7am

Earlier this month, Peng Shuai, one of China’s most successful tennis stars posted a statement on social media, detailing allegations of sexual harassment levelled against a powerful Chinese politician. 

Half an hour later, the post, and her entire, feed disappeared. 

Then she did too. 

Today, Linda Jaivin, on what happened to one of China’s biggest sports stars.

Guest: Writer and author of The Shortest History of China, Linda Jaivin.

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One of the most interesting seasons of ‘The Bachelorette’ has just wrapped up. After a sustained drop in ratings, the show’s producers announced a big shift in the core mechanics of the show - Brooke Blurton was announced as this year’s Bachelorette making her both the first Indigenous and queer woman in the role, and for the first time, contestants would be a mix of men and women.

So did it work in injecting some new energy into what has become a pretty predictable and tired format? And are there lessons for the rest of Australia’s reality TV ecosystem, which has basically been unchanged for the past decade?

Joining The Culture this week is Patrick Lenton, the deputy arts editor at The Conversation and the co-author of ‘The Bachelorette’ recap newsletter ‘All the heterosexual nonsense I was forced to endure’. He helps us review this season of ‘The Bachelorette’, and discuss the future of reality TV in Australia.

Guest: Patrick Lenton, writer and Arts and Culture Deputy Editor at The Conversation.

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As the parliamentary year enters its final fortnight, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing a political crisis.

The Coalition government has fractured on a number of issues this week, most significantly in response to a bill introduced by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. 

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on why the Coalition is in chaos, and the political ramifications it will have for Scott Morrison.

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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As Australia wraps up its hotel quarantine program, one group of people will remain confined in hotel rooms indefinitely: people seeking asylum.

For the past year the Australian government has been forcibly detaining asylum seekers in an inner-city Melbourne hotel.

They have no access to fresh air and limited space to exercise.

Then Covid-19 hit. The virus spread rapidly through the building, infecting many who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated.

The outbreak has raised serious questions regarding the safety and treatment of those inside.

Today, 7am producer Elle Marsh on who is responsible for protecting the detainees, and why the government should have seen this outbreak coming.

Guest: Producer for 7am, Elle Marsh.

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On Tuesday, the NSW Parliament passed historic reforms to sexual consent laws.

During the parliamentary debate one MP thanked survivor and campaigner Saxon Mullins who kickstarted the campaign to change the law when she appeared on the ABC’s Four Corners program.

Now, similar laws are being introduced in Victoria, and advocates are calling for national reform.

Today, campaigner and contributor to The Saturday Paper Saxon Mullins, on the push to update Australia’s laws around sexual assault, and why it’s taking so long.

Guest: Campaigner and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Saxon Mullins.

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The Northern Territory managed to only record a handful of cases and avoided any deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic, but now the NT is on the brink of a public health crisis. 

An outbreak in the town of Katherine is spreading to remote communities across the territory.

And almost everyone who has tested positive so far is Indigenous.

Today, Labor Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy talks about her family who were some of the first people impacted by the current outbreak, and how a poor vaccination strategy combined with misinformation created the conditions for this impending crisis. 

Guest: Labor Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy.

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The COP26 climate summit in Glasgow was seen as the world’s ‘last best chance’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and avoid catastrophic climate change. 

On that measure it failed. The pledges made will instead see temperatures rise by nearly 2 degrees. 

Tim Flannery, one of Australia’s most well known environmentalists, had a front row seat at the negotiations and to what he describes as Australia’s ‘embarrassing’ contribution. 

Today, Tim Flannery on what unfolded at COP-26, and his hopes for the future.

Guest: Environmental scientist and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Tim Flannery. 

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Last week Taylor Swift re-released one of her most critically acclaimed albums, Red. The re-recording is the result of a complicated financial and legal battle over who owns the rights to the original versions of her songs.

Red (Taylor’s Version) features all of the songs on the original album, plus a bunch of new tracks and a 10 minute long version of her iconic song ‘All Too Well’, where she takes some pretty pointed shots at a very famous ex-boyfriend.

This week on The Culture, we’re joined by writer and musician Eilish Gilligan to talk about the new release of Red, how the Taylor’s Version project is transforming the music industry, and the unique relationship she has with her fans.

Guest: Eilish Gilligan, musician and writer.

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The federal Coalition government holds office by the barest of margins - just one seat. 

That means at the next election, due in the first half of next year, it can’t afford to lose any seats without risking a hung parliament.

Now, a popular and high profile Liberal incumbent has announced he won’t be recontesting his electorate, throwing the party’s election preparations into jeopardy.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on why the Liberal MP abandoning Scott Morrison thinks Anthony Albanese might be a better Prime Minister for the country.

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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Everyday for the past week hundreds of protesters have camped outside the Victorian Parliament, protesting a new bill that would extend the state’s public health orders, the tools used to combat the pandemic.

Some of the protesters are far-right extremists, who have threatened violence against politicians and brought nooses to the steps of the parliament. 

But opposition to the government’s proposed pandemic bill isn’t only coming from the far-right. It’s also been criticised by civil libertarians and human rights lawyers.

Today, outgoing President of Liberty Victoria, Julia Kretzenbacher on what the pandemic bill is really about, and why it sparked such an intense backlash.

Guest: Julia Kretzenbacher, outgoing President of Liberty Victoria.

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