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ABC staff are revealing the pressure they are under as the public broadcaster absorbs budget cuts amounting to more than 100 million dollars a year. Today, Mike Seccombe on the role the ABC plays during a national crisis and the future of the national broadcaster.Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.Background reading:Hundreds facing the sack with ABC cuts in The Saturday PaperThe Saturday PaperThe MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ruby Princess is responsible for more than 10 per cent of Australia’s cases of Covid-19. The decision to allow the ship’s passengers to disembark is now being investigated by a number of state and federal inquiries. Today, Karen Middleton on what happened in the lead-up to Australia’s biggest coronavirus cluster. Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton.Background reading:What happened with the Ruby Princess in The Saturday PaperThe Saturday PaperThe MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three months since becoming leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt has begun articulating a plan for the party that embraces “green” capitalism, and sees their future in partnership with Labor. Today, Margaret Simons on what we need to know about Adam Bandt. Guest: Author and journalist Margaret Simons.Background reading:Adam Bandt, the personable hardliner in The MonthlyThe Saturday PaperThe MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An aged care facility in NSW is the site of one of Australia’s biggest clusters of Covid-19. Now, with 16 dead, the centre’s owners have been threatened with sanctions and the loss of their licence. Today, Rick Morton on what went wrong at Newmarch House.  Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.Background reading:The Newmarch House Covid-19 cluster in The Saturday PaperFor more information on today’s episode, visit https://7ampodcast.com.au/.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infighting within the Coalition has been exposed as candidates emerge and then quit in the race for the seat of Eden-Monaro. The by-election is reopening divisions across the Liberal and National Parties. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the first real test for Scott Morrison’s popularity. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno.Background reading:The Saturday PaperThe MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has made reopening schools a priority of his response to coronavirus, and part of his argument is that school closures are leaving the most disadvantaged students behind. Today, Jane Caro on how the political debate over coronavirus is reframing the inequality in education funding. Guest: Author and writer for The Saturday Paper Jane Caro.Background reading:How schools have become political pawns in The Saturday PaperThe Saturday PaperThe MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of Australians had their homes and lives destroyed by last summer’s bushfires, and now the pandemic is shattering their plans to rebuild. As the royal commission examining our Black Summer begins, experts say the climate crisis will leave even more people vulnerable. Today, Rick Morton on what happens when a pandemic follows a natural disaster.Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.Background reading:Black Summer bushfire inquiries begin in The Saturday PaperThe Saturday PaperThe MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government’s economic relief package was broken into three phases, but serious questions are being asked about whether the timing and order of each announcement may have actually led to job losses. Today, Mike Seccombe on the flaws in our rescue package.   Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.Background reading:JobKeeper: The inner workings of the bailout in The Saturday PaperThe Saturday PaperThe MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed many Australians to shortages of food and essential items for the first time. Empty shelves across the country have revealed deep vulnerabilities in our food supply system. Today, Margaret Simons on why our supermarkets weren’t prepared for this crisis. Guest: Academic and journalist for The Saturday Paper Margaret Simons.Background reading:The real reason our shelves were empty in The Saturday PaperThe Saturday PaperThe MonthlySee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifteen years ago Schwartz Media launched The Monthly, a magazine dedicated to current affairs, politics, arts and culture. Today, to celebrate the magazine’s birthday, we hear from its publisher, Morry Schwartz, and its current editor, Nick Feik, on The Monthly’s journey and what it contributes to Australia’s media landscape.Guest: Publisher of The Monthly, Morry Schwartz, and editor of The Monthly, Nick Feik.Background reading:The MonthlyFor more information on today’s episode, visit 7ampodcast.com.au. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.