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Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, but now it’s on the cusp of being declared “in danger” by UNESCO.But scientists have been warning for decades that rising sea temperatures could kill off the Reef, though their concerns were largely ignored by the government.Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on the scientist who predicted the end of the reef, and why the Australian government doesn’t want to listen to him.Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a recent landmark judgement, the federal court has found that the government owes children a duty of care in preventing harm from the impacts of climate change.The case, which centred around the proposed expansion of a NSW coal mine, could have far reaching legal implications in Australia.Today, writer for The Monthly Kieran Pender on the case that saw a group of teenagers take on the Minister for the Environment. Guest: Writer for The Monthly Kieran Pender.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Richard Flanagan, Booker prize winner and author of The Living Sea of Waking Dreams, reads his essay from the latest issue of The Monthly. It’s called ‘To be free’ and it explores why he writes, and, in his words “the need to write against the dogmas of conformity”. Guest: Writer for The Monthly Richard Flanagan.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than eight percent of Australians are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.This week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, previously only available for people over 60, could now be accessed by anyone, regardless of their age. The announcement led to significant pushback, particularly from the Queensland government, who are still advising younger Australians to avoid AstraZeneca.Today, contributing editor to The Monthly Rachel Withers on what's behind the government decision making on vaccine eligibility. Guest: Contributing editor to The Monthly Rachel Withers.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s meat processing industry is one of many that relies heavily on migrant workers, to do jobs that Australian residents often aren’t willing to do. Many of those migrant workers come from China, with the promise that hard work will lead to permanent residency in Australia. But for some that promise is never delivered on.Today, writer for The Monthly André Dao on how Australia’s immigration system exploits the hopes and hard labour of migrant workers.  Guest: Writers for The Monthly André Dao, Michael Green and Sherry Huang.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the past few days over 10 million Australians have been plunged back into lockdowns, as fresh outbreaks of Covid-19 spread across major cities.The emergence of these new clusters has highlighted how vulnerable Australia still is during this phase of the pandemic, largely as a result of our low vaccination numbers.The current crisis forced the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, to announce a radical overhaul to the vaccine rollout on Monday night.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on how Australia ended up on the verge of a national lockdown and whether the federal government’s new plan goes far enough.Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A case currently before the High Court, involving one academic’s controversial views on climate, could have significant ramifications for freedom of speech in Australia.Physicist Peter Ridd was fired after he publicly criticised his colleague’s research on the Great Barrier Reef, but what started as an employment dispute has become a test case on climate denial and cancel culture.Today, writer for The Saturday Paper Kieran Pender on Peter Ridd’s day in court and what the outcome could mean for academic freedom. Guest: Writer for The Saturday Paper Kieran Pender.Background reading: Peter Ridd’s High Court case in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Australia grapples with new outbreaks of Covid-19, questions about the origins of the virus have been re-emerging.US President Joe Biden recently urged intelligence agencies to investigate where the virus came from, and who was responsible.And at the G7 summit, world leaders formally discussed the controversial Wuhan lab-leak theory: the idea that the virus didn’t emerge naturally, but came out of a laboratory. So why is a previously discredited theory gaining traction right now? And should we take that theory seriously? Today, former China correspondent and contributor to The Saturday Paper Linda Jaivin on what we know about the origins of Covid-19 and why conspiracies are flourishing.Guest: Writer for The Saturday Paper Linda Jaivin.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two years on the backbench, Barnaby Joyce is back as leader of the Nationals and as Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister.His return to power caught Scott Morrison off guard, and has put the spotlight on the tense relationship between the two Coalition parties.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on what triggered Barnaby Joyce’s return and what it means for the future of Australian politics.Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behrouz Boochani spent six years detained on Manus Island, a victim of Australia’s Pacific Solution.Last year he was granted refugee status in New Zealand, and since then has used his freedom to advocate on behalf of the hundreds of other asylum seekers detained by Australia.One group of detainees, the Murugappan family from Biloela, were recently moved from Christmas Island into community detention in Perth. But has their case shifted attention from those still trapped by Australia’s immigration system?Today writer and former detainee, Behrouz Boochani on the refugees we aren’t speaking about, and the reasons why.  Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Behrouz Boochani.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.