7am

29 women have been killed in Australia so far this year - most allegedly by their intimate partner. Their names sometimes hit the headlines, but often not. And even then, the outrage seldom lasts. 

We’ve known for a long time that Australia has a problem with violence against women. Little seems to work to change the statistics. For some advocates - a Royal Commission is the only chance at making a difference. 

A petition calling for that - now sits at more than 110-thousand signatures. 

Today, writer and advocate Jess Hill on whether it will ever happen, and what it could achieve, if it did. 

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Writer and advocate, Jess Hill

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For decades Pauline Hanson has been on the fringe of politics. Sometimes mocked, often ignored, occasionally courted.
 
Even from that position she’s been influential: her presence can be felt in our immigration policies, dating back to Howard. 

But her power and her popularity have never been greater than they are today. A recent poll has one Nation as the most popular party in the country, surpassing Labor in primary support. 

So just how possible is an Australia governed by One Nation? 

Today, host of The Conversation’s The Making of One Nation podcast, Ashlynne McGhee, on the party’s popularity and what it will try to do with it. 

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

And you can check out The Making of One Nation podcast here 

 

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Guest: Making One Nation podcast host, Ashlynne McGhee

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Five years on from COVID, a new report has found the world is even more vulnerable to new pandemics than it was before. 

The report, by a body linked to the World Health Organisation, has been released as the world grapples with Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks, as well as one of Australia's worst diphtheria outbreaks on record.

The report found that, despite advances in vaccines and diagnostics, climate change, armed conflict and misinformation are undermining global preparedness.

Today, Professor Sharon Lewin from the Doherty Institute, on the risk of a large-scale disease outbreak and what we should be doing to prepare for it. 

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Doherty Institute Director, Professor Sharon Lewin

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The world is facing a series of large-scale crises – war, declining democracy, climate catastrophe. 

So, is it all a sign that our civilisation is reaching its limits – and that our economic and political systems are nearing collapse?

That’s the question Australian author Sarah Wilson has been interrogating for the last three years for her new book, ‘I Eat The Stars’.

Today, writer Sarah Wilson on what happens when the systems that hold us together begin to fray all at once – and what the future looks like after civilisational collapse. 

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Author Sarah Wilson

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One year ago this week, a 24-year-old Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White, died after being restrained by police inside a supermarket in Alice Springs.

This week, his family was told the officers involved will not face charges. The coronial investigation is still underway, with another directions hearing expected next month.

Kumanjayi White’s grandfather – Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves – had already spent years calling for accountability after the death of another young Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi Walker, who was shot and killed by NT police officer Zachary Rolfe in 2019.

For Jampijinpa Hargraves, the deaths of Kumanjayi Walker and Kumanjayi White are part of the same crisis: Aboriginal people living under a system that does not make them safe.

Today, Jampijinpa Hargraves, on life under the watch of police, the pressure of systems that were never made to protect his people – and what real safety would look like.

This episode originally aired in May, 2025.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Warlpiri elder Jampijinpa ‘Ned’ Hargraves.

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Well, the budget blowback is showing no signs of easing but this week the government doubled down, introducing the legislation for its tax changes to parliament. Albeit with the detail around CGT still TBC and with an inbuilt political booby trap for the Coalition.

At the same time, Pauline Hanson is floating her own negative gearing model - as One Nation surges in the polls.

And while Labor and the Coalition wrestle with how to fend off Hanson’s rise - the Teals are mulling a plan of their own - a teal party combining the power of Independents like David Pocock, Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender. But are they really better together? 

Today, political editor at news.com.au Sam Maiden on Albo’s budget resolve, Pauline’s proposal, and teal party power.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Political editor at news.com.au Sam Maiden

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Paul Brereton – the outgoing head of Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission – was grilled at Senate estimates this week.

Brereton’s time leading the body charged with investigating serious corruption in the Commonwealth public sector has ended in a crisis of confidence – over Robodebt, his ongoing Defence links, and whether the watchdog properly managed conflicts of interest.

Brereton says he has become a distraction from the commission’s work. But his resignation raises the question: do the NACC’s problems end with him?

Today, independent journalist Nick Feik, on how Australia’s anti-corruption watchdog ended up in crisis – and whether it can recover.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Independent journalist Nick Feik

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Guest host Waleed Aly joins the 7am team as the US launches fresh strikes inside Iran, in the middle of a ceasefire.

Days earlier, Donald Trump had said an agreement to end the war was close. Now Iran is threatening to retaliate, amid fears the conflict could escalate again.

And while Trump insists peace talks are still “proceeding nicely”, he has raised the stakes for negotiators – trying to turn a narrow deal over Iran, Hormuz and sanctions into something much bigger: an expansion of the Abraham Accords, normalising relations between Israel and more countries in the region.

Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on the fragile ceasefire, Trump’s bigger gamble, and who will blink first in the standoff between America and Iran.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom

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For most of us, facing court with no lawyer and no legal advice in a case that could change the course of your life would be unthinkable.

But that’s the situation currently facing dozens of defendants in the Northern Territory – many of them disadvantaged or with English as their second or third language, some just children – all being forced to go it alone in a legal system most adults would struggle to navigate.

Lawyer Clancy Dane says a shortage of legal aid, exacerbated by the state government’s tough-on-crime agenda, is leaving vulnerable people without the right to a fair trial. Now, he’s fighting to change that. 

Today, Territory Criminal Lawyers principal Clancy Dane, on what he says is the worst legal aid crisis the country has ever seen.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Territory Criminal Lawyers principal, Clancy Dane

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This week, seven Australians returned home after being detained by Israel.

They had been part of the Global Sumud Flotilla – more than 400 activists from 56 countries trying to reach Gaza by sea, carrying food and medicine.

Four days after they set sail from Turkiye, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters and took the passengers to Israel.

Then Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, released footage of detainees bound on the ground, as he stood over them and taunted them.

Israel says the operation was lawful and that no one was harmed. But the Australians who have now returned say they were beaten, humiliated, denied food and water, and held for almost 80 hours.

Today, in part one of a two-part episode, filmmaker and flotilla participant Juliet Lamont on what she says happened from the moment Israeli forces reached her boat.

7am has contacted the Israeli embassy for comment.

And a warning, this episode contains reference to sexual assault.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

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Guest: Flotilla activist, Juliet Lamont

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