ABC Rewind

Asbestos was once known as the wonder mineral. It's now banned in Australia. But before that happened, companies kept making asbestos products despite growing evidence of its deadly dust and a mounting death toll.

When a vast coal seam was found running through the escarpment around the NSW town of Wollongong it seemed that this beautiful part of Australia had got lucky. But had it? Van Badham heads back to her hometown to explore the deadly cost of coal mining for those who worked the pit.

The podcast dives into the human cost of mining in Australia, revealing grim tales from Bendigo's gold mining roots. It uncovers the tragic impact of silica dust on miners, sharing heartbreaking personal stories and historical negligence in safety. The challenging living conditions and unfair wages faced by miners are highlighted, as well as the ongoing struggle for better health protections. Listeners hear how past mistakes continue to resonate today, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in an industry steeped in both wealth and tragedy.

It's the early 1970s and the power of good is unleashed. In the Age of Aquarius the public get wise to being hoodwinked by advertising. Health campaigners hijack the medium — and turn it to their advantage.

The hunt is on for the winning TV ad — the one that keeps the client happy and the consumers consuming. What's the right method for making the perfect advertisement?              In 1970 a young bloke called John Singleton thought he had the answer.Host Dee Madigan continues her adventures through the vaults of Australian advertising.

It’s the 1970s and we're entering Australia's golden age of advertising. The Aussie larrikin makes his TV appearance and liquid lunches get longer. Salaries get bigger and the egos to match them.Join host Dee Madigan as she digs through the history of advertising in Australia. 

Join host Dee Madigan for a wild ride through the golden days of Australian advertising. When TV arrived in Australia in 1956,  it brought American ad agencies, international sophistication and the rise of the cultural cringe.

In this bonus episode Jan Fran and historian Dr Geraldine Fela discuss how the waterfront dispute has shaped the way we work in Australia today. 27 years later work is more precarious – casual and fixed term jobs have grown, the kind of work we do has changed and employers now have more power over employees. Politics and industrial relations were also changed by the dispute and unions have learned to fight in a very different way.

Was the Howard government the puppet master of the Waterfront dispute? Host Jan Fran reveals new evidence that provides some answers to questions that’ve dogged Australian politics for 27 years. 

After Patrick Stevedores sacks its 1,400 maritime union workers the waterfront dispute turns into a courtroom drama as the legal teams battle it out in the Federal Court before heading all the way to the High Court.