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The country might still be in the grip of a pandemic and ongoing lockdowns, but our major parties are already planning for a looming federal election.The Prime Minister has strongly hinted the nation could be heading to the polls in just a few months, and the political battle lines are now being drawn.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on when the election looks likely to be held, and what it will be fought over.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.

Over the past few weeks the world has witnessed scenes of chaos and desperation in Afghanistan as people scrambled to evacuate the country as it fell to the Taliban.Some were able to get out, but many others, including Afghans with Australian visas remain trapped.Coalition forces had been planning their withdrawal from Afghanistan for months, but it’s now emerged that intelligence reports failed to forecast how quickly the country would fall, and the impact that would have on the evacuation.Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton on what went wrong with Australia’s withdrawal plan and what it means for those trapped in Afghanistan.Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen MiddletonSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Follow journalist Ruby Jones as she investigates an open secret in the Australian music industry -- stories of harassment, abuse and assault spanning decades.In this episode, Ruby asks why Me Too stories are still so hard to tell in Australia - and why there is so much fear about speaking out, and naming names.So will Ruby be able to tell this story? Or will the allegations remain hidden in plain sight?This is episode one of Everybody Knows.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As hospitals in NSW and Victoria prepare to deal with an influx of Covid-19 patients, there are fresh concerns that our healthcare system might not be up to the challenge. Hundreds of healthcare workers have been forced into isolation during this outbreak, putting further pressure on a system already grappling with the Delta strain.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on the situation in hospitals right now, and what might happen when we come out of lockdown.Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick MortonStay 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 wealthy countries like Australia race to vaccinate their population, many other nations in our region are falling behind due to the high cost of vaccines: a cost set by big pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer.As a result, South East Asia is now the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Lyndal Rowlands on the proposal that could speed up vaccinations around the world, and why Australia is holding it back. Guest: Contributor for The Saturday Paper, Lyndal RowlandsStay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorde released her first full-length album, Pure Heroine, back in 2013 and it struck a chord around the world, selling 5 million copies, picking up two Grammys and inspiring a new generation of pop artists.Four years later Lorde returned with her follow-up, the critically acclaimed but much less commercially successful, Melodrama.Another four years down the track, she’s back with her third album, Solar Power. It’s a pretty big gear shift, and the sunny, warm sound reflects the new, luxe lifestyle Lorde has been living. The same kind of lifestyle she mocked backed on Pure Heroine. The reception has been pretty mixed, and the fan and critical reaction divisive.This week, culture writer and critic Elle Hunt joins The Culture to help break down the album, and why it isn’t quite landing the same way as Lorde’s earlier work.Guest: Culture writer and critic Elle HuntBackground reading: Review: Lorde’s Solar Power in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that the Prime Minister, along with state and territory leaders, signed off a plan to end lockdowns and border closures when vaccine rates reached 80 percent of the adult population.But it didn’t take long for the so-called national plan to fall apart, with states and the federal government spending the last week bickering over Australia’s roadmap out of this crisis.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the battle over when to open the country up… and the Prime Minister’s strange decision to invoke an animated movie to help argue his case.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.

As scientists, and the United Nations, continue to warn about the likely impacts of climate change, the federal government is spending big to help prop up the gas industry.One company in particular has been the sole beneficiary of a government fund established to help drill for gas in the Northern Territory. That company, which has links to the Liberal Party, has been quietly lobbying for federal support for months.Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on the question marks around another government grant process, and why Australia continues to subsidise fossil fuels.Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.Background reading: Morrison ministers lobbied over Beetaloo Basin in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In November 2020, an Instagram account began to publish anonymous stories of harassment, abuse and assault in the Australian music industry. These were stories that journalist Ruby Jones had heard whispers about before. But when she started looking into them, she found that the allegations were much worse than she had thought, and that they were an open secret in the music industry. Everybody Knows is a new five-part podcast series from the makers of Australia's number one daily news podcast, 7am. Follow Ruby as she investigates what has held back the MeToo Movement in Australia and whether this new wave of women speaking out could be the start of a true reckoning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most concerning outbreaks of Covid-19 in the country right now is taking place in western NSW.Towns like Wilcannia and Walgett have high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations and some of the lowest vaccination rates in the state.When the pandemic hit the region only eight percent of Indigenous people were fully vaccinated.Now, with the virus spreading fast, there are serious concerns for the community.Today, Bhiamie Williamson on the situation on the ground in western NSW. Guest: ANU research associate and Euahlayi man, Bhiamie WilliamsonStay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.