7.30

By ABC News and Current Affairs

News & Politics

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7.30's experienced team brings you the latest current affairs and analysis.

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7.30 episodes:

10.17.2022
Could $8 billion a year be lost to Medicare fraud and waste?
Australia's universal health care system, Medicare is considered one of the best in the world. However tonight 7.30 will show how suspected fraud, misuse and billing errors are draining billions from Medicare every year.
10.17.2022
Donald Trump subpoenaed to testify over the deadly Capitol riots
What may be the last of the congressional hearings into January 6th riots rolled out in Washington with new video footage taken behind the scenes on the day of the assault.
10.17.2022
Shepparton Mayor talks of the impact of the floods on his community
Northern Victoria is in the grip of major flooding, with communities isolated and thousands of homes inundated. The region around Shepparton has been heavily impacted. Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali speaks to Sarah Ferguson.
10.13.2022
Treasurer Jim Chalmers confident Australia can avoid a recession
As the global outlook darkens, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is in Washington for meetings with G20 finance ministers as well as the IMF and World Bank.
10.13.2022
Labor Promises – They can’t be broken
While the Treasurer prepares to hand down his budget, speculation continues to swirl around the Albanese government’s pledge to honour the stage 3 tax cuts in 2024. To explore the Labor Party's philosophy around promises, here's a new ad from...
10.13.2022
Methane – the unspoken threat to global warming
Some scientists are warning that global warming could be headed for a crucial tipping point - and carbon dioxide is not the only culprit. In recent years, there's also been a surge in the release of methane into the atmosphere...
10.13.2022
Former PM Kevin Rudd: “This will be the most significant party congress in 40 years”
Former PM Kevin Rudd is President of the Asia Society and a former diplomat in Beijing. Sarah Ferguson speaks to him about the extraordinary events due to take place in China - which mark the culmination of Xi Jinping's relentless...
10.13.2022
China’s fight for COVID-zero as Xi Jinping looks to become leader for life
This weekend, the Chinese Communist Party will host its 20th National Congress where it's expected that Xi Jinping will be voted president for a record-breaking third term.
10.12.2022
Iranian-Australian women join protest over Iran’s treatment of women
Nationwide protests in Iran are now in their fourth week provoked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody after being arrested by the morality police in Tehran - this is being called Iran's George...
10.12.2022
Dr Saul Griffith – decarbonisation for Australia begins in the home
Right now, we're in the biggest debate we've ever had about Australia's green energy future. One of the most provocative voices to emerge is Dr Saul Griffith who is the founder of Rewiring Australia and an advisor to the Biden...
10.12.2022
IBAC Commissioner speaks out on the litigation preventing the release of reports
Victoria's anti-corruption commissioner has expressed frustration that he's not able to speak openly. IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich says the courts are being used to block the release of crucial integrity reports.
10.12.2022
Remembering the Bali bombings 20 years on
Today the nation commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings - one of the worst peacetime tragedies in the nation's history. The attack by Islamic terrorists on two bars packed with foreign tourists killed 202 people, including 88 Australians...
10.11.2022
Rock star physicist Brian Cox – explaining the science of black holes and the end of time
Far away galaxies, super-massive black holes, and the end of time. Rock star physicist Professor Brian Cox is back in Australia as part of his latest world tour which kicks off tomorrow.
10.11.2022
Dispute over new hospital location in Adelaide due to heritage listing of proposed site
In Adelaide, a major dispute has erupted over the state government's plans to bulldoze a historically significant site to build a multi-billion-dollar city hospital.
10.11.2022
Energy Minister Chris Bowen speaks on the dire forecast of a 35 per cent rise in electricity prices
The chief executive of one of Australia's major energy companies, Alinta has made a dire prediction that without government intervention energy prices will rise a staggering 35 per cent next year.
10.11.2022
Possible global recession to be backdrop of Australia’s October budget
Warnings that we face a global recession seem to be escalating by the day. The largest US investment bank, JP Morgan Chase, joined the International Monetary Fund and others overnight in warning of grim times ahead.
10.10.2022
Donnell Wallam shines a way for Indigenous athletes
One of the most exciting goal shooters in Australian netball is preparing to make her debut for the national team. That’s a big deal for a country girl from regional WA, who only started playing professional netball last year.
10.10.2022
Family demanding answers after another Indigenous death in custody
The twin brother of an Indigenous man who died in custody is hoping a coronial inquest will finally provide answers about his death. He was the third Aboriginal man to die in custody during the past 12 months in Victoria.
10.10.2022
Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks on defence projects facing $6.5 billion in overruns
Today the Deputy PM announced a multibillion dollar blow out in defence spending accusing the Opposition of wasting money while in government. Sarah Ferguson speaks to Defence Minister Richard Marles.
10.10.2022
Is Australia ready to move past coal-fired energy production?
For almost a century, coal has been the foundation of the nation's electricity grid but the recent surge in cheaper renewable energy is hastening the end of coal-fired power - not just ageing plants already due for closure, but even...
10.06.2022
Calls for the NSW government to recognise Indigenous cultural fishing rights
For millennia, Aboriginal people living on the far south coast of New South Wales have fished for abalone. It's a cultural practice that's sacred to them.
10.06.2022
Does the Australian War Memorial give enough recognition to the Australian frontier wars?
The Australian War Memorial is the iconic home to part of our national story: ANZAC, mateship and a nation forged in blood. As the institution spends half a billion dollars to expand commemoration of recent conflicts, the memorial is confronting...
10.06.2022
Communications Minister outlines the changes to the regulations after Optus data breach
A 19-year-old Sydney man was arrested today, accused of attempting to blackmail people caught up in the Optus hack. Desperate to head off widespread fraud in the aftermath of the massive identity theft, the federal government announced new regulations enabling...
10.06.2022
Is the new UK government rolling into financial and political mayhem
Whatever clouds might be on the horizon for Australia's economy, they're nothing compared with the storm that's brewing in the UK. Soaring inflation, rising interest rates, potential gas shortages and a plunging pound are just some of the headaches the...
10.06.2022
Calls for tighter regulation of gambling advertising
It was hard to miss the betting ads leading into last weekend's NRL grand final and the AFL the week before. Sports betting is booming - and Australians are hooked.
10.05.2022
New developments in the treatment of migraines
There are tension headaches, pressure headaches, cluster headaches - then in a league of its own is the migraine. Around one in five Australians experience episodic migraine attacks, with lost productivity and healthcare expenses costing the nation more than $35...
10.05.2022
Could Donald Trump return to the White House?
The trail of scandals and revelations about former US President Donald Trump seems to only grow longer and more sensational with the passage of time, yet his continuing popularity with a large group of Americans means the spectre of him...
10.05.2022
Can the AFL protect their Indigenous players from racism?
Later this week the AFL will host the Draft Combine - a camp where up and coming players will be trialled and tested before the national draft next month.
10.04.2022
Profound flaws found in Queensland’s forensic DNA services
An extraordinary six days of public hearings has come to an end in Brisbane, revealing profound flaws in Queensland’s forensic DNA services.
10.04.2022
Research shows future gas exploration could upset the ecological balance at Lake Eyre Basin
Australia's most pristine river system is the iconic Lake Eyre Basin. For decades, an alliance of graziers, traditional owners and scientists have protected the rivers and wetlands from irrigation.
10.04.2022
Will the British Government avoid a financial calamity?
The new British Prime Minister Liz Truss was elected on the premise of calm, stable government after the dramas of Boris Johnson but her political honeymoon lasted as long as it took her and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to produce a...
10.04.2022
Will continual rate rises tip the Australian economy into recession?
The Reserve Bank surprised economic forecasters today with a smaller than expected shift in interest rates.
10.03.2022
Hurricane Ian creates an uncertain future for the residents of Florida
Communities in Florida have been devastated by Hurricane Ian - more than 80 people are dead. While emergency crews are in place across the disaster zone, in some of the hardest hit areas people are relying on the kindness of...
10.03.2022
Information and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk speaks on the Optus breach
The fallout from the extraordinary theft of data from Optus continues. Today Optus put out a statement saying more than 2 million customers have had identification data compromised. The vulnerability of Australians data and people’s right to privacy is going...
10.03.2022
Tracking down the scammers who are cheating Australians out of their superannuation
Imagine working your entire life only to have your nest egg stolen in an online scam that targets your superannuation - more than $2 billion was lost by Australians in scams last year.
10.03.2022
Dr Norman Swan looks at the decision to scrap mandatory isolation for people with COVID
Last week, National Cabinet agreed to drop mandatory isolation for people testing positive to COVID-19. It had already been reduced to five days from seven but it will be scrapped altogether within weeks.
09.29.2022
COVID outbreaks still widespread in aged care communities
Many Australians are moving on from COVID but in the nation's nursing homes, it's still deadly with more than 30 aged care residents dying with COVID every week.
09.29.2022
Ukraine’s Sham Vote - A great day for sham democracies
This week a referendum was staged in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine to determine whether the regions would join the Russian Federation. The vote has been roundly criticised by Ukraine and the West as a sham, presenting an issue for journalists...
09.29.2022
Treasurer Jim Chalmers flags new budget strategy
The uncertainty in global markets have only added to the gloom about the outlook from bodies like the IMF and OECD which have radically cut their growth forecasts. These economic headwinds form the backdrop to the Albanese Government's first budget...
09.29.2022
Emergency agencies are on high alert as the flood risk is elevated
After years of crippling drought, many farmers in eastern states are now forced to worry about too much rain. After last summer's season of serious floods across several states, rural communities across western New South Wales are dealing with a...
09.29.2022
Optus hack renews calls for improved protection of personal data
The fallout from the Optus data breach continues, with thousands of customers now scrambling to get new identity documents. More than a third of Australians have had their personal details stolen by alleged hackers who gained access to passport numbers,...
09.29.2022
Extended interview: Why James Cameron may not direct the final 'Avatar' sequel
Thirteen years after it was first released, one of James Cameron's biggest blockbusters, Avatar, is back in cinemas. Digitally re-mastered, its return signals the beginning of a new chapter, with four sequels scheduled for release over the next six years.
09.28.2022
Queensland Premier announces $62 billion clean energy plan
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been announcing a series of energy measures over the past week - culminating in a $62 billion plan involving pumped hydro power which will not only transform Queensland's energy system, but potentially the economies of...
09.28.2022
Questions raised over Queensland land clearing which may impact on vulnerable species
Australia has one of the highest rates of extinctions in the developed world and the trend, if anything, is getting worse. Tonight, 7.30 can reveal what critics see as a major loophole in our environmental protection laws.
09.28.2022
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus: “The commission will report publicly”
Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus speaks to Laura Tingle on the Government's plans for an anti-corruption commission.
09.28.2022
Long-awaited federal anti-corruption commission bill introduced to parliament
For at least the past four years, the establishment of a federal integrity or anti-corruption commission has been part of the daily fare of politics - whatever the scandal, the commentary often finished with the assertion that 'this is why...
09.27.2022
Booker Prize winning author Hilary Mantel - her life and legacy
Extraordinary tributes have flowed from fellow writers for British novelist Dame Hilary Mantel since she died suddenly last week. Best known for her Wolf Hall trilogy, Mantel wrote across an extraordinary range of genres but is perhaps best known at...
09.27.2022
Tolled roads adding to increased cost of living pressures
Sydney is now one of the most tolled jurisdictions in the world - costing drivers two billion dollars a year. Brisbane and Melbourne have far fewer tolled roads than NSW but the three states all have something in common -...
09.27.2022
Iran cracks down on anti-hijab protests sparked by woman’s death in custody
The death of a young woman in Iran after she was allegedly beaten by so-called morality police appears to have galvanised a generation of young people challenging four decades of strict sharia law.
09.27.2022
Are public schools being short-changed in the education funding carve up?
The latest report card on the nations' schools has found that despite plans to spend $33 billion to improve standards, Australian students are falling behind their overseas counterparts.

What's 7.30 about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

7.30 episodes:

Could $8 billion a year be lost to Medicare fraud and waste?

Donald Trump subpoenaed to testify over the deadly Capitol riots

Shepparton Mayor talks of the impact of the floods on his community

Treasurer Jim Chalmers confident Australia can avoid a recession

Labor Promises – They can’t be broken

Methane – the unspoken threat to global warming

Former PM Kevin Rudd: “This will be the most significant party congress in 40 years”

China’s fight for COVID-zero as Xi Jinping looks to become leader for life

Iranian-Australian women join protest over Iran’s treatment of women

Dr Saul Griffith – decarbonisation for Australia begins in the home

IBAC Commissioner speaks out on the litigation preventing the release of reports

Remembering the Bali bombings 20 years on

Rock star physicist Brian Cox – explaining the science of black holes and the end of time

Dispute over new hospital location in Adelaide due to heritage listing of proposed site

Energy Minister Chris Bowen speaks on the dire forecast of a 35 per cent rise in electricity prices

Possible global recession to be backdrop of Australia’s October budget

Donnell Wallam shines a way for Indigenous athletes

Family demanding answers after another Indigenous death in custody

Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks on defence projects facing $6.5 billion in overruns

Is Australia ready to move past coal-fired energy production?

Calls for the NSW government to recognise Indigenous cultural fishing rights

Does the Australian War Memorial give enough recognition to the Australian frontier wars?

Communications Minister outlines the changes to the regulations after Optus data breach

Is the new UK government rolling into financial and political mayhem

Calls for tighter regulation of gambling advertising

New developments in the treatment of migraines

Could Donald Trump return to the White House?

Can the AFL protect their Indigenous players from racism?

Profound flaws found in Queensland’s forensic DNA services

Research shows future gas exploration could upset the ecological balance at Lake Eyre Basin

Will the British Government avoid a financial calamity?

Will continual rate rises tip the Australian economy into recession?

Hurricane Ian creates an uncertain future for the residents of Florida

Information and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk speaks on the Optus breach

Tracking down the scammers who are cheating Australians out of their superannuation

Dr Norman Swan looks at the decision to scrap mandatory isolation for people with COVID

COVID outbreaks still widespread in aged care communities

Ukraine’s Sham Vote - A great day for sham democracies

Treasurer Jim Chalmers flags new budget strategy

Emergency agencies are on high alert as the flood risk is elevated

Optus hack renews calls for improved protection of personal data

Extended interview: Why James Cameron may not direct the final 'Avatar' sequel

Queensland Premier announces $62 billion clean energy plan

Questions raised over Queensland land clearing which may impact on vulnerable species

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus: “The commission will report publicly”

Long-awaited federal anti-corruption commission bill introduced to parliament

Booker Prize winning author Hilary Mantel - her life and legacy

Tolled roads adding to increased cost of living pressures

Iran cracks down on anti-hijab protests sparked by woman’s death in custody

Are public schools being short-changed in the education funding carve up?