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Australia’s anti-lockdown movement reached federal parliament this week, when a rogue Coalition MP took to the floor to blast public health measures used to limit the spread of Covid-19.The comments highlight growing divisions in the government over Australia’s national approach to the pandemic.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the challenges Scott Morrison is facing from his own side, and why he’s unwilling to openly confront them. 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.

In 2014 two friends from Sydney created a company that transformed the way we buy and sell things online. That company, Afterpay, has become a bedrock of the online shopping experience, growing exponentially every year. Its success was cemented when it was sold for $39 billion, making it the largest corporate deal in Australian history.Afterpay promises the allure of credit-free online shopping. But just how different is it’s business model compared to traditional credit cards and loans? Today, James Hennessy on the rise of Afterpay, and the regulatory loopholes it’s exploited to build a multi-billion dollar business.Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, James Hennessy.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.

No matter which major party wins the next federal election, the top 5 percent of income earners in Australia will receive tax cuts worth 180 dollars a week. These tax cuts, which will overwhelmingly benefit high income earners, will cost the budget 300 billion dollars over 10 years.So how will those cuts be funded? According to those in the social services sector it's likely to be made from cuts to education, health and welfare.  Today, chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service Cassandra Goldie, on the origin of these tax cuts and what their real cost will be.Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper and chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service Cassandra GoldieStay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eighteen months into the pandemic Scott Morrison has announced a plan for the way out, underpinned by modelling from one of our most respected scientific institutes, The Doherty Institute.The plan itself, which has four phases, is based on vaccination rates. It predicts we could be living almost as normal when we reach 80 percent of the population fully vaccinated. But how likely are we to reach that target, and when?  Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the uncertainty surrounding the Prime Minister’s plan. Guest: Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.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.

For thousands of years naturally occurring psychedelics have been used medicinally. But for the past few decades, research into their potential has been on hold, because their supply and use is illegal.Now, things are changing. In Australia there are a number of trials currently underway investigating the use of psychedelics as a way to treat depression and addiction. But while the research is happening, for some it’s not happening fast enough, and there are those who are taking matters into their own hands.Today, contributor to The Monthly, James Bradley on his personal experience of how psychedelics are transforming mental health therapies.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Monthly, James BradleySee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2018 singer Billie Eilish released her debut album ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’With it the teenager pretty much immediately changed the face and sound of modern pop music.Her album won all four of the major categories at the Grammy awards that year. The first time that’s happened since 1981.Her hit Bad Guy took out the top spot on the Hottest 100, making her both the youngest person to win the countdown and the first solo female artist.Now, she’s back, with her follow up second record: ‘Happier Than Ever’.It’s a very different sounding album, and it feels like a response to the immense pressure and scrutiny she’s faced since becoming a pop superstar. To talk about it, and the way Billie Eilish is reshaping the music industry around herself, we’re joined on the show by music critic for The Saturday Paper, Shaad D’Souza. Guest: Music critic for The Saturday Paper, Shaad D’SouzaFollow The Culture on InstagramSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Scott Ludlam, ICAN ambassador and former Australian Greens Senator, reads his cover essay from the latest issue of The Monthly.It’s called ‘The Endgame’. It explores the trial of Julian Assange, and the powers fighting to extradite him, while his condition deteriorates in a UK prison.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Scott Ludlam, ICAN ambassador and former Australian Greens Senator.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After riding high in the opinion polls for the past 12 months, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is now facing the consequences of a slow and messy vaccine rollout.To try and claw back public support the PM has tried to tap into the country’s Olympic spirit, describing our vaccine challenge as a “gold medal” race.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the intertwined fates of the vaccine rollout and the Prime Minister’s political fortunes. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney has been in lockdown for six weeks now, but the number of Covid-19 infections is still continuing to rise.While most residents are able to stay at home, thousands of essential workers are traveling to their place of employment everyday, to keep the city turning. They’re doctors, nurses, teachers, carers, but they’re also cooks, cleaners and factory workers.And according to the state government, they’re the people most at risk of catching and spreading Covid-19. Today, we speak to Paloma, an essential worker living in Sydney’s south-west, about her job and what the government could be doing to help the most vulnerable. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Paloma Jackson-Vaughan, an essential worker living in Sydney’s south-west.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than three million Australians face a health crisis that can severely impact their quality of life: chronic pain.But many people experiencing chronic pain are let down by an outdated healthcare system.It’s a system that frustrates both patients and doctors, so is it time for a radical overhaul of how public health operates in Australia?Today, Beth Atkinson Quinton speaks to The Saturday Paper’s health columnist Dr Mel Cheng and The Saturday Paper contributor Shakira Hussein about the challenges doctors face when trying to help patients with chronic pain, and how we ended up with a system that fails to address it. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuests: Health Columnist for The Saturday Paper Dr Mel Cheng and contributor to The Saturday Paper Shakira Hussein.Background reading: Opioids and chronic pain in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.