In a court case earlier this year, an art installation at Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art that was designed to playfully poke at the historic and ongoing disadvantages faced by women was found to be discriminatory.

MONA’s Ladies Lounge was a small, private room within the museum, bordered by silk green curtains and open only to those who identify as “ladies”.

MONA is appealing the decision, arguing that men weren’t being rejected from the lounge, but rather their rejection was an experience of the artwork itself.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Gabriella Coslovich on the Ladies Lounge saga, and what happens when discrimination is the entire point.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Gabriella Coslovich.

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As a child refugee in India, Harini dreamt of making it to Australia to study medicine and become a doctor.

She arrived in Australia in 2013 when she was 10 years old, leaving behind her two siblings and mother.

Harini did not realise her visa status made her different to her classmates until she received a university offer for a biomedical science degree that required her to pay international student fees of nearly $100,000.

After attempting to self-fund her studies and falling a year behind in payments, the university disenrolled Harini in 2023 – four months before she was set to complete her degree.

Today, Harini Rathnakumar on how her promise of a better life in Australia was shattered, and the many others stuck in visa limbo.

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Guest: Harini Rathnakumar

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When Bill Shorten finally gave up his hopes of ever becoming prime minister, one door closed and another, much more lucrative, door opened. 

In his new role as vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra, he could earn up to three times as much as the PM. 

His appointment comes amid a fight about the exorbitant salaries Australian vice-chancellors receive and as his government's new cap on international students raises big questions about funding shortfalls in higher education. 

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on how much vice-chancellors earn and how they justify it. 

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Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe

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When Jim Chalmers said that interest rate hikes were “smashing the economy” he was either stating the obvious or starting a war, depending on who you ask.

For weeks – in question time and in the news – a picture has been forming of an aggrieved treasurer, angry at the governor of the Reserve Bank. At the same time, senior unnamed Labor insiders have called Michelle Bullock a “nutter” and the RBA board “weirdos”.

But behind the apparent breakdown between the government and the Reserve Bank, there’s a much more bitter feud going on: between Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor, who has recently walked away from a bipartisan plan to fix the Reserve Bank.

Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on how the deal unravelled and what it means for the future of the Reserve Bank.

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Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis

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The militia movement in the United States has a long and bloody history. 

In the aftermath of January 6, it was buoyed by Donald Trump’s praise of those who attacked the Capitol, and the numbers of people wanting to join militia groups grew. With a resurgence in numbers, militia groups are now patrolling the US-Mexico border, forming bonds with active duty police and military and trying to influence the midterm elections.

With the presidential election fast approaching, investigative reporter for ProPublica Joshua Kaplan has gained rare access to the secretive world of one militia, American Patriots Three Percent, to find out how they are preparing for the election and what will happen if Donald Trump loses.

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Guest: Investigative reporter for ProPublica Josh Kaplan 

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Star investigative journalist Louise Milligan has spent her career working on some of the most high-profile criminal cases in Australia. This incredible breadth of experience informs her first novel Pheasant’s Nest, which follows the abduction of a young journalist and provides a unique insight into the media, policing and politics that surround a crime like this. On this episode of Read This, Michael sits down with Louise to discuss the leap from reporting to fiction and why writing this book was a kind of therapy.

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When former inmate Daniel Vansetten heard about the idea of a national newspaper, produced for prisoners and by prisoners, he jumped at the opportunity to be involved.

He says the incarceration system in Australia can be an information black hole and About Time intends to rectify that.

The free paper is available to approximately 21,000 prisoners in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT.

It’s tailored to prison life, and with the ambition to shift information in and out of prisons, hopes to create a community among incarcerated peoples.

Today, contributor to About Time Daniel Vansetten and the paper’s managing director Rosie Heselev on giving prisoners a voice and the empathy they hope it will inspire.

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Guest: Contributor to About Time Daniel Vansetten and managing director of About Time Rosie Heselev.

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The United States presidential campaign so far has largely been based on fashioning public perceptions: with the Democrats painting Donald Trump as a threat to democracy, and Republicans calling Kamala Harris a radical Marxist who will destroy America.

And with the election just around the corner, their first and possibly only debate was a chance to tell Americans about their visions for the country.

So with most polls showing both candidates at a dead heat, did we learn anything about what they’re actually offering voters? 

Today, senior researcher at The Australia Institute Dr Emma Shortis, on who came out on top of the US presidential debate, and whether it was enough to make a difference.

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Guest: Senior researcher at The Australia Institute, Dr Emma Shortis

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Peter Dutton’s first major promise when he became opposition leader was to build nuclear power plants.

It was a curious idea with no cost attached and and without much community support, according to polling. 

Now, the Labor government has signalled it wants the next election to be fought on the viability of these plants, with the release of a new attack ad focusing on how expensive nuclear power would be.

Beyond the cost, questions remain about the legality and safety of nuclear power in Australia.

Today, emeritus professor and former head of the School of Science at Griffith University Ian Lowe fact checks Peter Dutton’s nuclear promise.

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Guest: Emeritus professor and former head of the School of Science at Griffith University Ian Lowe 

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Politics was changed at the last election in a way the major parties are still grappling with.

Now, the record crossbench it delivered looks set to grow even more, with a hung parliament looking ever more likely.

In the lead up to the next election, Labor is courting the teals, knowing the relationship could be crucial to forming government and keeping Coalition MPs out of inner-city seats.

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Barlow, on Labor’s plan and the fight that could derail it. 

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

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