Yesterday, Labor’s emergency legislation on immigration detention was slammed by crossbenchers and the Greens as a “race to the bottom” on the way governments treat asylum seekers.

But in the lead up to that move, criticisms that Labor is trying to be tougher than the Coalition on immigration laws have been growing louder. 

So, why is Labor intent on being known for its hardline border policy?

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on whether Labor is attempting to one up Peter Dutton on immigration. 

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Guest: national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe

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If a child experiences a complex mental health condition like psychosis, everyone would agree that someone at such a young age needs careful and considered care. If drugs are prescribed, the benefits must outweigh the risks. 

But there are fears that isn’t always happening, and that growing demand for mental healthcare means the people who need the most specific treatment aren’t always getting it.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper and author of The One Thing We’ve Never Spoken About, Elfy Scott, on how mental health care for young people is becoming an issue of equality.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper and author of ‘The One Thing We’ve Never Spoken About’, Elfy Scott

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An Australian court once ruled that the federal government has a duty of care to young people, to protect them from harm the climate crisis will inflict during their lifetimes.

That decision was overturned on appeal, but today there’s an inquiry looking into how that responsibility could be enshrined in law via the parliament.

It’ss been a long journey for the young woman who first brought that case against the federal Environment minister – something she did while still in high school.

Today, climate activist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Anjali Sharma, on her campaign to legislate a duty of care and taking the fight to Parliament House.

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Guest: Climate activist and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Anjali Sharma

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On the Las Vegas strip, in a sea of casinos, sits an enormous dome that lights up the sky.

It’s called The Sphere and it’s a performance venue where punters are dazzled by 54 thousand metres of LED screens capable of showing 256 million colours, in a display so overwhelming that some concertgoers faint. 

Writer Elmo Keep travelled to Vegas to see her favourite band U2 play at The Sphere in their inaugurating residency. There she found in equal parts, a religious experience and a hyper capitalist nightmare.  

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Guest: Writer, Elmo Keep

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There are laws in Australia that desperately need to be overhauled and amended for the modern era..

But even with almost universal agreement that these laws need to be updated, the challenge is to get our politicians to agree on how to rewrite them.

This is exactly the situation we find ourselves in on reforms to religious discrimination – which still protects religious schools' right to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students and teachers.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on how today’s parliament is failing to break a decade of political gridlock.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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The Coalition is going all in on nuclear power. The opposition’s vision for Australia’s future puts the technology front and centre, despite experts’ concerns about its costs, risks and impracticalities.

So, is there more to it than first appears? Have the Coalition found the answers to making nuclear work in Australia?

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe, on the real reason why the Coalition is going after nuclear, and the factional warfare simmering underneath.

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Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe

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When starting out at university, it’s normal to want to meet new friends and establish a community. 

But for some young Australians, that formative time has led them down the path of a secretive and extreme religious sect that some former members describe as exerting “mind control” and taking over their lives. 

So, who’s behind this group? And how are Australians being impacted?

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Aleisha Orr, on the story of Nathan and what he describes as a “doomsday cult” that changed his life. 

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Aleisha Orr

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The gender pay gap in Australia is well documented, with data on the difference between men’s and women’s wages more detailed and comprehensive than ever.

But we haven’t always been on a course for greater transparency. Almost a decade ago, the Coalition government attempted to dismantle open reporting on the gender pay gap.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Kristine Ziwica, on how Australia almost took its eye off the gender pay gap.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Kristine Ziwica

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Peter Dutton is a lot of things: a right-wing firebrand, a former Queensland cop and a champion of what he believes are simple Australian values. But he’s also a multi-millionaire who colleagues describe as pleasant, shy, but fiercely ambitious.

Lech Blaine spent months studying Peter Dutton’s past and political ascendency to discover who the leader of the opposition really is and what’s underneath his “bad cop” exterior.

Today, the author of the latest Quarterly Essay: Bad Cop, Lech Blaine, on what’s driving Peter Dutton’s strongman politics.

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Guest: Author of the latest Quarterly Essay, Lech Blaine

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Coles and Woolworths are in the sights of a Senate inquiry, which has been hearing evidence across Australia this week.

It’s looking into whether prices are set fairly and what could be done to make them more reasonable.

While that was underway, one of parliament's most colourful characters stole the show. Bob Katter has been ratcheting up a campaign of high-profile stunts to force the major parties to crackdown on supermarkets.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on Bob Katter’s contradictions and how the crossbench could force the major parties to get tougher on the big two supermarkets.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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