7am

Scott Morrison is waging a war on two fronts this week. He’s locked in a battle with state governments to reopen borders, and he’s increasingly blaming the Victorian government for the severity of the state’s second wave. Today, Paul Bongiorno on the growing political divide across the country.

 Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno.

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As coronavirus transforms the country before our eyes, cultural institutions are trying to record what is happening in real time, as part of a movement towards constructing ‘social histories’. But, as Lauren Carroll Harris reports, Australian museums are hampered by a lack of a national vision for how to conduct arts and culture in the country. 

Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Lauren Carroll Harris.

Background reading:

Museums collecting Covid-19 objects in The Saturday Paper

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Inheritance taxes are a feature of most advanced economies, including the UK and the US. But in Australia they haven’t been levied for 40 years, and their abolition has contributed to growing inequality in the country. Today, James Boyce on why now is the right time to restart the conversation on death taxes.

Guest: Author and contributor to The Saturday Paper James Boyce.

Background reading: The case for a death tax in The Saturday Paper

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After lobbying from the Murdoch press and Nine newspapers, the government is trying to force Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. The tech giants have responded by threatening to stop sharing news from Australian outlets. Today, Mike Seccombe on the battle that will shape the future of media in this country.

Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.

Background reading: The next fight with Google and Facebook in The Saturday Paper

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A federal court has been re-examining controversial psychiatric treatments used in a Sydney hospital in the 1960s. The treatments drew the attention of the Church of Scientology, and led to a Royal Commission. Today, Lane Sainty on what happened at Chelmsford, and the journalist caught in the middle 30 years on.

Guest: Contributor for The Monthly Lane Sainty.

Background reading:

Chelmsford revisited in The Monthly

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To celebrate 300 episodes, we produced a special, behind-the-scenes feature on how we make 7am. We followed host Ruby Jones and senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton as they put together an episode on the crisis in aged care.

Guest: Host Ruby Jones and senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.

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The Treasurer Josh Frydenberg started this week by launching an extraordinary attack on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, and ended it by presiding over the biggest fall in economic activity in decades. Today, Paul Bongiorno on Australia’s economic predicament and who’s really to blame.

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno.

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Serious allegations of branch stacking and factional warfare have engulfed both major parties in recent months, and the latest example even implicates senior federal ministers. Today, Mike Seccombe on why branch stacking has become more common, and how it’s influencing key policies.

Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.

Background reading:

How branch stacking drags policy to the right in The Saturday Paper

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As Australia grapples with an unemployment crisis corporate job agencies are benefiting from a boom in government payments. Some agencies are also being accused of pressuring those looking for work into face-to-face appointments during a pandemic. Today, Rick Morton on who is profiting from Australia’s unemployment industry. 

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

Background reading:

Exclusive: Jobactive virus kickbacks top $500 million in The Saturday Paper

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For months the prime minister has been projecting a return to normality. But it’s become increasingly clear the world around us has fundamentally changed. What kind of Australia is waiting for us on the other side of the pandemic? Today, Sean Kelly on the type of society Scott Morrison envisions, and what might lie ahead. 

Guest: Contributor to The Monthly Sean Kelly.

Background reading:

Snapback in The Monthly

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