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If you went to university, there’s an increasing likelihood you could be carrying HECS debt for several decades.

There are now more than 300,000 people carrying HECS into their 50s — six times more people than just over 15 years ago.

And, this June, HECS debts are set to rise again at a historic pace.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on how HECS went from a promise of opportunity to threatening a generation with a debt spiral.

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

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Imagine being arrested, put into custody – and in desperate need of medical care.

Who is responsible for helping you? Who are you meant to turn to for healthcare?

For Veronica Nelson, who died in custody in 2020, a private company was responsible – Correct Care.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Denham Sadler takes us inside how a contract to look after the health of prisoners was taken away then put into some very similar hands.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Denham Sadler

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‘We don’t have enough money.’

That’s what governments always say this time of year. But the case is being made for the poorest and most disadvantaged among us to get more support in the upcoming budget.

But is it true? And if it is, are there ways to repair the budget that would leave enough money to help raise people out of poverty?

Today, economist and CEO of the Grattan Institute, Danielle Wood, on how we can afford to raise the rate, and more ways to fix the budget.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Danielle Wood.

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This week, the way the government chooses to spend its money was put into sharp focus.

On Monday, it announced a bold new plan for military spending, but soon after, it found itself besieged by calls to raise the rate of JobSeeker – for Australians struggling with poverty.

So, why can we afford to spend money on one, but not the other? And is it a question that voters will start asking?

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Chris Wallace on the question that is turning up the heat on Anthony Albanese ahead of the budget.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Chris Wallace.

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Criticism of the Voice to Parliament from the conservative side of politics has ratcheted up ever since Peter Dutton’s decision to oppose it.

The main accusations are: the proposal for the Voice is coming from elites and not ‘regular’ Indigenous Australians, and it won’t achieve practical change.

Today, union organiser and member of the referendum working group, Thomas Mayo, on the loudest voices against the Voice.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Thomas Mayo.

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From settling the biggest payout in US libel history, to the abandoned defamation claim against Australian website Crikey – It’s been a tumultuous week in the courts for the Murdochs.

By avoiding open court, they have tried to draw a line under the furore around Fox News presenters’ claims the 2020 US election was stolen.

But will the Murdoch empire be able to move on? Will the Murdochs be forced to testify before a jury? And what does the Dominion settlement say about the strategy Fox News is taking under Lachlan?

Today, writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Paddy Manning, on why there was a last minute change of heart – to keep the Murdochs away from the stand.

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Guest: Author of The Successor, Paddy Manning.

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Something going on far above us, in orbit, might be doing more to shape the future of humanity than any events here on earth.

Up there is one of the most powerful tools humans have ever had to hunt for the origins of our universe – and for alien life.

The James Webb Space Telescope has the ability to look so far and with such clarity that we can get an insight into a period of time that our best scientists have only ever speculated about: the cosmic dark ages.

Today we revisit our conversation with the director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute at Swinburne University, Dr Alan Duffy, on why the last year marked a new beginning for our understanding of the universe.

This episode was first published on January 11, 2023.

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Guest: Director of the Space Technology and Institute at Swinburne University, Dr Alan Duffy

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He published secret documents that gave us damning insight into the West’s military conduct inIraq and Afghanistan, and for that Julian Assange will likely be extradited to the US to face charges that could add up to 175 years in prison.

In the last couple of weeks, Assange has received his first visit from an Australian high commissioner in London, and foreign minister Penny Wong is publicly saying that he has been locked up for far too long.

But is there more the Australian government could be doing? Or is this really a matter for the courts alone? And what are the limits of diplomacy?

Today, lawyer for Julian Assange Jennifer Robinson, fresh from meeting Penny Wong – on what this government still needs to do if it wants to free him.

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Guest: Human rights lawyer, Jennifer Robinson.

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Today on the show, writer Richard King, with his piece ‘Machine Learning’ about the AI chatbot ChatGPT.

He begins his story with discourse sweeping a university campus as AI reaches the hands of ordinary students and teachers.

How will this technology – still only a few months old – change not only teaching and marking, but the very nature of the transfer of knowledge?

This is the question he sets out to answer, and it’s a compelling one as we stand on the precipice of a new age of technology.

Richard will read his story from the latest edition of The Monthly after a short conversation.

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Guest: Writer Richard King.

Background Reading: Machine learning

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It’s independent of government, has enormous power over our lives and hasn’t been reformed in 25 years.

But yesterday, the Reserve Bank bowed to a scathing review and even Governor Philip Lowe conceded parts of the RBA had been out of step with modern expectations.

But will a new board of experts improve the way interest rates are set? Can workers have a seat at the table? And what does it mean for the future of Philip Lowe?

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on why the government took such bold action on the RBA, but won’t stop it inflicting more pain.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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