7am

Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan discusses the environmental impact of Tasmania's salmon farming industry on the endangered Maugean Skate species. The podcast explores corporate greed, political inaction, and consumer demand for supermarket salmon contributing to the extinction threat. Flanagan highlights the urgent need for government intervention to regulate the industry and protect the marine ecosystem.

Dr Jim Chalmers, Treasurer of Australia, discusses the politically significant budget and living crisis. Topics include budget planning, cost of living support, wealth gap, financial assistance, resource allocation, and addressing cost of living pressures for young individuals.

Guest Paul Bongiorno discusses the budget battle lines: Labor's spending vs. critics' plans. They explore easing cost of living, government debt, and competing proposals. Analysis of inflation impact, tax cuts, and relief measures. Speculations on election implications and upcoming news updates.

Karen Barlow, Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, discusses Treasurer Jim Chalmers' budget focusing on cost of living. Topics include power bill rebates, PBS medicine costs, rent assistance, and the government's response to the living crisis in Australia.

National affairs correspondent Mike Seccombe discusses the rising cost of groceries in Australia, supermarket dominance, and government responses. Topics include public discontent, CEO inquiries, farmer exploitation, challenges faced by families, and the trend of cereal for dinner.

Richard Denniss, Executive Director of the Australia Institute, discusses the ongoing cost of living crisis in Australia, highlighting the impact on standard of living. Topics include inflation, government policies, and the potential consequences of the crisis. Denniss raises concerns about the kind of country Australia may become if the crisis persists.

Karen Webb, the NSW Police Force commissioner, discusses handling public backlash and defending the force's reputation amidst controversial incidents. The podcast delves into internal challenges, power struggles, community policing trust, and Australian developments like the federal government's energy plan and a potential new AFL team in the Northern Territory.

National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe, discusses the gas industry's sponsorship of MasterChef, promoting renewable gas for sustainable cooking amidst debates on its viability. They explore the decline of gas in homes, hidden gas company ads, and the socio-political debate on gas cooking vs. electric.

Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, discusses the potential ceasefire in Rafah amidst Israeli airstrikes and tank movements. The podcast explores the delicate balance of ceasefire negotiations, internal dilemmas in Netanyahu's government, international pressure on Israel, and escalating tensions in Rafah.

Investigative journalist Marian Wilkinson discusses the Coalition for Conservation lobby group's link to Peter Dutton's nuclear promises. They delve into Trevesant Baker's push for nuclear power, modular reactors' benefits, and the charity C4C's shift towards nuclear advocacy despite internal conflicts.