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When Anthony Albanese became prime minister he imagined an optimistic future for his government.

Sensible reform in the first year that the public would warmly welcome, followed by boldly winning the first referendum since 1977.

But the reality is far from that. A win in the referendum is looking less assured than ever, while the cost of living crisis has almost everyone feeling miserable. 

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Chris Wallace on how economic pain is hurting the Voice campaign and what Labor will do if the referendum is lost.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Chris Wallace

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As rent prices continue to spiral and many tenants finding themselves at breaking point, the rental crisis shows no sign of slowing.

The Greens are calling for a national freeze on rents, which they say would save households thousands of dollars per year.

But in a country where renters have been overlooked, is there political will to address rising rents? And would capping rents even work?

Today, former Labor campaign strategist turned pollster, and director of the Redbridge Group, Kos Samaras, on why the major parties could face a rebellion from voters if they ignore renters any longer.

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Guest: Director of the Redbridge Group, Kos Samaras

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It was an inquiry meant to get to the bottom of why the trial of Bruce Lehrmann had to be abandoned. Its goal was to improve the justice system and how it handles sexual assault cases.

Instead, the inquiry itself has ended in a complete shambles.

The man who brought on the report, Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold, has resigned. 

The head of the inquiry, Walter Sofronoff, KC, was talking to journalists throughout the whole process, and they received a copy of the final report before the ACT chief minister.

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton, on how an inquiry meant to restore faith ended up doing so much damage.

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Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton

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The iconic words of Martin Luther King Jr are now being used to promote the exact causes that the civil rights activist would have opposed. 

In the United States, conservatives quoted him to celebrate the supreme court’s ban on affirmative action based on race in university admissions.

Here, people like Peter Dutton are invoking MLK to rally opponents of the Voice to Parliament.

Today, writer, lawyer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Nyadol Nyuon, on why the right is stealing language and history and how it threatens to divide us.

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Guest: Director of the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre at Victoria University, Nyadol Nyuon

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David Pocock admits that sometimes he's had to vote for policy he doesn’t fully agree with.

The first-term senator came into parliament with the best intentions to avert the climate crisis, but has sometimes found himself having to work to make legislation he thinks is bad, a little bit better.

Now, he’s trying to put forward a solution he does actually believe in: a private senator’s bill that would force politicians to consider the impact on the health and wellbeing of future generations when they make decisions on climate.

Today, independent senator David Pocock on his new bill and whether he’s always lived up to his own duty of care for future generations.

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Guest: Independent senator for the ACT, David Pocock

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Parliament is back – and it ain’t pretty!

The government is pushing ahead with its contentious housing bill and finds itself, once again, sparring with the Greens.

Meanwhile, the Coalition has a new strategy for encouraging a ‘No’ vote in the Voice referendum.

So will the combative nature of this parliament stop Labor from being productive in government and could they lose key bills in the senate? 

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on what lies ahead for the second half of the year in Canberra. 

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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The royal commission into robo-debt found Scott Morrison to have allowed cabinet to be misled. 

Commissioner Cathrine Holmes also found he provided untrue evidence to the commission and that he pressured departmental officials over the scheme.

It took a few weeks, but the former prime minister this week addressed those findings head-on: denying it all.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper and host of 7am’s special Inside Robo-debt series, Rick Morton on Scott Morrison’s return to Parliament and how much longer he’s likely to have a seat there.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton

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Australia’s offshore processing facility on Nauru now sits empty.

 The detention centre has been a feature of Nauru’s identity for over a decade, but now we’re learning extraordinary details about how millions of Australian taxpayer dollars were spent in questionable deals to keep the facility running.

Last week, the focus turned to the then-Home Affairs minister, Peter Dutton, who awarded a lucrative contract to a businessman who had been accused of bribing Nauruan government officials. 

Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray, on what impact Australia has really had on Nauru and whether we’ve spent a fortune to make a tiny island nation worse off.

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Guest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper, Martin McKenzie-Murray.

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Australians love to heat their homes and cook their meals with gas, but its future in our households has a limit. 

Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews has taken a big step in phasing out gas by banning it in new homes from January 1, 2024.

But the announcement provoked anger and outrage among conservative commentators, and some members of the public, who insist gas is best.

So, does Australia have any hope of reaching net zero if our kitchen stoves have become politicised? 

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on how gas in the home became a new front in the culture wars.

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Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.

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Australian housing is in crisis – the country doesn’t have enough affordable homes for the growing number of people who need them.

This week, the Albanese government will begin its second attempt to pass its key housing policy.

The bill is being reintroduced to parliament unchanged, but will need the Greens’ support. All signs point to a political stalemate.

Today, contributing editor of The Politics and The Monthly online Rachel Withers, on an idea to fix the housing crisis that’s gaining traction and why it could break through the paralysis in Canberra.

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Guest: Contributing editor of The Politics, Rachel Withers.

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