering voters at this election.Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 15, 2022 • 26min
The Vote: Monique Ryan vs The Treasurer of Australia
On election night, the Melbourne seat of Kooyong could be one of the most fiercely contested in the country.The Treasurer of Australia, Josh Frydenberg, is facing what he’s described as the fight of his political life.His opponent was virtually unknown to most Australians a few months ago, but now polls show she has a chance at victory. So who is the woman taking on the Treasurer?Today, 7am producer Elle Marsh takes us inside the campaign of Doctor Monique Ryan.Guest: Producer for 7am , Elle Marsh.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 12, 2022 • 18min
The Vote Panel: Wage wars and leaked polls
With just one week to go until election day the debate over the minimum wage has taken the spotlight.And the polls are showing some Coalition strongholds are at risk of falling. So what can we glean about how Labor and the Coalition are gearing up for the final days of the campaign, and should we trust the polls this time around? Today, to analyse all the latest events, we’re joined by:Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton,Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno, andElection analyst from The Tally Room, Ben Raue.Guest: Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton, columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno, and election analyst from The Tally Room, Ben Raue.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 11, 2022 • 29min
The Vote: Fighting for the Aboriginal vote (Part Two)
As Australia prepares to elect its 31st Prime Minister and next federal government, there’s a proportion of people under represented in that vote. Indigenous enrolment remains lower than the rest of the population, particularly in remote areas, like parts of the Northern Territory. A complaint lodged with the Human Rights Commission alleges that there is a pattern of indirect discrimination and voter suppression. Today, in the second of this two part series, 7am producer Ruby Schwartz on a historic human rights complaint - and the man behind it. Guest: Producer for 7am, Ruby Schwartz.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


