Insiders

New figures show housing affordability in Australia is now at its worst level on record. Interest rates remain high – property prices are still climbing – buying a house is simply beyond reach for many. This will be a major issue at the election. But during the week - Senators couldn't even hold a vote on Labor's latest measure – the Help to Buy scheme – which involves government co-ownership to help some into the market. The Greens and the Coalition teamed up to further delay a decision on the bill. Tempers flared – with Labor rounding on the Greens – and all sides blaming each other for the worsening housing crisis.

There’s been much debate in the Senate this week – and outside the Senate for that matter – over housing. But what are the answers to Australia’s housing crisis? When you look around for an example of a city that’s got it right – it turns out we don’t have to look too far. Auckland took a bold decision some years ago to adopt a more liberal approach to zoning laws – allowing more apartments and townhouses to be built. And the results when it comes to housing affordability are stark. David Speers speaks to New Zealand economist Stuart Donovan about how they turned the tide on rising rents across the ditch.

We have reached that point in the political cycle where the parliamentary clock is running down and various efforts are underway to define the ground on which the election will be fought.

The two major parties have agreed self-funded retirees should pay more for their care. They're also in broad agreement on something else – banning children from social media.

In this discussion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dives into the controversial proposal to ban social media for children. He highlights the growing bipartisan support for this initiative, driven by parental safety concerns. However, he questions whether a ban is the best solution given the mixed impacts of social media on kids. The conversation uncovers the complexities of mental health, the importance of social interaction, and the need for informed, evidence-based approaches to address children's online experiences.

Interest rates smashing the economy, the Reserve Bank hammering mums and dads – there is plenty of argument over who and what is to blame for the pain households are feeling.But what is actually going to get the economy moving again?

Apart from the pandemic years, GDP hasn't been this weak since Jim Chalmers was at school and Oasis was getting together for the first time.

With looming elections in the US and Australia, the online battle for truth is increasingly becoming more difficult as artificial intelligence and deepfakes become more sophisticated. David Speers speaks with the former Executive Director of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board and CEO of The American Sunlight Project Nina Jankowicz.

Labor's been testing the friendship with some of its traditional allies.

The government has hit the brakes on international student enrolments announcing new caps this week. It follows a post-pandemic jump in migration numbers which has caused Labor a political headache. But is limiting the foreign student intake - for a sector that’s been one of Australia’s biggest export earners - the answer?  Professor Michael Wesley is the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Melbourne and he's warning of serious consequences for the higher education sector and the Australian economy.