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Cost of living pressures and interest rate rises mean that millions of Australians are struggling.But what often isn’t acknowledged by the Reserve Bank, its governor, or many of our political leaders, is that some people are doing just fine in these economic conditions – in fact, they can benefit from them.Those people are the wealthiest Australians – in particular, people who have paid off their houses and are debt free.Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on why financial pain isn’t distributed evenly and how rate rises can make that inequality worse.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike SeccombeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia isn’t the first country to ban TikTok from government devices.In fact, all of our closest allies have already taken steps to keep the app away from government secrets.So how justified are these fears? Is the next step a forced sale? Or even a total ban?Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Marty McKenzie-Murray, on how the company behind TikTok learned to walk the party line.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper Marty McKenzie-MurraySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penny Wong has assumed the Foreign Affairs portfolio at a crucial time in Australian history.For years China has been on the rise, but now it’s challenging the United States’ dominance in the Pacific.World leaders and military planners are openly weighing the risk the two superpowers could stumble into war.How does Australia navigate a path to peace? That question now rests on Penny Wong’s shoulders.Today, contributor to The Monthly and Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU Hugh White on how she is approaching the challenge.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Monthly and Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU, Hugh WhiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent weeks, we’ve covered an appearance by neo-Nazis at a rally in Melbourne, as well as ASIO’s decision to steer away from labels like ‘right’ and ‘left’ when talking about radicalisation in Australia.The issue of far-right extremism has often been covered in Australia as a political issue, but what about as an issue of safety and security?Today, we revisit our conversation with the author of ‘Rise of the Extreme Right’, Lydia Khalil, on the far-right in Australia, its connections around the world and the best way to stop it from growing.This episode first aired on 12 January this year.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Author of ‘Rise of the Extreme Right’, Lydia KhalilSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, author of ‘Sundressed’ and fashion editor for The Saturday Paper Lucianne Tonti reads her piece on confronting the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothing condemned to landfill every year. The Australian fashion industry is a major cause of the 227,000 tonnes of waste clothing generated each year — much of it never worn before being discarded.Non-profits are attempting to curb the issue, redirecting and recycling the waste clothing – but the problem lies at the source: overproduction.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Fashion editor for The Saturday Paper and author of ‘Sundressed’, Lucianne TontiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is one of just a handful of countries around the world that have legislated in favour of euthanasia. Every Australian state has now legalised voluntary assisted dying – and the territories are expected to follow after the federal government granted them freedom to legislate. That situation would have been hard to imagine when Andrew Denton first joined the campaign for voluntary assisted dying. Known for his penetrating television interviews, Andrew found a debate where progress had been stymied and the voices of those affected most – the dying – weren’t being heard.Today, we revisit our conversation with voluntary assisted dying campaigner Andrew Denton, on how to change a debate, combat misinformation and the voices that really changed the law across Australia.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Andrew DentonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Liberal Party has finally come to a position on the Voice to parliament: No.Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s announcement comes in the wake of two election defeats for the Liberal party in two weeks, first in the NSW state election and then in the Aston by-election in Victoria.So is opposing the Voice out of step with the electorate? And what lessons is Peter Dutton taking from his election losses?Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the future of the Liberal party.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renting or buying a home is not getting any easier in Australia – and the future could get even worse if we don’t do something.With the population growing, homes are going to be in short supply, particularly affordable homes.The government wants to build new houses with an investment fund, the Greens want a rent freeze and more guaranteed funding for affordable homes – and negotiations are becoming the latest flashpoint in a bitter dispute between the two parties.Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton on the political games that could decide the future of Australian housing.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen MiddletonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One state in Australia locks up more children than any other: Queensland. And new laws will send more children into custody than ever before.The laws go against its Human Rights Act, but the state has chosen to override those protections in response to growing media pressure about youth crime.Today, Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall on the rights of children in a state that’s going to lock up more of them – and how his office has been sidelined.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Human Rights Commissioner of Queensland Scott McDougall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A scare campaign is gathering momentum in the conservative media.Will the Voice to Parliament dictate policy? Are elite interests behind the referendum? And does it threaten the integrity of the constitution?These are the questions being asked by conservative commentators, mostly in the Murdoch-owned national newspaper.But The Australian wasn’t supposed to be opposed to the referendum – there was a time when it was one of the Voice’s biggest allies.Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper and author of a book on the Murdoch empire, Paddy Manning, on how the dream of conservative support for the voice is in troubled waters.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Author of The Successor, Paddy ManningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.