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There’s been a delay in the release of what could be the most explosive findings from a royal commission in decades.The commissioner of the robo-debt investigation quietly wrote to the attorney general to request a delay in the publication of its final report.But this is no mere bureaucratic hold-up, there are other reasons behind it. And one of them has to do with when Australia’s new National Anti-Corruption Commission will be ready to receive referrals.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on how robo-debt could become one of the first topics for the brand new integrity watchdog.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After more than half of voters at the 2022 federal election said climate change was a top concern, helping Labor take power, it became known as the ‘climate election’.But a year on, how much has really changed?A 43 per cent carbon emission reduction target has been legislated, and the government promises we’ll reach net zero – but fossil fuel projects are still being approved.Today, director of the Australia Institute’s climate and energy program Polly Hemming on what a year of Labor government has delivered for the climate.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Director of the Australia Institute’s climate and energy program, Polly HemmingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global cocaine business is controlled by cartels worth tens of billions of dollars – and in that world, Australia is drawing more and more attention as a particularly lucrative market.That’s because a gram of cocaine sells in Australia for as much as $400.But the public rarely gets an insight into this enormous sector of criminal enterprise. How cocaine gets into the country, where the money goes and the violence involved is often veiled in secrecy. Until now.Today, Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal on his investigation into the cocaine trade and how he came face-to-face with the people responsible for it.You can watch Mahmood Fazal’s investigation on the ABC’s Four Corners on iView, youtube, or ABC TV from 8:30 tonight.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, Sasha Gattermayr, with her piece on the fascination with carnivorous plants from The Monthly magazine. Sasha takes us inside a band of collectors whose obsession with plants such as the venus fly trap turned into a lifelong devotion to plants that devour their prey.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Writer Sasha GattermayrBackground reading: Little club of horrorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s almost a year since Anthony Albanese did what no Labor leader had done in 15 years: win an election from opposition.It was a momentous time for him personally, and one that shifted the political landscape after a decade of conservative government.Just how much has he accomplished? Is Albanese living up to the promises he made on election night? And is he willing to go beyond them?Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno spoke to the prime minister about his year on the job, and what’s next.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a state begins to rely on a private company to fight wars?We’ve seen it before, but not like this – the power that Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted private military company the Wagner group is unprecedented. And Putin may be discovering its drawbacks the hard way – as the public face of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin feuds with his generals and embarrassing stories have emerged in the Western press.Today, expert in Russian foreign policy and fellow at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Matthew Sussex on how the Wagner group – and its leader – are changing the face of modern war. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: fellow at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Matthew SussexSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia can claim a significant world first: a special government adviser on Women’s Affairs.Fifty years ago, Elizabeth Reid stepped into the newly created role in Gough Whitlam’s government.Abortion access, workplace rights, contraception and education – it was a time of huge change in gender parity and access. But the reaction to Reid and the new position was vicious in some circles. She resigned just two and a half years into the job.What motivated her? How did the job change her? And why did she leave Australia once it was over?Today, Elizabeth Reid, on being first – and a lifetime of lessons.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Women’s affairs adviser to Gough Whitlam, Elizabeth Reid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trial of Bruce Lehrmann for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins never reached a verdict – and Lehrmann still strenuously maintains his innocence.When the most high profile sexual assault trial in Australia was called off, and any hope of a retrial abandoned, there was one question: how did it come to this?The actions of one juror might have led to the mistrial, but there was more to the story: concerns about how the media covered the trial were followed by explosive allegations against the ACT police and how they handled the case.Now, an inquiry is trying to get to the bottom of how justice failed to reach a verdict.Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Claire Connelly, on the first week of stunning revelations, backflips and whether this inquiry can deliver answers.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Claire Connelly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There comes a time when politicians say ‘enough is enough’ and they leave parliament.Often they depart the stage without anyone really noticing, other times it’s worth pausing and marking their storied parliamentary careers.That’s the case for Stuart Robert, who has called time on politics after 16 years – during which time he presided over the robo debt scandal, a bag of Rolexes, and made his name as Scott Morrison’s ‘brother Stewie’.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the incredible parliamentary life of Stuart Robert and the last scandal hanging over his departure.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick MortonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the budget dropped on Tuesday night, the Coalition and some parts of the media have begun to pick a very strange fight.It’s over whether some of the most vulnerable in the community should really get more help than middle-class Australian households with two incomes.It pits the two against each other and ignores a much bigger cost coming down the pipeline: tax cuts that will benefit the wealthiest Australians the most.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno on the strange politics at play and why there are bigger questions we should be asking.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.