When the Taliban retook Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s embassy in Canberra stayed open.

It’s an embassy in exile – staffed by diplomats from the former administration – and advocating on behalf of Afghans here in Australia.

Until now, there have been 17 embassies of its kind around the world – in countries that don’t formally recognise the Taliban.

But recently, Germany decided to expel its embassy’s exiled staff and instead invite representatives of the Taliban regime. 

Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton on diplomacy in exile – and life under the Taliban for the people of Afghanistan.

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Guest: Press gallery journalist Karen Middleton 

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

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Melbourne photojournalist Alex Zucco was cleaning her camera lens when a police officer hit her directly in the face with a stream of capsicum spray at a protest outside the Melbourne Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition last year.

In July this year, a police officer allegedly punched former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas in the face at a pro-Palestine rally, seriously injuring her eye.

Lawyers and activists say these incidents fit a pattern of increased police force against protesters –  including so-called ‘less-lethal’ tools such as baton rounds, flash-bang devices and capsicum spray.

Today, journalist and author Ariel Bogle on how decades of restricting the right to protest have created a permissive environment for the use of force by police.

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Guest: Journalist and author, Ariel Bogle

Photo: Alex Zucco / SOPA Images/Sipa USA

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In the 1970s, eight children in Perth were sent to a psychiatric hospital to be ‘treated’ for being transgender. Their experiences became the basis of a medical study that claimed kids could be cured of their identity.

Now, nearly forty years after it was released, that same study is being cited in arguments against trans healthcare and being used to shape policy and law.

Today, Walkley Award-winning journalist and founding editor of ABC Queer, Mon Schafter, on how a forgotten experiment from another era is still influencing the culture war over trans healthcare.

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Guest: Walkley Award-winning journalist and founding editor of ABC Queer, Mon Schafter

Photo: Supplied: Jayne McFadyen

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Recently, Spotify’s founder, Daniel Ek, announced he’s stepping back from running the company.

He leaves as one of the richest men in his home country of Sweden – with Forbes estimating his wealth at $9.6 billion.

In a departure note to staff, Ek said he wants to focus on creating more European “supercompanies” – companies he described as “developing new technologies to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time”.

The move comes months after Ek’s involvement in the global defence industry was revealed, prompting an artist backlash, with some pulling their music from the platform.

Today, we’re bringing you an episode we recorded in July with author and journalist Liz Pelly, which exposes Ek’s investments in AI-based military technology and Spotify’s embrace of AI in music.

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Guest: Author and journalist Liz Pelly 

Photo: Janerik Henriksson, TT News Agency, File

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Labor is trying to land one of its toughest reforms – an overhaul of Australia’s environmental laws. 

Environment Minister Murray Watt says he wants to speed up housing and energy project developments, make it clear where construction can and can’t go ahead, and create a federal environment watchdog.

After a failed deal with the Greens in the last parliament, Labor is now dealing with the Coalition.

So what will that mean for the environment?

Today, contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remeikis – on Labor’s wheeling and dealing – and the Coalition’s continued identity crisis.

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Guest: Contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remeikis

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Almost two years to the day since October 7, Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

The agreement involves the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, with Israel pulling back its troops to an agreed-upon line and allowing aid into Gaza.

The first hostages are expected to be released as soon as this weekend. 

Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on the negotiations that got us here – and what the future of Gaza looks like. 

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Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom 

Photo: Lenin Nolly/Sipa USA

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Anthony Albanese was first elected on a pledge to fix the climate wars.

The most recent test of that promise was the emissions targets he announced on the world stage.

But if the targets themselves don’t meet the standards set by scientists – and the policy underpinning them hasn’t dramatically altered – what’s really going to change?

Today, journalist Nick Feik on the inadequacies in the government’s climate policy – and how the media has allowed a political narrative to overshadow the reality of the climate crisis.

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Guest: Journalist, Nick Feik.

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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The government says it wants to make it easier for Australians to buy a home. Its latest expansion of the five per cent deposit scheme means almost anyone, regardless of income, can now buy a home with a fraction of the usual savings required for a deposit. 

It is the boldest version yet of a policy first introduced under the Morrison government. 

But behind the promise of affordability is a political calculation: there are far more votes to be won from rising house values than from cheaper homes. 

Today, leading economist Saul Eslake on Labor’s home-buyer scheme, why similar policies have failed in the past, and what it would really take to fix the housing crisis. 

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Guest: Economist Saul Eslake 

Photo: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

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It started with a series of posts on social media.

Nostalgic images of Australia from decades ago, accompanied by statements like  "we're starting to feel like strangers in our own home” 

WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie’s public posts about what he’s calling “out of control” immigration, as well as housing and energy costs have now led to his resignation. 
 
While that means he’s on the backbench right now, the conservative MP has made no secret about his ambition to lead.

Today, political reporter Karen Middleton, on Andrew Hastie’s rebellion – and what it means for Sussan Ley’s future.

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Guest: Political reporter Karen Middleton

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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Every Wednesday morning during sitting weeks, politicians, staffers, public servants and journalists gather for a friendly game of sport. It’s meant to be casual, even wholesome. 

But recently, that club, the Parliament Sports Club, quietly re-registered as a lobbying organisation. Its board includes the Prime Minister. Its members include representatives from the major sporting codes – and one of its sponsors is the gambling lobby.

All of this is happening while the government sits on a report that recommended a comprehensive ban on gambling ads; a ban that experts say is urgently needed to protect families and communities from the harms of gambling. 

Today, media reporter for Crikey Daanyal Saeed, on how a casual sporting meet up became a vehicle for lobbyists, and what it tells us about the gambling industry’s grip on politics. 

You can read Daany’s reporting here: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/30/parliament-sports-club-gambling-lobby/
 

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Guest: Crikey’s media reporter Daanyal Saeed

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