Ben Roberts-Smith dined with prime ministers, attended the Queen’s funeral as a hero and was held up as an icon of the Australian Defense Force. In fact, a huge portrait of him still hangs in the Australian War Memorial today.

But now, a court has found that allegations Ben Roberts-Smith is a murderer, a war criminal and a bully who disgraced his country have been proven.

Today, Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper and author of ‘An Unwinnable War’, Karen Middleton on how the truth about Ben Roberts-Smith was proven and what it means for the legacy of Australian action in Afghanistan.

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Guest: Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper and author of The Unwinnable War, Karen Middleton.

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To mark the 200th edition of The Monthly, the editor of the magazine, Michael Williams, joins us – to read a piece by the late-Mungo Maccallum from the debut issue nearly 20 years ago.

Mungo was a totally unique character of Australian journalism – once described by Gough Whitlam a "tall, bearded descendant of lunatic aristocrats" – he could deftly bounce from the funny and odd to the great stories and issues of our times.

We very much hope you enjoy us revisiting his first essay for The Monthly: ‘From nation to now’

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Anthony Albanese says politicians are running around Canberra claiming the sky is falling.

“Chicken littles”, he’s calling them, doomsayers trying to whip up unfounded fears about the Voice.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has reacted as if the reference to the old folk tale is a deeply insulting slur, but it’s hardly the most charged language that’s been used by one of our politicians in recent weeks.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the latest political skirmish – and whether WA premier Mark McGowan’s resignation is a sign the sky really is falling

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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Anthony Albanese’s government faces significant challenges – looming climate disaster, a widening wealth gap and international security concerns. 

But a year after the election, it’s hard to judge how it will respond to these circumstances. Albanese promises a bold reformist agenda, but the government often appears cautious and slow in its delivery.

Anthony Albanese himself comes from the left of the party, but opponents like the Greens have called his government ‘centre-right’.

Today, contributor to The Monthly Sean Kelly, on trying to pin down the real intentions of the Albanese government.Socials:

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Guest: Contributor to The Monthly and former adviser to Labor prime ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, Sean Kelly.

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When Australia’s most high-profile Indigenous journalist was forced to step away from his role because of racist abuse – it made headlines around the world. 

But here in Australia, most of the media and our political leaders have struggled to comprehend the meaning of the moment – and appear to be trapped in a cycle of well-wishes, apologies and outright denial instead of taking action.

Today, Yorta Yorta writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Daniel James, on whether Australia is mature enough to have a national conversation about racism and justice for Indigenous people.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Daniel James

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The police officer who allegedly Tasered 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland reportedly said three words before firing: “No, bugger it”.

He will now face court, where we will learn more about what led up to the incident and what contributed to Nowland’s death.

But the biggest question is how the police ended up confronting an elderly person in aged care, who was distressed and in need of help.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on the systemic failures that surround the death of Clare Nowland.

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

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Everyone knows we have a housing crisis – rents are spiralling, homelessness is growing and more and more of our income is going towards keeping a roof over our heads.

But did you know that on any given night more than a million homes in Australia sit empty? That’s more than 10 per cent of Australia’s housing stock.

The shortage is not in homes, but in affordable homes.

Today, National correspondent at The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, on how Australia lost its way on housing – and why the current plan only addresses one part of the problem.

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Guest: National correspondent at The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe

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This week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stood to address parliament on the bill that will allow a referendum on the Voice to parliament.

What he said in that speech has alarmed many, and at least one spokesperson for the Voice said Dutton’s words have been echoed in the abuse he’s received from racist opponents online.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on what Dutton’s rhetoric will do to the debate on the Voice. 

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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The very people who were meant to be closing loopholes in the Australian tax system have been using that information to advise their big corporate clients.

The scandal engulfing PwC is one of the biggest to ever hit the cosy relationship between the government and private consultancy firms.

And it goes beyond a few bad actors – pointing to a broken system, and a demoralised public service. 

Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray, on what happened when the Australian government trusted PwC to fix our tax system.

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

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There’s been a delay in the release of what could be the most explosive findings from a royal commission in decades.

The commissioner of the robo-debt investigation quietly wrote to the attorney general to request a delay in the publication of its final report.

But this is no mere bureaucratic hold-up, there are other reasons behind it. And one of them has to do with when Australia’s new National Anti-Corruption Commission will be ready to receive referrals.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on how robo-debt could become one of the first topics for the brand new integrity watchdog.

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

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