Australia’s offshore processing facility on Nauru now sits empty.

 The detention centre has been a feature of Nauru’s identity for over a decade, but now we’re learning extraordinary details about how millions of Australian taxpayer dollars were spent in questionable deals to keep the facility running.

Last week, the focus turned to the then-Home Affairs minister, Peter Dutton, who awarded a lucrative contract to a businessman who had been accused of bribing Nauruan government officials. 

Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray, on what impact Australia has really had on Nauru and whether we’ve spent a fortune to make a tiny island nation worse off.

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Guest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper, Martin McKenzie-Murray.

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Australians love to heat their homes and cook their meals with gas, but its future in our households has a limit. 

Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews has taken a big step in phasing out gas by banning it in new homes from January 1, 2024.

But the announcement provoked anger and outrage among conservative commentators, and some members of the public, who insist gas is best.

So, does Australia have any hope of reaching net zero if our kitchen stoves have become politicised? 

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on how gas in the home became a new front in the culture wars.

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Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.

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Australian housing is in crisis – the country doesn’t have enough affordable homes for the growing number of people who need them.

This week, the Albanese government will begin its second attempt to pass its key housing policy.

The bill is being reintroduced to parliament unchanged, but will need the Greens’ support. All signs point to a political stalemate.

Today, contributing editor of The Politics and The Monthly online Rachel Withers, on an idea to fix the housing crisis that’s gaining traction and why it could break through the paralysis in Canberra.

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Guest: Contributing editor of The Politics, Rachel Withers.

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Today, author Don Watson will be reading his piece from the June issue of The Monthly, reflecting on WW2 ace pilot Sir Douglas Bader.

Bader was a remarkable Royal Air Force pilot in the second world war. Brazen and courageous, he managed to escape death countless times, scored dozens of victories, and was even redeployed as a pilot after having both legs amputated.

However, in the words of Don Watson, Sir Douglas Bader was also a bit of a ‘stinker’, and an ‘unreconstructed racist’. Yes, it turns out Bader is a classic 20th century hero, who is ripe for a classic 21st century cancellation. 

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Guest: Author Don Watson

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The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has a new pet project. He is reinventing, and possibly destroying, the site formerly known as Twitter.

Now known simply as X, the iconic blue bird logo is no more. But Musk’s rebrand isn’t purely for aesthetics. It's the beginning of the billionaire’s vision to create a ubiquitous ‘everything app’ of the future. 

Could this ambitious plan to centralise communication, shopping, banking and social media be brazen enough to work? Or will x.com be an expensive mistake? 

Today, Reuters financial journalist and long-time watcher of Elon Musk’s business empire, Antony Currie, on Elon’s plan to disrupt the global financial system. 

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Guest: Financial journalist and editor at Reuters Breakingviews, Antony Currie.

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Environmental groups such as the World Wildlife Fund and the Australian Conservation Foundation are some of the biggest recipients of donations from Australians who want to make a difference for the planet.

But increasingly the biggest groups are working with the government and corporate Australia – instead of resisting them.

What does that shift mean? Will it help or hinder the fight against climate change? And what does it mean for the future of environmentalism?

Today, writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Ben Abbatangelo on why the environmental movement is divided – at a time when we need it most.

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Guest: Writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Ben Abbatangelo and former leader of the Australian Greens, Christine Milne.

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Who would axe a campaign to promote consent on university campuses?

We know that sexual assault of students is an enormous problem, and a national campaign designed by experts is exactly the kind of thing you’d expect to be part of the solution.

Well, not if you’re one of the university vice-chancellors who put a stop to it.

Today, journalist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Kristine Ziwica reveals why a vocal minority killed a new push to make universities safer – to the surprise of experts involved.

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Guest: Journalist Kristine Ziwica

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In recent days, there has been speculation over whether the government should abandon the referendum and instead legislate the Voice through parliament.

Campaigners say legislating the Voice – rather than enshrining it in the constitution – would weaken its standing and risks repeating mistakes of the past. 

Today, business leader and author of the new book ‘On The Voice to Parliament’, Nyikina man Charles Prouse, on cutting through the noise of the campaign and why he still believes in the power of a referendum.

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Guest: Author of the new book ‘On The Voice to Parliament’, Charles Prouse.

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It started with PwC, but now accusations are being levelled at the other big consultancy firms in Australia.

Over the last 10 years, more and more government decision-making has been outsourced to multi-billion dollar firms in lucrative contracts. 

Now, the firms’ relationships with government and their level of influence are under close scrutiny in Canberra. 

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton on the big four consultancies – and why one contract between Deloitte and the Home Affairs department had to be terminated.

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

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Anthony Albanese concedes support for the Voice to Parliament has slipped.

Polls taken around this time last year showed more than 60 per cent of respondents in favour of the Voice. Now, it’s as low as 41 per cent. 

Each side of the debate has just published their official argument for voting ‘yes’ or ‘no’, which will be posted to every Australian household ahead of the referendum. 

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on the official cases and why Anthony Albanese is feeling the need to go on a media blitz.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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