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As Australia wraps up its hotel quarantine program, one group of people will remain confined in hotel rooms indefinitely: people seeking asylum.For the past year the Australian government has been forcibly detaining asylum seekers in an inner-city Melbourne hotel.They have no access to fresh air and limited space to exercise.Then Covid-19 hit. The virus spread rapidly through the building, infecting many who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated.The outbreak has raised serious questions regarding the safety and treatment of those inside.Today, 7am producer Elle Marsh on who is responsible for protecting the detainees, and why the government should have seen this outbreak coming.Guest: Producer for 7am, Elle Marsh.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday, the NSW Parliament passed historic reforms to sexual consent laws.During the parliamentary debate one MP thanked survivor and campaigner Saxon Mullins who kickstarted the campaign to change the law when she appeared on the ABC’s Four Corners program.Now, similar laws are being introduced in Victoria, and advocates are calling for national reform.Today, campaigner and contributor to The Saturday Paper Saxon Mullins, on the push to update Australia’s laws around sexual assault, and why it’s taking so long.Guest: Campaigner and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Saxon Mullins.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Northern Territory managed to only record a handful of cases and avoided any deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic, but now the NT is on the brink of a public health crisis. An outbreak in the town of Katherine is spreading to remote communities across the territory.And almost everyone who has tested positive so far is Indigenous.Today, Labor Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy talks about her family who were some of the first people impacted by the current outbreak, and how a poor vaccination strategy combined with misinformation created the conditions for this impending crisis. Guest: Labor Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The COP26 climate summit in Glasgow was seen as the world’s ‘last best chance’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and avoid catastrophic climate change. On that measure it failed. The pledges made will instead see temperatures rise by nearly 2 degrees. Tim Flannery, one of Australia’s most well known environmentalists, had a front row seat at the negotiations and to what he describes as Australia’s ‘embarrassing’ contribution. Today, Tim Flannery on what unfolded at COP-26, and his hopes for the future.Guest: Environmental scientist and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Tim Flannery. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week Taylor Swift re-released one of her most critically acclaimed albums, Red. The re-recording is the result of a complicated financial and legal battle over who owns the rights to the original versions of her songs.Red (Taylor’s Version) features all of the songs on the original album, plus a bunch of new tracks and a 10 minute long version of her iconic song ‘All Too Well’, where she takes some pretty pointed shots at a very famous ex-boyfriend.This week on The Culture, we’re joined by writer and musician Eilish Gilligan to talk about the new release of Red, how the Taylor’s Version project is transforming the music industry, and the unique relationship she has with her fans. Guest: Eilish Gilligan, musician and writer.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal Coalition government holds office by the barest of margins - just one seat. That means at the next election, due in the first half of next year, it can’t afford to lose any seats without risking a hung parliament.Now, a popular and high profile Liberal incumbent has announced he won’t be recontesting his electorate, throwing the party’s election preparations into jeopardy.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on why the Liberal MP abandoning Scott Morrison thinks Anthony Albanese might be a better Prime Minister for the country.Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyday for the past week hundreds of protesters have camped outside the Victorian Parliament, protesting a new bill that would extend the state’s public health orders, the tools used to combat the pandemic.Some of the protesters are far-right extremists, who have threatened violence against politicians and brought nooses to the steps of the parliament. But opposition to the government’s proposed pandemic bill isn’t only coming from the far-right. It’s also been criticised by civil libertarians and human rights lawyers.Today, outgoing President of Liberty Victoria, Julia Kretzenbacher on what the pandemic bill is really about, and why it sparked such an intense backlash.Guest: Julia Kretzenbacher, outgoing President of Liberty Victoria.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal government has finally released the modelling underpinning its plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050.According to the Prime Minister, the economic impact of the plan won’t be that significant. But at the last election Scott Morrison had a very different position when he was opposing Labor’s emissions reduction policy.Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on the documents that reveal who’s behind the federal government’s climate modelling - and what it tells us about the way science is being spun for political purposes.Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has become well known as the defamation capital of the world, with many high profile figures regularly, and successfully, suing media outlets.But recently there’s been a new trend: politicians using defamation law against ordinary people.It’s become so common that one senior government minister is even suggesting creating a new fund to bankroll the lawsuits, all paid for by the taxpayer.Today, legal academic and contributor for The Saturday Paper Bri Lee on how the current wave of defamation threats is impacting the ability of regular people to criticise their elected officials, and what that might mean for our democracy. Guest: Legal academic and contributor for The Saturday Paper, Bri Lee.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the next federal election approaches, the question of whether the Prime Minister Scott Morrison can pull off another ‘miracle’ win looms large. But how much do we really know about the man who’s been in charge through a pandemic, a sexual assault reckoning, and a crystallising climate crisis? Today, journalist and author Sean Kelly on what’s underneath the persona that Scott Morrison presents publicly, and what his Prime Ministership tells us about our national identity.  Guest: Author of The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison, Sean Kelly.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.