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It’s been almost a decade since Jacqui Lambie dramatically quit the Palmer United Party.  

Since then, she’s become a political force in Canberra and in her home state of Tasmania as the leader of the Jacqui Lambie Network. 

At the last federal election, Lambie’s longtime staffer Tammy Tyrrell won a senate spot – and at the last Tasmanian election, just a few months ago, the party won three seats.

But now, the JLN is imploding, after Tyrrell resigned and two of the three Tasmanian MPs were sacked.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the allegations Lambie spied on her colleagues and why she hasn’t been able to hold the party together.

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

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Writer, artist, and filmmaker Miranda July has a devoted – even rabid – following, through her writing, her work on the screen, and her collaborative art projects. On this episode of Read This, she and Michael discuss her new novel, All Fours, which explores desire, intimacy, dance, and an often overlooked part of the ageing process.

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The most damaging controversy the Indigenous art sector has experienced in years started with a video.

The Ngura Pulka exhibition was set to open in June last year, featuring 28 new paintings by three generations of Aṉangu artists represented by the APY Art Centre Collective in South Australia.

The footage shows white studio assistants working on canvases from an APY Lands artist, which became the linchpin for a vicious media campaign and provoked a series of investigations.

Today, art curator Bruce Johnson McLean and reporter and contributor to The Saturday Paper Gabriella Coslovich on the APY art scandal and the complicated question of authenticity in the Aboriginal art world.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Gabriella Coslovich.

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It’s been a tough few weeks for Jim Beyer, the CEO of Australia’s third largest goldmining company, Regis Resources.

The multi-billion dollar McPhillamy goldmine in NSW had been through all the approvals processes, but at the last minute, Beyer had to tell investors that it likely won’t go ahead.

The announcement comes after an intervention from the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, on behalf of a group of traditional owners.

The resources industry, the Coalition and conservative parts of the media are all furious, with some claiming that cultural heritage laws are being “hijacked” by green groups.

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on Tanya Plibersek, the goldmine, and who should get a say when it comes to approving mining projects.

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

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Jess Hill hasn’t been sleeping much lately. For the past three months, she’s been working on a plan to try to end violence against women and children. 

Now, that plan is out. The rapid review looks beyond the education campaigns that we have come to understand as domestic violence prevention and calls for a complete overhaul to the way the government responds to men killing women. 

Today, journalist and co-author of the rapid review Jess Hill on what’s in the report and whether we’re going to see any change in the national plan to end gendered violence.

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Guest: Author of See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse and co-author of the rapid review Jess Hill.

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It was the biggest escalation between Hezbollah and Israel since October 7.

On Sunday, Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel while Israel said it hit more than 40 targets in Lebanon – and isn’t done yet.

The attacks come as talks of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel continue with no sign of an outcome. 

Today, world editor of The Saturday Paper and editor of Australian Foreign Affairs Jonathan Pearlman on whether the Middle East is headed for all-out war. 

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Guest: World editor of The Saturday Paper and editor of Australian Foreign Affairs, Jonathan Pearlman

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After the resounding defeat of last year’s referendum on the Voice to Parliament, the path towards Truth and Treaty has appeared to be on shaky ground.

But history has been made in Victoria, with the state’s Indigenous representative body formally confirming it is ready to negotiate with the government on a state-wide treaty.

The process is being led by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, an elected body representing Victoria’s traditional owners and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the state.

Today, co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Ngarra Murray, on how this moment was reached, and how instructive it will be for the rest of the country as it grapples with what happens next.

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Guest: Co-chair of the First People’s Assembly of Victoria, Ngarra Murray

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Roxane Gay is a prominent American author, professor, and cultural critic known for her unflinching honesty, quick wit, and razor-sharp intellect. She has gained acclaim for her essays, fiction, and memoirs that explore identity, gender, race, and body image. This week on Read This, Roxane joins Michael for a conversation about what it means to be a public intellectual and how this has shifted throughout her career.

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The ABC’s Managing Director David Anderson announced his shock resignation yesterday afternoon, after being reappointed for his second term in the role late last year. Anderson said stepping down was “the right time for me and the right time for the ABC”. 

The decision comes just months after Kim Williams took up his new role as chair with big plans for renewal inside the ABC. Today, ABC veteran Jon Faine on what this means for the future of the national broadcaster and who might be next in the Managing Director’s seat. 

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Guest: ABC veteran Jon Faine

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In 2022, Elon Musk said Donald Trump was “too old” to be president, and Donald Trump called Musk a “bullshit artist”.

In the relatively short time since, Elon Musk has endorsed the former president and offered him some free publicity by interviewing Trump on his website X.

It’s now been revealed that Elon Musk has also been working behind the scenes to fundraise for Trump’ presidential campaign for months, raising millions of dollars while going to great lengths to keep his involvement secret.

Today, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power Dana Mattioli, on the political transformation of Elon Musk and what she uncovered about his secret plans to return Trump to the White House.

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Guest: Wall Street Journal reporter, Dana Mattioli.

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