7am

Scott Morrison has spent the week untangling himself from Tony Abbott’s policies, on both climate change and the NBN. Today, Paul Bongiorno on new roadmaps and old problems. 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.

Staff and students at Brunswick North West Primary School have endured one of the longest school shutdowns in the world, and they’ve created their own community radio station to help each other through it. Today, Ruby Jones talks to the students and the teacher behind BNWPS radio. Guest: Brunswick North West Primary School music teacher Jack Madin and his students.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confidential documents leaked to The Saturday Paper show that hospitals remain a key area of coronavirus transmission, while doctors and nurses in Melbourne complain that they’re still not getting access to proper protective equipment. Today, Osman Faruqi on how healthcare worker infections are contributing to the length of Victoria’s second wave.Guest: Editor of 7am Osman Faruqi.Background reading: Confidential document reveals healthcare outbreaks in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Royal Commission has heard hundreds of aged care centres are facing financial collapse, as the crisis in the sector takes its toll. In the second half of this special two part series, Rick Morton investigates what happened to the aged care sector under the leadership of Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.Background reading: The collapse of aged care (part two) in The Saturday Paper See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, we’ve been warned about a crisis in Australia’s aged care sector, and the coronavirus pandemic has exposed its failures. In the first half of a special two part series Rick Morton traces the problems in aged care to Howard-era reforms, demanded by private, for-profit providers. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.Background reading: The collapse of aged care (part one) in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do Walloons, Novak Djokovic and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all have in common? They’re all questions that stump actor Belinda Bromilow and her husband, Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning writer Tony McNamara.Guests: Belinda Bromilow and Tony McNamaraBackground reading: Oscar-nominated screenwriter Tony McNamara in The Saturday Paper See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal Opposition is seeking to capitalise on the current economic downturn by arguing that the government’s policies are making things worse. Meanwhile, the prime minister is pinning his hopes on a gas-led recovery. Today, Paul Bongiorno on how Labor fired up, and the political battle over energy policy.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.

Australia’s economy has taken its biggest hit since the Great Depression, but so far government stimulus measures have cushioned most people and businesses from the worst impacts. Those stimulus measures are about to dry up. Today, the upcoming danger zone for Australia’s economy, and how we can avoid it. Guest: CEO of the Grattan Institute Danielle Woods.Background reading: The way out of the Covid-19 recession in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has one of the most concentrated media markets in the world, and that concentration could worsen as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp launches a new service. Today, Mike Seccombe, on how the Australian Associated Press was nearly shut down, and now faces the prospect of being starved out. Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.Background reading: Murdoch grab: The other story behind AAP’s sale in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A coronavirus vaccine is the best chance the world has of returning to some kind of normal, but the stalling of one of the most viable candidates last week was a reminder that nothing is guaranteed. Today, Karen Middleton on the Australian government’s plans and the likelihood of a vaccine in 2021. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton.Background reading: Vaccine trials and tribulations in The Saturday PaperSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.