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Is Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe pushing Australia into a recession?

That has now become the biggest question in the Australian economy – as household budgets are squeezed even further by an interest rate rise that almost no-one wanted to see.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on Phillip Lowe, the treasurer and the fight over wages.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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It’s the department that’s supposed to watch over the support system for Australians with a disability – and ensure the care they’re receiving is good. 

But the very people doing this job, at the Quality and Safeguards Commission of the NDIS, could be in an unsafe workplace.

And the strangest part of all: the leadership of the commission has allegedly been pretending there isn’t a problem.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on how the organisation that oversees the NDIS was gaslighting its own staff, and what that means for those who rely on the service.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

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The Australian Tax Office suspected that PwC used confidential information to help their big corporate clients get richer – seven whole years ago.

But they did shockingly little about it. They didn’t even share that information with government ministers.

The reason, they say, is that their hands were tied – that bureaucratic rules kept them from exposing one of the biggest scandals in the history of our tax system.

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton on whether secrecy really should have kept the tax office from doing more.

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

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A new green energy agreement with the US, signed by President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese, will allow the Pentagon to fund mining projects in Australia. 

It’s part of a race to control the energy sources of the future, and associated technologies – everything from computer chips to electric vehicles to advanced weaponry. 

So what does this deal mean for our security, as the US tries to match China’s progress using Australia’s natural resources – and are we getting a good deal?

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on the American military’s plan to secure our minerals.

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

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Ben Roberts-Smith dined with prime ministers, attended the Queen’s funeral as a hero and was held up as an icon of the Australian Defense Force. In fact, a huge portrait of him still hangs in the Australian War Memorial today.

But now, a court has found that allegations Ben Roberts-Smith is a murderer, a war criminal and a bully who disgraced his country have been proven.

Today, Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper and author of ‘An Unwinnable War’, Karen Middleton on how the truth about Ben Roberts-Smith was proven and what it means for the legacy of Australian action in Afghanistan.

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Guest: Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper and author of The Unwinnable War, Karen Middleton.

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To mark the 200th edition of The Monthly, the editor of the magazine, Michael Williams, joins us – to read a piece by the late-Mungo Maccallum from the debut issue nearly 20 years ago.

Mungo was a totally unique character of Australian journalism – once described by Gough Whitlam a "tall, bearded descendant of lunatic aristocrats" – he could deftly bounce from the funny and odd to the great stories and issues of our times.

We very much hope you enjoy us revisiting his first essay for The Monthly: ‘From nation to now’

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Anthony Albanese says politicians are running around Canberra claiming the sky is falling.

“Chicken littles”, he’s calling them, doomsayers trying to whip up unfounded fears about the Voice.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has reacted as if the reference to the old folk tale is a deeply insulting slur, but it’s hardly the most charged language that’s been used by one of our politicians in recent weeks.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the latest political skirmish – and whether WA premier Mark McGowan’s resignation is a sign the sky really is falling

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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Anthony Albanese’s government faces significant challenges – looming climate disaster, a widening wealth gap and international security concerns. 

But a year after the election, it’s hard to judge how it will respond to these circumstances. Albanese promises a bold reformist agenda, but the government often appears cautious and slow in its delivery.

Anthony Albanese himself comes from the left of the party, but opponents like the Greens have called his government ‘centre-right’.

Today, contributor to The Monthly Sean Kelly, on trying to pin down the real intentions of the Albanese government.Socials:

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Guest: Contributor to The Monthly and former adviser to Labor prime ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, Sean Kelly.

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When Australia’s most high-profile Indigenous journalist was forced to step away from his role because of racist abuse – it made headlines around the world. 

But here in Australia, most of the media and our political leaders have struggled to comprehend the meaning of the moment – and appear to be trapped in a cycle of well-wishes, apologies and outright denial instead of taking action.

Today, Yorta Yorta writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Daniel James, on whether Australia is mature enough to have a national conversation about racism and justice for Indigenous people.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Daniel James

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The police officer who allegedly Tasered 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland reportedly said three words before firing: “No, bugger it”.

He will now face court, where we will learn more about what led up to the incident and what contributed to Nowland’s death.

But the biggest question is how the police ended up confronting an elderly person in aged care, who was distressed and in need of help.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on the systemic failures that surround the death of Clare Nowland.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

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